“Oh, didn’t Luke tell you?” I want to punch her in the face. Her smug smile and squinty eyes do nothing to dispel my anger, which is increasing by the second. “I needed him to go to Germany for a few days to take a look at a construction project, but he refused. That’s when he explained that you were struggling. I must say that the clients were disappointed that Luke wouldn’t go, but I sent my next best worker in his place. Maybe he didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you to worry that his career was suffering.”
“Suffering?” I almost smack myself on the forehead at another slip of the tongue. I don’t want this woman to think that Luke keeps things from me.
“Yes. It would have done wonders for his status, but sadly, he will have to wait for another opportunity like this to come up. Anyway,” she says as she turns to the mirror and takes a look at her appearance before turning back to me. “It was nice meeting you. I hope to see you again.” I nod my head at her, unable to form any words at everything she just told me. With one last smirk, she flounces past me and out of the toilets.
I let out the breath that I have been holding, and I turn back to the mirror. Why the hell would Luke tell her that I am struggling? And why did she feel the need to tell me about Germany? She is clearly pissed off that Luke wouldn’t go. I feel a sense of betrayal at Luke talking about me, behind my back. I shouldn’t let Andi get to me, but she has. She was a nagging thought in my mind all those months ago. A nag that I thought I had got rid of, but it turns out the thought was still there, bubbling under the surface. I know that she was involved with the Ricardo and Gavin situation, and I hate that she was privy to more information than I was.
With the girls waiting for me in the bar, I walk back out of the toilets and order us some more drinks. I need to act like everything is okay. I don’t want my hen night ruined because Andi decided to piss me off. The trouble is, she has succeeded. I may be here in body, but my mind is firmly going to fixate on what she said to me. I need to speak to Luke, and I intend to do that as soon as I can get out of here.
Chapter Thirty-One
I arrive home from Bar Twelve at eleven o’clock. Tori and Maggie weren’t happy that I wanted to cut the night so short, but I used having a newborn baby to my advantage. I feel bad for doing it but having to make it look like I was having a good night was exhausting. As I walk through the front door, Luke is coming down the stairs with an empty baby bottle in his hand.
“Oh, hi,” he says coming over and giving me a kiss on the cheek. “I didn’t expect you to be back yet.” He checks his watch and frowns at me as he sees that it isn’t even after midnight. “Everything okay?”
“Not really.” I chuck my bag on the floor and I take off my jacket, hanging it on the coat peg next to the front door.
“What happened?” He looks genuinely worried, so I don’t keep him in suspense.
“Andi happened.”
“Andi? As in, my boss Andi?” He looks confused.
“Yep.” I walk past him and go to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water.
“What the hell does she have to do with anything?”
“I don’t know, Luke,” I reply, turning to face him. “Why don’t you tell me why she would just so happen to bump into me and say that I was struggling with being a new mum?” His mouth drops open at my words and I can see that he is flabbergasted at this news.
“She what?”
“You heard me. Apparently, you told her that I was struggling, and that is the reason why you couldn’t go to Germany on some work thing.” I watch as his jaw clenches together, but I am not done speaking. “Is it true, Luke? Did you tell her that?” I was hoping that he would answer me straight away and say no, but he doesn’t. “Oh my God. You did tell her that.”
“Charlie, I never said that you were struggling.”
“Well then what did you say, Luke? Because whatever it was, it sure as hell left a lasting impression on her.” My voice is louder than I intend it to be. I am incensed.
“Babe, calm down.”
“Calm down? Are you being serious? You’re expecting me to be calm when you have been talking about me behind my back? And not just to anybody, but to your bitch of a boss.” I don’t hold back. I do think that she is a bitch.
“Honestly, you have got the wrong end of the stick,” he says, failing to reassure me. I scoff at his response.
“Really? Well, why don’t you enlighten me, Luke? You tell me exactly what you said to her,” I demand, folding my arms across my chest and waiting for him to answer. I wait, and I wait some more, but when he fails to speak, I throw my hands up in exasperation. “Is this really how it’s going to go? You have kept stuff from me before Luke and look how that turned out.” I hate to throw the past in his face, but his silence leaves me no choice.
“Don’t, Char.”
“Don’t what?”
“Please don’t bring up a time that was painful for both of us.” The desperation on his face makes me simmer down a little, but it doesn’t make the anger disappear.
“Why is it, when it comes to Andi, you feel like you can’t talk to me?” He shifts on the spot, clearly not liking my choice of words.
“I don’t want to talk to you about work.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. It’s only been since Andi took over that you have been secretive.” He knows that I have hit the nail on the head. “I am not prepared to stand here and have you lie to me, Luke. Tonight was my hen do. Tonight was supposed to be fun. But unfortunately, your boss decided to ruin that, and I can’t for the life of me figure out why.”
“Because she’s pissed that I wouldn’t go to Germany.”
