Nineteen

For the next couple of weeks, nothing can pierce my happy glow. Nothing. I waft into work on a cloud, sit all day smiling at my computer terminal, then waft home again. Paul's sarcastic comments bounce off me like bubbles. I don't even notice when Artemis intro­duces me to a visiting advertising team as her personal secretary. They can all say what they like. Because what they don't know is that when I'm smiling at my computer, it's because Jack has just sent me another funny little email. What they don't know is that the guy who employs them all is in love with me. Me. Emma Corrigan. The junior.

'Well, of course, I had several in-depth conversa­tions with Jack Harper on the subject, ' I can hear Artemis saying on the phone as I tidy up the proofs cupboard. 'Yup. And he felt - as I do - that the concept really needed to be refocused.'

Bullshit! She never had any in-depth conversations with Jack Harper. I'm almost tempted to email him straight away and tell him how she's using his name in vain.

Except that would be a bit mean.

And besides, she's not the only one. Everyone is dropping Jack Harper into their conversations, left, right and centre. It's as if now he's gone, everyone's suddenly pretending they were his best friend and he thought their idea was perfect.

Apart from me. I'm just keeping my head down and not mentioning his name at all.

Partly because I know that if I do, I'll blush bright red, or give some huge, goofy smile or something. Partly because I have a horrible feeling that if I once start talking about Jack, I won't be able to stop. But mainly because no-one ever brings the subject up with me. After all, what would I know about Jack Harper? I'm only the crappy assistant, after all.

'Hey! ' says Nick, looking up from his phone. 'Jack Harper's going to be on television! '

'What? '

I feel a jolt of surprise. Jack's going to be on televi­sion?

How come he didn't tell me?

'Is a TV crew coming to the office, or anything? ' says Artemis, smoothing down her hair.

'Dunno.'

'OK folks, ' says Paul, coming out of his office. 'Jack Harper has done an interview on Business Watch, and it's being broadcast at twelve. A television is being set up in the large meeting room; anyone who would like to can go along and watch there. But we need one person to stay behind and man the phones.' His gaze falls on me. 'Emma. You can stay.'

'What? ' I say blankly.

'You can stay and man the phones, ' says Paul. 'OK? '

'No! I mean... I want to watch! ' I say in dismay. 'Can't someone else stay behind? Artemis, can't you stay? '

'I'm not staying! ' says Artemis at once. 'Honestly, Emma, don't be so selfish. It won't be at all interesting for you.'

'Yes it will! '

'No it won't.' She rolls her eyes.

'It will, ' I say desperately. 'He's... he's my boss too! '

'Yes, well, ' says Artemis sarcastically, 'I think there's a slight difference. You've barely even spoken to Jack Harper.'

'I have! ' I say before I can stop myself. 'I have! I...' I break off, my cheeks turning pink. 'I... once went to a meeting he was at...'

'And served him a cup of tea? ' Artemis meets Nick's eyes with a little smirk.

I stare at her furiously, blood pounding through my ears, wishing just once I could think of something really scathing and clever to put Artemis down.

'Enough, Artemis, ' says Paul. 'Emma, you're staying here, and that's settled.'

By five to twelve the office is completely empty. Apart from me, a fly and a whirring fax machine. Disconsolately I reach into my desk drawer and take out an Aero. And a Flake for good measure. I'm just unwrapping the Aero and taking a big bite when the phone rings.

'OK, ' comes Lissy's voice down the line. 'I've set the video.'

'Thanks, Liss, ' I say through a mouthful of choco­late. 'You're a star.'

'I can't believe you're not allowed to watch.'

'I know. It's completely unfair.' I slump deeper in my chair and take another bite of Aero.

'Well, never mind, we'll watch it again tonight. Jemima's going to put the video on in her room too, so we should definitely catch it.'

'What's Jemima doing at home? ' I say in surprise.

'She's taken a sickie so she can do a home spa day. Oh, and your dad rang, ' she adds cautiously.

'Oh right.' I feel a flicker of apprehension. 'What did he say? '

I haven't talked to Mum or Dad since the debacle at the Corporate Family Day. I just can't bring myself to. It was all too painful and embarrassing, and for all I know, they've completely taken Kerry's side.

So when Dad rang here on the following Monday, I said I was really busy and I'd call him back - and, never did. And the same thing at home.

I know I'll have to talk to them some time. But not now. Not while I'm so happy.

'He'd seen the trailer for the interview, ' says Lissy. 'He recognized Jack and just wondered if you knew about it. And he said...' She pauses. 'He really wanted to talk to you about a few things.'

'Oh.' I stare at my notepad, where I've doodled a huge spiral over a telephone number I was supposed to be keeping.

'Anyway, he and your mum are going to be watching it, ' says Lissy. 'And your grandpa.'

Great. Just great. The entire world is watching Jack on television. The entire world except me.

When I've put the phone down, I go and get myself a coffee from the new machine, which actually does make a very nice cafe au lait. I come back and look around the quiet office, then go and pour orange juice into Artemis's spider plant. And some photocopier toner for good measure.

Then I feel a bit mean. It's not the plant's fault, after all.

'Sorry, ' I say out loud, and touch one of its leaves. 'It's just your owner is a real cow. But then, you prob­ably knew that.'

'Talking to your mystery man? ' comes a sarcastic voice from behind me, and I turn round in shock, to see Connor standing in the doorway.

Connor! ' I say. 'What are you doing here? '

'I'm on my way to watch the TV interview. But I just wanted a quick word.' He takes a few steps into the office, and fixes me with an accusing stare. 'So. lied to me.'

Oh shit. Has Connor guessed? Did he see something at the Corporate Family Day?

'What do you mean? ' I say nervously.

'I've just had a little chat with Tristan from Design ' Connor's voice swells with indignation. 'He's gay! You're not going out with him at all, are you? '

He cannot be serious. Connor didn't seriously think I was going out with Tristan from Design, did he? I mean, Tristan could not look more gay if he wore leopardskin hotpants, carried a handbag, and walked around humming Barbra Streisand hits.

'No, ' I say, managing to keep a straight face. 'I'm not going out with Tristan.'

'Well! ' says Connor, nodding as though he's scored a hundred points and doesn't quite know what to do with them. 'Well. I just don't see why you feel it necessary to lie to me.' He lifts his chin in wounded dignity. 'That's all. I just would have thought we could be a little honest with each other.'

'Connor, it's just... it's complicated. OK? '

'Fine. Whatever. It's your boat, Emma.'

There's a slight pause.

'It's my what? ' I say puzzledly. 'My boat?

'Court, ' he says with a flash of annoyance. 'I meant to say... the ball's in your court.'

'Oh right, ' I say, none the wiser. 'Er... OK. I'll bear that in mind.'

'Good.' He gives me his most wounded-martyr look, and starts walking away.

'Wait! ' I say suddenly. 'Hang on a minute! Connor, could you do me a real favour? ' I wait until he turns, then pull a wheedling face. 'Could you possibly man the phones here while I quickly go and watch Jack Harper's interview? '

I know Connor isn't my number one fan at the moment. But I don't exactly have a lot of choice.

'Could I do what! ' Connor stares at me in astonishment.

'Could you man the phones? Just for half an hour. I'd be so incredibly grateful.

'I can't believe you're even asking me that! ' says Connor incredulously. 'You.know how important Jack Harper is to me! Emma, I really don't know what you've turned into.'

After he's stalked off, I sit there for twenty minutes. I take several messages for Paul, one for Nick and one for Caroline. I file a couple of letters. I address a couple of envelopes. And then suddenly, I've had it.

This is stupid. This is more than stupid. It's ridicu­lous. I love Jack. He loves me. I should be there, supporting him. I pick up my coffee and hurry along the corridor. The meeting room is crowded with people, but I edge in at the back, and squeeze between two guys who aren't even watching Jack, but are discussing some football match.

'What are you doing here? ' says Artemis, as I arrive at her side. 'What about the phones? '

'No taxation without representation, ' I hear myself responding coolly, which perhaps isn't exactly appro­priate (I'm not even sure what it means), but has the desired effect of shutting her up.

I crane my neck so I can see over everyone's heads, and my eyes focus on the screen - and there he is sitting on a chair in a studio, in jeans and a white -shirt. There's a bright blue backdrop and the words ‘Business Inspirations' behind him, and two smart-looking interviewers sitting opposite him.

There he is. The man I love.

This is the first time I’ve seen him since we slept together, it suddenly occurs to me. But his face is as warm as ever, and his eyes look all dark and glossv under the studio lights.

Oh God, I want to kiss him.

If no-one else was here I would go up to the tele­vision set and kiss it. I honestly would.

'What have they asked him so far? ' I murmur to Artemis.

'They're talking to him about how he works. His inspirations, his partnership with Pete Laidler, stuff like that.'

'Sssh! ' says someone else.

'Of course it was tough after Pete died, ' Jack's saying. 'It was tough for all of us. But recently...' He pauses. 'Recently my life has turned around and I'm finding inspiration again. I'm enjoying it again.'

A small tingle runs over me.

He has to be referring to me. He has to be. I've turned his life around! Oh my God. That's even more romantic than 'I was gripped'.

'You've already expanded into the sports drinks market, ' the male interviewer is saying. 'Now I believe you're looking to expand into the women's market.'

'What? '

There's a frisson around the room, and people start turning their heads.

'We're going into the women's market? '

'Since when? '

'I knew, actually, ' Artemis is saying smugly. 'Quite a few people have known for a while—'

I stare at the screen, instantly recalling those people up in Jack's office. That's what the ovaries were for. Gosh, this is quite exciting. A new venture!

'Can you give us any further details about that? ' the male interviewer is saying. 'Will this be a soft drink marketed at women? '

'It's very early stages, ' says Jack. 'But we're planning entire line. A drink, clothing, a fragrance. We have strong creative vision.' He smiles at the man. 'We're excited.' 'So, what's your target market this time? ' asks the man, consulting his notes. 'Are you aiming at sports­women? ' 'Not at all, ' says Jack. 'We're aiming at... the girl on the street.'

'The " girl on the street"? ' The female interviewer sits up, looking slightly affronted. 'What's that supposed to mean? Who is this girl on the street? '

'She's twenty-something, ' says Jack after a pause. 'She works in an office, takes the tube to work, goes out in the evenings and comes home on the night bus... just an ordinary, nothing-special girl.'

'There are thousands of them, ' puts in the man with a smile.

'But the Panther brand has always been associated with men, ' chips in the woman, looking sceptical. 'With competition. With masculine values. Do you really think you can make the switch to the female market? '

'We've done research, ' says Jack pleasantly. 'We feel we know our market.'

'Research! ' she scoffs. 'Isn't this just another case of

men telling women what they want? ' 'I don't believe so, ' says Jack, still pleasantly, but I

can see a slight flicker of annoyance pass across his

'Plenty of companies have tried to switch markets without success. How do you know you won't just be another one of them? '

'I'm confident, ' says Jack.

God, why is she being so aggressive? I think indig­nantly. Of course Jack knows what he's doing!

'You round up a load of women in some focus group and ask them a few questions! How does that tell you anything? '

'That's only a small part of the picture, I can assure you, ' says Jack evenly.

'Oh, come on, ' the woman says, leaning back and folding her arms. 'Can a company like Panther - can a man like you - really tap into the psyche of, as you put it, an ordinary, nothing-special girl? '

'Yes. I can! ' Jack meets her gaze square-on. 'I know this girl.'

'You know her? The woman raises her eyebrows.

'I know who this girl is, ' says Jack. 'I know what her tastes are; what colours she likes. I know what she eats, I know what she drinks. I know what she wants out of life. She's size twelve but she'd like to be size ten. She...' he spreads his arms as though searching for inspiration. 'She eats Cheerios for breakfast and dips Flakes in her cappuccinos.'

I look in surprise at my hand, holding a Flake. I was about to dip it into my coffee. And... I had Cheerios this morning.

'We're surrounded these days by images of perfect, glossy people, ' Jack is saying with animation. 'But this girl is real. She has bad hair days, and good hair days. She wears G-strings even though she finds them uncomfortable. She writes out exercise routines, then ignores them. She pretends to read business journals but hides celebrity magazines inside them.'

I stare blankly at the television screen.

Just... hang on a minute. This all sounds a bit familiar.

'That's exactly what you do, Emma, ' says Artemis. I've seen your copy of OK! inside Marketing Week.' She turns to me with a mocking laugh and her gaze lands on my Flake.

'She loves clothes but she's not a fashion victim, ' Jack is saying on screen. 'She'll wear, maybe, a pair of jeans..."

Artemis stares in disbelief at my Levis.

'... and a flower in her hair...'

Dazedly I lift a hand and touch the fabric rose in my hair.

He can't—

He can't be talking about—

'Oh... my... God, ' says Artemis slowly.

'What? ' says Caroline, next to her. She follows Artemis's gaze, and her expression changes.

'Oh my God! Emma! It's you! '

'It's not, ' I say, but my voice won't quite work prop­erly.

'It is! '

A few people start nudging each other and turning to look at me.

'She reads fifteen horoscopes every day and chooses the one she likes best..." Jack's voice is saying.

'It is you! It's exactly you! '

'... she scans the back of highbrow books and pretends she's read them

'I knew you hadn't read Great Expectation! ’ says Artemis triumphantly.

'... she adores sweet sherry...'

'Sweet sherry? ' says Nick, turning in horror. 'You cannot be serious.'

'It's Emma! ' I can hear people saying on the other side of the room. 'It's Emma Corrigan! '

'Emma? ' says Katie, looking straight at me in disbe­lief. 'But... but...'

'It's not Emma! ' says Connor all of a sudden, with a laugh. He's standing over on the other side of the room, leaning against the wall. 'Don't be ridiculous! Emma's size eight, for a start. Not size twelve! '

'Size eight? ' says Artemis with a snort of laughter.

'Size eight! Caroline giggles. 'That's a good one! '

'Aren't you size eight? ' Connor looks at me bewilderedly. 'But you said...'

'I... I know I did.' I swallow, my face like a furnace. 'But I was... I was...'

'Do you really buy all your clothes from thrift shops and pretend they're new? ' says Caroline, looking up with interest from the screen.

'No! ' I say defensively. 'I mean, yes, maybe... some­times

'She weighs 135 pounds, but pretends she weighs 125, ' Jack's voice is saying.

What? What?

My entire body contracts in shock.

'I do not! ' I yell in outrage at the screen. 'I do not weigh anything like 135 pounds! I weigh... about... 128... and a half...' I tail off as the entire room turns to stare at me.

'... hates crochet.

There's an almighty gasp from across the room.

'You hate crochet? ' comes Katie's disbelieving voice.

'No! ' I say, swivelling in horror. 'That's wrong! I love crochet! You know I love crochet.'

But Katie is stalking furiously out of the room.

'She cries when she hears the Carpenters, ' Jack's voice is saying on the screen. 'She loves Abba but she can't stand jazz...'

Oh no. Oh no oh no...

Connor is staring at me as though I have personally driven a stake through his heart.

'You can't stand... jazz? '

It's like one of those dreams where everyone can see your underwear and you want to run but you can't. I can't tear myself away. All I can do is stare ahead in agony as Jack's voice continues inexorably.

All my secrets. All my personal, private secrets. Revealed on television. I'm in such a state of shock, I'm not even taking them all in.

'She wears lucky underwear on first dates... she borrows designer shoes from her flatmate and passes them off as her own... pretends to kick-box... confused about religion... worries that her breasts are too small I close my eyes, unable to bear it. My breasts. He mentioned my breasts. On television.

'When she goes out, she can play sophisticated, but on her bed...'

I'm suddenly faint with fear.

No. No. Please not this. Please, please...

'... she has a Barbie bedcover.'

A huge roar of laughter goes round the room, and I bury my face in my hands. I am beyond mortification. No-one was supposed to know about my Barbie bedcover. No-one.

'Is she sexy? ' the interviewer is asking, and my heart gives a huge jump. I stare at the screen, unable to breathe for apprehension. What's he going to say?

'She's very sexual, ' says Jack at once, and all eyes swivel towards me, agog. 'This is a modern girl who carries condoms in her purse.'

OK. Every time I think this can't get any worse, it

does.

My mother is watching this. My mother.

'But maybe she hasn't reached her full potential... maybe there's a side of her which has been frustrated...'

I can't look at Connor. I can't look anywhere.

'Maybe she's willing to experiment... maybe she's had - I don't know - a lesbian fantasy about her best friend.'

No! No! My entire body clenches in horror. I have a sudden image of Lissy watching the screen at home, wide-eyed, clasping a hand over her mouth. She'll know it was her. I will never be able to look her in the eye again.

'It was a dream, OK? ' I manage desperately, as everyone gawps at me. 'Not a fantasy. They're different! '

I feel like throwing myself at the television. Draping my arms over it. Stopping him.

But it wouldn't do any good, would it? A million TVs are on, in a million homes. People, everywhere, are watching.

'She believes in love and romance. She believes her life is one day going to be transformed into something wonderful and exciting. She has hopes and fears and worries, just like anyone. Sometimes she feels fright­ened.' He pauses, and adds in a softer voice, 'Sometimes she feels unloved. Sometimes she feels she will never gain approval from those people who are most important to her.'

As I stare at Jack's warm, serious face on the screen, I feel my eyes stinging slightly.

'But she's brave and goodhearted and faces her life head on..." He shakes his head dazedly and smiles at the interviewer. 'I'm... I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened there. I guess I got a little carried away. Could we—' His voice is abruptly cut off by the inter­viewer.

Carried away.

He got a little carried away.

This is like saying Hitler was a tad aggressive.

'Jack Harper, many thanks for talking to us, ' the interviewer starts saying. 'Next week, we'll be chatting to the charismatic king of motivational videos, Ernie Powers. Meanwhile, many thanks again to...'

Everyone stares at the screen as she finishes her spiel and the programme's music starts. Then someone leans forward and switches the television off.

For a few seconds the entire room is silent. Everyone is gaping at me, as though they're expecting me to make a speech, or do a little dance or something. Some faces are sympathetic, some are curious, some are gleeful and some are just Jeez-am-I-glad-I'm-not-you.

Now I know exactly how zoo animals feel.

I am never visiting a zoo again.

'But... but I don't understand, ' comes a voice from across the room, and all the heads swivel avidly towards Connor, like at a tennis match. He's staring at me, his face red with confusion. 'How does Jack Harper know so much about you? '

Oh God. I know Connor got a really good degree from Manchester University and everything. But sometimes he is so slow on the uptake.

The heads have swivelled back towards me again.

'I...' My whole body is prickling with embarrass­ment. 'Because we... we

I can't say it out loud. I just can't.

But I don't have to. Connor's face is slowly turning different colours.

'No, ' he gulps, staring at me as though he's seen a ghost. And not just any old ghost. A really big ghost with clanky chains going 'Whoooarr! '

'No, ' he says again. 'No. I don't believe it.'

'Connor—' says someone, putting a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugs it off.

'Connor, I'm really sorry, ' I say helplessly.

'You're joking! ' exclaims some guy in the corner, who is obviously even slower than Connor, and has just had it spelled out to him, word for word. He looks up at me. 'So how long has this been going on? '

It's as if he opened the floodgates. Suddenly everyone in the entire room starts pitching questions at me. I can't hear myself think for the babble.

'Is that why he came to Britain? To see you? '

'Are you going to marry him? '

'You know, you don't look like you weigh 135 pounds..."

'Do you really have a Barbie bedspread? ' 'So in the lesbian fantasy, was it just the two of you, or...'

'Have you had sex with Jack Harper at the office? '

'Is that why you dumped Connor? '

I can't cope with this. I have to get out of here. Now.

Without looking at anyone, I get to my feet and stumble out of the room. As I head down the corridor, I'm too dazed to think of anything other than I must get my bag and go. Now.

I enter the empty marketing department, where phones are shrilly ringing around. The habit's too ingrained, I can't ignore them.

'Hello? ' I say, picking up one randomly.

'So! ' comes Jemima's furious voice. '" She borrows designer shoes from her flatmate and passes them off as her own." Whose shoes might those be, then? Lissy's? '

'Look, Jemima, can I just... I'm sorry... I have to go, ' I say feebly, and put the phone down.

No more phones. Get bag. Go.

As I zip up my bag with trembling hands, a couple of people who have followed me into the office are picking up some of the ringing phones.

'Emma, your grandad's on the line, ' says Artemis, putting her hand over the receiver. 'Something about the night bus and he'll never trust you again? '

'You have a call from Harvey's Bristol Cream publicity department, ' chimes in Caroline. 'They want to know where they can send you a free case of sweet sherry? '

'How did they get my name? How? Has the word spread already? Are the women on reception telling everybody? '

'Emma, I have your dad here, ' says Nick. 'He says he needs to talk to you urgently...'

'I can't, ' I say numbly. 'I can't talk to anybody. I have to... I have to...'

I grab my jacket and almost run out of the office and down the corridor to the stairs. Everywhere, people are making their way back to their offices after watching the interview, and they all stare at me as I hurry by.

'Emma! ' As I'm nearing the stairs, a woman named Fiona, whom I barely know, grabs me by the arm. She weighs about 300 pounds and is always campaigning for bigger chairs and wider doorways. 'Never be ashamed of your body. Rejoice in it! The earth mother has given it to you! If you want to come to our work­shop on Saturday...'

I tear my arm away in horror, and start clattering down the marble stairs. But as I reach the next floor, someone else grabs my arm.

'Hey, can you tell me which charity shops you go to? ' It's a girl I don't even recognize. 'Because you always look really well dressed to me...'

'I adore Barbie dolls too! ' Carol Finch from Accounts is suddenly in my path. 'Shall we start a club together, Emma? '

'I... I really have to go.'

I back away, then start running down the stairs. But people keep accosting me from all directions.

'I didn't realize I was a lesbian till I was thirty-three...'

'A lot of people are confused about religion. This is a leaflet about our Bible study group

'Leave me alone! ' I yell in anguish. 'Everyone just leave me alone! '

I sprint for the entrance, the voices following me, echoing on the marble floor. As I'm frantically pushing against the heavy glass doors, Dave the security guard saunters up, and stares right at my breasts.

'They look all right to me, love, ' he says encourag­ingly.

I finally get the door open, run outside and down the road, not looking right or left. At last I come to a halt, sink down on a bench and bury my head in my hands.

My body is still reverberating with shock.

I can barely form a coherent thought.

I have never been so completely and utterly em­barrassed in all my life.

TWENTY

'Are you OK? Emma? '

I've been sitting on the bench for about five minutes, staring down at the pavement, my mind a whirl of confusion. Now there's a voice in my ear, above the everyday street sounds of people walking by and buses grinding and cars hooting. It's a man's voice. I open my eyes, blink in the sunlight and stare dazedly at a pair of green eyes that seem familiar.

Then suddenly I realize. It's Aidan from the smoothie bar.

'Is everything all right? ' he's saying. 'Are you OK? '

For a few moments I can't quite reply. All my emotions have been scattered on the floor like a dropped tea tray, and I'm not sure which one to pick up first.

'I think that would have to be a no, ' I say at last. 'I'm not OK. I'm not OK at all'

'Oh.' He looks alarmed. 'Well... is there anything I can —

'Would you be OK if all your secrets had been revealed on television by a man you trusted? ' I say shakily. 'Would you be OK if you'd just been mortified in front of all your friends and colleagues and family? '

There's a bemused silence.

'Would you? '

'Er... probably not? ' he hazards hurriedly.

'Exactly! I mean, how would you feel if someone revealed in public that you... you wore women's underwear? '

He turns pale with shock.

1 don't wear women's underwear! '

1 know you don't wear.women's underwear! ' I expostulate. 'Or rather, I don't Joiowthat you don't, but just assuming for a moment that you did. How would you like it if someone just told everyone in a so-called business interview on television? '

Aidan stares at me, as though his mind is suddenly putting two and two together.

'Wait a moment. That interview with Jack Harper. Is that what you're talking about? We had it on in the smoothie bar.'

'Oh great! ' I throw my hands in the air. 'Just great! Because you know, it would be a shame if anyone in the entire universe had missed it.'

'So, that's you¹? Who reads fifteen horoscopes a day and lies about her...' He breaks off at my expression. 'Sorry. Sorry. You must be feeling very hurt.'

'Yes. I am. I'm feeling hurt. And angry. And em­barrassed.'

And I'm confused, I add silently. I'm so confused and shocked and bewildered I feel as though I can barely keep my balance on this bench. In the space of a few minutes, my entire world has turned upside down. I thought Jack loved me. I thought he —

I thought he and I —

A searing pain suddenly hits me, and I bury my head in my hands.

'So, how did he know so much about you? ' Aidan's saying tentatively. 'Are you and he... an item? '

'We met on a plane.' I look up, trying to keep control of myself. 'And... I spent the entire journey telling him everything about myself. And then we went on a few dates, and I thought...' My voice is starting to jump about. 'I honestly thought it might be... you know.' I feel my cheeks flame crimson. 'The real thing. But the truth is, he was never interested in me, was he?

Mot really. He just wanted to find out what an ordinary girl-on-the-street was like. For his stupid target market. For his stupid new women's line.'

As the realization hits me properly for the first time, a tear rolls down my cheek, swiftly followed by another one.

Jack used me.

That's why he asked me out to dinner. That's why he was so fascinated by me. That's why he found everything I said so interesting. That's why he was gripped.

It wasn't love. It was business.

Suddenly, without meaning to, I give a sob.

'I'm sorry, ' I gulp. 'I'm sorry. I just... it's just been such a shock.'

'Don't worry, ' says Aidan sympathetically. 'It's a completely natural reaction.' He shakes his head. 'I don't know much about big business, but it seems to me these guys don't get to the top without trampling over a few people on the way. They'd have to be pretty ruthless to be so successful.' He pauses, watching as I try, only half successfully, to stop my tears. 'Emma, can I offer a word of advice? '

'What? ' I look up, wiping my eyes.

'Take it out in your kick-boxing. Use the aggression.

Use the hurt.'

I stare at him in disbelief. Was he not listening?

'Aidan, I don't do kick-boxing! ^’ I hear myself crying shrilly. 'I don't kick-box, OK? I never have! '

'You don't? ' He looks confused. 'But you said—'

'I was lying! ' There's a short pause.

'Right, ' says Aidan at last. 'Well... no worries! You could go for something with lower impact. T'ai Chi, maybe...' He gazes at me uncertainly. 'Listen, do you want a drink? Something to calm you down? I could make you a mango-banana blend with camomile flowers, throw in some soothing nutmeg.'

'No thanks.' I blow my nose, take a deep breath, then reach for my bag. 'I think I'll go home, actually.'

'Will you be OK? '

Til be fine.' I force a smile. 'I'm fine.'

But of course that's a lie too. I'm not fine at all. As I sit on the tube going home, tears pour down my face, one by one, landing in big wet drips on my skirt. People are staring at me, but I don't care. Why should I care? I've already suffered the worst embarrassment possible; a few extra people gawping is neither here nor there.

I feel so stupid. So stupid.

Of course we weren't soulmates. Of course he wasn't genuinely interested in me. Of course he never loved me.

A fresh pain rushes through me and I scrabble for a tissue.

'Don't worry, darling! ' says a large lady sitting to my left, wearing a voluminous print dress covered with pineapples. 'He's not worth it! Now you just go home, wash your face, have a nice cup of tea...'

'How do you know she's crying over a man? ' chimes in a woman in a dark suit aggressively. 'That is such a cliched, counter-feminist perspective. She could be crying over anything! A piece of music, a line of poetry, world famine, the political situation in the Middle East.' She looks at me expectantly.

'Actually, I was crying over a man, ' I admit.

The tube stops, and the woman in the dark suit rolls her eyes at us and gets out. The pineapple lady rolls her eyes back.

'World famine! ' she says scornfully, and I can't help dving a half-giggle. 'Now, don't you worry, love.' She fives me a comforting pat on the shoulder as I dab at iy eyes. 'Have a nice cup of tea, and a few nice choco­late digestives, and have a nice chat with your mum. 'ou've still got your mum, haven't you? ' 'Actually, we're not really speaking at the moment, ' confess.

'Well then, your dad? ' Tacitly, I shake my head.

'Well... how about your best friend? You must have best friend! ' The pineapple lady gives me a comfort­ing smile.

'Yes, I have got a best friend, ' I gulp. 'But she's just > een informed on national television that I've been laving secret lesbian fantasies about her.' The pineapple lady stares at me silently for a few loments.

'Have a nice cup of tea, ' she says at last, with less conviction. 'And... good luck, dear.'

make my way slowly back from the tube station to our street. As I reach the corner I stop, blow my nose, and take a few deep breaths. The pain in my chest has receded slightly, and in its place I'm feeling thumping, jumping nerves.

How am I going to face Lissy after what Jack said on television? How?

I've known Lissy a long time. And I've had plenty of embarrassing moments in front of her. But none of them comes anywhere near this.

This is worse than the time when I threw up in her parents' bathroom. This is worse than the time she saw me kissing my reflection in the mirror and saying 'ooh, baby' in a sexy voice. This is even worse than the time she caught me writing a Valentine to our maths teacher, Mr Blake.

I am hoping against hope that she might have suddenly decided to go out for the day or something. But as 1 open the front door of the flat, there she is, coming out of the kitchen into the hall. And as she looks at me, 1 can already see it in her face. She's completely freaked out.

So that's it. Not only has Jack betrayed me. He's ruined my best friendship, too. Things will never be the same between me and Lissy again. It's just like When Harry Met Sally. Sex has got in the way of our relationship, and now we can't be friends any more because we want to sleep together.

No. Scratch that. We don't want to sleep together. We want to - No, the point is we don't want to— Anyway. Whatever. It's not good. 'Oh! ' she says, staring at the floor. 'Gosh! Um... hi,

Emma! ‘

'Hi! ' I reply in a strangled voice. 'I thought I'd corne home. The office was just too... too awful...'

I tail off, and there's the most excruciating, prickling silence for a few moments.

'So... I guess you saw it, ' I say at last. 'Yes, I saw it, ' says Lissy, still staring at the floor, 'And I...' She clears her throat. 'I just wanted to say that... that if you want me to move out, then I will.' A lump comes to my throat. I knew it. After twenty-one years, our friendship is over. One tiny secret comes out — and that's the end of everything. 'It's OK, ' I say, trying not to burst into tears. I'll move out.'

'No! ' says Lissy awkwardly. Til move out. This isn't your fault, Emma. It's been me who's been... leading you on.'

'What? ' I stare at her. 'Lissy, you haven't been leading me on! '

'Yes I have.' She looks stricken. 1 feel terrible. I just never realized you had... those kind of feelings.'

'I don't! '

'But I can see it all now! I've been walking around half-dressed, no wonder you were frustrated! '

'I wasn't frustrated, ' I say quickly. 'Lissy, I'm not a lesbian.'

'Bisexual, then. Or " multi-oriented". Whatever term you want to use.'

'I'm not bisexual, either! Or multi-whatever it was.'

'Emma, please! ' Lissy grabs my hand, 'Don't be ashamed of your sexuality. And I promise, I'll support you a hundred per cent, whatever choice you decide to make—'

'Lissy, I'm not bisexual! ' I cry. 'I don't need support! I just had one dream, OK? It wasn't a fantasy, it was just a weird dream, which I didn't intend to have, and it doesn't mean I'm a lesbian, and it doesn't mean I fancy you, and it doesn't mean anything.'

'Oh.' There's silence. Lissy looks taken aback. 'Oh, right. I thought it was a... a... you know.' She clears her throat. 'That you wanted to...'

'No! I just had a dream. Just one, stupid dream.'

'Oh. Right.'

There's a long pause, during which Lissy looks intently at her fingernails, and I study the buckle of my

watch.

'So, did we actually...' says Lissy at last.

Oh God.

'Kind of, ' I admit.

'And... was I any good? '

'What? ' I gape at her.

'In the dream.' She looks straight at me, her cheeks bright pink, 'Was I any good? '

'Lissy...' I say, pulling an agonized face.

'I was crap, wasn't I? I was crap! I knew it.'

'No, of course you weren't crap! ' I exclaim. 'You were... you were really...'

I cannot believe I'm seriously having a conversation about my best friend's sexual prowess as a dream lesbian.

'Look, can we just leave the subject? My day has been embarrassing enough already.'

'Oh. Oh God, yes/ says Lissy, suddenly full of remorse. 'Sorry. Emma. You must be feeling really...'

'Totally and utterly humiliated and betrayed? ' I try to give a smile. 'Yup, that's pretty much how I feel.'

'Did anyone at the office see it, then? ' says Lissy sympathetically.

'Did anyone at the office see it? ' I wheel round. 'Lissy, they all saw it. They all knew it was me! And they were all laughing at me, and I just wanted to curl up and die

'Oh God, ' says Lissy in distress.

'Really? '

'It was awful.' I close my eyes as fresh mortification washes over me. 'I have never been more embarrassed in my entire life. I have never felt more... exposed. The whole world knows I find G-strings uncomfort­able and I don't really kick-box, and I've never read Dickens.' My voice is wobbling more and more, and then, with no warning, I give a huge sob. 'Oh God, Lissy. You were right. I feel such a complete... fool. He was just using me, right from the beginning. He was never really interested in me. I was just a... a market research project.'

'You don't know that! ' she says in dismay.

'I do! Of course I do. That's why he was gripped. That's why he was so fascinated by everything I said. It wasn't because he loved me. It was because he real­ized he had his target customer, right next to him. The kind of normal, ordinary, girl-on-the-street he would never normally give the time of day to! ' I give another huge sob. 'I mean, he said it on the television, didn't he? I'm just a nothing-special girl.'

'You are not/ says Lissy fiercely. 'You are not nothing-special! '

'I am! That's exactly what I am. I'm just an ordinary nothing. And I was so stupid, I believed it all. I honestly thought Jack loved me. I mean, maybe not exactly loved me.' I feel myself colour. 'But... you know. Felt about me like I felt about him.'

'I know.' Lissy looks like she wants to cry herself. 'I know you did.' She leans forward and gives me a huge hug.

Suddenly she draws awkwardly away. 'This isn't making you feel uncomfortable, is it? I mean, it's not... turning you on or anything—'

'Lissy, for the last time, I'm not a lesbian! ' I cry in exasperation.

'OK! ' she says hurriedly. 'OK. Sorry.' She gives me another tight hug, then stands up. 'Gome on, ' she says. 'You need a drink.'

We go onto the tiny, overgrown balcony which was described as 'spacious roof terrace' by the landlord when we first rented this flat, and sit in a patch of sun, drinking the schnapps which Lissy got duty-free last year. Each sip makes my mouth burn unbearably, but five seconds later sends a lovely soothing warmth all over my body.

'I should have known, ’ I say, staring into my glass. 'I should have known a big important millionaire like that would never really be interested in a girl like me, '

'I just can't believe it, ' says Lissy, sighing for the thousandth time. 'I can't believe it was all made up. It was all so romantic. Changing his mind about going to America... and the bus... and bringing you that pink cocktail...'

'But that's the point.' I can feel tears rising again, and fiercely blink them back. 'That's what makes it so humiliating. He knew exactly what I would like. I told him on the plane I was bored with Connor. He knew I wanted excitement, and intrigue, and a big romance. He just fed me everything he knew I'd like. And I believed it — because I wanted to believe it'

'You honestly think the whole thing was one big plan? ' Lissy bites her lip.

'Of course it was a plan, ' I say tearfully. 'He deliber­ately followed me around, he watched everything I did, he wanted to get into my life! Look at the way he came and poked around my bedroom. No wonder he seemed so bloody interested. I expect he was taking notes all the time. I expect he had a Dictaphone in his pocket. And I just... invited him in.' I take a deep gulp of schnapps and give a little shudder. 'I am never going to trust a man again. Never.'

'But he seemed so nice! ' says Lissy dolefully. 'I just can't believe he was being so cynical.'

'Lissy...' I look up. 'The truth is, a man like that doesn't get to the top without being ruthless and tram­pling over people. It just doesn't happen.'

'Doesn't it? ' She stares back at me, her brow crum­pled. 'Maybe you're right. God, how depressing.'

'Is that Emma? ' comes a piercing voice, and Jemima appears on the balcony in a white robe and face mask, her eyes narrowed furiously. 'So! Miss I-never-borrow-your-clothes. What have you got to say about my Prada slingbacks? '

Oh God. There's no point lying about it, is there?

'They're really pointy and uncomfortable? ' I say with a little shrug, and Jemima inhales sharply.

'I knew it! I knew it all along. You do borrow my clothes. What about my Joseph jumper? What about my Gucci bag? '

'Which Gucci bag? ' I shoot back defiantly.

For moment Jemima flounders for words.

'All of them! ' she says at last. 'You know, I could sue you for this. I could take you to the cleaners! ' She bran­dishes a piece of paper at me. 'I've got a list here of items of apparel which I fully suspect have been worn by someone other than me during the last three months—'

'Oh shut up about your stupid clothes, ' says Lissy. 'Emma's really upset. She's been completely betrayed and humiliated by the man she thought loved her.'

'Well, surprise, surprise, let me just faint with shock, ' says Jemima tartly. 'I could have told you that was going to happen. I did tell you! Never tell a man all about yourself, it's bound to lead to trouble. Did I not warn you? '

'You said she wouldn't get a rock on her finger! ' exclaims Lissy. 'You didn't say, he will pitch up on television, telling the nation all her private secrets. You know, Jemima, you could be a bit more sympathetic'

'No, Lissy, she's right, ' I say miserably. 'She was completely right all along. If I'd just kept my stupid mouth shut, then none of this would have happened.' I reach for the schnapps bottle and morosely pour myself another glass. 'Relationships are a battle. They are a chess game. And what did I do? I just threw all my chess pieces down on the board at once, and said, " Here! Have them all! '" I take a gulp of my drink. 'The truth is, men and women should tell each other nothing. Nothing.'

T couldn't agree more, ' says Jemima. 'I'm planning to tell my future husband as little as possible—' She breaks off as the cordless phone in her hand gives a shrill ring.

'Hi! ' she says, switching it on. 'Camilla? Oh. Er... OK. Just hang on a moment.'

She puts her hand over the receiver and looks at me, wide-eyed. 'It's Jack! ' she mouths.

I stare back in utter shock.

Somehow I'd almost forgotten Jack existed in real life. All I can see is that face on the television screen, smiling and nodding and slowly leading me to my humiliation.

'Tell him Emma doesn't want to speak to him! ' hisses Lissy.

'No! She should speak to him, ' hisses back Jemima. 'Otherwise he'll think he's won.'

'But surely—'

'Give it to me! ' I say, and grab the phone out of Jemima's hand, my heart thumping. 'Hi, ' I say, in as curt a tone as I can muster.

'Emma, it's me, ' comes Jack's familiar voice, and with no warning, I feel a rush of emotion which almost overwhelms me. I want to cry. I want to hit him, hurt him...

But somehow, I keep control of myself.

'I never want to speak to you again, ' I say. I switch off the phone, breathing rather hard.

'Well done! ' says Lissy.

An instant later the phone rings again.

'Please, Emma, ' says Jack, 'just listen for a moment. I know you must be very upset. But if you just give me a second to explain—'

'Didn't you hear me? ' I exclaim, my face flushing. 'You used me and you humiliated me and I never want to speak to you again, or see you, or hear you or... or...'

'Taste you, ' hisses Jemima, nodding urgently.

'... or touch you again. Never ever. Ever.' I switch off the phone, march inside and yank the line out of the wall. Then, with trembling hands, I get my mobile out of my bag and, just as it begins to ring, switch it off.

As I emerge on the balcony again, I'm still half shaking with shock. I can't quite believe it's all ended like this. In one day, my entire perfect romance has crumbled into nothing.

'Are you OK? ' says Lissy anxiously.

'I'm fine. I think.' I sink onto a chair. 'A bit shaky.'

'Now, Emma, ' says Jemima, examining one of her cuticles. 'I don't want to rush you. But you know what you have to do, don't you? '

'What? '

'You have to get your revenge! ' She looks up and fixes me with a determined gaze. 'You have to make him pay.'

'Oh no.' Lissy pulls a face. 'Isn't revenge really undignified? Isn't it better just to walk away? '

'What good is walking away? ' retorts Jemima. 'Will walking away teach him a lesson? Will walking away make him wish he'd never crossed you? '

'Emma and I have always agreed we'd rather keep the moral high ground, ' says Lissy determinedly. " 'Living well is the best revenge." George Herbert.'

Jemima stares at her blankly for a few seconds.

'So anyway, ' she says at last, turning back to me. 'I'd be delighted to help. Revenge is actually quite a speciality of mine, though I say it myself..."

I avoid Lissy's eyes.

'What did you have in mind? '

'Scrape his car, shred his suits, sew fish inside his curtains and wait for them to rot...' Jemima reels off instantly, as though reciting poetry.

'Did you learn that at finishing school? ' says Lissy, rolling her eyes.

'I'm being a feminist, actually, ' retorts Jemima. 'We women have to stand up for our rights. You know, before she married my father, Mummy went out with this scientist chap who practically jilted her. He changed his mind three weeks before the wedding, can you believe it? So one night she crept into his lab and pulled out all the plugs of his stupid machines. His whole research was ruined! She always says, that taught Emerson! '

'Emerson? ' says Lissy, staring at her in disbelief. 'As in... Emerson Davies? '

'That's right! Davies.'

'Emerson Davies who nearly discovered a cure for smallpox? '

'Well, he shouldn't have messed Mummy about, should he? ' says Jemima, lifting her chin mutinously. She turns to me. 'Another of Mummy's tips is chilli oil. You somehow arrange to have sex with the chap again, and then you say. " How about a little massage oil? " And you rub it into his... you know.' Her eyes sparkle. 'That'll hurt him where it counts! '

'Your mother told you this? ' says Lissy.

'Yes, ' says Jemima. 'It was rather sweet, actually. On my eighteenth birthday she sat me down and said we should have a little chat about men and women—'

Lissy is staring at her incredulously.

'In which she instructed you to rub chilli oil into men's genitals? '

'Only if they treat you badly, ' says Jemima in annoy­ance. 'What is your problem, Lissy? Do you think you should just let men walk all over you and get away with it? Great blow for feminism.'

'I'm not saying that, ' says Lissy. 'I just wouldn't get my revenge with... chilli oil! '

'Well, what would you do then, clever clogs? ' says Jemima, putting her hands on her hips.

'OK, ' says Lissy. 7/1 was going to stoop so low as get my revenge, which I never would because personally I think it's a huge mistake...' She pauses for breath. 'I'd do exactly what he did. I'd expose one of his

secrets.'

'Actually... that's rather good, ' says Jemima grudg­ingly.

'Humiliate him, ' says Lissy, with a tiny air of vindi­cation. 'Embarrass him. See how he likes it.' They both turn and look at me expectantly. 'But I don't know any of his secrets, ' I say. 'You must do! ' says Jemima. 'Of course you do! '

'I don't, ' I say, feeling a fresh humiliation. 'Lissy, you had it right all along. Our relationship was completely one-sided. I shared all my secrets with him - but he didn't share any of his with me. He didn't tell me anything. We weren't soulmates. I was a com­pletely deluded moron.'

'Emma, you weren't a moron, ' says Lissy, putting a sympathetic hand on mine. 'You were just trusting.' 'Trusting - moron — it's the same thing.' 'You must know somethingV says Jemima. 'You slept with him, for goodness sake! He must have some secret. Some weak point.'

'An Achilles' heel, ' puts in Lissy, and Jemima gives her an odd look.

'It doesn't have to be to do with his feet, ' she says, and turns to me, pulling a 'Lissy's lost it' face. 'It could be anything. Anything at all. Think back! '

I close my eyes obediently and cast my mind back. But my mind's swirling a bit, from all that schnapps. Secrets... Jack's secrets... think back...

Scotland. Suddenly a coherent thought passes through my mind. I open my eyes, feeling a tingle of exhilaration. I do know one of his secrets, I do!

'What? ' says Jemima avidly. 'Have you remembered something? '

'He.,.' I stop, feeling torn.

I did make a promise to Jack. I did promise.

But then, so what? So bloody what? My chest swells in emotion again. Why on earth am I keeping any stupid promise to him? It's not like he kept my secrets to himself, is it?

'He was in Scotland! ' I say triumphantly. 'The first time we met after the plane, he asked me to keep it a secret that he was in Scotland.'

'Why did he do that? ' says Lissy.

'I dunno.'

'What was he doing in Scotland? ' puts in Jemima.

'I dunno.'

There's a pause.

'Hmm, ' says Jemima kindly. 'It's not the most embar­rassing secret in the world, is it? I mean, plenty of smart people live in Scotland. Haven't you got anything better? Like... does he wear a chest wig? ' 'A chest wig! ' Lissy gives an explosive snort of laughter. 'Or a toupee! '

'Of course he doesn't wear a chest wig. Or a toupee, ' I retort indignantly. Do they honestly think I'd go out with a man who wore a toupee!

'Well then, you'll have to make something up, ' says Jemima. 'You know, before the affair with the scien­tist, Mummy was treated very badly by some politician chap. So she made up a rumour that he was taking bribes from the Communist party, and passed it round the House of Commons. She always says, that taught

Dennis a lesson! '

'Not... Dennis Llewellyn? ' Lissy says.

'Er, yes, I think that was him.'

'The disgraced Home Secretary? ' Lissy looks aghast.

'The one who spent his whole life fighting to clear his name and ended up in a mental institution? '

'Well, he shouldn't have messed Mummy around, should he? ' says Jemima, sticking out her chin. A bleeper goes off in her pocket. 'Time for my footbath! '

As she disappears back into the house, Lissy rolls her eyes.

'She's nuts, ' she says. 'Totally nuts. Emma, you are not making anything up about Jack Harper.'

'I won't make anything up! ' I say indignantly. 'Who do you think I am? Anyway.' I stare into my schnapps, feeling my exhilaration fade away. 'Who am I kidding? I could never get my revenge on Jack. I could never hurt him. He doesn't have any weak points. He's a huge, powerful millionaire.' I take a miserable slug of my drink. 'And I'm a nothing-special.,. crappy... ordinary... nothing.'