‘Yup,’ I say. ‘Wouldn’t catch me out there in this weather.’
‘I went out this morning but didn’t stay long,’ he says. ‘Not fun when it’s like this.’
‘Nooo’, I agree.
There’s a pause. I guess he’s wondering if I remember coming on to him last night or if I was too drunk and have forgotten. I’ll let him wonder for now.
‘So what are your plans for today if you’re not skiing?’ he asks.
‘I thought I’d hang out here for a while. It’s such a lovely chalet, it’s nice to spend some time in it. I’m really enjoying myself.’
‘It is a lovely chalet,’ he agrees. He looks across to the huge window. ‘One of my favourites. Did you choose it for the view?’
‘Kind of. I work in events management and I’ve had my eye on it as a venue for a while.’ This is not the entire truth, but it’s near enough – it’s also the version I’ve told Hugo. ‘Then Hugo was looking for somewhere to bring Simon to impress him – he’s hoping he’ll invest in his company – so I suggested here and … well, here we are.’
Matt nods. There is an awkward silence, filled with sexual tension. We both know what is happening here. But we are at opposite ends of the sofa and I am Matt’s married client, so neither of us really know how to move things forward, not now that we are sober. ‘Good choice,’ Matt ventures.
‘But then it turns out that Simon came here with an old girlfriend,’ I continue, ‘and Cass is feeling insecure about it. I think that was part of the reason for her solo walk which worried everyone so much.’
‘Ah! Poor Cass. I guess having a new baby can make things …’ he tails off, realizing this isn’t a good conversational route to go down for many reasons. ‘I hope she’s OK. She seems …’
He clears his throat. ‘Well, anyway, none of my business. Changing the subject entirely, if the weather improves tomorrow, perhaps I could take you out skiing – show you the resort? With Cass, and the boys too, if they’re interested,’ he adds, quite clearly as an afterthought. ‘It’s all part of our service. I have to take my company jacket off so as not to tread on the local instructors’ toes but, being a small company, we like to—’
‘Sounds great,’ I interrupt, cutting him off because I don’t want him to go back into corporate mode and I’m already wondering how I can make sure none of the others want to come with us. ‘Why don’t I meet you at the Schuss Café at ten?’
Matt grins. ‘Sounds perfect. I believe I’m due here for dinner tonight, so we can firm things up then. And if there’s anything you need in the meantime, give me a shout. Send my regards to Cass, I won’t disturb her if she’s tired.’
‘I will.’
‘And I hope the boys have a successful day skiing.’
‘I’ll pass that on.’
We both get up and move towards the door. ‘Well then,’ he says. I lean in, inviting him to kiss me on the cheek. He reddens slightly, unsure what to do. I put my hand on his arm and do the bise, two kisses French style, as if I do that all the time, which I don’t, but I want to touch him.
I squeeze his hand briefly. ‘See you tomorrow.’
13
December 1998, La Madière, France
‘Hello? Richard. Right. OK. Thanks … Yeah, I will. I don’t think we’ve got any option now that … Look, now is hardly the time, is it? Yeah. I’ll keep you posted. Bye.’
‘So?’ Andy asks, stupidly. Isn’t it obvious?
‘They’re not there.’
‘So what do we do? How long have they been missing now?’
I look at my watch, and then out of the window. It’s getting dark, the wind sounds like a jet engine and it’s still snowing.
‘We don’t know that they’re missing!’ I snap. ‘We just don’t know where they are.’ I am pacing about the office, but it’s too small and I feel claustrophobic.
Andy picks up the phone. ‘Isn’t that the same thing? We have to call rescue now. We can’t sit back and do nothing. Something’s obviously wrong.’
‘But …’ I say, uselessly. ‘We said we’d give it till six. They might have gone to the bar like we said and be boring some poor sod with how they lost their guides and found their way down like heroes and—’
‘Apart from anything else, rep-boy Richard knows now. So if they don’t turn up …’
‘And if they do, everyone will think we’re incapable idiots anyway,’ I counter.
Andy holds up the phone towards me. ‘So what do you want me to do?’
‘Make the call.’
14
Daily Mail
29 December, 1998
Two British men have gone missing in the French Alpine ski resort of La Madière.
The two men, brothers aged 22 and 24, who have not yet been named, were skiing off-piste with local guides when they went missing in bad weather.
A search team was launched immediately, but so far no trace of either man has been found.
The young men are believed to have been staying in a Powder Puff holiday chalet with their girlfriends, who remain in the resort anxiously awaiting news.
A spokesman for Powder Puff holidays said: ‘Obviously we are all deeply worried about the missing men and hoping they will turn up safe and sound. In the meantime, we are supporting the rest of their party as well as we are able.’
15
January 2020, La Madière, France
Ria
Millie appears with a freshly-made cake and a tray of steaming mugs of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows in a dish at almost exactly the same time as Hugo and Simon stomp up the stairs from the boot room.
‘Good afternoon!’ Millie says as she places the tray carefully down on the granite table. ‘How was your day?’
‘Cold, windy, fucking amazing,’ says Simon, tearing off his too-tight Porsche ski jacket and flinging it down on a chair.
‘Hugo?’ I ask, slightly naughtily. I know he isn’t a particularly confident skier and is unlikely to have enjoyed the day at all, not that he’d ever be likely to admit that even to me. But there’s no way he’d have even considered going out in conditions like today’s if he wasn’t so desperate to suck up to Simon.
‘Yeah, it was good,’ he says tightly, also taking off his jacket (Black Crows – chosen by me) and handing it to Millie. I notice it is soaking wet – he’s probably had a few falls. ‘Looking forward to tomorrow,’ Hugo adds. ‘We’ve booked the same guide to take us out. He was great.’
I let my face fall. ‘Oh, what a shame. I thought I’d ski with you tomorrow, Hugo, but I’ve arranged to meet Matt at ten in the Schuss – he said he’d show me around the resort. Is that OK?’
Hugo’s face hardens – he won’t want me skiing with Matt alone after accusing me of flirting with him the other night, which, to be fair, I was – but I also know he won’t say anything in front of Simon. ‘Yes, of course,’ Hugo says lightly. ‘Perhaps we can all meet up for lunch?’