And the three of them began to laugh.
CHAPTER 27
Langthorpe’s Gym was busy, even for a Thursday evening. Looking around her, Calvary noted the rows of similarly well-dressed women pounding the treadmills, beads of sweat forming on their perfectly shaped brows. She quickly glanced at herself in the mirror; Stella McCartney work-out gear. Check. iPod. Check. Bottle of Buxton. Check. She was good to go.
Having had a little refresher session with ‘Tony’ a perma-tannned young man with a set of buttocks you could crack a nut between, Calvary tentatively made her way over to the running machines. Smiling graciously at the woman next to her, who briefly smiled back, she began with a steady-paced walk and, settling into a natural rhythm, allowed her mind to wander.
Ever since Lake Como and Imogen’s plan revelation, Calvary had thought of little else other than getting down into the vaults at Forbes Bank and relieving Douglas of his tidy stash. She fantasised about the look of horror on his handsome face when he discovered she’d made off with his money. Just thinking about it made her pick up speed.
Calvary looked into the mirrored wall at the other women in the gym. Douglas had probably screwed half of them, faithless bastard that he was, that man had slept with so many women throughout their marriage it was surely an act of God that his dick hadn’t turned black and fallen off. Yet still, after everything, after all the cheating and lies and rejection, she had still been unable to walk away. Why had her marriage meant so much to her? These days, getting a divorce couldn’t be any easier; a burger and chips sometimes took longer to arrive than a decree nisi. But Calvary was old-fashioned at heart. You stuck at it; ironed out the lumps and bumps; you moved on, you forgave.
Calvary began to sprint, as if her troubles were right behind her, chasing her.
‘Well, looks like someone’s had a good workout?’ a vaguely familiar voice said from behind her. ‘It’s lovely to see you again, Calvary,’ Josia said, smiling up at her warmly.
‘Oh!’ she replied, feigning her surprise. ‘I had no idea you worked here.’ This was a blatant lie and Calvary knew it. The truth was she had wanted to find the young man she had met outside the Saachi Gallery again. She had not been able to stop thinking about their encounter; the quickening of her heartbeat, her coy self-consciousness, how their conversation had disarmed her.
He took her hand and helped her from the treadmill.
‘Only on Thursdays and at the weekend. The rest of the week it’s all personal clients.’ He allowed his eyes to wander the length of her body. ‘Who is looking after you?’
‘Tony, at least I think that’s what he said his name was,’ Calvary said nonchalantly in a bid to show that she wasn’t the least bit interested in the young man with muscles.
‘Ah, you’re in safe hands. He’s good. Though not as good as me!’ Josia grinned. You could say that again, Calvary thought, taking him in properly for the first time. He was taller than she had remembered, and broader too, with a strong, lithe body that looked exceedingly well cared for. He wasn’t all ‘ripped’ or whatever they called it, but his arms and legs were well defined, strong and shapely. In fact, he appeared a whole lot more attractive in the daylight, dressed only in shorts and a Nike t-shirt, than she had thought on the night outside the gallery. He seemed older too; she noticed a few fine lines around his eyes and mouth, giving his youthful face a certain distinguished appearance, and a smattering of grey throughout his dark brown hair. For the first time in years, Calvary felt a jolt of electricity run the length of her body and settle between her legs, where it remained, pulsing and twitching.
‘So, you’re going to be a regular here now?’ Josia enquired, wondering why he felt such a strong attraction to this woman. She was attractive, certainly, but that wasn’t it. It was like he could see straight through her offhand veneer to the sensitive, soft woman he sensed was inside, a woman whose sexuality had been lying dormant for far too long, one who needed reminding that she was still worthy of being cherished. He was quite overcome by the desire to kiss her there and then.
‘I’m still thinking about it,’ Calvary replied, noncommittal. ‘Truth be known, I’ve never been a big fan of the gym.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘I always seem to lose momentum.’ She shifted her position then, suddenly uncomfortable with herself as she rested her body weight against the metal bar of the machine. He was looking directly at her and it was a little disconcerting. ‘I prefer the odd run,’ she was babbling now. ‘Keeps me in shape. Well, sort of,’ she said, patting her belly and laughing nervously. She cursed herself for having drawn attention to the part of her body she liked least.
‘It’s the best fat-burning exercise there is,’ he nodded, tactfully adding, ‘Though I can think of one that’s more fun.’ He smiled at her mischievously and she did her best not to blush. ‘Maybe we could run together one morning,’ he said tentatively. He knew she was spiky; any suggestion of anything improper and he would be given short sharp shrift, of that he was in no doubt.
Calvary’s heart was pounding in her chest. Good God, woman, get a grip, she told herself sternly.
‘Yes. Perhaps,’ she nodded politely.
‘Well, which is it? Yes or perhaps?’
Calvary smiled wryly and paused for a moment.
‘Yes,’ she said eventually. ‘I would like that.’
‘Great!’ Josia smiled, displaying his perfectly white neat teeth. ‘How about Monday, say 6:30 a.m?’
Calvary pretended not to look horrified.
‘The earlier the better,’ she smiled.
After showering, Calvary left the gym feeling better than she had done in ages. She wasn’t sure what it was; the endorphins from the treadmill or the fact that she knew she would be seeing Josia again. Whatever the reason, for the first time since she could remember, Calvary Rothschild felt that anything was possible.
CHAPTER 28
Imogen’s getaway to the lakes had been an emotional turning point for her and in the weeks that had followed, meeting regularly with her friends to plot her retribution had given her a renewed strength and confidence. What had started out as little more than an idealistic fantasy was now fast becoming a very possible reality. One that was keeping her going.
Now that their plan was really starting to take shape, she felt the cumbersome weight begin to lift from her shoulders, but it did not entirely erase the sharp sting of betrayal she felt whenever she thought of her husband’s cold-hearted deception.
Sweeping her hair from her face and tying it into a loose chignon, Imogen took some cotton pads from her dressing table and began to remove her make-up with some Shu Uemura oil. She would play things carefully over the next few weeks, actually go out of her way to be nice to Seb, get him onside, as much as you could get someone like Seb onside, anyway. She would lie low, blend into the background, convince him that his twisted plan had worked.
Imogen watched as Seb exited the en-suite, dressed only in his silk boxer shorts. She couldn’t help noticing that he was carrying a little extra weight around his middle these days, no doubt as a result of all those self-congratulatory lunches he’d been to and that his once-thick, dark thatch of hair was beginning to thin out.
‘Prince Saud’s invited us both on board his yacht for a long weekend in St Barts next month,’ he announced, wrapping himself in a cashmere Versace robe. ‘If you’ve got anything else planned, I suggest you cancel it.’
She watched as he began to comb his hair behind her in the mirror.
‘No problem,’ she replied breezily. ‘I’ll clear my diary. I mean, I’m sure there’s nothing I can’t rearrange.’
‘Good.’ Seb smiled at her in the mirror and she forced one in return. ‘It’s one hell of a boat by all accounts. Private cinema, gym, platinum-tiled swimming pools, the lot. He’s planning on throwing a huge cocktail party and inviting half of the Hollywood aristocracy. I could hardly have said no to that, could I?’
‘Of course not. It sounds wonderful. But you do realise t
his means one thing?’
‘That being?’ he asked ominously.
‘I’ll have to go shopping for a few cruise essentials.’
‘Any excuse, eh, darling?’ Seb smirked, albeit good-humouredly.
‘Well, you know me,’ Imogen sang. ‘Anyway, you wouldn’t want your wife to be outshone by all those oligarchs and Saudi princesses now would you?’
‘I suppose not.’
‘I’ll pick up a few things for you too, if you like. Save you having to worry about it all last minute.’
Sebastian glanced over at her.
‘Thanks.’ He was pleased. They were getting along unexpectedly well at the moment. Even their sex life had improved; something that was as surprising as it was welcome.
‘It’ll do us good to have a little break away together,’ he said. ‘It’s been a while since we had a proper holiday. I realise I’ve been overdoing it on the work front and neglecting you a little. So I’ve made a decision to take a bit more time out for myself – and for us. After all, all work and no play makes Sebastian a dull boy.’
Imogen hid a wry smile and resisted the urge to fire off a facetious retort.
‘Good idea. It’s about time you sat back a bit, let someone else take the reins for a while.’
‘Leave it with me,’ he said, watching her as she rubbed the cream into her smooth, tanned skin. Imogen caught his stare and felt her heart sink in her chest. He had that amorous look in his eye again. She knew she was going to have to soft soap him for a while, but she had hoped her recent bedroom efforts might’ve kept him quiet for a little while longer at least. If anything though, it seemed to have had the opposite effect. Still, she thought as she stood, opening her Carine Gilson silk kimono robe and allowing it to slide down her newly moisturized body, it was all for a good cause. She would put in a performance worthy of an Oscar if the end result meant watching that bastard she was married to squirm.
CHAPTER 29
‘Can we stop now, just for a moment?’ Calvary struggled to catch her breath. She was bleary-eyed, having got up with dawn’s chorus, and now she was jarring her spine by running all the way to Hyde Park, for goodness’ sakes – and all on an empty stomach! What had she been thinking? Cute as Josia was, she wasn’t sure anyone was worth this much discomfort.
Calvary bent over, placing her hands on her knees and panting heavily.
‘You’re doing great,’ Josia said encouragingly. ‘We’re almost at my apartment, which means we’re over a quarter of the way there already.’
‘A quarter? Whoopee,’ Calvary groaned sarcastically and didn’t care that he’d heard her. ‘I’ll never make it,’ she said, her chest heaving between breaths.
Josia frowned. ‘C’mon,’ he implored. ‘I never had you down as a quitter.’
‘Oh, there’s plenty you don’t know about me,’ Calvary snorted.
‘For instance?’
‘For instance, I lied. I’m no runner. I haven’t been to the gym in over two years, unless it’s been to have a spa treatment, and my idea of keeping fit is taking the stairs in Harvey Nichols instead of the lift. There, will that do you?’
Josia laughed.
‘You must have inherited some great genes to have kept a body like that without any effort at all.’
Calvary felt herself blush and was glad of the fact that her cheeks were already red from running. She wasn’t used to compliments, wasn’t sure how to handle them.
‘Can’t we just walk for a bit?’ she asked, still panting heavily. ‘I feel a little light-headed.’
‘Are you sure you’re OK?’ Josia asked, concern etched onto his smooth-skinned face.
He looked just as handsome today as he had when she had seen him at the gym, she thought, even at this ungodly hour of the morning. She felt worn out just looking at him.
‘Let’s face it, I’m just not as fit as I once was. If I ever was.’
‘I think you’re pretty fit,’ he remarked, tongue in cheek.
‘Stop teasing,’ she nudged him. ‘I mean, I really do need to work out more. After all, I’m not getting any younger.’
‘I think age is a beautiful thing,’ Josia shrugged. ‘Why fight it? I love to see a woman age gracefully. That is beauty to me.’
Calvary tried not to be touched by his sentiment, but thought better of mentioning all the little syringes full of help she’d had to stave off the years.
‘Well, that’s easy for you to say; you’re young. And you’re a man. It’s different for women.’
‘Only because you make it different. You put all that pressure to be thin and young looking on yourselves.’
‘Oh please, spare me the lecture.’ Calvary rolled her eyes. ‘You sound just like my husband.’
Josia looked momentarily hurt. ‘And how is your husband?’
Calvary lowered her eyes.
‘I’d rather not talk about him if you don’t mind.’
‘Suit yourself. I just wondered if you’d come to any kind of decision about what you plan to do about your son’s wedding …’
Calvary admired the man’s brazenness. He certainly didn’t dance around a subject.
‘Did you think about what I said, about fear being the biggest fear itself?’
Calvary stopped walking and turned to face him.
‘I appreciate your concern about the state of my marriage, Josia,’ she said curtly. ‘But I’d rather you didn’t bring it up again. It is my business and no concern of yours. So if you don’t mind, I …’
He lunged forward and kissed her then, his soft, thick lips pressing their warmth against hers, parting slightly as they made impact.
Stunned, Calvary pulled away from him, quickly scanning the street to see if anyone had seen them.
‘How dare you!’ she said in a tone that was far more horrified than she actually was. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing?’
‘I live here,’ he grinned, pointing up towards a stucco-fronted row of apartments.
‘Good for you,’ Calvary shot back, steadying herself against the wall. The kiss had left her giddy with endorphins.
She turned on her heels, ready to walk away from him, but he was way too quick for her, and, grabbing her by the upper arm, spun her round and pulled her into his arms.
‘Not so fast,’ he whispered in her ear, his breath warm against her neck. ‘I want to make love to you, Calvary. Let me make love to you.’
She could feel his hardness through his shorts as he stood close and she felt her own desire begin to throb until it hurt. The truth was, as excited as she was by his proposition, she was bloody terrified. She had made love to the same man for over a quarter of a century and had long ago forgotten what burning lust and desire felt like. Now that she was experiencing it again, Calvary was almost blinded by panic and crippling insecurity. Would she be a good lover? Would her aging, naked body turn him off? Would he turn to look at her afterwards and realise what a huge mistake he had made? Anyway, she had never cheated on Douglas throughout their entire marriage. Not once. Not even with a kiss, for all the bloody good it had done her.
Josia took her in his arms again, pulling her body into his. He placed his lips firmly on hers, his warm tongue finding its way into her mouth. The old Calvary Rothschild would’ve slapped his face, indignant by such advances. But this was the new Calvary Rothschild. The improved version.
Oh, to hell with it, she thought, her body softening as his embrace tightened. It was about time she had some fun.
CHAPTER 30
Smoothing her hands down her asymmetric Preen dress and opening the belt on her Burberry Prorsum trench coat, Yasmin Belmont-Jones thrust her Juicy Couture red patent clutch bag underneath her arm, rubbed her glossy lips together and, taking a deep breath, knocked firmly on the door marked 37.
‘It’s open,’ a small voice sang out.
Entering the hotel room, she was met by the sight of Sammie Grainger. Her face, newly scrubbed and free of make-up, looked dewy and fresh and she wa
s dressed casually in a pair of baggy boyfriend jeans and a Breton top. She looked like any other young, twenty-something lounging around on a Sunday morning and her ease made Yasmin feel suddenly over-dressed and conspicuous.
‘I’m so glad you decided to come, thank you for giving me a second chance,’ Sammie smiled at her in earnest. ‘Please, come in, I’ve ordered us fresh coffee and croissants. I hope you like pain au chocolat.’
Yasmin held her hand up.
‘I won’t be staying,’ she said tightly.
Sammie closed the door behind her and watched as Yasmin stalked into the middle of the suite, her countenance steely.
Sammie could’ve kicked herself for having played her ace card so soon – and so publicly too. She had since had to beg Yasmin via numerous text messages to meet her today. This time she planned to go as carefully as possible; she wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice.
‘I only came here to tell you that if I hear from you anymore, if you call me, text me, turn up at my house, in fact, if I so much as accidentally bump into you on the street, I will take out a restraining order against you.’ Yasmin’s voice was hard as flint, making it perfectly obvious that this was not a friendly visit. ‘Whatever this ridiculous, slanderous story is that you’ve concocted, I will take it straight to a judge and have him slap a ban on you and your publication from printing a goddamn word of it. Am I making myself clear?’
Sammie stared at Yasmin for a long moment. As unnerved as she was by her menacing tone, she had to admit that she looked beautiful standing there, defiant in all her finery, even if she was a little overstated for a lazy Sunday afternoon.
‘Crystal,’ Sammie nodded. ‘So, was that all you came to tell me?’
Yasmin glanced at her, suspiciously. She had hoped to have seen a little more fear in Sammie’s eyes but seemed she’d be left wanting. That was the thing with South London girls, they didn’t scare easy.
‘Yes. That’s all.’
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