Concealment by Rose Edmunds

corner, having seen a more sinister side to him.
    ‘On what grounds?’
    ‘Oh come on,’ he said. ‘You’re an experienced partner, not a bloody first year trainee—I don’t have to explain how the world works. We compromise him out.’
    In other words, pay him off and make him sign an agreement not to sue the firm for unfair dismissal. Pearson Malone management hated compromise agreements because they cost money, but they were miles quicker than a disciplinary process. And in this case, speed was evidently of the essence.
    ‘What happens if he’s not guilty?’
    ‘Amy, sometimes you can be so naïve,’ said Smithies. ‘The Boston Strangler would have performed better in the press conference. He’s finished here, however this plays out.’
    ‘But he hasn’t even been charged!’
    ‘We can’t take the risk.’
    British justice might be based on a man being innocent until proven guilty, but Pearson Malone operated to much harsher standards.
    ‘OK,’ I said, more to avoid further argument than because I agreed. ‘I’ll contact him to arrange a meeting with HR, if that’s what you want.’
    ‘It is. By the way—your TV appearance this morning was most impressive.’
    ‘Thanks,’ I said, bemused by the rare nugget of praise. I waited for the punchline.
    ‘Just as a minor point, because I’m all for people using their initiative, that interview wasn’t properly authorised, was it?’
    ‘How do you know?’
    ‘Because Media Relations was closed and you didn’t speak to me.’
    ‘I tried to call—left a message on your mobile.’
    ‘Didn’t get it—these voicemails are so unreliable.’
    ‘And I called you at home—didn’t your wife mention it?’
    ‘Oh dear—it may have slipped her mind. Look, I’m tolerably relaxed, but Eric Bailey won’t be if he finds out. He hates partners acting like loose cannons with the media.’
    ‘But what I said was totally innocuous.’
    ‘Completely,’ he agreed. ‘And I
do
sympathise.’
    ‘I guess it’s the principle.’
    ‘Egg–zackly. But don’t you worry—I’ll do my utmost to stand up for you.’
    It occurred to me that the only way Bailey would discover about the incident was if Smithies told him, but I thanked him like a moron nonetheless.
    ‘Oh, and, Amy,’ came his parting shot. ‘Do try and relax a bit. You’ve been so tense recently, and everyone’s asking why.’
    Who was everyone? I wondered.
    ‘I’m perfectly OK,’ I replied curtly. ‘And I’ll keep you updated on Ryan.’
    The water-skiers grinned in gleeful relish at my predicament. To fire my ex’s kid brother within days of shagging him would be challenging under the best of circumstances. And meanwhile, Smithies had set me up for a bollocking from the CEO. Because the more I thought about it, it had plainly been slimy Smithies rather than Carmody who’d given my name to the press. With his usual cunning, he’d boxed me into a corner, driving me to break the rules or be slated for not using my judgement. He could have played it either way.
    Back in my office, the menacing blink of the voicemail light on my phone greeted me.
    Bailey. I prepared myself for the torrent of invective.
    It never came.
    ‘Just a quick message to say congrats on your TV appearance—you came across as very human and caring. Ed Smithies is rather agitated that you didn’t jump through all the hoops, but don’t take any notice. It’s good to see that some partners in this firm aren’t afraid to step up to the plate and use their initiative when it’s needed. Thanks.’
    I hadn’t expected Smithies’ treachery to backfire quite so spectacularly. But perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised. It detracted from our CEO’s authority if his minions were able to predict his actions with complete accuracy all of the time.
    Amy one—Smithies nil.
    ***
    Despite that stroke of luck, I’d still plenty to cope with.
    Lisa sensed my gloom, and suggested a morale-lifting trip to the Savoy for