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Back The Chalet Save as PDF
Chapters (75)
  1. Cover
  2. Praise for The Chalet
  3. Dedication
  4. PART ONE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. PART TWO
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. PART THREE
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. Epilogue
  71. Acknowledgements
  72. Keep Reading …
  73. Prologue
  74. About the Author
  75. About the Publisher

Three months later we got married in Las Vegas – just us, no friends, or family. Ria didn’t want a traditional wedding and I didn’t mind what we did as long as she was happy. She agreed to stop taking the pill and we had lots of sex. For the first few months at least.

Her events planning business went from strength to strength, following a cash injection from me. Meantime, several terrorist events in a row and currency changes meant that things weren’t so good for Redbush Holidays. Which is why I so desperately need Simon to invest – I wish Ria would take that on board and stop behaving so badly.

12

January 2020, La Madière, France

Ria

With Hugo and Simon out skiing, I settle down on the sofa with my iPad to read. When everyone else is out, it’s actually pretty nice here. The leather sofa I’m lounging on, covered in cosy throws and furry cushions, is one of the most comfortable I’ve ever experienced. The rugs are deep and sumptuous and the view is exquisite, Millie has lit the fire and it’s crackling away. It’s a far cry from the caravan holidays I was used to in my childhood, but very much the kind of thing I’ve enjoyed since I met Hugo. My jumper is Brora and my cashmere socks are from The White Company. It would be difficult to feel more cosy and snug, so I’m not remotely tempted to go out skiing in this terrible weather. If only I could stay here alone and not feel like I had to chat to boring Cass, suck up to sad sack Simon, and fend off Hugo’s advances, it would all be pretty sweet.

Half an hour later, there’s a knock at the door. It’s Matt. Arse. If I’d known he was coming round I’d have put some make-up on at least. I smooth my hair and smile. ‘Hey.’

He smiles back. ‘Hi, Ria. I thought I’d pop by and check everything’s OK after all that … business with Cass this morning? Is she all right?’

‘Come in!’ I usher him inside, frowning at the blizzard blowing outside. He stamps his feet on the mat and comes in. ‘Sit down,’ I say, indicating the fabulous sofa. I might find out what brand it is and see if I can persuade Hugo to get us one for home. ‘Yes, I think Cass is fine,’ I continue. ‘She’s in her room. Probably having a nap.’

Matt nods and sits down at one end of the enormous sofa. I sit down at the opposite end, tucking my feet under me. His eyes travel down my body and then back up to my face. I smirk subtly at him.