She smoothed the fabric of the dress round her hips, delighting in its silky feel against her skin. Perhaps she was showing a bit more cleavage than she was happy with, but there was nothing she could do to cover herself up, and anyway, maybe that was the point. Thankfully it was a flattering cut, so she didn’t need to feel embarrassed about the extra weight round her middle. She went into the loos and studied her reflection in the mirror, did a little twirl, delighted with what she saw. Amazing what a difference a fabulous dress could make to your confidence, she thought as she gazed at herself, sure that it had taken years off her.
She heard the front door open and close. Aware that it was probably time to go, she stepped out of the toilets.
‘James, I—’ She froze. Fiona stared back at her, looking as startled as Sara felt, her hand on her chest, eyes wide.
‘Christ, you scared me,’ she said, looking Sara up and down. ‘I was driving past and saw the office light on and thought I must have forgotten to switch it off earlier.’
The door opened and James walked in, looking suave and sophisticated in a slate-grey suit, white shirt and a tie that was the same colour as her dress. A nice touch, Sara thought, as was the matching silk handkerchief in his breast pocket. There was no doubting the fact that they were going out together, no possibility of explaining this away as pure coincidence.
Fiona’s eyes flicked from James to Sara.
‘You said you were going to football practice tonight,’ she said, the line between her eyebrows a deep furrow, an accusing tone to her voice. ‘I asked you.’
Sara cringed, couldn’t speak. She glanced at James, who winked at her before he turned to Fiona with an easy smile.
‘Sara’s kindly helping me with a business meeting. That’s all this is.’ And the way he said it made it all sound very natural, Sara thought, watching the scene as if she were an interested onlooker, disassociated from what was really happening.
Fiona turned to look at him, face pinched, clearly annoyed. ‘Right, I see,’ she said, her voice cutting the air like a pair of scissors, all snippy and sharp.
‘I’m sorry about football,’ Sara mumbled, her face burning. ‘I didn’t… I couldn’t…’ She ground to a halt, aware that there was no excuse for her bare-faced lie earlier in the day.
‘I told Chelsea we could all go out afterwards. She was so excited.’ Fiona’s lips disappeared into a thin line. ‘I was looking forward to a catch-up too. We only have time for business here, don’t we? And I want to…’ She gave James another hard look, and their eyes locked for a moment before James glanced at his watch, then at Sara.
‘I’m sorry to rush things along, but we’d better be off.’
Sara’s gaze fell to the floor, unable to deal with the stare that Fiona was giving her – a look so full of accusations and questions and disapproval that her body burned with shame. She hated letting people down, and that was all she’d managed to do tonight, Fiona being another one to add to the list. Although Fiona was technically her boss, she’d also been a good friend to Sara over the last few years, and she didn’t want to think she might have done something to bruise their relationship.
She followed James out of the building, feeling the prickle of Fiona’s glare on her back until James opened the car door for her and she got in. She won’t say anything, she reassured herself as she fastened her seat belt. She might be cross with me but she’s very discreet. Her heart raced; she wasn’t completely convinced. What if she says something to Hailey? Or the girls? She clung on to the seat belt as James whipped the car round a corner, shushing the voice in her head. She couldn’t listen, not now.
‘That was like being caught out doing something naughty by the headmistress,’ she said into the silence of the car as she watched the outskirts of the town fade away. She turned to James. ‘If looks could kill, you’d be dead.’
He was quiet for a moment, then a wry smile twitched at his lips. ‘Yeah, I think she’d quite like me to be dead.’
‘I’ve noticed a bit of… a niggle between you two.’ Sara watched his reaction, saw a frown appear.
He sighed. ‘Okay, if I tell you this, it stays in the car.’ He glanced at her.
‘I’m not going to tell anyone anything. Who have I got to tell anyway?’
‘Fiona, for one. It’s better if she thinks you don’t know.’
‘I promise I won’t utter a word. You’ve got me intrigued now.’
‘Me and Fiona, well, we had a bit of a…’ He pursed his lips. ‘I’m not sure what you’d call it. A fling?’
Sara stared at him, eyes wide. That was the last thing she’d been expecting to hear. Fiona was such a pillar of the community, exuding virtue and involved in so many good causes, it seemed like a contradiction in terms. An affair? Fiona and James? She turned to look out of the window so he wouldn’t catch the incredulity that was surely plastered all over her face.
She let his words roll round her mind. Fiona’s husband was quite a bit older than her, and was away a lot, but when he was home, he doted on her, buying her expensive gifts, taking her on romantic weekends away. Sara had often thought Fiona had hit the jackpot, having plenty of free time to pursue her own interests and still being treated like royalty by an adoring spouse. In truth, she’d felt a little jealous of the way Fiona’s husband so obviously cherished her, when she and Matt seemed to be drifting apart.
‘Really?’ The word burst out before she could stop it, struggling to believe it was true.
James laughed. ‘Don’t sound so surprised. Some women do find me attractive, you know.’
Sara looked out of the window. I do know. She could see his reflection in the glass, his profile, the amused curve of his lips, his straight nose, not too big, not too small. Everything in his face in proportion. There was no doubt that he was attractive, no doubt at all.
‘It didn’t last long. I felt there was… I don’t know.’ He pursed his lips, considering. ‘Let’s just say I wasn’t comfortable and ended things before it got started really. But you know what Fiona’s like. Has to have everything her own way, and she hasn’t forgiven me.’ She studied his reflection in the window, saw him glance at her. ‘She employed you to get back at me, you know. Wanted to oust me from my post when Dad was ill and I couldn’t put in the time. Thankfully, the other board members wouldn’t agree. I’ve been managing the place for years. Since way before Fiona joined the board.’ He sighed. ‘Anyway, we are where we are. But if she starts being funny with you, well, you’ll know why. She’s got a bit of a jealous streak, has our Fiona.’
Sara closed her eyes, suddenly weary, wondering how her life had got so complicated. One lie on top of another. She thought about football practice, Fiona turning up to collect Chelsea. Quickly she got her phone out of her bag, tapped out a message.
So sorry about tonight. I owed James a favour so I said I’d help him with a business meeting. Didn’t want Matt to find out. Please don’t mention anything to Hailey or the girls. Can we have a chat and I’ll explain?
A reply came back a few minutes later.
No problem. Just surprised. How about Monday?