‘Is it true you have Christina Levy staying with you?’ asked Molly with faux concern. ‘Awful, what’s happened to her.’
The St Barts story was circulating like wildfire around London – a cautionary tale for anyone getting too comfortable or careless in their relationship.
‘Oh, I thought she looked pretty good for a woman who has just been dumped,’ smiled Adam, taking a sip of chardonnay. Karin’s good mood suddenly evaporated. She felt her back stiffen, removing her hand from his, and darted a look to Molly. Karin was convinced she had just suppressed a smile.
‘Speaking of which, Molly, how are you shaping up after leaving Feldman Jones?’ she asked with equal concern. ‘Lindsey can be such a cow. I’ll spread the word around to avoid using the company.’ Like hell she would.
‘Yes, Marcus told me about this,’ said Adam. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Oh, it’s fine,’ said Molly, waving a hand. ‘Lindsey and Sophie were getting greedy, that’s all, they didn’t want to split the pot three ways and I was ousted. It happens in business.’ She directed a smile at Adam. ‘And I have a pretty good track record. I’ll find something better.’
‘What about the Midas Group?’ asked Adam casually. ‘I think our PR department could do with being bolstered by someone with an events bias.’
‘Really?’ said Molly, brightening visibly. ‘That would be great.’
‘Is it a good idea to work so closely with Marcus?’ asked Karin tartly.
Adam scoffed. ‘The only thing Marcus has to do with our events is turn up. Even then you’re not too keen, are you?’ he laughed.
Marcus shrugged. ‘I haven’t got a problem with it if Molly hasn’t. And it might stop you spending all my money on the house,’ he said, smiling at Molly.
Karin felt her guts twist. The thought of having Molly working so closely with Adam was intolerable. Events! What was that? Late-night corporate schmoozing with booze and drugs and goodness knows what other aphrodisiacs.
‘But I thought you were more of a figurehead at Lindsey’s company,’ said Karin. ‘Did you actually do any events planning?’
Karin wanted to kick herself. It had come out snippy and ungracious. As Molly turned to smile sweetly at Adam, Karin knew that she had to be careful and clever.
‘I think there’s enormous overlap with what I did at Feldman Jones and could do at the Midas Group. Corporate entertaining has become so competitive and it’s vital to compete if you want to send out the right company message. I’ve worked with the best caterers, planners, florists in London and—’
Adam held a hand up and laughed. ‘Stop! Stop! I’m here for lunch, not to interview you. Let’s hook up in the week to iron out the details. Now, did somebody mention lobster ravioli?’
Karin look a deep swallow of her wine and could taste only bile. Men could be so bloody stupid.
Molly felt dizzy with pleasure. Three glasses of wine had gone to her head, lunch had been a success and even Karin had commended her on the tiramisu.
‘A little something I whipped up this morning,’ Molly had replied. ‘I can give you the recipe.’
But the thing putting her on such a high was the job offer and the look on Karin’s face when Adam had suggested it
. Well, honey, that was just the start of it, thought Molly, as she poured out four espresso coffees into her tiny Wedgwood cups. A few intimate private meetings with Adam and he’ll forget all about you.
‘Oh, bugger,’ said Marcus, slapping his pockets, his eyes looking around the room, ‘I think I left my mobile at the golf club. I’d better go back and get it. Why don’t you all take the horses out for an hour?’
‘Sounds good,’ nodded Adam.
Karin threw an arm round him. ‘You ride? Is there nothing this man can’t do?’
‘Disgusting, isn’t it?’ laughed Marcus. ‘Expert skier, ruthless businessman, and didn’t you row for Yale?’ he grinned.
‘Guilty as charged,’ said Adam immodestly.
‘Do you mind if I give the riding a skip?’ replied Karin. ‘I’ve got a stiff shoulder from a Pilates class. I might go and read in the bedroom. The view is so pretty.’
‘Fine. Let’s all meet back here in an hour.’
The stables at The Standlings had been a pleasant discovery for Molly when she had first visited. She had never suspected that Marcus was a keen rider, but he had proudly explained that his mother had been a national standard eventer who had brought up her children to love all things equestrian. Marcus, however, had spent twenty years living in Manhattan (‘the nearest I got to a horse was the jockey statuettes outside the 21 Club,’ he had joked), so as soon as he arrived in England, he had sought out a property with stabling and horses. Now was her chance to take advantage of it, thought Molly, as she rushed to the master bedroom to pull on her riding boots. She looked at herself in the mirror and felt a rush of anticipation. She felt so horny. Sitting opposite Adam all lunch had almost made her wet. He was without question the sexiest man she had ever met and it was quite incredible that he was absolutely loaded as well. The presence of Karin had only served to heighten her desire, not quash it, firing a competitiveness that was almost a sexual thrill in itself.
She strode to the stables with a spring in her step. There was a small yard, strewn with hay, and she could hear the neighing of Marcus’s chestnut gelding Olympia. Molly walked inside and her face fell. In the stable, tacking up and preparing to mount the horse, was not Adam but Karin.