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“Because she’s sleeping with me.” Julian rounds the corner, tugging on the grey long-sleeve cashmere hoodie from Brunello Cucinelli as he walks straight over to our father. “Harley—” Julian grins, extending his hand. He’s wearing little black Moncler scuffs now, and I think it’s adorable that he brought slippers to my house.
My father shakes his head — laughing, if you can believe it! — and pulls him into a hug. “Jules.”
Bridget stands there looking between them, jaw dropped.
Julian and Gus shake hands.
“Waterhouse!” Julian clasps both of Gus’s hands. “So good to see you, man—” He looks from Gus to Harley. “Boys, that Bieber song was fucking tight.”
I blink a few times.
“Wait, hold on.” All the men look at me. I stare over at my father with a frown. “Are we from dirty money?”
My father folds his arms over his chest and Julian snorts a laugh.
“I swear to god, Harley — you tell me right now. Are we?”
I glance at Julian, giving him a polite smile. “No offence. Dirty money is better that new money,” I concede. “Imagine being from new money…” I shake my head and laugh. “Yuck.”
Bridget covers her face with her hands, sighing.
I peer over at Julian, hands on my hips. “What is it that you do?”
“Yes, Julian,” Bridget pipes up. “What is it you do?”
His eyes pinch playfully at my sister. “I’m an art collector.”
“Oh, really? How do you collect it?” my sister asks, blinking brightly.
Julian squashes a smile. “Back channels.”
“Oh.” I nod, not really wanting more information than that. I suspect there’s plenty and I suspect I shouldn’t much like to know it.
“How do you know each other?” I wave my hand in the direction of the men.
“Mutual friends,” my father says vaguely.
Julian wobbles his head around. “We’ve partied together.”
Bridget pulls a face.
“Weird.” I blink.
“Very weird.” Bridge nods.
“Did you see him having affairs with other women?” I ask brightly.
Julian nods casually. “Hundreds of times, yeah.”
My father gives him a tight smile and Bridget nods to herself. “Lovely.”
“Oh.” I purse my lips.
“So how long’s this been a thing?” Gus gestures between Julian and me, casting my father a look.
“Not long.” Julian shrugs dismissively. “She’s a fucking handful.”
My father emphatically nods at the same time Gus says, “Yeah, yeah,” all while my sister says, “Isn’t she though?”
