Страница 47

'I was embarrassed, OK?' I say, my voice jumping a bit.

'Bit cheeky of Emma to ask,' says Nev, taking a huge bite of pork pie. 'Using family

co

'Cheeky?' echoes Mum in disbelief. 'Kerry, if you remember, we lent you the money to start

that company. You wouldn't have a company without this family.'

'It wasn't like that,' says Kerry, darting an a

wire. Some confusion!' She pats her hair, and gives me another smile. 'Obviously I'd be

delighted to help you with your career, Ems. You should have said before! Just call me at the

office, I'll do anything I can…'

I gaze back at her, full of loathing. I ca

the most two-faced cow in the entire world.

'There's no crossed wire, Kerry,' I say, as calmly as I can. 'We both know exactly what

happened. I asked you for help and you wouldn't give it to me. And fine, it's your company

and it was your decision and you had every right to make it. But don't try and say it didn't

happen, because it did.'

'Emma!' says Kerry, with a little laugh, and tries to reach for my hand. 'Silly girl! I had no

idea! If I'd known it was important…'

If she'd known it was important? How could she not know it was important?

I jerk my hand away and stare back at Kerry. I can feel all the old hurt and humiliation

building up inside me, rising up like hot water inside a pipe, until suddenly the pressure is

unbearable.

'Yes you did!' I hear myself crying. 'You knew exactly what you were doing! You knew how

desperate I was! Ever since you've arrived in this family you've tried to squash me down. You

tease me about my crap career. You boast about yourself. I spend my entire life feeling small

and stupid. Well, fine. You win, Kerry! You're the star and I'm not. You're the success and I'm

the failure. But just don't pretend to be my best friend, OK? Because you're not, and you never

will be!'

I finish, and look around the gobsmacked picnic rug, breathing hard. I have a horrible feeling

I might burst into tears, any moment.

I meet Jack's eye and he gives me a tiny, way-to-go smile. Then I risk a brief glance at Mum

and Dad. They're both looking paralysed, as if they don't know what on earth to do.

The thing is, our family just doesn't do loud, emotional outbursts.

In fact, I'm not entirely sure what to do next myself.

'So, um… I'll be going, then,' I say, my voice shaking. 'I'll be off. Come on, Jack. We've got

work to do.'

With wobbly legs, I turn on my heel and head off, stumbling slightly on the grass. Adrenalin

is pumping round my body. I'm so wound up, I barely know what I'm doing.

'That was fantastic, Emma,' comes Jack's voice in my ear. 'You were great! Absolutely…

logistical assessment,' he adds more loudly as we pass Cyril.

'I've never spoken like that in my life,' I say. 'I've never… operational management,' I quickly

add, as we pass a couple of people from Accounts.

'I guessed as much,' he says, shaking his head. 'Jesus, that cousin of yours… valid assessment

of the market.'

'She's a total — spreadsheet,' I say quickly as we pass Co

you, Mr Harper.'

Somehow we make it into the house and up the stairs. Jack leads me along a corridor,

produces a key and opens a door. And we're in a room. A large, light, cream-coloured room.

With a big double bed in it. The door closes, and suddenly all my nerves flood back. This is it.

Finally this is it. Jack and me. Alone in a room. With a bed.

Then I catch sight of myself in a gilded mirror, and gasp in dismay. I'd forgotten I was in the

stupid Snow White costume. My face is red and blotchy, my eyes are welling up, hair is all

over the place, and my bra strap is showing.

This is so not how I thought I was looking.