This Charming Man
A Novel
Chapter One
Lola
Day zero. Monday, August 25, 2:25 P.M.
The worst day of my life. When the first wave of shock released me from its fiendish grip, I couldn't help but notice that Paddy hadn't called me. Ominous. I was his girlfriend, the media was going wild that he was getting married to another woman, and he hadn't called me. Bad sign.
Called his private mobile. Not his ordinary private one, but the private private one that only I and his personal trainer have. It rang four times, then went to message; then I knew it was true.
End of world.
Called his office, called his home, kept ringing his mobile, left fifty-one messages for him—counted.
6:01 P.M.
Phone rang—it was him!
He said, "You've seen the evening papers?"
"Online," I said, "I never read the papers." (Not relevant, but people say the oddest things when in shock.)
"Sorry you had to find out in such a brutal way. Wanted to tell you myself bu ... read full excerpt from This Charming Man ebook