“Except for one very important fact,” murmured Tessa. “He doesn’t love you, Alicia. In fact, I don’t think he even likes you very much.”
“Shut up!” Alicia’s rage was off the charts by now and she advanced on Tessa until she was close enough to grasp her by the arm. “How would you like it if I told everyone in the office that the boss was fucking one of his employees? I don’t suppose that would go over very well with the higher ups, would it?”
Tessa grimaced as Alicia dug long fingernails into the flesh of her bare arm. “First of all, I don’t work there any longer as you well know. And second, considering that his father is about as high up as you can get and that he knows all about us, I’m not really sure what sort of trouble you think you can cause.”
“Oooh, meek little Tessa is finally growing a spine I see,” sneered Alicia. “You make me sick. You were always so prim and proper, sticking your nose up in the air when we would gossip about other people in the office. I wonder why you never said anything all the times we’d talk about the boss man. Afraid of showing your cards, I’ll bet. Exactly how long have you been screwing him, Tessa?”
Tessa’s mouth tightened angrily. “Our relationship is none of your business, Alicia. I have no intention of talking to you about it.”
Alicia shook her head. “No wonder you always seemed to get the best assignments, why Andrew always seemed to favor you. It was because the boss wanted you for himself all along. Tell me, bitch, when he asked you to do all those spreadsheets for him, were you spreading something else at the same time? Your legs, maybe?”
Tessa gasped, and was struggling to maintain her composure when a pair of heels clicked rather loudly on the marble floor of the toilet area. Alicia glanced up, ready to tell the unwelcome intruder to mind their own business, when the words caught in her throat.
Joanna Gregson was regarding Alicia like she was something scraped off the bottom of a shoe. Both Alicia and Tessa were silent as Ian’s mother glided their way with carefully measured strides, a smile on her face that somehow chilled Alicia to the bone.
“Tessa, dear, you really ought to get back. Ian will be missing you,” said Joanna gently. “Tell him and my husband that I’ll be along shortly.” When Tessa hesitated, Joanna gave her a little push. “Go, my dear. I’ll join you once I have a little chat with the young – er, lady.”
Tessa gave a quick nod and then hurried out of the lounge.
Mrs. Gregson refocused that chilling smile on Alicia. “You’re a very pretty young woman. Your name, dear?”
Alicia swallowed with some difficulty. “Alicia Spencer, ma’am.”
Joanna fingered the fabric of Alicia’s pale lilac gown. “Lovely dress. Dior, I believe?” At Alicia’s nod she continued. “Pretty face, beautiful dress, but such an ugly soul. And frankly, it doesn’t seem that your years at a prestigious school like Wellesley did much to teach you things like good manners.”
Alicia flushed and began to stammer an apology. “I’m very sorry you had to overhear all that, Mrs. Gregson. I’m just - ”
“Disappointed that Ian didn’t choose you?” Joanna raised a dainty brow. “My dear, there have been a great many girls like you over the years who’ve pursued Ian – pretty, well-bred, well-educated. The woman he was engaged to once was very much like yourself. But do you know why none of them ever held his attention – why he didn’t pick you over – ah, what did you call Tessa – oh, yes, a nobody?”
Alicia could only shake her head, too cowed to utter a reply.
“It’s because that girl loves him for who he truly is,” replied Joanna softly. “She sees far beyond the man that everyone else sees, beyond his obvious attributes like good looks and wealth and power. And that is why there will never be anyone else for either of them. Because deep down, where it really matters, they are two of the kindest, purest souls you’ll ever meet, and somehow they’ve managed to find each other.”
Alicia stared rather sullenly at her shoes, refusing to acknowledge what Ian’s mother had just said. She knew – just knew – that bitch Tessa was most likely telling Ian all the awful things she’d just said to her, and wondered wildly how she was going to talk her way out of this, especially when his mother had apparently overheard every word.
“How long have your worked for our company, dear?”
Alicia was a bit startled at the question but replied, “Almost five years, Mrs. Gregson.”
Joanna nodded. “Ah, well, that will look impressive on your resume, won’t it? And if you don’t have it up to date, I’d strongly advise polishing it up, dear. Maybe at the same time you’re typing up the letter of resignation I’ll tell my son to be expecting on his desk tomorrow morning. Now, do be sure and enjoy the rest of your evening, Alicia. And lay off the alcohol, dear. Otherwise your complexion will start to look like your father’s before you know it.”