We All Fall Down Read Free

back?’
    â€˜Possibly. But there are plenty of other reasons I can think of, too.’ She laughed, and emptied her glass of wine. She asked him to have a drink with her in the pub. ‘Not for long. I just don’t want to go home and sit by myself tonight.’
    Hugh was never sure if Fiona was in a relationship, nor did he ever like to ask. It didn’t sound as if she’d called anyone with her news, so maybe she wasn’t. He’d never been able to keep track of the men she claimed to be on intimate terms with. Sometimes she’d tell him on the way to or from a meeting, in a voice that somehow managed to be both affectionate and cynical – as if she was determined not to fall into the trap of expecting too much this time – about her latest friend. She always called them friends; never lovers, partners or – unforgivable in her eyes – better halves. But when he remembered to mention that particular friend a week or two later, and ask how they were getting on or what they were doing at the weekend, his question was nearly always dismissed with a ‘Haven’t seen him for a while,’ or a ‘That wasn’t anything special,’ or more honestly with a ‘Oh, that finished ages ago.’ Hugh suspected she was lonely, also that many men would be frightened of her. She could be abrasive. Even at work she didn’t play – probably couldn’t play – the part of the little woman hanging onto every word her male colleagues spoke.
    â€˜Sure. I’ll call Kate. Just let her know.’
    He had to get home. Kate was going out, but he couldn’t leave Fiona alone, not after she’d just been fired.
    â€˜Are you sure it’ll be OK? Don’t want –’
    â€˜Of course.’
    â€˜I’ll call you when I’ve packed my stuff. It won’t take long. Then we can get HR to escort us to the door.’ She disappeared down the corridor.
    He called his assistant. ‘What’s happening out there? Have you heard anything?’
    â€˜About the redundancies? Not much. Everyone’s talking about Fiona, of course. That’s so sad.’
    â€˜It wasn’t deserved. Anyone else?’
    â€˜I’m not really sure. There are plenty of rumours.’
    That’s so typical of Sarah, he thought, and he liked that in her. She wasn’t a gossip. ‘There were a couple in Media I’ve been told, and Corey and Yanni. They’re the only account people to go, so far as I know. Plus, I’ve been told, one in the Studio, someone in TV production and someone from Online.’
    â€˜Also Trent, I believe. It sounds like a lot. It’s not good.’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜OK, Sarah, why not go off early? Have a good weekend. Try and forget all this shit for a day or two.’
    She laughed. ‘Thanks, Hugh. You have a good weekend too.’
    Then he called his wife. She sounded harried when she answered the phone. He could hear Tim crying in the background. She didn’t wait for him to speak, to even find out if it was him. ‘You’re not going to be late again?’
    â€˜I’m sorry, darling, but Fiona – you know, the creative director; you’ve met her – she’s been fired, and I said I’d have a drink with her.’
    â€˜I’m supposed to be going round to Deb and Tony’s tonight. I promised them.’
    â€˜I’ll be back as soon as I possibly can.’
    â€˜But I have to get ready.’
    â€˜Kate, Fiona’s pretty upset –’
    â€˜So am I.’
    â€˜Darling, I can’t just leave her. Try and understand. She hasn’t anyone at home. She’s by herself.’ This wasn’t quite true: the other people who’d been made redundant must be drinking somewhere, surely? Maybe Fiona didn’t want to get involved in a big miseryfest.
    â€˜So am I. Anyway, what’s she got to do with you? She’s not even in the same