The devil you know, p.52
The Devil You Know,
p.52
“Dunno why you have to be so crude about it,” he says prissily. “I think of it as a growing experience.”
Oh boy. This is a new depth of humiliation. “I don’t believe this,” I say, trying for incredulity, but my voice wobbles and it comes out all plaintive.
“Out of suffering comes strength, Anna,” says Brian wisely.
“You really are a total tosser,” I blurt. “Just go away, Brian, would you?”
But he stays rooted to the spot.
“It’s not how you look,” he says virtuously. “Well, that did have something to do with it. I need to be honest with myself. Looks are important to me because the body is a reflection of the spirit.” He gestures at my pudgy tummy. “I think you should work on that. Just a friendly comment.”
“A reflection of the spirit?” I retort. “Let’s hope not, because looking at your face, I guess your spirit has measles.”
He flushes a dull red. “Mildred says I’m very handsome, actually.”
“Who’s that? Your new girlfriend?”
He doesn’t answer.
“Well, Mildred is either a liar or blind, and if she hasn’t mentioned your halitosis, her sense of smell can’t be all that great either.” I stand up threateningly. “Now get out.”
I have two and a half stone on him. Brian turns and flees.
The kitchen door opens.
“Everything OK?” Lily asks carelessly.
“Fine,” I lie.
I walk over to the window and look out. There is a girl loitering below, outside the bookshop. She has blonde hair and seems ordinary looking, which puts her out of my league, and Brian’s too. But of course, he does own that flat in Camden …
Brian exits our building and greets the blonde. Then he high-fives her in another pathetic attempt to look American.
“Well,” says Lily sweetly, “I’m glad he values you for who you are!”
Also by Louise Bagshawe
Career Girls
The Movie
Tall Poppies
Venus Envy
For All the Wrong Reasons
Outstanding praise for Louise Bagshawe’s previous novel
For All the Wrong Reasons
“Bright, brash, and breezy … a classic riches-to-rags-to-riches tale. Toss this sexy read into your Gucci beach bag and enjoy.”
—Antoinette Stockenberg, author of Tidewater
“Unputdownable Bagshawe.”
—Cosmopolitan
“Ms. Bagshawe’s latest is full of lively characters amidst the bustling New York atmosphere.”
—Romantic Times
“This American debut by the author of four erotic bestsellers in the U.K. serves fair warning that there’s a new sexy romance queen panting at the gates, with one difference: Bagshawe doesn’t try to sugarcoat her characters’ ruthless, selfish, or venal behavior, giving her story a witty edge.… Designing Women meets ‘The Wife of Bath’s Tale’ in this blithely erotic name-dropping romp through Tiffany’s, Cartier and an entire Yellow Pages of designer showrooms and posh eateries.… this title could hit the big time—Jackie Collins, watch out!”
—Publishers Weekly
“Glitz galore.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Even more compulsive than Jackie Collins’ latest.”
—Company
“A gripping tale of revenge & ambition … Brilliant.”
—Heat
First published in Great Britain by Orion, an imprint of Orion Books Ltd.
THE DEVIL YOU KNOW
Copyright © 2003 by Louise Bagshawe.
Excerpt from The Go-To Girl copyright © 2004 by Louise Bagshawe.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2003046883
ISBN: 0-312-99477-X
EAN: 80312-99477-8
St. Martin’s Press hardcover edition / November 2003
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / January 2005
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
eISBN 9781466839069
First eBook edition: January 2013
Louise Bagshawe, The Devil You Know
