Read Online The Grass is Greener by Loretta Hill - Free Book Online Page A

people?’
    â€˜Because you’re a close friend of the family, of course.’
    â€˜Your close friend maybe, but she never liked me. I was always the bad influence who used to steal you away to the country. I remember she used to resent the hell out of it whenever you’d bring me to an Eddings family function.’
    â€˜That’s only because she was secretly annoyed that I didn’t have a boyfriend of good pedigree to bring instead,’ Bronwyn retorted as she sat down on a nearby park bench, watching Elsa sniffing at an invisible trail that weaved into a bush. ‘I absolutely hated those events. I would have been so miserable without you there.’
    While Claudia deplored high society fluff, wasteful amounts of food and needless condescension, she was by no meansimmune to the opportunity to play Cinderella for a night with her best friend. She winced guiltily. In fact, she had secretly loved attending Bronwyn’s family events, just to see how the other side lived – all those high-profile guests she read about in the media, and the gorgeous venues she’d never have set foot in but for their invitation.
    She’d actually seen, though not formally met, Bronwyn’s Uncle Cyril, who headed up Hanks and Eddings. She’d been to his daughter’s wedding. It was the last event she had attended with Bronwyn, over two years ago. It had taken place on a yacht and Cyril had given an entertaining speech full of humour and goodwill. It had lacked only one element to reflect the significance of the occasion – depth.
    Cyril struck Claudia as someone who was good-natured as long as it didn’t in any way inconvenience him – the very embodiment of the ‘fairweather friend’. She doubted he would remember her, but then she was sure that people such as herself who hung upon the fringes of his family’s society like desperate band groupies did not make it into his memory bank. Not that she thought this was malicious or mean. She just suspected that his primary concern, like most Eddingses and lawyers alike, was the firm.
    Claudia sat down beside Bronwyn. ‘I’m still not completely comfortable walking into an interview that came from a fake recommendation.’
    Bronwyn sighed. ‘Look, my family has never cared what I wanted. They have manipulated me my whole life to be who they want. What we’re doing is nothing. Besides, what’s the worse they can do? Not hire you? Come on, Claud, you know this is what you’ve always wanted.’
    It is.
    And then some.
    She felt her will wavering. ‘And what will you do?’
    â€˜Elsa and I will hop in your ute and make for the hills. Oak Hills. I will take on your role as manager of your father’s winery. You know I could do it, right?’
    Claudia nodded slowly, wincing as she went. She had seen Bronwyn in action on her parents’ property before. Her best friend knew a lot about their business and how they ran things. However, there was a big difference between helping out and managing the place full time.
    â€˜I mean, I know it’s a little more responsibility than your family ever gave me but if I have any problems you’re just a phone call away, and I figure Oak Hills is already on its last legs, so it’s not like I can do any real damage.’
    Claudia’s mouth twisted as she thought of her family. ‘You’d be surprised.’
    â€˜Well, I have a hankering to show you what I can do!’ Bronwyn announced passionately.
    â€˜What are you saying?’ Claudia asked dryly. ‘That you’ll succeed where I have failed?’
    â€˜I didn’t mean it like that,’ Bronwyn eyed her worriedly. ‘I just meant I’m going to give it my all.’
    Claudia rubbed her temple. ‘I know. You love that place more than your own home. But I think you’re oversimplifying the situation. You’ve forgotten the most important part of the