“Yes, well, it’s the type of feature that suits the magazine rather than the newspaper, in my opinion,” I point out.
“I heard there’s a change coming up on your editorial team,” he says breezily.
I narrow my eyes at him. “Excuse me?”
“Rakhee, your features editor. She’s leaving, right?”
“How doyouknow about that?”
He shrugs. “Word spreads. Didyouknow about it?”
“Of course! I’ve known for ages.”
I can’t help it. How doesheknow about Rakhee? I’ve only just found out!
“She’s going toSleekmagazine. She’s going to be deputy editor there,” I continue. “They’re lucky to have her.”
He nods. “So, what did you think of the reading?”
“Sorry?”
“The chapter we just heard,” Ryan explains. “What did you think?”
“Oh… I thought… I thought it was interesting.”
“Really.”
“Yes,” I say firmly. “Very interesting.”
The corners of his mouth twitch up into a knowing smile. “You were late, weren’t you?”
“No!”
“What was the chapter about, then?” he challenges.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize that attending a book launch involves a spontaneous quiz to see if you were paying attention,” I snarl.
“You were late,” he confirms, smiling into his cup, his eyes twinkling with triumph.
“I was atinybit late, not that it’s any of your business.” I scowl at his smug expression. “Anyway, as much as I’d love to hang around, I’ve already reached my quota of talking to pompous assholes today, so I’m going now.”
He looks amused at this, which only serves to make me even more infuriated.
He has no right to beamused.He’s supposed to beinsulted.
He opens his mouth to reply, but I stalk off before he can. I willnotlet Ryan Jansson have the last word. The very idea of him thinking that he has one up on me makes my blood boil.
I avoid him as much as possible throughout the evening, managing to keep tabs on where he is at all times and ensure that I am always on the opposite side of the room, talking to a different set of people. By the time I leave, I’m proud of myselffor steering clear of him and, consequently, having had a very nice time enjoying interesting conversations with clever people.
I step out into the evening air and take a moment to get my bearings before I start walking in the direction of the tube. This momentary pause is a grave mistake.
Ryan Jansson walks out, too.
He frowns at me. I scowl at him.
I start walking away from the bookshop and toward the tube station. I can hear his footsteps behind me. I keep going for a bit before I call out over my shoulder, “Are you following me?”
“No.”
