Free Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella Page B

suggests the waiter, with a bland smile.
    He couldn’t just suggest champagne. He had to suggest
vintage
champagne. This waiter is a total sadist.
    “I could be persuaded!” Clive gives a sort of lugubrious chuckle, and somehow I force myself to join in.
    At last the waiter departs, having poured us each a zillion-pound glass of vintage champagne. I feel a bit giddy. I’m goingto be paying off this lunch for the rest of my life. But it’ll be worth it. I have to believe that.
    “So!” I say brightly, raising my glass. “To the job! I’m
so
glad you’ve changed your mind, Clive—”
    “I haven’t,” he says, swigging about half of his champagne down in one gulp.
    I stare at him, unnerved. Am I going mad? Did Kate take down the message wrong?
    “But I thought—”
    “It’s a possibility.” He starts to break up a bread roll. “I’m not happy with my job at the moment, and I’m considering a move. But there are drawbacks to this Leonidas Sports gig too. Sell it to me.”
    For a moment I’m too choked with dismay to answer. I’m spending the price of a small car on this man and he might not even be interested in the job? I take a sip of water, then look up, forcing my most professional smile. I can be Natalie. I can sell this to him.
    “Clive. You’re not happy in your current post. For a man with your gifts, this is a criminal situation. Look at you! You should be in a place which will
appreciate
you.”
    I pause, my heart thumping hard. He’s listening attentively. He hasn’t even buttered his bread roll yet. So far, so good.
    “In my opinion, the job at Leonidas Sports would be the perfect career move for you. You’re a former sportsman—it’s a sporting goods company. You love to play golf—Leonidas Sports has a whole golfwear line!”
    Clive raises his eyebrows. “You’ve done your research on me, at any rate.”
    “I’m interested in people,” I say honestly. “And knowing your profile, it seems to me that Leonidas Sports is exactly what you need at this stage. This is a fantastic, unique opportunity to—”
    “Is that man your lover?” A familiar clipped voice interrupts me, and I jump. That sounded just like—

    No. Don’t be ridiculous
. I take a deep breath and resume.
    “As I was saying, this is a fantastic opportunity to take your career to the next level. I’m sure that we could achieve a very generous package—”
    “I said, ‘Is that man your lover?’” The voice is more insistent, and before I can stop myself, I swivel my head.
    No.
    This can’t be happening. She’s back. It’s Sadie, perched on a nearby cheese trolley.
    She’s not in the green dress anymore; she’s wearing a pale pink one with a dropped waistband and a matching coat over the top. There’s a black band around her head, and from one of her wrists dangles a little gray silk bag on a beaded chain. The other hand is resting on a glass cheese dome—apart from her fingertips, which have sunk into it. She suddenly notices and pulls them out sharply, carefully positioning them on top of the glass.
    “He’s not terribly handsome, is he? I want some champagne,” she adds imperiously, her eyes lighting on my drink.
    Ignore her. It’s a hallucination. It’s all in your head
.
    “Lara? Are you OK?”
    “Sorry, Clive!” I hastily turn back. “Just got a bit distracted there. By the … cheese trolley! It all looks so delicious!”
    Oh God. Clive doesn’t seem amused. I need to get things back on track, quick.
    “The real question to ask yourself, Clive, is this.” I lean forward intently. “Will an opportunity like this come along again? It’s a unique chance to work with a great brand, to use all your proven talents and admired leadership skills—”
    “I want some
champagne!”
To my horror, Sadie has materialized right in front of me. She reaches for my glass and tries to pick it up, but her hand goes through it. “Drat! I can’t pick it up!” She reaches again, and again, then