The Grass is Greener Read Online Free Page B

mouthing ‘Sorry’ to Claudia. Claudia dismissed her apology with a swat of her hand and a broad smile. Clearly, she was relishing eavesdropping far more than Bronwyn was enjoying active participation.
    â€˜Hello?’
    â€˜Bronwyn!’ An abrasive voice barked down the line.
    It was Simon, the stickler for the trenches. If she wasn’t so surprised by his tone she might have laughed, because he didsound like he was standing in the middle of a war zone. Was that a crash in the background or the thump of a rolling head? Did his secretary Lulu just scream?
    â€˜Sir, are you okay?’
    â€˜Where the hell are you?’ he demanded, the volume making her pull the phone slightly from her ear.
    â€˜Just finishing lunch, sir.’
    â€˜Then get back to the office right now! We have a situation here.’ With orders given, the phone went dead.
    Great.
    â€˜What the matter?’ Claudia asked.
    â€˜Everything, by the sound of it.’ Bronwyn stood up. ‘I’m going to have to cut lunch short.’
    â€˜No worries.’ Claudia stood up too. ‘We can talk tonight or tomorrow.’
    â€˜I assume you’re staying at my place as usual.’
    â€˜Is that all right?’
    â€˜Of course.’ Bronwyn tutted. She reached into her bag and removed a gold key from her car keys. ‘Here, take this. You’ll probably get there before I do.’
    Claudia’s eyes lit up. ‘Thanks! I’ll see you tonight. Dinner’s on me.’
    â€˜Perfect, cause there’s absolutely nothing in the fridge.’
    Bronwyn hurried out of the restaurant and up St Georges Terrace. It was a gorgeous day, blue skies with only the gentlest breeze. The sunlight winked off the windows of office towers and cars creeping past in the busy lunch-hour traffic. Luckily, her firm was not far away. All the same, she hitched her shoulder bag higher and increased the pace, her black shiny heels clicking like a train on the pavement. After walking one block she flew into the lobby of Bantam, Harvey and Grey, nearly bowling over the janitor as he was carrying out one of the bins.
    â€˜Sorry, Henry.’
    â€˜No worries, Bron. Simon losing his shit again?’
    â€˜Hope not.’ She jabbed quickly at the elevator button. ‘But I wouldn’t place any bets on it.’ The doors opened and she scuttled inside.
    She watched Henry laugh as the doors slowly shut. Seriously, if she had to name one friend she worked with in this building, it would be him. The rest of them were all sharks.
    The ride to the eighth floor seemed interminable. But pandemonium erupted as soon as the lift doors opened, along with some very loud, very raucous barking. There was a dog in reception – a large, angry bullmastiff with a squashed black snout and big sunken eyes surrounded by black fur. The rest of its body was that beautiful tawny brown, glossy and silken. Not that this was the sort of dog you would want to pat. In fact, Bronwyn started to move back into the lift.
    â€˜Don’t you dare!’ A woman, as angry as the dog on her leash, slammed a palm on the lift buttons, causing the silver doors of freedom to glide shut. ‘Are you Bronwyn Eddings?’
    â€˜Y-yes.’
    â€˜At last!’ She released the leash, allowing the dog to charge upon Bronwyn, who gave a startled yelp of terror. She backed away only enough to land on the waiting area couch when the bullmastiff leaped upon her person and pinned her there. Its front paws rested on her shoulders, its doggy breath on her face.
    â€˜Meet your new dog.’ The woman’s satisfied voice came from her left as she sat frozen in fear. ‘Her name is Elsa.’

Chapter 2
    A meeting with Bronwyn Eddings always left Claudia with mixed emotions, which was probably why she’d been such a terrible friend to her this last year. Honestly, you’re just as bad as Jack!
    She loved her friend. Bronwyn was one of the kindest,