Charlie’s face sank. Angry, and wrapped up in what the note had said, he had jumped to conclusions. Beth was right. He had doubted her. The one person he should never doubt. He nodded, afraid to look her in the eye.
‘That hurts, Charlie. I have never lied to you. I’ve always got your back. I will always fight your corner. And I deserve the same level of loyalty from you.’
Charlie took a step towards his wife and reached his hand out to her arm. She shrugged it off.
‘Don’t!’ she snapped.
‘I’m sorry. Beth, I’m so, so sorry. You’re right. I owe you more than that, and I apologise. I’m such a dick.’
‘Yeah, you are,’ she said churlishly.
In that moment, Charlie felt an overwhelming surge of affection for his wife, and he hated himself for upsetting her.
‘Can we draw a line under this?’ he pleaded softly. Beth stood with her arms folded.
‘Come here.’ Beth didn’t budge, so Charlie took another step towards her, wrapping his arms around her. She tried to push him away at first, but eventually she relaxed into the hug.
They walked into the living room, and Beth flicked on the telly. As she sat surfing through the channels trying to find something to watch, Charlie stared at her. He was able to count on one hand the number of times he had seen his wife cry. She rarely showed this level of emotion.
‘Beth, are you okay?’ Charlie asked.
She continued to flick, pointing the remote at the telly. ‘I’m annoyed. I don’t understand why we are receiving these notes. It’s screwing with my life, and I don’t like it. This has been an odd week.’
Beth muted the telly for a moment, turning towards Charlie.
‘I want things back to normal. It’s been one thing after another since Friday night, and I’m exhausted. I’ve got loads of submissions to get through at work before the weekend, and I’ve fallen behind. I should be working late, but I don’t have the energy. On top of all this, I’ve hardly spoken to my kids this week. I’m sure Peter hates me.’
‘He’ll get over it. Let’s face it, he’s a teenager. He talks to us as little as possible anyway.’ Charlie smiled. Beth didn’t smile back. She unmuted the telly and continued searching for something to watch.
Charlie sat observing his wife. He trusted her, he always had. She’d never given him any reason not to, and so he should have believed her when she said she had made an honest mistake.
So why was there still a niggling doubt in his mind?
11
The smell of strong coffee filled Beth’s nostrils as Margot topped up her cafetière with boiling water from the tap.
‘I simply couldn’t face any more of that free instant rubbish they give you here, darling,’ she was saying. ‘I remembered I had this little thing in a cupboard somewhere at home, so I thought I may as well put it to some use.’ She placed the lid onto the cafetière, picked up two cups and trotted back towards her office. Beth followed, trying to avoid the disturbingly intense stare from Vicky as she passed her desk. Vicky smiled, waving. Margot lifted the hand holding the mugs and wiggled it around. Beth was worried Vicky might take it as an invitation and closed the door to Margot’s office firmly behind her as she entered.
Margot sat down on a plush, grey fabric sofa, placing the coffee and the cups down on the small table, motioning for Beth to sit in the chair opposite. She sank down, letting out an audible sigh. As Margot pushed the plunger on the coffee, Beth eyed her.
‘Not sure about that new girl. She’s a little… peculiar,’ Beth said nervously.
Margot poured two coffees, sliding one towards Beth.
‘Vicky?’ Margot sounded confused. ‘Oh no, she’s a sweetheart. She’s just a little gauche.’
‘You like her?’
‘I don’t like anyone, darling. But I don’t dislike her. That’s the fundamental thing. We were having a brief chat in the lift the other morning. She’s a media studies graduate. Says she has always dreamed of working for Greys. All total nonsense, of course. I think she thought I would find it flattering. Little does she realise I don’t actually give a hoot. Her heart’s in the right place. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? New job, new people to impress.’ Margot took a long sip from her steaming hot coffee. ‘Oh now that is just divine, darling.’
‘Every time I look up she’s staring at me. I thought I was imagining it at first, but as the week has gone on, I’ve noticed it more and more. I bet if I were to turn round now…’ Beth swivelled in her chair to see through the wall-to-wall glass of Margot’s office. ‘Yes! See, I knew it. She’s doing it right now!’
Margot peered over Beth’s shoulder, catching Vicky’s eye. She gave her a delicate wave and a smile, and Vicky looked away.
‘Yes, now you come to mention it, she did seem extremely interested in you the other morning when we were chatting,’ Margot said, staring at Beth over the rim of her coffee cup.
‘What do you mean? What was she saying?’
‘Oh, she was asking all sorts of questions. How long had I known you? Where are you from? What’s your background? That kind of thing, you know?’ As Margot spoke her hand gave a dramatic flourish in the air. Beth couldn’t help think Margot should have gone into theatre rather than law.
‘My God! I think she’s obsessed with me. She behaved bizarrely when we were introduced.’
‘Maybe she fancies you?’ A wry smile spread across Margot’s face, followed by a wink.
Beth stood up from her chair, walking to the window. She held her
