‘But that’s why it’s good!’ I explained. ‘And, Jeez, his dick .?.?.’ I rolled my eyes, thinking of it again.
‘Tell us now!’ Katy was bouncing up and down on the sofa. ‘What was it like?’
I paused, trying to find the words. ‘Put it this way – if that bridge,’ I pointed out the window at the stunning view of the Brooklyn Bridge we had, ‘if that ever went down, he could swing his big old beefer out and we’d all be able to reach Brooklyn no bother.’
Zola and I burst out laughing, but Katy looked confused.
‘You wouldn’t want people walking on your man’s dick, though, would you?’ she said.
Zola and I doubled over in hysterics.
‘Were you careful at least?’ Zola asked.
‘I’m still on the pill with Philip, so don’t worry about any bratty baby Ellas!’ I laughed.
‘Really, the pill turns me psycho,’ Katy chipped in. ‘I just get them to jump off the train before it gets to the station!’
Zola and I turned, shocked, to Katy.
‘You could be riddled, Katy! For fuck’s sake, you need to use condoms from now on, you have no idea how risky that is! Especially the rate you’re pumping and dumping!’ Zola shook her head in genuine horror.
‘Really?’ She seemed surprised, innocent even, as if years of sexual ed hadn’t been drummed into us. ‘Fine, I’ll go to Walmart on the way home tonight, stock up for all of us.’
‘Good! Come on, we need to get ready for today – it’s a big day for the app. A lot of changes,’ I said, smiling.
‘You smashed this revamp,’ Katy said, high-fiving me with real energy.
Zola nodded. ‘Yeah, I’m dead proud of you, Ella. I think this idea is fair, genius and it helps to make things safe.’
‘Thanks, guys.’ A wide grin spread across my face and I reached over to hug my two best friends. But just as I did, Katy’s phone pinged.
‘Oh no,’ she moaned, having not even checked the screen yet.
‘Is it .?.?.?’ Zola asked, watching Katy pull out her phone.
‘Yep.’ She glanced up at us, fear taking over her face.
We huddled together, reading the message.
Unknown:OK, time’s up, bitches. I warned you – vanish. No more switching the app, no more fucking other people’s husbands. Stay? Then I’ll bulldoze you – and his empire. With a smile X
‘Zola!’ Katy was panicking. ‘Zola, what does that mean?’
Zola turned to me. ‘It means Jimmyisthe problem. Whoever this is plans on taking him down, and we’re collateral.’ She gulped. Zola was never scared, but I could see this latest missive had shaken her.
‘We have to tell him,’ I said decisively, panic rising inside me too. ‘Someone is planning on ruining his company, his life!’
Katy shook her head, her eyes desperate. ‘You can’t! You’d have to tell him about me, Ella. That would ruin our lives! We need this contract. We need the money, the boost to our careers.’
I buried my face in my hands. ‘I have no idea what to do.’
Eventually, Zola spoke, steady and calm. ‘Here’s what we do. We continue what we’re doing. We pretend this isn’t happening. Ella, you fish for as much information on Jimmy’s enemies as you can, and in the meantime, we make the best app that’s ever hit America. We distance ourselves from Britney – we know she’s involved. But we can play dirty too. I’ll hack her server and see who she’s been emailing.’
A wave of defeat washed over me. For the first time, I’d found someone, someone special, who I liked immediately. There was no second-guessing his intentions. I knew it was early days, and I knew it was more than likely a holiday fling, but I respected Jimmy. I admired him. I didn’t want to lie to him.
‘I’m so tired of drama,’ I said.
I rested my head against Zola’s, and she gently kissed my forehead. ‘C’mon, babe, it’s game time.’
