India’s survey had shown up some damp on the front windows of her proposed new flat. Gina had been in touch with the owner’s UK representative, and he was coming to meet her there to discuss what needed to be done. When she arrived, Barry greeted her warmly, chatting about his day. Gina had a lot of time for him.
They walked out onto the balcony together, Barry pushing up the sleeves of his mint-green jumper, tilting his head to the May sunshine. She recalled India doing the same into the gathering dusk when she’d first seen the flat. How her face changed from pinched to relaxed when she saw the rooftops. Barry was clearly experiencing the same reaction.
“This is one of those flats, isn’t it?” He turned to her, his close-cropped hair not moving in the wind. Rooftops were breezy, that was another universal truth. Even in May. “The kind you have in your management portfolio, but would love to live in. I remember it being built and thinking the same. But my wife doesn’t want to live in central London with three children, so what can you do.” He gave Gina a shrug. “In another life, where I was a carefree bachelor, this would be my pad.”
“Mine, too, but my bank account disagrees,” Gina replied.
Barry laughed. “That’s also a consideration.” He stared out across the city. “You know what, I’m feeling good this morning. Plus, it’s India Contelli buying, and she seems lovely on the telly. Tell her I’ll get all the damp issues seen to asap if we can exchange by the end of this month. Okay?”
Gina nodded. “That sounds reasonable, I think she’ll be happy with that.”
Barry walked over and shook Gina’s hand. “Then we have a deal.” He swung his head back around to the view. “I know we could have done this over the phone, but I wanted to come and see this view one last time. Shame we don’t have a bottle of something to toast this sale, isn’t it?”
Gina laughed. What was it about rooftops that made people want to crack open booze?
Barry strolled back into the flat, waiting for Gina to lock up. “And you know what? I also wanted to say thank you for all you’ve done. You’re a great agent.”
Gina stopped in her tracks. “Thank you. It’s not often we get thanked.”
“I’ve been meaning to let you know.”
Gina waved him off, then got into her car, checking her phone. No reply from her sister yet. They had been due to have dinner later at their favourite restaurant in Canary Wharf, but Neeta hadn’t confirmed. Given her job, Gina was used to her sister cancelling plans at the last minute, but she desperately hoped tonight wasn’t one of those nights. Gina needed some good food cooked by someone else, in the company of somebody who got her.
If Neeta couldn’t be there, maybe Bernie would be able to? Although she’d been leaving work on time and seemingly had a never-ending stream of social engagements of late.
It flashed through Gina’s mind that India might want to have a rooftop date. But they hadn’t been in contact for a couple of weeks, so maybe that friendship was dying. Gina hoped not.
Gina’s phone bleeped with a message from Amy, letting her know there had been another two withdrawals from their business account this morning for the same couple of amounts. Also, one of just over £80 for something at TK Maxx.
Gina’s stomach sank. TK Maxx was Sara’s favourite shop, so Gina had always hated it irrationally. Nothing in their business needed to be bought at TK Maxx. What the hell was Bernie doing shopping there? Gina had asked Bernie about the withdrawals, but she had said it was a few lunches out, plus some last-minute client gifts. But something was off, she could feel it in her bones.
Gina needed to have a bigger chat with Bernie. She flicked through her phone to her calendar app. Perhaps Bernie had been buying her a present for her upcoming birthday? If she’d done it on the company account, Gina would be less than impressed.
Her phone flashed again, this time a message from India. Gina couldn’t stop the smile from invading her face. The message read: ‘Let me know about the flat when you hear. Would be lovely to meet up for a rooftop chat soon. x’
She’d signed it off with a kiss. Plus, India Contelli still wanted to meet her on a rooftop. That almost erased the fact mystery transactions were happening on the company’s business account. Almost. Gina sucked on her bottom lip, then checked her calendar again. Her next appointment wasn’t until this afternoon, and she was pretty sure Bernie was in the office this morning. No better time to confront her than now. Plus, their coffee machine did far better drinks than their local coffee shop on the corner.
Gina put on her seatbelt and started the engine.
Gina waved at Ranj from SpecStars as she parked up her car, then keyed in the code and walked up the beige-carpeted two flights to their office. Their building was ten years old, but somehow, it managed to retain that ‘new’ smell, as if it had just been pulled out of its wrapper. Gina approached their door, a plush branded sign proclaiming they were ‘Hot London Properties’. She tried the door, expecting it to be on the latch, but it wasn’t budging. Perhaps Bernie was still in TK Maxx. She used her key, smiling as she walked into their office.
However, what she saw next wiped the smile from her face in an instant.
Gina’s brain couldn’t quite compute what was happening in front of her. She gripped the door handle, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion.
Bernie was on the couch, her face stuck to someone else’s. Someone with familiar hair. Familiar clothes. A scent that took Gina back to the 18 months she’d spent with her.
Gina shook her head. Her stomach plunged. Her vision swayed, like she was on a particularly vomit-inducing ride at Alton Towers. She wanted to lean against the wall to steady herself. Her brain was having trouble accepting that Bernie was on their office couch with a woman.
The fact that woman was her ex, Sara, was enough to send Gina over the edge.
Gina let go of the door handle and advanced towards the pair, wanting to look away, but being inadvertently drawn to them, like watching a car crash.
Bernie and Sara? It made no sense at all. Bernie despised Sara. Had told Gina on many occasions how she’d done the right thing getting rid of her ‘dead wood’. But now Bernie was in their office, kissing Sara like this definitely wasn’t the first time it had happened. Kissing Sara so deeply, it took Gina clearing her throat for them to spring apart, and for Bernie to jump up, eyes wide, staring madly at Gina.
“Fucking hell, you scared the shit out of me!”
Gina didn’t even know what to say to that.
Bernie straightened herself up, pulling down her shirt, running a hand through her hair, wiping her mouth with the other. Sadly, it couldn’t erase the image from Gina’s mind. Bernie’s lips had just been kissing Sara’s.
“I don’t really care if I scared you.” Disbelief ebbed away, replaced by anger. “What the hell are you doing? You and Sara? Since when?”
Gina glanced at Sara, who wouldn’t meet her eye. Instead, she gripped the bottom of her denim skirt, intentionally not looking up.
“It’s not what it looks like,” Bernie told her.
Gina scoffed. “What is it exactly then, Bernie? What the fuck is this other than you snogging my ex?” Gina glanced at Sara. “I thought she was ‘dead wood’? I thought it was good that I’d got rid of her?”
Bernie spun around to Sara, shaking her head. “I never said that.”
Wow. At least Gina knew where she stood. Her business partner was putting Sara over her.
“You fucking did, Bernie.” Her anger heated up. It swirled in her veins, hot to the touch. She shook her head. “What is this? Are you together now?” Gina’s mind wound back to the strange payments that had been leaving their business account for the past few months. She began to join the dots. She’d lay bets they had something to do with Sara.
Bernie held up a hand. “I was going to tell you, there just never seemed to be an opportune time.”
“So you thought a public display of affection in our workplace would be the best way? I’ve got news for you, it’s not.”
Bernie shook her head, then took a step towards her. She went to touch Gina’s arm.
Gina shook her head. “Don’t touch me, not now.” She balled a fist at her side. “How long have you been fucking my ex?”
Bernie dropped her hand. “We’ve been seeing each other for a few months, and we were going to tell you.”
“A few months?” Gina’s voice was elevated as she scanned through what had happened in the past few months. The conversations she might have had with Bernie that had been relayed back to Sara. All the while, Bernie was sleeping with her.
Gina couldn’t quite believe it.
“Have you both been having a good laugh at my expense? When I say my expense, I mean it, literally. Amy’s been telling me there have been some payments coming from our business account that she couldn’t account for. Strange payments, but persistent. Including £80 spent at TK Maxx today.” Gina put a hand on her hip. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with Sara and you, would it?”
“It’s not Bernie’s fault, Gina.” Sara was wading in now. Just what Gina needed. “Bernie gave me money when I needed it. I took the wrong card to TK Maxx on Saturday. Bernie was going to replace the money.”
“Oh, was she?” Gina couldn’t quite believe her ears. “What about all the other money that’s disappeared, wrapped up as ‘client gifts’?”
Bernie shook her head. “Some of those were client gifts. A couple of times I took the money from our account by mistake, too. I was going to reimburse you. Sara is my problem now, not yours.”
Sara’s face fell. “I wouldn’t exactly say I’m a problem.”
Gina fully recognised the entitlement in Sara’s voice. She’d been on the end of it so many times.
Bernie’s cheeks flushed. “I meant responsibility.” She paused. “Or rather, my girlfriend.”
“Girlfriend?” Gina spat. “Are you joking with me?” Bernie had been with Gina through all the trials associated with Sara. How no job was suitable for Sara. How she always wanted the best, but could never pay for it. How she was a financial drain, then an emotional drain. Bernie had been with Gina the whole way. Now they were a couple?
“Gina, I was going to tell you, I promise. I was going to the other day, but I just couldn’t find the words.”
“I understand why.” Gina still couldn’t move. She was rooted to the spot.
“But Sara is my girlfriend now. We were just talking about telling you before you walked in. If I want to give her money, I can. But it should be my money, from my account. I know that.”
“You’re damn right it should. I’ve given her far too much money. I don’t want to give her another penny.”
Sara went to speak.
Gina held up a hand. “Please don’t chime in about being an artist and having cashflow issues. I’ve heard it all before.” She turned back to Bernie. “As have you, which is why none of this makes any sense.”
Gina needed to get away from this madness. Plus, she wasn’t ready to contemplate the consequences. How her business partner and friend had lied to her. Had compromised their business. Not to mention betrayed her confidence.
Gina took a deep breath. “I can’t even deal with this right now.”
Bernie closed her eyes, and went to say something.
“Whatever you’re going to say, save it. I’m going. Please don’t be here when I get back.” Tears pricked the back of Gina’s eyes. “I thought I meant more to you than this, I really did.”
Gina turned and fled down the stairs. There was a ringing in her ears. Lead in her stomach. A searing pain in her head.
She pushed open the main door, shielding her eyes against the lunchtime sun.
She had no idea where she was going.