AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘You’re having me on,’ Kitty said. ‘This isn’t what we agreed.’
‘We didn’t “agree” anything,’ Olly said. ‘What are you talking about? Come on, Kitty. The game’s up. Don’t make it difficult for us all.’
‘You worm.’ Kitty looked as if she’d like to hit him. ‘How do you sleep at night?’
‘What’s it to be? A graceful exit or are you going to fight me all the way to the door and lose your references on the way out?’
I felt like I had to interrupt him. Kitty was my employee after all. ‘Can’t we talk about this? I’m not sure I understand what’s happening. Did you do this, Kitty?’
Sasha reached over and put her hand on my knee. ‘Anna, it’s okay. Olly and I want to do this for you. Kitty’s been using you very badly.’
‘Have you?’ I asked her.
She met my eye but she looked shifty, as if she was trying to decide what to say. I knew then that she was guilty of deceiving me and the sense of betrayal was shocking and painful.
‘They’re taking you for a ride,’ she said. ‘Don’t trust them.’ But I didn’t believe her.
‘Hey!’ Olly snapped. ‘How dare you?’
‘Don’t!’ she told him. To me, she said, ‘They’ve got you wrapped around their little fingers and they’re never going to let you go.’ Her face was red with anger, and I felt frightened of her. I was seeing a side of her that I never imagined existed.
Sasha got up and came to stand by me, as if shielding me from Kitty. I stood, too, suddenly claustrophobic, not wanting to be part of this any longer. Sasha caught my arm. ‘Look at me,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry you had to learn about it in this way, but we thought it was better to have it out with everybody in the room.’
I shook my head. I didn’t feel so good. I thought I might throw up, or faint.
‘Your mother would be disgusted with you,’ Kitty told Olly.
‘What the hell has she got to do with anything? You’re the kind of person who’s eaten up with jealousy of others because you never achieved anything yourself. You might think that ifyou hang around you can exert your toxic influence over Anna and persuade her to keep you on, and you might have been right if we hadn’t been here. But it’s time for you to go.’
The last thing I saw before I passed out was Kitty launching herself at Olly.
31
THURSDAY
Jen
Jen jogs downstairs, the soles of her shoes squeaking on the treads, the squeak echoing painfully in the stairwell at the station.
She opens the door into the reception area. The receptionist sees her and indicates a seat in the corner where Kitty, the housekeeper from the Manor, sits, looking neat, prim and fearful.
Jen offers her hand and Kitty shakes it limply. The skin on Kitty’s palm is hard. Jen can feel callouses. Working hands. She asks Kitty to follow her and leads her through the station, glancing back now and then with a smile that Kitty returns cautiously. Jen holds the door to the interview room open for her.
‘Sorry this room isn’t the most comfortable,’ Jen says. ‘It’s all we could get at short notice.’ Hal is already there. He gets to his feet, shakes Kitty’s hand. Kitty looks around, taking everything in.
‘Can I get you a drink?’ Jen asks. ‘I’ll be honest, the coffee here is terrible but it’s hot and caffeinated.’
Kitty shakes her head. She sits where indicated, takes her time getting comfortable. She rests her handbag on her lap and places her hands on top of it as if it’s a safety barrier, between her and them. Jen notes something that she hasn’t before: Kitty’s wearing a chunky engagement ring with a very large stone in it – a diamond? – and a wedding band.
‘What a lovely ring,’ Jen says.
Kitty glances at it. ‘Yes,’ she says. ‘Isn’t it?’ She twists it around her finger.
Jen doesn’t remember Kitty saying that she was married, and she has the impression Kitty lives alone. Perhaps she’s bereaved. Probably the reason Jen hasn’t noticed the rings before is that Kitty takes them off when she’s working.
‘What can we do for you?’ Hal asks.
Kitty swallows. She twists the ring a little faster. Jen can feel her nerves.
