join him and his wife at their table. It wasnât easy to refuse the loud, red-faced Texan, just as it wasnât easy to refuse when he suggested a round of golf with Robert. Julia tried hard to be good-humoured as she drove the buggy around the course and chatted with Rickâs obnoxious wife for three hours.
The argument they had when they finally got back to their room was inevitable. Julia couldnât believe they had fought in such an ugly way on their honeymoon. When he stormed out, she poured herself a large bourbon from the minibar. She was shaking all over and the bourbon calmed her a little, but not enough. She didnât want to have another but still found herself pouring a second glass. When he came back she was passed out.
For the rest of their stay she ignored the phone calls to work and didnât comment on the two sets of documents that arrived by courier. She was determinedly cheerful and affectionate. She didnât drink, deeply ashamed of her lapse. Robert was aspleasant as she was but his eyes were suspicious and watchful and things were never the same again.
They had been married for a few months when Lisa, Donald Skatesâ wife, invited Julia out for lunch. Julia hadnât seen Lisa since the night Robert proposed. Lisa chose a quiet café in Palo Alto. Once more, Julia was forced to brave the suburb that held so many happy and painful memories of Josh.
âJulia, I donât know how to say this ⦠and youâll think Iâm an interfering so-and-so â¦â Lisa fidgeted with her napkin before plunging in. âIs everything okay with you and Robert?â
âWhat do you mean?â Julia was immediately defensive and Lisa became more flustered.
âDonald says that Robert is not himself ⦠heâs not happy â¦â
âHow would Donald know if my husband is happy or not?â Julia demanded.
Lisa put a kind hand on Juliaâs arm in an attempt to calm her.
Julia shrugged it off. âI can assure you that Robert is perfectly happy with me â tell Donald he neednât worry.â She snatched her bag from the floor and marched out, leaving an embarrassed Lisa to deal with the curious stares of the other patrons.
She went to a bar across the street. She needed something strong to calm down. A double vodka.
Robert canât be unhappy. Weâre only just married. Weâre having a few teething problems, thatâs all.
Her hands shook and it took a few attempts to light her cigarette. She had a flashback of Josh, lying in bed, telling her it was finished. That he wasnât happy and she wasnât what he wanted. She ordered another double.
She was sick the next morning and was angry with herselfagain. There had been no need to get drunk; she knew Donald and Lisa had got it wrong. She was glad Robert was away on business and wouldnât see her in this state. She wondered if she should have an eye-opener, a small vodka to stop her hands from shaking. He was going to be home in a few hours and she needed to look as if nothing had happened.
Chapter 6
Alan Harris declined his first meeting with Claire, claiming he didnât have any free time all week. She rescheduled to Monday of the following week. She was furious when he cancelled the second meeting by sending a cowardly email only ten minutes before it was due to start. He obviously believed his schedule took priority over her plans for the day. She stared at his message, trying to decide the best way to handle the situation. If she let him get away with such behaviour now, she would have no hope of managing him in the future. She gave herself five minutes to calm down before striding determinedly to his cubicle.
âAlan, you canât keep cancelling our meeting. This is my second week and I still havenât reviewed credit.â
âYou obviously donât know that I manage my own area and report directly to Harry,â he said, not moving his
The argument they had when they finally got back to their room was inevitable. Julia couldnât believe they had fought in such an ugly way on their honeymoon. When he stormed out, she poured herself a large bourbon from the minibar. She was shaking all over and the bourbon calmed her a little, but not enough. She didnât want to have another but still found herself pouring a second glass. When he came back she was passed out.
For the rest of their stay she ignored the phone calls to work and didnât comment on the two sets of documents that arrived by courier. She was determinedly cheerful and affectionate. She didnât drink, deeply ashamed of her lapse. Robert was aspleasant as she was but his eyes were suspicious and watchful and things were never the same again.
They had been married for a few months when Lisa, Donald Skatesâ wife, invited Julia out for lunch. Julia hadnât seen Lisa since the night Robert proposed. Lisa chose a quiet café in Palo Alto. Once more, Julia was forced to brave the suburb that held so many happy and painful memories of Josh.
âJulia, I donât know how to say this ⦠and youâll think Iâm an interfering so-and-so â¦â Lisa fidgeted with her napkin before plunging in. âIs everything okay with you and Robert?â
âWhat do you mean?â Julia was immediately defensive and Lisa became more flustered.
âDonald says that Robert is not himself ⦠heâs not happy â¦â
âHow would Donald know if my husband is happy or not?â Julia demanded.
Lisa put a kind hand on Juliaâs arm in an attempt to calm her.
Julia shrugged it off. âI can assure you that Robert is perfectly happy with me â tell Donald he neednât worry.â She snatched her bag from the floor and marched out, leaving an embarrassed Lisa to deal with the curious stares of the other patrons.
She went to a bar across the street. She needed something strong to calm down. A double vodka.
Robert canât be unhappy. Weâre only just married. Weâre having a few teething problems, thatâs all.
Her hands shook and it took a few attempts to light her cigarette. She had a flashback of Josh, lying in bed, telling her it was finished. That he wasnât happy and she wasnât what he wanted. She ordered another double.
She was sick the next morning and was angry with herselfagain. There had been no need to get drunk; she knew Donald and Lisa had got it wrong. She was glad Robert was away on business and wouldnât see her in this state. She wondered if she should have an eye-opener, a small vodka to stop her hands from shaking. He was going to be home in a few hours and she needed to look as if nothing had happened.
Chapter 6
Alan Harris declined his first meeting with Claire, claiming he didnât have any free time all week. She rescheduled to Monday of the following week. She was furious when he cancelled the second meeting by sending a cowardly email only ten minutes before it was due to start. He obviously believed his schedule took priority over her plans for the day. She stared at his message, trying to decide the best way to handle the situation. If she let him get away with such behaviour now, she would have no hope of managing him in the future. She gave herself five minutes to calm down before striding determinedly to his cubicle.
âAlan, you canât keep cancelling our meeting. This is my second week and I still havenât reviewed credit.â
âYou obviously donât know that I manage my own area and report directly to Harry,â he said, not moving his
Similar Books
