Page 48 of Always Beth
‘I, I don’t know, can he do that?’
‘He can. Tell me did you have a private investigator follow him, is there evidence of him with another woman?’
‘No, I followed him myself.’
‘Ballsy.’ Caroline laughs.
He’s not going to admit this if he can help it, he isn’t going to want his reputation ruined. He’s going to do everything he can to keep it quiet. I can tell by the silence that Caroline is thinking the same thing.
‘Beth, you might have to prepare yourself that he will continue to deny this, to protect his reputation and to avoid having to give you more in the divorce.’
Beth nods, completely subdued by the possibility that he won’t get his comeuppance.
‘So you mean he gets to waste her life with promises for the future and then not face the consequences?’
Caroline turns to me, her expression perplexed. I should know better; I do know better. If he wants this to all go away quietly – without cast-iron proof and with his money and status – it will.
Beth’s eyes fill with tears. My words have cut her deeply. ‘Can you both please excuse me, I need a minute.’
I don’t try to stop her even though that’s all I want to do. As the door clicks softly closed, I know I’m about to get it, both barrels.
‘She isn’t just your friend, is she?’ Caroline asks hurriedly.
We stare at each other, mirroring each other’s frustrated expressions. Caroline is the only one here I’d ever allow to challenge me. ‘I don’t see how it’s relevant. I’m not representing her, you are.’
‘No, we are. TWB and in case you’ve forgotten the T stands for Taylor in Taylor, Wright and Berry.’
‘I’m not practising right now.’
She tosses her hands in the air. ‘Semantics, James.’
Leaning back in her chair, she tosses her pen on the table ‘Does she know you’re a senior partner here?’
‘She doesn’t know the specifics, just that you’re a colleague. I don’t want her finding out unless I can help it. I don’t want her thinking she’s accepting charity.’
‘Why would she think that?’
I grimace as I think about how this is one of those decisions I should have run past my fellow partners. Sensing my discomfort, Caroline pieces two and two together.
‘You have to be kidding me?’ she cries.
‘She couldn’t afford us!’
‘When she settles she could. Her husband holds a seat in Parliament.’
I slam my hand on the desk. ‘She’s entitled to every last penny of that money.’
‘This is the most unethical case I’ve ever been involved in. I might have expected this from Mark, but you’re the one that keeps the rest of us on the straight and narrow.’
I think briefly about some of the nefarious cases our partner Mark Berry has had us involved in over the years and it’s true, I’m usually the moral compass out of the three of us.
‘Look, Beth will be back any moment. We’re the best, correction, you’re the best, she needs you.’
‘Fine. But you stay out of it.’
‘Thanks, C.’
Glaring at me, she rearranges Beth’s file. She hates it when I call her that. Resting her head on her hand, her eyes hold mine ‘How’s Lauren?’
