Don't Tell Eve by Airlie Lawson

that the only thing it had in common with the places she normally ate in were the prices. They, at least, were impressive.

    In one of the smaller rooms at the back of the restaurant, the waiter broke the bad news.
    ‘Who let her in?’ was Jack’s immediate question.
    ‘I’m sorry, there’s a new guy on the door. He didn’t recognise her at first, and when he did it was too late and he decided it was easier to let her in than risk a scene.’
    ‘She does do scenes well,’ said Todd from the other side of the table. The Whale was the one place apart from the football field where he was supposed to be safe. He dropped in often to use the computer in Alex’s office, a sleek, sexy device that had the capacity to do exactly what needed to be done. Alex was generous like that. Indeed, Alex was generous, full stop. Since they’d met at a local harbourside pool, one with a library next door that had reading desks overlooking lush gardens leading down to the water, Alex had been incredibly kind. He’d introduced Todd to Jack, the crew at The Whale and to the football team. Most importantly, he’d given Todd his own group of friends and an identity separate from Eve. ‘Who’s she with, do we know?’
    ‘Thin woman, dark hair, pulled back headache tight.’
    ‘That’ll be Hilary – thanks for the heads-up.’
    The waiter left them alone.
    ‘They’re plotting someone’s downfall, no doubt.’
    ‘You’re such a drama queen, Todd.’
    ‘Man, you have no idea.’
    ‘About drama I do. Come on, I work with bloody Alex. The term was invented for him.’
    ‘Exactly, so don’t use it against me. I’m a lot of things, but drama queen, no.’
    Jack had decided long before Alex had disappeared, and Jess suggested Eve was barred in case she heard about Alex, that the woman wasn’t welcome at The Beached Whale. He didn’t like what he’d heard about her and her methods, and while he didn’t work for her, keeping her out was a gestureof solidarity with those she’d mistreated; it was the least he could do. ‘Okay, point taken. Look, Jess has told me a fair bit, so maybe I know more than you think.’
    Todd smiled enigmatically. ‘I doubt it.’

    Ignoring the open window and the frangipani, daphne and hydrangeas outside, Eve and Hilary were doing exactly what Todd had suspected.
    ‘We need to lose more,’ said Eve. ‘It’s such a wonderful climate for it. And I’m not talkin’ about the weather. What about Daisy?’
    ‘Good thought. Plus, foreign rights is expensive to run with all those overseas trips. Besides, she’s so sweet and obliging and agreeable – don’t you hate sycophants? I’m sure she won’t put up a fight. Or talk.’
    ‘Good, decision made, Daisy’s next then. Now where’s my food?’ Eve ripped a bread roll in half and plunged it into a bowl of olive oil and vinegar. ‘Would have preferred butter,’ she complained between mouthfuls.
    Hilary hadn’t ordered as she didn’t eat in public. Instead she chose to slurp back health-shakes in the privacy of her office or her home. Her culinary and alcoholic abstinence didn’t deter her boss, and the latter meant Eve always had a designated driver so she didn’t have to wait for taxis.
    As Eve ate, Hilary studied the decoration of the small room. ‘What is that?’ She pointed to a painting dominating most of one wall.
    Eve tilted her head, considering. ‘Who’d know? Probably done by a mate of Alex’s – or Jack’s. No other reason for it to be hangin’ there. I mean, I know about these things and that’s not art, it’s …’ Eve struggled to find the right word.
    ‘It’s offensive. How do they expect you to eat with it there?’
    As Hilary said this, a roving waiter topped up her water and Eve’s wine. Eve grabbed his elbow. ‘What’s that about? You don’t know, do you?’
    ‘Oh, that? Isn’t it fabulous? Don’t you love how the artist treads such a fine line between horribly vulgar and incredibly sexy? It’s a work