Broken Chord Read Free

moment. That was how it had started and then, somehow it had becomeeasy, so easy that it seemed silly not to get some extra and make a bit from it. He needed money and this was a relatively simple way to make it. The discrepancy between their wealth was enormous and this made a little difference. It meant being able to pay for meals out and enabled him to buy her little presents. He knew she would never marry him and although she thought she loved him now, he was quite certain it wouldn’t last long. Even so he had no choice but to stay with her. Four months into this relationship he could see with absolute clarity that it would never grow, or come to anything and that he might well ruin himself if he didn’t get out. He watched while she snorted the coke and knew that he was never going to leave, and that he would do anything she asked him to, anything at all.

CHAPTER TWO
    Plump, ultra-feminine, bejewelled, superbly made-up and still pretty despite her age, Fiona beamed on her guests. “Ursula, Guido, my dears, I’m so glad you could make it. I’ve got quite a treat for you this evening.” Her husband, Ubaldo, faultlessly dressed, had a permanent smile fixed on his tanned face. He bowed and kissed Ursula’s hand, his eyes barely seeming to register her, before she was wafted on with Guido and ushered through to the main reception room where rows of chairs had been set out facing a small raised dais. As soon as they were safely out of earshot, Fiona hissed in her husband’s ear, “Those emeralds are divine. What a waste. She should give them to her daughter. They only draw attention to her neck and let’s face it that’s the last thing she needs.” Her hand touched her own wrinkled neck briefly.
    “I can just see you giving your stuff to Diana, my dear,” Ubaldo said through his teeth.
    Fiona ignored that and said, “I don’t know what she thinks she’s doing with that toy-boy.”
    “Use your imagination, Fiona.”
    “I’d rather not.”
    As soon as they left the room Ursula whispered, “I’m sure he’s on something.”
    “Not surprising, he’d need to be living with that.” Guido’s eyes were already darting round taking note of everything, the paintings, the furnishings and the colours.
    “It’s his eyes, they never connect,” she said thoughtfully.
    “He’s probably up to his eyeballs in Xanax.”
    “And that smile.”
    “Plastic surgery. He’s got no choice. He has to smile; his skin’s been stretched so much.” Guido grinned.
    “Really! Remind me not to go for it.”
    “You don’t need it, darling.” He knew when she was fishing for a compliment and always made quite sure she got what she wanted.
    “Thank you, my love.”
    Ursula entered the main room and smiled vaguely around her while Guido’s sharp rapacious eyes discerned who was present and decided the order in which they would be greeted. He murmured instructions in her ear and she moved regally, her hand extended showing her engagement ring to full advantage. The large diamond glittered in solitary splendour and she was aware it was the focus of everyone’s glances as she smiled and spoke the usual words of greeting, “My dear, it’s been ages…”
    Her white evening dress made soft noises as she moved. It sheathed her sun-bronzed body and swathed her shoulders covering the more vulnerable areas of ageing skin. She was as tall as Guido but with none of his grace. She was big boned and walked a little awkwardly in her high heeled shoes as though unused to them. Guido’s guiding hand, lightly touching her waist, felt reassuring. He was quite invaluable. She wanted to interpret the way other women looked at her as envious, and tried to ignore the possibility that those subtle whispers were critical. They could laugh as much as they liked. She had what they didn’t, a handsome, sexually-active man. Whatever they might think or say, she knew it was wonderful to enter a room with a good-looking man. She sighed with