Prologue
‘So you decide today of all days to tell me you are shagging that moth-eaten bag of fleas of a secretary of yours? How bloody clichéd.’
‘I couldn’t keep it in any longer.’
‘Well, that’s obvious!’
‘The guilt was tearing me apart.’
‘Oh, how my heart bleeds for you, Darren. I’m so pleased you have relieved yourself of that terrible burden – thanks for that.’
‘It just… well, it just sort of happened.’
‘How long has it been going on?’ Evie’s voice had taken on an animalistic growl. ‘In fact, don’t even answer that, I don’t actually care.’ She stormed towards the kitchen door and let out a tumultuous sneeze.
‘Bless you.’
Evie swung around. ‘Don’t you fucking bless me, you conniving little shit.’ She put on an affected voice. ‘Oh, Evie, I really must stay over here, there, everywhere. Accounts to sort, juniors to fire. NO, Darren. Staff to UNDRESS more like!’ Tears were now streaming down her cheeks. ‘Just fuck off, pack a bag and fuck off.’
Darren reappeared in the kitchen in what seemed like seconds with a large black suitcase on wheels.
‘Oh, you’d already packed – silly me. As if you really would have thrown this one on me the day before Christmas Eve with no place to go. Not Darren Connors. He would always make sure number one was all right.’
Darren sighed and ran his hands through his blond floppy fringe.
‘Evie, shit happens. There wasn’t a day we weren’t arguing lately. I think if we’re honest, we both knew we were on borrowed time. ‘
Evie blew her nose loudly. ‘But I never thought you’d be unfaithful,’ she whispered, suddenly feeling too full of cold and too upset to fight.
‘Oh, Evie.’ Darren went to put his hand on her shoulder.
‘Don’t Evie me. Just go, Darren. I mean, what else is there to say, really?’
The lanky cleanshaven blond guy shrugged, picked his mail up from the side and shoved it in his pocket.
‘So where are you going to live? ’Cos you’re sure as hell not coming back here.’ Evie sniffed loudly. ‘Actually, don’t answer that either. I really don’t want to know.’
Darren guiltily bit his lip.
‘How do you think I am going to be able to afford this place on my own?’ Evie’s voice had gone up an octave. ‘I have just lost my bloody job – or had that slipped your tiny mind?’
‘I’m sorry, Evie, I know the timing’s not great, but you always fall on your feet – and anyway, I’m not your bloody meal ticket.’
Evie gasped, then remained open-mouthed as her boyfriend of two years carried on briskly, ‘Look, I’ve left a month’s rent in the pot, thought that’ll give you time to sort yourself out. Get a lodger in maybe? I’ll come and fetch the rest of my bits after Christmas.’
Overwhelmed with emotion, Evie’s face contorted and she threw a massive fake smile. ‘How very thoughtful of you, dear.’ Then, gritting her teeth in anger, ‘I hope Santa falls down the chimney and squashes you both to death.’
With that, she watched the man, formerly known as her lover, drag his cheating carcass and bulging case down the front path – and out of her life forever.
Chapter One
‘Yes, I did say sherry.’ Evie looked at the young barman in front of her and added impatiently. ‘Blue bottle Bristol Cream if you’ve got it. With ice, yes, thanks.’
She raised her hand as she saw Bea approaching through the Christmas revellers. From the outside looking in, they were a strange pair. Bea, five foot ten, with gangly limbs and long dark shiny hair, and Evie, five foot four, with her blonde curls and curvy hour-glass figure.
They had become thick as thieves at a previous employ – mainly due to Evie nervously covering up Bea’s scandalous relationship with the CEO of a rival company. Which (as most affairs do) ended in a sea of tears.
‘You look like shit, Evie.’
Evie’s blonde curls were more unruly than usual and her nose was red from blowing
‘So you decide today of all days to tell me you are shagging that moth-eaten bag of fleas of a secretary of yours? How bloody clichéd.’
‘I couldn’t keep it in any longer.’
‘Well, that’s obvious!’
‘The guilt was tearing me apart.’
‘Oh, how my heart bleeds for you, Darren. I’m so pleased you have relieved yourself of that terrible burden – thanks for that.’
‘It just… well, it just sort of happened.’
‘How long has it been going on?’ Evie’s voice had taken on an animalistic growl. ‘In fact, don’t even answer that, I don’t actually care.’ She stormed towards the kitchen door and let out a tumultuous sneeze.
‘Bless you.’
Evie swung around. ‘Don’t you fucking bless me, you conniving little shit.’ She put on an affected voice. ‘Oh, Evie, I really must stay over here, there, everywhere. Accounts to sort, juniors to fire. NO, Darren. Staff to UNDRESS more like!’ Tears were now streaming down her cheeks. ‘Just fuck off, pack a bag and fuck off.’
Darren reappeared in the kitchen in what seemed like seconds with a large black suitcase on wheels.
‘Oh, you’d already packed – silly me. As if you really would have thrown this one on me the day before Christmas Eve with no place to go. Not Darren Connors. He would always make sure number one was all right.’
Darren sighed and ran his hands through his blond floppy fringe.
‘Evie, shit happens. There wasn’t a day we weren’t arguing lately. I think if we’re honest, we both knew we were on borrowed time. ‘
Evie blew her nose loudly. ‘But I never thought you’d be unfaithful,’ she whispered, suddenly feeling too full of cold and too upset to fight.
‘Oh, Evie.’ Darren went to put his hand on her shoulder.
‘Don’t Evie me. Just go, Darren. I mean, what else is there to say, really?’
The lanky cleanshaven blond guy shrugged, picked his mail up from the side and shoved it in his pocket.
‘So where are you going to live? ’Cos you’re sure as hell not coming back here.’ Evie sniffed loudly. ‘Actually, don’t answer that either. I really don’t want to know.’
Darren guiltily bit his lip.
‘How do you think I am going to be able to afford this place on my own?’ Evie’s voice had gone up an octave. ‘I have just lost my bloody job – or had that slipped your tiny mind?’
‘I’m sorry, Evie, I know the timing’s not great, but you always fall on your feet – and anyway, I’m not your bloody meal ticket.’
Evie gasped, then remained open-mouthed as her boyfriend of two years carried on briskly, ‘Look, I’ve left a month’s rent in the pot, thought that’ll give you time to sort yourself out. Get a lodger in maybe? I’ll come and fetch the rest of my bits after Christmas.’
Overwhelmed with emotion, Evie’s face contorted and she threw a massive fake smile. ‘How very thoughtful of you, dear.’ Then, gritting her teeth in anger, ‘I hope Santa falls down the chimney and squashes you both to death.’
With that, she watched the man, formerly known as her lover, drag his cheating carcass and bulging case down the front path – and out of her life forever.
Chapter One
‘Yes, I did say sherry.’ Evie looked at the young barman in front of her and added impatiently. ‘Blue bottle Bristol Cream if you’ve got it. With ice, yes, thanks.’
She raised her hand as she saw Bea approaching through the Christmas revellers. From the outside looking in, they were a strange pair. Bea, five foot ten, with gangly limbs and long dark shiny hair, and Evie, five foot four, with her blonde curls and curvy hour-glass figure.
They had become thick as thieves at a previous employ – mainly due to Evie nervously covering up Bea’s scandalous relationship with the CEO of a rival company. Which (as most affairs do) ended in a sea of tears.
‘You look like shit, Evie.’
Evie’s blonde curls were more unruly than usual and her nose was red from blowing
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