went on levelly, ‘That’s private. I don’t need to tell you that.’
‘No,’ she said, stunned. ‘Do you—I mean—who?’
‘An interesting question.’ Still no emotion.
Annis thought of the legal structure of the company. She had gone through it with a fine-tooth comb only three months ago.
‘They must have someone inside. One of the partners,’ she said, thinking aloud.
‘Quite.’
Her eyes flew to his face, remorseful. He had three partners, every one of them an old and trusted friend. If this thing was true, then it would be a betrayal of more than business ethics.
‘Oh, Gil, I’m so sorry,’ said Annis, distressed.
He gave a barely perceptible shrug.
‘I can deal with it. I just need to get to New York without arousing the insider’s suspicions. I thought—if I said it was part of your analysis of my job but you needed to get it done before your wedding, I would have a sound reason for bringing forward my usual April trip to now.’
‘Camouflage,’ Annis said, enlightened.
‘Yes. Will you do it?’
She hesitated. She had planned to stay in England until the wedding. There was so much to do.
But Bella was in New York. Annis was pretty sure that if she talked to Bella face to face she could get her to change her mind. Maybe even get her to be a bridesmaid. She had not told Lynda yet that Bella had turned her down. Maybe this trip was a golden opportunity.
‘Yes,’ she said with sudden decisiveness. ‘When?’
‘This evening.’
Annis gulped.
‘I’ve had Ellen book you a ticket,’ he said misunderstanding her reaction. ‘All you need is a passport and a toothbrush.’
‘And a briefcase if I’m to be any good as camouflage,’ said Annis tartly. She was recovering. ‘All right. But I’d better get moving.’
She went out to his secretary.
‘Ellen, have you really got an air ticket for me?’
His PA grinned. ‘And a car booked to take you back to London now and then on to Gatwick airport. And some dollar notes. And your hotel reservation in case you miss the flight. Thinks ahead, does Gil.’
She fished out a package from under her desk.
‘High-handed,’ said Annis, ruffled.
‘I know,’ said Ellen, sighing. ‘Wasted on a computer, isn’t he? Tall, dark and handsome and all he thinks about is Watifdotcom. Never even made it to the Christmas party.’
‘Shame,’ said Annis absently. She looked at her watch. ‘Get that car round and I’ll be going. I’ve got people to talk to if I’m going to be on the plane to New York tonight.’
But she was.
And the next morning, in spite of jet lag and Gil’s impassive disapproval, her first call was at the uptown offices of Elegance Magazine.
‘Annie?’ said Bella incredulously on the house phone when the receptionist called up to the office. ‘Annie? It’s truly you? You’re here?’
‘In person. But I’ve got a meeting in a couple of hours. Could we have lunch?’
‘Sure. I’ll just grab my coat. Be down in five minutes.’
It was nearer ten. In that time Bella had the chance to recover from her first surprised delight. She kissed Annis warmly enough but her manner was wary.
Still, she took her by the arm and sped her along the slushy pavements to her favourite Italian restaurant.
‘Why didn’t you say you were coming when we spoke?’ said Bella when they were seated.
‘Didn’t know. I’m working for one of these do-it-now types. He sprang it on me.’
‘Doesn’t sound like you to let a man spring something on you.’
‘You don’t know Gil. He takes single-mindedness to a new plane.’
‘Hope it’s just single-mindedness about work,’ said Bella, trying to tease and, to her own ears, not quite managing it.
Annis didn’t hear anything wrong though. She smiled. ‘Like I said, you don’t know Gil. If he has any feelings, which I doubt, he archived them a long time ago.’
‘Sounds a pain.’
‘No,’ said Annis. ‘No, he’s not a pain. He’s demanding and stimulating and huge fun to work for. He’s just single-minded, like I said.’
‘Single-minded about what?’
‘His work. Computers,’ said Annis, conscious of client confidentiality.
‘Oh.’ Computers bored Bella to tears. ‘What we call a dweeb, over here.’
Annis gave a private smile, remembering Ellen. ‘His staff don’t think so.’
But Bella was not interested in Annis’s client. After they’d ordered, she passed her sister under a quick, critical inspection and was pleased.
‘You’re looking good, Brain Box.’
‘Kosta’s influence,’ said Annis ruefully. ‘He’s cleared out my wardrobe.’
‘And he’s obviously taking care of you,’ said Bella approvingly.
The pain almost went away when she remembered how happy Kosta Vitale made this dear, difficult sister of hers.
‘Yes. He certainly takes care of me.’
When Annis smiled, all the love she felt, all the love she received shone out of her, thought Bella.
‘Good.’
‘Bella—’ But the waiter arrived with their food and whatever Annis was going to say evaporated under a hail of condiments and bottled water and wine.
When he had gone, she said, ‘How are you, though? You look very smart. Beautiful as ever.’ The ‘but’ she did not say hung in the air.
Bella knew what she meant.
Only yesterday Bella had gone to the hair salon. Her blonde hair was sculpted into a shining helmet that hugged her elegant head, then feathered out over her shoulders. To the natural gold, Raul had added just a hint of streaking to give it depth and lightness, as he’d assured her. Her legs were still perfect and her figure enough to bring out any red-blooded man in a sweat of lust. But Bella knew, and Annis would see, that she was thinner than
