Love to Hate You by Anna Premoli Read Free Book Online Page B

and will have an after work drink somewhere, a long, long way from this office. A
very
long way, got it? Where nobody can see you! I suggest choosing somewhere with a bad reputation, and I suggest going there incognito. I
would
suggest meeting at one of your homes, but leaving you two alone without witnesses might end with a 999 call, so we'll forget anything like that for the moment.”
    I am about to reply, when Colin motions me to stop with his hand.
    â€œI've run out of patience with you two. After that ridiculous year, I thought you'd have been able to behave like adults and find a way round your problems, but I realise I was kidding myself. You're a couple of idiots, and believe me when I say that I’m being nice. Anyway, you’re free to ruin your own careers, but you're not going to ruin mine as well. Is that clear?”
    I’ve never heard Colin say anything like this. I’m hugely, enormously ashamed.
    â€œYes, very clear,” I answer with a red face. “Perfectly clear,” confirms Ian in a gloomy voice. “Right, so decide where the hell you're going to meet tomorrow evening and hammer away at each other as much as you like –
outside this office
. And when you’re done, I'd like you to start talking about work. In a serious, productive way. Because on Saturday morning, Beverly will be waiting for you and you will be spending a fabulous weekend at his Scottish property, since you’re his favourite tax consultants. And frankly I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.”
    That said, he goes back to his keyboard and begins writing again.
    It only took a minute, but it was a painful lesson. Once we get out of Colin’s office, our expressions are not relieved at all. It’s no surprise that we both go back to our own offices without saying another word.
    *
    The following day, Laura and Vera seem almost scared when they hear me opening the front door. With good reason – it’s only 6 p.m. and I haven't been back from work this early since the day I was taken on.
    â€œEverything ok?” asks Laura worriedly, as I greet her.
    â€œRelax, girls, I’m absolutely fine, but I have a work meeting in half an hour and I need to change into something casual,” I say, as I walk past them and enter my room to find something suitable to wear. God, what
should
you wear for something like this?
    Ian e-mailed me in the afternoon to tell me the time and place. A place I've never been to but which I've heard mentioned. When I say its name to Laura, who has followed me into my room, she opens her eyes wide.
    â€œAnd who exactly are you meeting somewhere that posh?” she asks suspiciously.
    â€œIt’s just for work—” I say vaguely as I grab a pair of jeans and a black top.
    â€œThat's a pretty low-necked top,” points out Vera, as she walks in to join us. “Don’t try and avoid the question: who are you meeting?”
    I stop for a moment before answering. “If you promise you won’t jump to any weird conclusions—”
    Faces quizzical, they both nod.
    â€œOk then – I have to meet Ian. But it’s only work. We argue too much in the office, so our boss suggested that we… no, actually he
ordered
us to find a neutral zone.”
    â€œSo after almost killing each other at the office, you've decided to finish the job somewhere else? Haven't I taught you anything, Jenny? No witnesses!” Vera teases me.
    â€œIt's just work!” I say in exasperation.
    â€œYeah, of course it is, 'it's just work'—” mimics Laura “That's why you're so nervous, because it’s 'just work'—”
    â€œI’m not nervous!” I snap.
    But the truth is that I am nervous –
extremely
nervous! All this fighting with Ian is exhausting me, mentally and physically.
    A few seconds later, I’m ready. I don’t want to let my hair down or fix my make-up. Today I've gone back to my ponytail,