“Because you were right.” Felicity stared at her fingers and played with a silver ring on her right hand. “At the Duchamp afterparty, when I got a bit sauced, you told me I should spend more time focused on my career than yours. And you were right. You were also right about telling her the truth about him, although the way you went about it was suicidal. But I was wrong not backing you up that day. And you were correct when you said I wasn’t happy in my job. No, not because I’m a frustrated fashion junkie. Do you know I don’t even care that much about fashion?”
“What?” Maddie blinked. “But you’re at all the events with Elena.”
“Yes. I am. I admire her a great deal. Sometimes I think too much. As a result, I’ve let her get away with things far too often.” A frown knitted her pale brows.
“What do you mean?”
“I let her treat me like a glorified gofer when I’m a trained lawyer,” Felicity said. “I am exceptional at the business side of my job. Do you know that? I am brilliant, damn it. My qualifications are impeccable…and yet I fetch her drinks. Because she asks. I worked out the reason Elena never cares how long an assistant lasts is because she knows I’ll take over if she fires one. Well, I’ve thought about it and decided I’m worth more than that. I told her so. A little…er…more spectacularly than I had planned.”
Elena’s tea mug being hurled against the wall flashed into Maddie’s mind.
“And do you know what happened? That ice queen of a woman who has terrified and impressed me and driven me crazy for years laughed her damned head off. She said ‘About time’. And then she promoted me!” Felicity shook her head. “I’m to be the deputy COO, and she’s training me to take over the running of Bartell Corp.”
“That’s awesome.”
“Yes. Well. It is deserved.” Felicity glared at her with suspicion over the praise.
“I agree.” Maddie could see what Elena meant about her not taking compliments well.
“So, I wanted to thank you. And I have, I suppose, also come to terms with the fact you and she are more than former colleagues.”
Maddie stiffened.
“Oh, don’t look so shocked. You’re secretly friends. I get it. I know she emails you all the time. Suddenly, she’s taking calls from Hanoi or Kon Tum or wherever your ass has been. I know. And I’m…I can accept that.” She gave Maddie a pained look, as though still convincing herself.
Wait. Friends? Felicity clearly wasn’t as observant as she thought.
“So this is my way of thanking you for saying what I needed to hear.” Felicity waved at the dress. “I organised an outfit for you that she’ll love, and I have a bathroom for you to get ready here—we’re actually only three blocks from the ball tonight. So you’ll have more time. And I’ll also…” she gave Maddie a disagreeable look, “stop fixating on all the ways you keep winning. Even if it is totally unfair.”
Unfair?
“Well, I may still fixate just a little,” Felicity amended with an earnest look before conceding a slight smile. “But you really are obnoxious, you have to admit.”
“I admit nothing.” Maddie laughed. “And I can’t help a lucky streak. If you knew how crap I was at life in New York, how I barely coped with everything, you’d swallow your words. Besides, you’re obnoxious too. You act like you’re better than everyone else, and you talk like a repressed English nanny, but when you’re upset, you leak your secret Midwest accent.”
“That’s just… That’s… I do not.” Felicity slumped and rolled her eyes. “You know, I paid a top British elocutions expert to get that beaten out of me. Mrs Allsop will be most unhappy.”
“Well, I won’t tell her.” Maddie stood. “You know, there’s nothing wrong with being from middle America. One day, I’d love to know how you went from there to the world’s top media company, but I don’t have much time. So, I’ll just say thanks for doing all this and which way to the shower?”
Felicity pointed. “Second door on the left.”
“I’ll try and leave you some hot water. But I have a lot of sand and grit in unmentionable places.”
“Don’t worry about that. Take as long as you like. I’m not going tonight.”
Maddie froze. “You’re not?”
“No. It’s part of a few promises I’ve made to myself. No attending events just because she’ll be there. I’m only going to the essential ones in the future.”
“Oh.” Maddie couldn’t even imagine Elena at a function without Felicity at her side.
“Besides,” Felicity added, heat rising in her cheeks. She squirmed. “I have a date.”
“A date? Anyone I know?”
“No. He’s a lawyer I met at the Duchamp afterparty. You’re actually in his terrace house, and he’s kindly allowed you to get fixed up here tonight.”
“He? Oh. Huh.” Maddie paused.
“What?”
“I just thought maybe you liked women. Or Elena specifically. You know. Romantically.”
“What?” Felicity’s mouth fell open. “Why would you think that? And you do know she’s straight, right? Oh, there’ve been a few assistants who’ve fallen for her now and then, but I’ve worked with that woman for years, and she’s never shown even the slightest hint of—”
“Hey,” Maddie cut her off urgently, “I’m sorry to have assumed, okay? I’m just really glad you’ve found someone.”
Felicity huffed out a breath. “Yes, well.” She folded her arms. “Phillip is a good man. He doesn’t mind that I’m late for everything or work ridiculous hours, or…” Felicity lowered her voice to a dramatic, pained whisper, “that I’m from the Midwest.”
Biting back a grin, Maddie said, “Great. I’d love to meet him sometime.”
“Absolutely not! Do you think I’d let him anywhere near Miss Lucky Streak? No! Now go…make yourself presentable. The car will be back before you know it.”
CHAPTER 34
The Last Dance
Elena had always assumed the unravelling of her second marriage would be as problematic as the first was easy. With Spencer, he’d just packed up and left. Not even an argument, let alone a whimper. With Richard, Elena had done some careful planning, preparing for any eventuality with her team of lawyers, from the moment she’d kicked him out.
It had therefore been astonishing to read how “much in love” he was with her in the gossip columns. Positioning himself to be the good guy when the word of their impending divorce leaked, no doubt. That was funny, given she’d since learned that he was now ensconced with Janice from the marketing department at his work—a woman with a reputation for appreciating men with money.
A week ago, Elena had called her acquaintance, Annalise Taylor, wife of the new VP at Richard’s firm, and suggested a catch-up lunch. Annalise was the world’s most indiscreet woman—which was easily her most useful asset.
And so, over a few cocktails, Elena happened to “let slip” about what Richard had really been up to for years. She had requested anonymity for her “lapse” in discretion, and Annalise had nodded so hard that her drop diamond earrings had bucked like a pair of broncos.
Annalise had lived up to her reputation. Richard had been suspended within the day while his superiors began a full investigation into whether he’d been inappropriate at their workplace, too.
The moment her cell phone had rung with his signature theme from Ride of the Valkyries, Elena knew her husband’s wrath would be ferocious. She closed her office door and locked it before settling herself perfectly centre in her chair and exhaling. Then she answered her phone.
“Yes?”
“You bitch. It was you. Had to be. Who else knew?”
“And hello to you, too, Richard.” Her tone was measured and hid the hate she now felt for him. Control was power.
“They might fire me, you vicious little cunt.”
“For good reason, no doubt,” Elena countered. “May the women at Better Health United USA all exhale in relief.”
