Anyway. There’s nothing I can do about it now. If she wants me, she knows where to find me.
I get to work just after nine-thirty to find Natalie already at her desk, flicking her hair back as she talks on the phone. “Yeah. That’s what I said to him, babe.” She winks at me and taps her watch. “In a bit late, aren’t you Lara? Got into bad habits when I was away? Anyway, babe…” She swivels back again.
Bad habits? Me?
I’m instantly seething. Who does she think she is? She’s the one who buggered off to India. She’s the one who behaved un-professionally. And now she’s treating me like the dim work-experience girl.
“Natalie,” I say as she puts the phone down. “I need to talk to you.”
“And I need to talk to you.” Natalie’s eyes gleam at me. “Ed Harrison, eh?”
“What?” I say, confused.
“Ed Harrison,” she repeats impatiently. “You’ve kept him a bit quiet, haven’t you?”
“What do you mean?” Faint alarm bells are ringing. “How do you know about Ed?”
“Business People!” Natalie turns a magazine toward me, open at the picture of Ed and me. “Good-looking chap.”
“I’m not… it’s a business thing,” I say hurriedly, looking up.
“Oh, I know, Kate told me. You’re back with Josh, whatever…” Natalie gives a mock-yawn to show just how interesting my love life is to her. “That’s my point. This Ed Harrison is a nice juicy bit of talent. Do you have a plan?”
“Plan?”
“For placing him!” Natalie leans forward and speaks with elaborate patience. “We’re a headhunting firm, Lara. We place people in jobs. That’s what we do . That’s how we make money.”
“Oh!” I try to hide my horror. “No. No. You don’t understand. He’s not that kind of contact. He doesn’t want a new job.”
“He thinks he doesn’t,” Natalie corrects me.
“No, really, forget it. He hates headhunters.”
“He thinks he does.”
“He’s not interested.”
“Yet.” Natalie winks, and I feel like hitting her.
“Stop it! He’s not!”
“Everyone has their price. When I dangle the right salary in front of him, believe me, the story will change.”
“It won’t! Not everything’s about money, you know.”
Natalie bursts into mocking laughter.
“What’s happened while I’ve been away? Have we turned into the bloody Mother Teresa Agency? We need to earn commission , Lara. We need to make a profit .”
“I know,” I snap. “That’s what I was doing while you were lying on the beach in Goa, remember?”
“Ooh!” Natalie tosses back her head and laughs. “Miaou!”
She’s not remotely shamefaced. She hasn’t once apologized, for anything. How could I have thought she was my best friend? I feel like I don’t even know her.
“Just leave Ed alone,” I say fiercely. “He doesn’t want a new job. I’m serious. He won’t talk to you, anyway-”
“He already did.” She leans back, looking supremely pleased with herself.
“What?”
“I called him this morning. That’s the difference between you and me: I don’t hang around. I get the job done.”
“But he doesn’t take calls from headhunters,” I say, bewildered. “How did you-”
“Oh, I didn’t give my name at first,” says Natalie gaily. “Just said I was a friend of yours and you’d asked me to call. We had quite a little chat, as it happens. He didn’t seem to know anything about Josh, but I gave him the full picture.” She raises her eyebrows. “Interesting. Keeping the boyfriend from him for a reason, were you?”
I feel a rising dismay.
“What-what exactly did you say about Josh?”
“Ooh, Lara!” Natalie looks delighted at my discomfiture. “Were you planning on a little intrigue with him? Have I ruined things for you?” She puts a hand over her mouth. “Sorry!”
“Shut up!” I yell, finally losing it. “Shut up!”
I have to talk to Ed. Now. Grabbing my mobile, I hurry out of the office, bumping into Kate on the way. She’s carrying a coffee tray and widens her eyes as she sees me.
“Lara! Are you OK?”
“Natalie,” I say shortly, and she winces.
“I think she’s worse with a tan,” she whispers, and I can’t help a reluctant smile. “Are you coming in?”
“In a minute. I have to make a call. It’s kind of… private.” I head down the stairs and out onto the street, speed-dialing Ed’s number. God knows what Natalie said to him. God knows what he thinks of me now.
“Ed Harrison’s office.” A woman’s voice answers.
“Hi.” I try not to sound as apprehensive as I feel. “It’s Lara Lington here. Could I possibly speak to Ed?”
As I’m put on hold, my mind can’t help traveling back to yesterday. I can remember exactly how his arms felt around me. How his skin felt against mine. The smell of him, the taste of him… And then that awful way he retreated into his shell. It makes me flinch just remembering.
“Hi, Lara. What can I do for you?” His voice comes on the line. Formal and businesslike. Not one shred of warmth. My heart sinks slightly, but I try to sound upbeat and pleasant.
“Ed, I gather my colleague Natalie rang you this morning. I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again. And I also wanted to say…” I hesitate awkwardly. “I’m really sorry about how yesterday ended.”