A Perfect Obsession Read Online Free PDF Page B

glanced at him in puzzlement. ‘Anthony—’
    ‘Sorry. I’m sorry. But it’s another way of putting it, isn’t it?’ He turned to gaze at the lights of the river as they sped along the Embankment. He hadn’t meant to get angry. It was just that he could do without being reminded of how easily and indiscriminately Leo took lovers.
    Leo decided to let it go. He didn’t want any more antagonism between them. ‘I suppose you’re right,’ he replied. ‘Let’s talk about something else.’
    When they reached Shoreditch they parked the car and went for a drink in a pub close to the museum. It was onlysix o’clock and the meeting wouldn’t start for another hour.
    ‘I’ll get these,’ said Leo. ‘What’ll you have?’ ‘Just a pint of bitter, thanks.’
    Leo went to the bar, glancing round. The last time he had been in this place was with Melissa Angelicos, a co-trustee of the museum, appointed by Chay by virtue of the fact that she hosted a moderately influential arts programme on Channel 4. God, what a mistake that evening had been. He’d been having problems with Joshua at the time, and had tried to forget about them by passing a drunken few hours with Melissa, after which they’d gone back to her place for coffee. Only it hadn’t been coffee that Melissa had in mind. Leo winced as he recalled the subsequent events.
    He took the drinks back to the table where Anthony was sitting, took off his overcoat and sat down. There was silence for a few seconds, indicative of unease on Anthony’s part. Leo was aware that the coolness of the last few months could not simply be brushed aside. He’d tried to address it earlier in the car. Perhaps now he should try again.
    He drew his chair closer to the table. ‘Look, what I said earlier about Sarah—’ Anthony glanced at him sharply, but Leo continued, ‘—I was wondering whether that’s the reason you’ve been so distant of late.’ Anthony said nothing. ‘I know you had a relationship with Sarah in the past. I thought it was over. I certainly had no wish to hurt you. If you still have feelings for her—’
    Anthony interrupted him with a laugh. ‘The only feelings I have for Sarah are – well, I don’t really think I can decently express them. She is a complete bitch.’
    Leo sipped his whisky, and nodded. ‘True.’
    ‘What I can’t understand, Leo, is why you would waste your time with someone as – as sly and manipulative as she is.’ The warmth with which Anthony spoke took Leo a little closer to what he suspected was the truth. But it wasn’t something he would touch upon yet.
    Leo took a small, silver cigar case from his breast pocket, lit a cigar, then blew out a little cloud of smoke. ‘She amuses me.’
    ‘She amuses you? Christ, Leo, don’t you look for anything a bit deeper, something with more meaning, in your relationships with people?’
    Leo shrugged. ‘That invariably produces disappointment. Sarah is intelligent, attractive and stimulating in a rather bizarre way. But above all, she makes no demands.’
    ‘You mean she simply makes herself available.’
    Leo shook his head. ‘Actually, one of her most compelling qualities is her elusiveness. Anyway—’ He glanced at Anthony, ‘—why should you concern yourself with Sarah, if she’s not the reason for your offhand manner for the past couple of months?’
    ‘It’s you, Leo – it’s you! Finding Sarah at your place that night – well, it just shows how trivial relationships are to you. I thought you were meant to be heartbroken about Joshua, and yet there you were, not two weeks later, carrying on with her!’
    The small pang of pain which touched Leo at the mention of Joshua’s name was not betrayed in his expression. ‘You know me, Anthony, and yet you don’t know me. Don’t concern yourself with what goes on between Sarah and myself. It doesn’t touch the relationship between you andme, after all.’ He paused, glancing up at Anthony. ‘Does