The Importance of Being Married (28 page)

“But as for my commitment,” Anthony continued, “it is complete.”

“Complete?” I arched an eyebrow.

“I’ll be devoted,” Anthony said, nodding.

“Devoted to me?” I was going off Sean’s script now, but I couldn’t help wondering why. “When you could have any girl in London?”

“Why would I want to?” Anthony’s eyes were glistening mischievously and his hand moved toward my leg.

“But…” I stared at him, perplexed, caught between wanting to know why he was interested in me and wanting his hand to keep doing what it was doing. “Why me?”

“Because no one else drives me this wild, Jessica Wild,” Anthony said, shifting his chair closer to mine. “Because, unlike Sean, I don’t intend to waste my chances.”

His voice was soft and low; his mouth moved toward my neck, sending electrical currents down my body. I even seemed to be vibrating.

Then I realized it was my mobile phone in my pocket.

“Excuse me,” I said, pulling away briefly and flashing Anthony an apologetic smile.

I had a message from Helen.
RU at drnks now? Sean called to remind you: hot and COLD. Leave early. xx

I didn’t want to leave early. I was enjoying myself.

“Anyway,” Anthony continued, resuming his exploration of my neck as I shoved my mobile into my bag, “you fascinate me, Jessica Wild. I feel like I know nothing about you. You’re elusive. And I like that.”

“You…do?” I asked, reminding myself to breathe in and out.

“Of course. Keeps me on my toes.”

“Right. On your toes.”

“Shall we go back to mine?”

“Yes…I mean…what? Now?”

Anthony looked up at me, grinning. “I’ve got food in the fridge. And more champagne. Come home with me.”

I cleared my throat. Hot and cold. Maybe I’d just focus on the hot part this evening. Maybe cold could wait until tomorrow. Or the next day. Or…

“Anthony?” I looked up and Anthony pulled away.

“Tamara.” He smiled easily. “How are you?”

“I’m well. Thank you.” Tamara was a tall, elegant blonde who was regarding me rather frostily. She bestowed a large smile on Anthony, though. “I haven’t seen you for ages. Where have you been hiding?”

He grinned back. “Oh, you know. Keeping busy.” He grabbed her hand playfully. “This is Jessica. Jessica Wild. And Jess, this is Tamara.”

I smiled politely. Based on not very much, I decided I didn’t like her; she appeared to have come to the same conclusion about me.

“Delighted,” she said, with an expression that suggested she was anything but.

“So how about you, Tam?” Anthony asked, evidently oblivious to our animosity. “What have you been up to?”

Tamara flicked her hair. “The usual,” she said. “Going out, staying in, doing a bit of work here and there. Anyway, I’m on my way to Selina’s for a party, if you want to come. Everyone’s going.”

“A party, you say?” Anthony’s eyes lit up, and he turned to me. “What do you reckon, Jess?”

“A party!” I said, trying to sound enthusiastic, wishing that Tamara would disappear into a puff of smoke. “That sounds nice. Although, I’m not sure. I mean, I thought maybe I might…we might…”

Anthony pulled a hangdog expression. “We don’t have to stay long. Just a quick meet and greet…”

I smiled weakly. “I suppose…”

“Great! Tam, why don’t you help us finish this champagne?”

“Love to,” Tam said, smiling warmly for the first time and sitting down next to Anthony. Anthony shot me a
what-can-you-do?
smile and waved over a waiter to get her a glass.

“You know, Gill, don’t stay on my account. If you need to go somewhere.” Tamara was smiling thinly at me; I felt myself getting warm.

“Jess. It’s Jess,” I managed to say. Quickly I touched Anthony’s hand the way Ivana had taught me and pressed my arms together. Anthony immediately looked appreciatively at my cleavage.

“She’s not going anywhere,” he said, squeezing my hand reassuringly.

“You know,” Tamara said, leaning in suddenly, “Marc was telling me that you’ve got some big thing planned. A moneymaking ruse. Do tell. Sounds very intriguing.”

Anthony frowned slightly. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just work, you know.”

“Really?” Tamara looked disappointed. “He seemed to think you had some hugely cunning plan.”

“Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you,” Anthony said, winking, “but that’s all it is. Just a new deal.”

“A new deal?” I asked. Questions. I had to ask questions. “What sort of deal? Are you expanding or something?”

Anthony shrugged and smiled at me. “Oh, something like that. Look, I really shouldn’t be discussing it. It’s nothing. It’s—”

“Work’s always boring,” Tamara said, faking a yawn. “Like this place. Come on, shall we go?”

“I don’t think work is boring,” I said pointedly. “I think it’s interesting, actually.” I looked at Anthony with what I hoped was a supportive expression. But instead of smiling appreciatively, he rolled his eyes.

“It isn’t interesting. Not at all. But Tamara’s right, this place is. Let’s go to the party.”

“Now?” I bit my lip. I didn’t want to go to a party, particularly if the people there were anything like Tamara. “Why don’t we stay a bit longer? We haven’t even finished the champagne.”

“Oh no!” Tamara said, her eyes widening, then she laughed, drily. “I think if you look at the bottle closely, you’ll see that it’s sparkling wine, not the real thing. I’m not sure I’m prepared to hang around here any longer for a few sips of this rubbish.”

“Too right,” Anthony said, standing up. “Let’s get out of here. Shall we get a cab to Selina’s?”

“Already? I mean, right now?” I asked anxiously. What would Ivana do now? I wondered. Arm-wrestle Anthony to the floor?

“Of course we should get a cab,” Tamara said, ignoring me completely and gazing at Anthony. “You know I don’t like to walk unless I absolutely have to.” She let her eyes rest on me as I stood up, looking me up and down. She didn’t look particularly impressed.

And I wasn’t particularly impressed when Anthony offered her his arm.

“You know what?” I said, suddenly deciding that now was the time for Cold. Frosty, even. I wasn’t even putting on an act this time. “I think I might go. I’ve…I’ve got a few things I need to do.”

“Go?” Anthony looked at me wide-eyed. “Why would you go? We’re going to a party. Then we’re…” He grinned mischievously. “Then we’ve got plans, haven’t we?”

I faltered slightly. Maybe I’d overreacted. Maybe he was just being polite to Tamara.

“Look,” I said, pulling him closer. “How about we forget the party and skip straight to our plans,” I said in my most seductive voice, giving him a meaningful look.

“You can’t miss the party,” Tamara said quickly. Evidently she had ears like a bat. “Everyone’s going to be there.”

I forced a smile. “I’m not sure I know everyone,” I said levelly.

“You will if you come to the party,” Anthony said, pulling his puppy-dog expression again. “Come on, Jess. It’ll be fun.”

“Lots of fun,” Tamara said in a way that suggested I wouldn’t have much fun at all.

“I’m not really in the mood for a party,” I heard myself say. I was willing Anthony to tell Tamara we’d give it a miss, desperate for him to leave with me, not her.

“But it won’t be any fun without you,” Anthony whined. So he was going. With or without me. Of course he was. Had I really thought he might not?

“Tell you what,” I said, taking a deep breath. “Why don’t I take a rain check. We’ll come back to our plans another day. Okay?” Quickly, before I could change my mind, I gave Anthony a little wave and made my way out of the bar.

As I reached the door I heard someone coming up behind me and turned to see Anthony, a quizzical expression on his face. “Jess, what’s up?” he asked. “Don’t rush off like this. Stay.”

I shook my head. “Anthony, I was under the impression that we were having dinner tonight, not going to a party. So now I’m going to go home.”

“But we…I…look, I won’t go,” he said quickly. “I’ll tell Tamara I’ve…well, I’ll think of something. If that’s what you want. Just say the word and I’ll jack.”

I looked at him for a moment. “If that were true,” I said gently, opening the door in front of me, “you’d already have told her. Bye, Anthony.”

I walked down the street as quickly as I could in my high heels. I was almost becoming Jessica Wiiild, I realized.

“Jess?” I looked up, startled, then stopped when I realized who it was: Max. I hadn’t registered that I was standing just feet away from the entrance to Milton Advertising.

“Hi, Max. Just leaving work?” I should have been working that evening, I found myself thinking. I still hadn’t gotten going on Project Handbag and in the great scheme of things maybe it was more important than Project Marriage. For one thing, Project Handbag had a hope of actually being a success.

Max nodded. “And you? I thought you were out with Anthony.” His expression was unreadable.

“I was. I…” I shrugged. “Someone called Tamara turned up. They’re going to some party,” I said, barely able to hide the irritation in my voice.

“Ah, Tamara,” Max said, nodding sagely. “Tall, stupid, and very annoying?”

I grinned. “You know her then.”

“Yeah. I can see why you didn’t stay. Anthony’s choice in friends has always been rather dubious in my opinion.”

“You’re his friend,” I pointed out.

“I suppose,” Max conceded. “So where are you off to? Home? Can I walk you to the tube?”

I looked at him uncertainly. Max and I hadn’t really talked to each other much lately. Not since I’d started dating Anthony. Not since I’d decided he was work-obsessed and difficult. “Sure,” I said. “Thanks.”

We started to walk; immediately a silence fell. An awkward silence.

“So how’s the account going?” Max said after a few seconds.

“Project Handbag? Oh, great. You know,” I said, slightly defensively. The truth was I’d barely looked at it in days; I’d been too busy acting hot and cold and receiving gifts from “Sean.”

“Great.”

We carried on walking; the tension was becoming uncomfortable. Finally, we got to the tube.

“You…coming in?” I asked tentatively.

Max shook his head. “No. I’m going to…” He gestured vaguely along the road, and I nodded.

“Okay, well, see you tomorrow, I guess,” I said, attempting a smile.

“Yes,” Max said. Then he frowned. “Unless…”

“Unless?” I looked toward the turnstile, then back at him.

“Unless you…you want to go for a drink?” he said suddenly. “If you don’t have to get home. I mean, not for long, if you’ve got other things…”

I thought for a moment. “No. I’d like that. I’d like that very much.”

“Good!” Max’s face lit up. “That’s…well, good.”

“Just one thing,” I said, wincing slightly.

“Yes?” Max’s face was earnest.

“You mind if we pop back to the office so I can change my shoes? These high heels are killing me.”

“Of course,” Max looked relieved. “I never understood why women wear those things anyway.”

“They make your legs look longer,” I said as we turned around.

“But your legs are perfectly long enough.” Max caught my eye and blushed. “For walking, I mean,” he added immediately. “A perfectly practical length. In my opinion. I mean…To be clear, what I was trying to say was that your legs…”

“Thanks, Max,” I said, smiling to myself as I hobbled along. “I know what you were trying to say. So where shall we go?”

“There’s a nice pub around the corner,” Max said, shooting me a little smile. “It’s nothing fancy but they do a great pint of bitter.”

“Bitter?” I raised an eyebrow teasingly. “Don’t old fuddy-duddies drink that?”

“Yes, we do.” Max grinned. “And what about you? Bitter not good enough for you, is it?”

“A glass of wine will do nicely, thank you.” I smiled.

He nodded as we walked. Then, suddenly, he stopped.

“So you’re not serious about Anthony?”

I stopped, too. I wasn’t prepared for that question. Not from Max.

“Not serious?” I asked. “What do you mean?”

He wasn’t looking at me; he was still looking straight ahead.

“I mean, are the two of you serious. In a serious relationship. One that might go somewhere?”

I gulped. Only down the aisle, I was thinking. But that would never happen. Not really.

“I don’t think so,” I said quietly. “No, I would say that we’re not serious.”

“Good.”

“It is?” I looked at Max tentatively.

“No, not good. Well, sort of good. I mean…” Max put his hands through his hair awkwardly. “Good for work relations. You know, no complications. Office politics, that sort of thing.”

“Oh, right,” I said, a little stab of disappointment hitting my stomach. Disappointment seemed to dog me where Max was concerned: you’d think I’d have learned by now.