“It doesn’t matter, Lee,” Alex said, after long seconds of stunned silence, unable to hide the hesitant tremor in his voice. “You’re far more important to me than any account.”
“It’s not about me though, is it? This is about Claire.” I’d known Alex long enough to know what was important to him, and I would be the last person to stand in the way of his dream − no matter the cost. “And the opportunity she’s presenting you and Lou with.”
“What are you saying?”
“That you should go for it.”
“I couldn’t live with the betrayal, Leesbian. You know me, I’m sensitive like that.”
“The hell you are. And, as much as I appreciate your loyalty, it wouldn’t be a betrayal. This is business, Alex, I understand that.”
“It’s more than business.”
“Yeah, I know. It’s your life-long dream.”

Next, I tried to figure out a way to apologise to Lou and concluded that actions would make a firmer statement than another slew of lame sorries, so I texted Claire and confirmed my presence at her dinner. Then, all there was left to do was grow the maturity to cope with the psychological fallout of Alex and Lou becoming Claire’s employees, but they’d have to give notice at their current jobs, so I had some time to suss that one out.

On Wednesday evening, after work, I went straight to Claire’s house. I hadn’t seen her since Theresa’s party when I had dramatically walked out on her and her advances. I felt something flutter in my stomach when I rang her bell, something resembling nerves I wasn’t willing to accept. The last, and only, time I’d been at her house had ended the way it always did with Claire − in her bed.
“Hi Lee,” she said as she leaned against the door, one arm stretched upwards. “Long time no see.”
“I hope you didn’t go through too much trouble for little old me.”
“Don’t worry. We’re having beans on toast. I know you’re more a liquid dinner kind of person, anyway.” She smiled in that unsmiling Claire way, arrogant but not so much that it shut you out completely − however small, it was the opening that mattered. “Come here.” She grabbed my shoulders and kissed me on the mouth with just the right amount of intensity to make me doubt her motives for the rest of the night.

“I suppose I should thank you for finally giving your permission. Alex called me back for the first time this afternoon. He said he was willing to talk.” Claire was in the process of opening a bottle of Shiraz. I recognised two paintings on the wall opposite from where I was sitting from her flat in Paris. One day soon I would have to start dealing with the memories I had so expertly hidden beneath all the drama and the alcohol. “Your girlfriend, on the other hand, seemed eager enough from the start.”
“You can’t really blame her. She doesn’t know you the way Alex and I do.”
“And you haven’t told her?”
“Some things just can’t be conveyed to their full extent by mere words, Claire. Some things you have to experience for yourself to recognise the trauma they’ve caused.”
“You don’t seem too traumatised to me, Lee. You’ve even gone and gotten yourself a new girlfriend already.”
“I’m sure you’ve had plenty yourself.”
“You shouldn’t always automatically assume things about people, Lee. You’d be surprised how often you’re wrong.” She held up her glass. “To new beginnings,” she said. “Now tell me, is it serious between you and Lou?”

To be continued…