I showered and changed into my skinny jeans, which I could only just fasten. The button was locked in battle with my stomach, but I was confident it would hold – for the evening at least. But I would need to acquire some maternity jeans in the near future, as just shoving the waistband down was not going to cut it for much longer. I put on a loose cargo shirt over a long tank vest and left it unbuttoned. On the plus side, my hair looked thick and glossy.
When I arrived at the restaurant, Kate, Megan, and Sam were already sipping wine and eating bread.
‘You made it then?’ Megan looked at her watch for effect.
‘Getting ready isn’t easy when nothing fits you know.’
‘Well you look gorgeous as always. Now sit. Kate has something to show us.’
‘I certainly do.’ Kate beamed, pulling a file out of her bag. ‘Inspired by the rediscovery of my amazing desktop-publishing skills, I put a little something together.’
She pushed a piece of paper into the middle of the table. It was a page made to look like the front page of a newspaper called ‘The Cheshire Times’ with a full-page spread entitled: Scandal at the law firm. There was an article exposing ‘Equity partner James Emsworth’ for accepting bribes from Phil Brady, ‘a director in one of the UK’s largest companies’ who is in the middle of a ‘huge embezzlement scandal spanning the last twenty years.’ There were pictures taken of the invoices and bank statements with evidential areas identified with bright red circles.
For the first time ever, Kate seemed unsure as she looked between us, trying to read our faces. ‘I just thought you could have a little fun with him before you make him come clean.’
‘I love it, Kate. It’s perfect and once again your talents shine.’
Sam spoke up. ‘I’ve been digging into Samantha’s finances and I don’t think she’s a part of this. But perhaps I’ll let her know how she wasn’t James’s only bit on the side as a little bit of revenge of my own.’
‘Maybe James was using her to bolster his shoddy case,’ I said. ‘But yes, go ahead.’
On the way home, I popped Kate’s article in the letterbox of my old house and hoped James would find it soon.
***
The shrill of my phone the next day startled me and the name on the screen caused hot panic to surge through my chest. James. I tried to sound natural when I answered. ‘Hello?’
‘Charlotte, I need to speak to you. It’s urgent. Can you call in at the house later?’ His voice was clipped, and he sounded agitated. ‘What is it?’ I asked. ‘Have you run out of clean socks?’
‘What? No. Something has happened. Someone has—’ he lowered his voice ‘—done something to me, to us. This will affect us.’ His voice started to tremble towards the end.
‘To us?’ I was surprised, almost amused that he thought I’d care about his reputation. I supposed in the past I would have. Obviously, he was unaware how far I’d come. ‘What on earth has someone done to us?’ I tried to maintain a surprised tone.
‘I don’t want to tell you over the phone. What time can you make it?’ There was a touch of desperation in his tone; his usual calm demeanour wavered and it amused me mildly.
‘I’m busy, James, just pop it in an email. Perhaps Frances can help you out.’ I put the phone down. Proud that I stood my ground.
***
‘Charlotte, open the door.’ The hammering was incessant. I peeked out of the window and saw James’s Porsche sat outlandishly by the kerb just half an hour after he’d called. Here goes. I checked myself over in the mirror; it was important to look my best, so James saw I was coping and getting on with my life. Hopefully, he’d also realise what he was missing.
I paused at the door to take a breath before opening it.
‘Charlotte,’ he said, letting out his breath in relief. ‘We need to talk.’ He looked like he hadn’t slept. His suit was crumpled and his hair wasn’t styled – strands pointed aimlessly in different directions.
‘I can’t see why, but go on.’ I folded my arms defensively.
He looked nervously from side to side. ‘Can I come in?’
‘If you must.’ I pushed the door open and stood to the side to let him in just enough to cross the threshold.
He spoke as he walked down the hallway towards the kitchen. ‘I know you’re still cross with me, but can we put all that aside? I have a problem, and you’re the only person I know who can help in a crisis.’
I gestured for him to sit down but I didn’t offer him a drink. ‘I can imagine it’s quite easy for you to “push all that aside”.’
His body sagged wearily in response. ‘I’ve made a mistake, Charlotte, a big one and if word gets out I’ll be in big trouble.’
I put my hands on my hips and stood tall. ‘You mean like, you had an affair and if your wife finds out, she’ll leave you?’
‘It’s even bigger than that.’ His eyes had dark silhouettes.
‘Even bigger than that hey?’
‘I’ve been trying to prove the innocence of the Bracken Peel director and I took a few shortcuts. The kind of shortcuts that could get me kicked out of the firm or into bother with the police.’ He was trembling. The strong, powerful handsome man was broken and all I felt was the urge to laugh. ‘I’m ruined, Charlotte, and I don’t know what to do.’
‘I can’t see how this involves me, but anyway, you’ve got a great reputation so you’ll find something else and as for the police, you’ve always been a charmer.’ I shrugged.
He shook his head. ‘Had a great reputation.’
‘What makes you think this news will get out?’
‘I’m a highly respected man, Charlotte. Men like me naturally accrue enemies, jealous beings out to
