Between The Sheets by Colette Caddle

front of her. 'I can't believe it,' she said again. 'I never thought he'd do something like this.'
    'You don't know he did anything,' Ian told her. 'It's just a photograph. It may be totally innocent.'
    'But it says that they were together all evening.'
    'As my father always says, "Paper never refuses ink.'"
    'Pardon?'
    'It could be all lies,' Ian translated.
    'Oh. Still, it doesn't matter. Dana will still be devastated if she sees it.'
    'Which is why I've called. You must make sure she does.'
    'What?' Sylvie shrieked. 'Are you mad?'
    'No, just trying to do my job. Look, Sylvie, if Dana doesn't pull out of this stupor soon you could be out of a job. You must realize that.'
    'So?' Sylvie said, reluctantly.
    'So, perhaps this photo is the kick-start she needs,' he said gently. 'I know it might hurt her initially, Sylvie, but maybe it will make her come to her senses.'
    'Are you saying we should be cruel to be kind?'
    'She's going to hear about this sooner or later. It would be best if she heard it from you.'
    'What?' Sylvie shrieked again.
    'Call her,' he urged. 'If you don't, I will and I know which she'd prefer.'
    Iris was halfway up the stairs with Dana's coffee when the phone rang. She paused, wondering if she should retrace her steps and answer it, and then realized that Dana already had. When she knocked and went into the bedroom, Dana was sitting in the armchair by the window with the phone in her hand.
    'Good morning, Dana, how are you today?' Iris did a double take. 'What is it? Has something happened.'
    'Have you got the Daily Journal there?'
    Iris pulled the papers from under her arm and looked through them. 'Yes, here it is.'
    Dana snatched it from her and flicked through it until she came to a two-page spread of coloured photographs. They were all of the fashion show in the Shelbourne the previous evening.
    Iris, who was looking over her shoulder, smiled. 'Look, it's Mr and Mrs Cleary!'
    Dana nodded dumbly. It was a nice photo of Ashling but Tom looked slightly stern at her side.
    'And Mr Johnson — Oh!' Iris pulled up short.
    Dana froze as she, too, saw the photographs — three of them. They showed Gus in a variety of poses with an attractive young blonde. In one of them, his arm was around her. In the next, her hand was on his arm and she was looking up into his face. In the last photo, they were walking away from the camera, arm in arm. Dana's heart beat wildly in her chest as she stared at the photos and then ran her eye down through the text until she spotted her husband's name.
    Gus Johnson, who's been lying low since his split from his wife, prolific author Dana De Lacey, seems to have found someone to help him through this difficult time. Friends reported that he spent most of the evening with the beautiful young blonde and had eyes only for her.
    'I'm sure it was completely innocent,' Iris said with conviction.
    'I'd like to be alone,' Dana said quietly.
    Iris put a hand out to her. 'Mrs Johnson—'
    'Don't call me that!' Dana cried, tearfully.
    'I'm sorry, but I'm sure—'
    'Please! Please, Iris, just leave me.'
    When the door had closed after the housekeeper, Dana threw down the paper and stared at the phone. Was there any point in calling Gus now? It seemed he had moved on. Of course, it could be completely innocent. Women always flocked to Gus on social occasions like this. Everyone kissed and hugged these days. Her eyes were drawn to the photo where she could clearly see his hand on the small of the girl's back. It was a gentle — almost intimate — gesture. Coupled with the warm expression in his eyes — which was clear even in this fuzzy photo — it was enough to worry Dana. 'Bastard didn't wait long,' she muttered bitterly, wondering whether he'd only just met her or whether she was the reason he'd left. Was she, in fact, his date last night? No. Ashling had said he wasn't seeing anyone. Still, it was always possible that Gus had brought her along and not bothered to warn his business