Agent Provocateur (49 page)

‘I shouldn’t?’

‘No, because you never cheated and the only reason you even considered it was because I was exactly your perfect woman.’

‘You were. But then isn’t that your job?’

‘Yes, I suppose, but that’s another question for me to ponder when I’m alone. Do I still want to do it? Is it right? I have no idea, but the point is that you didn’t cheat.’

‘I didn’t.’

‘Betty lied to you about the bet. You forgive her and she’ll forgive you for lying to her when you were with me.’

‘So, I’m in the wrong?’ He is not sure how this has happened.

‘You were wronged, that much is true, but you also were in the wrong a bit, but not much because you were completely manipulated. Which means that the only villain in this whole thing was me.’ She smiles triumphantly.

‘You?’

‘Yes, and Fiona. So if you are angry with anyone, let it be me, or even her, but you cannot doubt how much Betty loves you, and I can’t doubt how much you love her, so, to be honest, you’d be a bloody fool to throw all that away.’

‘But you said you loved me – was that a lie?’

‘No, I did, I do love you, but we haven’t got a future, we never had. It was a fairy tale and I enjoyed it. I’ll miss you.’ She cannot convey how awful she feels knowing that she will never see him again. She wants to curl into a ball and stay in the corner of his office, but she won’t.

‘I’ll miss you.’ He has tears in his eyes.

‘No, you’ll miss perfect Grace, but not the Grace who has smelly feet and wears spot cream all the time.’

‘I find that hard to believe.’

‘Whatever, but you won’t miss me. And I promise that I’ll stop being such a bad person if you promise me something.’ She is still smiling. Although her heart is breaking, she is happy because she knows she is doing the right thing. He is smiling for the first time in days, although he has no idea why.

‘What?’

‘Talk to her and try to work it out. The guilt is gone now; you have nothing to feel guilty about. Do you accept that?’

‘Yes, I do.’ He actually, surprisingly, did.

‘And Betty loves you, and despite what she did, there was never any question about that. Do you accept that?’

‘Actually I do.’

‘Fine, then my work is done.’ Grace giggles as she stands up and leaves. She does not look back, as finally she knows that, no matter how much it hurts, she has done the right thing.

Johnny shakes his head and smiles. Despite the fact that he didn’t really get to know her, there is no denying that she is amazing. His amazing Grace. He will always remember her, he will never see her again, and he will stop missing her. He has nothing to feel guilty about because everything is clear. He loves Betty, and he always will. He reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out the two letters. For some reason, he reads Grace’s first. He knows now, he knows that she did care about him and she wasn’t playing a game. This makes him feel better. When he has finished, he has tears in his eyes but he moves straight on to Betty’s letter.

When he finishes, he picks up the phone. For the first time in his marriage he has no idea where his wife is.

‘Hello.’

‘Betts, it’s me.’

‘Johnny?’

‘Yes, Johnny, your husband.’

‘My husband.’

‘Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten me already.’ He laughs. He feels light-hearted.

‘Johnny?’ Confusion melts into her words.

‘Look, I’ve been thinking. You were wrong to do what you did, but I was wrong too. And the only thing I know for sure now is that I love you. I read your letter and I know you love me, so how about we start again?’ It really is that easy, he thinks, as all the anger and hurt leaves him. He won’t forget, though. Never will he forget the lies, and he knows at times he will be angry still, but he can live with that because the alternative is to lose Betty and he knows, he is one hundred per cent sure, that he doesn’t want to do that. He is in love with his wife.

‘You mean it?’ She can barely believe this is happening. Just yesterday she wanted to die, and now he is offering to save their marriage.

‘Yes. Two conditions.’

‘Name them, anything.’

‘One, that you promise never to do anything like that again.’

‘Absolutely.’ She is nodding her head vigorously to the amusement of her secretary.

‘Second, you take me on that holiday you promised.’

‘Yes, yes, yes. I love you so much.’

‘You know what? I love you too.’ All his anger walked out of the door with Grace, as did the confusion of the past couple of months. He doesn’t want to lose her, that much is clear, and Grace made him see that. He has her to thank for nearly destroying his life, but also for saving it.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

They are at Gatwick Airport, and Betty is on her mobile.

‘Fiona, leave me alone. I’m about to get on a plane.’

‘Yes, but I need to know where the celebrity diet feature is.’ Despite everything, Betty has remained loyal to Fiona. At first Johnny tried to talk her into getting a new job, but when Betty explained how lonely Fiona was, and when she’d explained how in a way their marriage was better than ever now, he relented. He knew that Fiona wouldn’t be risking ruining their marriage again.

‘Hannah has everything. Now I’m going to go and I will see you when I get back.’

‘Any chance of a postcard?’

Betty looks at Johnny. ‘No, we’ll be too busy to write post cards.’

She is at Heathrow Airport, on her mobile. ‘Nicole, are you sure that the fish will be OK?’

‘Grace, Helen is very responsible and you told her, what, oh, a thousand times, how to care for them, and yes, she will speak to them, and yes I’ll speak to her daily to check that she’s talking to them.’

‘Thanks. How’s the baby?’

‘About the size of a pea at the moment and I’m not, touch wood, being sick. Look, enjoy yourself, you deserve this.’

‘I’m only going as his friend.’

‘Yikes, Grace, you only told me that one thousand times as well. Oliver is a good friend and if you shag him, then well, that wouldn’t be so bad. You have done it before.’

‘But, I didn’t love him before so I doubt I will now.’

‘Of course, but have fun.’

‘I’m nervous. I’m used to my own terms.’ Grace has spent a week packing for her holiday, and making lists and planning. It was like waiting for Christmas.

‘You enjoy your holiday, and come back feeling great because I have so much work for you.’

‘I think I’ll miss the fidelity testing.’

‘Nah, once you start running the agency you’ll love it.’

‘But are you sure you want to hand over the reins?’

‘I want this baby. I’ll be there for you, you know, part time in a very non interfering kind of way.’

‘I love you, Nicole.’ Grace surprises herself with this. She has never said it before.

‘I love you too, honey.’

If you enjoyed reading
Agent Provocateur
you might be interested in
Pinstripes
by Faith Bleasdale.

Extract from
Pinstripes
by Faith Bleasdale

Prologue

In the nineteenth century, three partners founded investment bank Seymour Forbes Hunt. Starting from a small investment house, it has become one of the major banking players, not only in Europe, but also in the rest of the world. Today, twenty-one managing directors run and own the company. Its successful partnership formula makes it an attractive company to work for which is reflected by the high standard of its personnel. The headquarters are in the heart of London’s financial centre, the building is one of the oldest and most prestigious. It is a bank with a great history and a great future.

Excerpt from the official SFH publicity brochure.

***

Seymour Forbes Hunt is Britain’s oldest investment bank and a British institution. At this time of recruitment, we are inviting you to participate in our success. As not only the oldest but also the most successful UK investment bank, we only pursue the best candidates to work with us. If you feel you wish to join us you must show us the commitment to the world of investment, the dedication and the intelligence we require. We in return will offer you a career with rewards that reflect our status. What we mean is that in return for the excellence that we demand, we offer an excellent package and unparalleled opportunities
.

The SFH presentation to the Cambridge undergraduate class of 2000.

***

Again, we show that we are a fighting force in the world of investment. Our results this year not only outstrip those of last year but also show that we are on the right track with our policies and management. We are one of the best this country has to offer and we give unparalleled results to our partners and to our clients. All of us in this room may congratulate ourselves on the successful completion of another year. We not only show we can make money, but we show that we are the best at making money, which after all is what we are all here for.

Peter Seymour, SFH’s Chairman’s speech at the end of year managing directors” meeting.

***

As we see Seymour Forbes Hunt continuing to grow, we ask ourselves why it is so successful as a British investment bank. It shows an unblemished record in business and one that is hard to follow. A major force in this country, if not the world, again we must congratulate the private partnership which makes this bank a British institution.

Gerald Barr, of the Financial Times, reporting on the success of SFH.

***

Flotation is always a temptation for a company that shows success. However, this temptation is still being resisted by successful investment bank Seymour Forbes Hunt. The chairman, Peter Seymour issued the following statement: “Why change something that works so well? Not only is the ownership of our partnership based on merit and hard work, but also we have an incentive to staff that few other institutions can offer. The management know how to manage this business, and as they are also the shareholders, they have a strong interest in ensuring that clients and staff alike are given both excellence as a goal and a reward.” Thus, SFH enters the year 2001 with the goal of avoiding becoming a public company and continuing with its tried and tested partnership.”

Gerald Barr from the Financial Times, on speculation that SFH may succumb to the pressure to go public.

***

Interviewer: “What does the City mean to you?”

Interviewee: “Pinstripes and Porsches.
”

Interview for the graduate programme at SFH:

PART ONE

PINSTRIPES AND PORSCHES

Chapter One

“So, is it hard surviving in such a man’s world?” Jim asked, grinning.

“No,” Ella Franke replied, through clenched teeth. She looked at the tall, dark-haired man standing in front of her and wondered why she kept paying this penance.

“But don’t you feel guilty about the amount of money you earn? Look at the poverty in London, and you earning a fortune. It doesn’t seem right somehow,” Jim riposted.

Ella’s heart-rate was increasing. ‘don’t you feel guilty about the torture you’re putting me through at forty quid an hour? Give that to the starving millions.” She gasped for breath. She should have known better than to try to put a long sentence together, especially when she was this close to collapse.

Jim seemed to ignore her last statement. “Are you happy? Really happy? I mean, I bet you have a great life – nice flat, lots of clothes, fast car and, of course, a personal trainer, all the status symbols a woman like you needs. But does any of that make you happy?”

Ella took a deep breath. Her worst fear on the treadmill was to lose her footing. Another deep breath. She studied Jim, big, bulky and smug. The worst type of man. He felt that in his role of trainer he could play God with her life. She knew that his other clients let him have that power, but she would not. Hence the hostility every time they met. Finally, she felt able to speak again. “For fuck’s sake, will you shut up? I am on a treadmill, not a couch, and you are supposed to be training me, not interviewing, counselling or annoying the hell out of me. If you feel compelled to make small-talk, please restrict it to, ‘Run faster’, or “You’re doing great.” Ella could feel herself overheating and the sweat pouring down her face was making her skin itch. She was exhausted.

Jim laughed. “You, girl, crack me up. You’re just so funny. Let’s go faster.” And before Ella could retort he put the treadmill speed up even further and smugly watched her huff and puff her way through her final minute and a half.