Girl A by Dan Scottow (easy books to read in english .TXT) 📕

‘If you need a few days, you know… we can cope without you this week.’

‘No. I’m okay. Thanks though.’

Derek nodded. Charlie could tell there was more coming. Derek was choosing his words.

‘You know, you’re welcome at the flat as long as you want it. But I really think you should sort things out with Beth and go home. Anna and I could tell things were tense the other weekend when you were round, but… Beth is a catch. Whatever has gone on between you two, I’m sure you can fix it. No point throwing it away over a silly row, is there.’

‘Thanks, mate. I have to get my head around things.’

‘I’ve never seen you like this. We can go into my office for a chat. If you want to… talk, or whatever.’

Derek was clearly uncomfortable. He wasn’t a touchy-feely type of guy. He hated talking about emotions, or anything other than sport… maybe sex sometimes, but definitely not feelings. Anna had obviously ordered him to find out what was happening.

‘No thanks, Derek. Honestly, I’m fine.’

Derek looked relieved.

‘Look, mate, whatever it is you’ve done, just say you’re sorry and send her a big bunch of flowers. Usually works for me.’ Derek winked.

‘Why do you automatically assume it’s me who’s guilty of something?’ Charlie’s voice was flat.

Derek picked up a pen lying on Charlie’s desk, twirling it in the fingers of his right hand.

‘Come on. She’s perfect. What’s she gonna have done?’

‘You’d be surprised. Are we finished here?’ Charlie turned to face the computer screen and began typing on his keyboard.

Derek frowned, dropping the pen.

‘Yep. Yes we are.’

He stood, rolling the chair back under the neighbouring desk and skulked away like a sad schoolboy.

Charlie sighed. He’d never argued with Derek. And although what had just occurred couldn’t really be described as an argument, their relationship was usually one of light-hearted banter.

Charlie was sure Derek would get over it though.

Until recently he would have agreed with his friend. He had always thought of Beth as perfect. But he was no longer so sure. The woman he had devoted his entire adult life to, seemed like a complete stranger to him.

If she could lie so easily, so convincingly… what else had she been lying about?

38

It was the first Monday Beth could remember in a long time when she had not wanted to go to work. Sunday had dragged. She hadn’t left the house; had no desire to. She could have easily stayed in bed today too.

But she couldn’t afford to lose her job, as well as everything else in her life.

As she stepped out of the lift, she scanned the office. It was early and most people hadn’t arrived yet. But Vicky was at her desk, talking to someone from IT. She glanced up. When she saw Beth, she held her gaze. Didn’t look away, didn’t smile, didn’t wave.

Just stared at her, sizing her up.

Beth looked straight back as she crossed the room to her office. Feeling uncomfortable, she eventually looked away. But as she closed her door behind her, she looked through the window.

Vicky was still staring.

Beth powered on her computer, taking off her jacket and hanging it on her coat stand. There was a knock at the door. She craned her neck but couldn’t see who it was.

‘Come in!’ she shouted as she got herself ready to start work.

Margot breezed in, all teeth and perfume. A vision in a cerulean playsuit and a pair of bright orange stilettos. She had a knack of looking fabulous in outfits that would make anybody else look ridiculous. Beth often envied her clothes, generally purchasing most of hers from the bargain section of the supermarkets these days.

‘Darling, how are you? Good weekend? Mine was dire. We’ve got a lot going on today. Have you started yet?’

Beth sat down behind her desk, nodding.

Margot frowned.

‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes, I’m fine. What’s up?’

Margot paused for a moment, cocking her head to one side, but carried on regardless.

‘There’s a problem with a new title. We released it yesterday, and we’ve had an email this morning from an author in New Zealand claiming we’ve plagiarised her work.’

‘Oh.’

Margot held up the paperback in her hand.

‘I’m looking into the claims. In my professional opinion she hasn’t got a leg to stand on, but would you mind contacting the writer and giving him a heads-up? Warn him not to discuss the matter if he’s contacted about it.’

Beth sighed.

‘Fine.’

Margot closed the door, crossing the room to Beth’s desk, perching her bottom on the corner. She crossed one of her Amazonian legs over the other.

‘Right. What’s going on with you?’

‘It’s nothing. I’m tired.’ Beth couldn’t tell Margot about Charlie and the kids, because she’d want to know why. And Beth had no intention of telling her the truth about who she was.

She didn’t want to lose another person from her life over this. Given Margot’s feelings about children, she couldn’t be sure how she would react to Beth’s past.

‘Honey, I’m not an idiot. I’ll ask one more time, and if you choose not to tell me, on your head be it. I will not be responsible for my actions.’

Beth smiled. Margot always had an ability to cheer her up. Everything was high drama with her.

‘Honestly, I’m okay. I promise. Now get out of here so I can do some bloody work!’

Beth made a shooing motion with her hand, and Margot hopped up from the desk, scurrying out of the room, perfectly balanced on her impossibly high heels.

Beth glanced at her monitor. There was another knock, Beth didn’t look up.

‘What did you forget?’ she said through a laugh.

The door clicked shut, and Beth’s eyes shot up.

Vicky was standing in Beth’s office, her arms folded in front of her chest.

‘What do you want?’ Beth didn’t afford her any pleasantries.

‘Did you have a pleasant Saturday, Beth?’ Vicky asked sarcastically, raising an eyebrow.

‘Was it… eventful?’ She winked.

‘Excuse me?’

‘I wondered if you had an… exciting weekend. You know? Did anything interesting happen?’

Vicky wasn’t smiling. She was deadly serious. Her eyes