I burst out laughing, a genuine, raucous chortle. I couldn’t help it. ‘Oh, please don’t insult my intelligence, Bella. You chased after me for one reason and one reason only: to get back at Tobey. And, as you’re not a Neapolitan Mastiff to look at, I let you. But it’s over.’

‘What about you? Why did you ask me to move in with you? Why let me live here all these weeks? Because it suited your inferiority complex to have someone who was once with Tobey warming your sheets? That’s it, isn’t it? You are so jealous of Tobey that you can hardly see straight. He’s smart, ambitious, good-looking, charismatic and a great lover – all the things you will never be and can never buy, in spite of all your blood money.’

This bitch!

‘And what does that make you?’ I asked, forcing myself to stay calm. ‘I’m so deficient, yet it didn’t stop you accepting my invitation to live here for a while, did it? And no doubt it’ll take you less than a week to find some other poor rich schlub to take my place. Bella, it’s over. Tomorrow morning I want you gone. Be a good girl and accept that.’

‘You bastard!’ The change in Bella’s tone was not unexpected, but chilling nonetheless. ‘You’re throwing me out? Well, this woman is going to make you regret treating me like shit on your shoe. You just see if I don’t.’

‘I hope you’re not going to make a scene in front of my guests tonight,’ I said with a sigh. ‘You know how I hate unnecessary drama. I had hoped to give you the necklace tomorrow morning – that’s why I hid it in my desk drawer – but I guess you had to go and snoop.’ I couldn’t resist adding, ‘You’re good at that.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

Really?

‘Oh, we both know exactly what it means – babe. You’re a sensei at minding everyone else’s business but your own. Now leave. I have some phone calls to make.’

‘You are a scum-weasel and I’ll make you pay for this,’ said Bella stormily.

‘Oh, have some class and get lost,’ I said, my patience finally at an end.