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“She is. Believe me.”
I wish I did believe him, but I don’t, so I voice what else is on my mind. He’s on his feet with Cass’s plate in his hand ready for the dishwasher when I say it, and my words are enough to make him stall on the spot.
“So how about her resignation? How much of that decision of hers was made on an even footing? I don’t suppose you were silent while she pondered.”
He sweeps some crumbs from the counter, keeping his composure.
“Fuck off, Gerwyn. You know sweet fuck all about that.”
“No? Because it seemed to me like she’d worked pretty damn hard at her career, and it meant a hell of a lot to her.”
“Yeah, it did. And I’m sure it was hard for her when she handed in her notice, but some things happen that way. Unfortunate, but true.”
I’m confused.
“Happen what way?”
He shrugs with a sigh. “Some things are outside of our control, and Cass’s decision on that score was definitely not in her hands, and most certainly not in mine.”
I don’t understand, and my expression must say so.
“This should be her place to tell you, not mine,” he says. “But if you ask her she’s only going to feel more embarrassed than she feels already, so I’m doing her a favour by bringing you into the picture.”
“Ask her what? What happened?”
He looks almost pleased with himself as he answers, like he’s caught me in the act of being a twat.
“She fucked her client’s fiancé, then opted not to tell her. Hardly a very professional way to act in her career, and the aftermath proved that. Her client stormed into her office and demanded her resignation on the spot. A lovely woman called Claire, apparently. They were almost becoming friends. Quite a tragedy.”
My heart thumps like a beast in my chest.
“Cass had sex with her client’s fiancé?”
“Yes, and she enjoyed it very much. I have the video to prove it. Unfortunately, Cass opted to hide the truth rather than face up to the consequences of her actions and give her client the respect she deserved. That’s never a good thing, Gerwyn. Cass is very ashamed of herself, and although her resignation wasn’t easy, she’s very sure she made the right call.”
Ant laughs when he sees my surprise.
“Oh, Ger, I love the way you judge everyone by your holier than thou standards, believing in the best for all mankind, but unfortunately most people don’t work that way. Everybody has their dark side, including the brightest of the angels.” He looks me straight in the eye as he speaks. “Including the sweetest Cassandra, with her gorgeous smile.”
I’m mute as he walks past me, with the empty cake plate still in his hand.
“Believe me, crusader, I know my fiancée a damn sight better than you do. The sooner you come to accept that, the better.” He pats me on the back once the plate is in the dishwasher. “There’s a reason she’s my fiancée and not yours, no matter how much you’d like it to be the opposite.”
“What the hell–” I begin, but he shakes his head.
“It’s ok, Ger, you can deny it all you want, but maybe you should stop lying to yourself before you criticise other people for doing the same. You have feelings for Cass. I’ve known it since Berlin, but the deal was more than sealed when I saw you giving her an airlift to the Dirty Dancing soundtrack.” He smirks a snarky smirk. “You can’t disguise that kind of shit from me. I know you far too well.”
“You think I’m in love with your fiancée?” I ask him, and his sigh says it all.
“I know you’re in love with my fiancée, and quite honestly, I don’t blame you.” He laughs before he walks away. “After all, I’m in love with her myself.”
“Ant–” I call out as he reaches the stairs, but he holds a hand up.
“Like I said, I can’t say I blame you. Just make sure you don’t let that taint your opinion of everything else. You’re hardly an impartial observer, so you’d better put your crusader card to bed when it comes to my relationship.”
His stare is cold, and it chills me to my heart. I feel guilty enough that I feel sick when he speaks again.
“You’re my best friend for a reason, and I don’t ever want that to change. You and Cass are the people I love most in the world, and I’d do anything for either of you, so long as it made you happy.”
“I know,” is all I can say.
“Good,” he says, and his smile turns warm. “Best put your crusader sword away by the morning, then, and life can go on as planned.”
Cass
Ant holds me in bed, assuring me over and over again how I didn’t need to run outside. How a simple no would have sent the guys away without running to Gerwyn.
