Total pages in book: 235
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 227851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1139(@200wpm)___ 911(@250wpm)___ 760(@300wpm)
“I’m not much of a golfer.” I pick up the file and have a browse.
“I’ve been thinking about it,” John says. I look at him, surprised. “What’s wrong with that?”
“Nothing,” I say, going back to the glossy brochure. “Your bonsai trees might feel a bit neglected, though.” I get a swift punch in my bicep, and I laugh. As does Owen. I glare at him. He pipes down. “Look, Owen, this is all very pretty, but why the hell am I going to sell The Manor for a fraction of what the business operating from it is worth?” He delayed our meeting by six hours just to insult me? “Now, if you will excuse me.” I stand and walk out, uninterested in anything more he has to say. I’d rather sit in the bar with the boys and listen to their drivel.
Both Sam and Drew look surprised by my appearance, their beer bottles lowering. “That was quick,” Drew says, looking behind me for Owen.
“Deal done,” I say, smiling at Mario when he gets a water and hands it to Pete.
“Serious?” Sam asks.
“No.” I don’t fuck with them too much. “Waste of my time.”
Both men deflate, Drew more than Sam. I check my watch and text Ava again. She’s still feeling better. Did she have lunch?
“Oh, he’s not gone?” Drew says.
I look up. John’s at the door with Owen, his glasses off, his eyes telling me to go to him. I make a meal of getting up slowly, showing my inconvenience. “What?” I ask, approaching.
“I’ll be in touch,” Owen says, nodding, backing away.
“Right.” I exhale my impatience, watching him looking around as he goes, taking in the many women throwing many sultry looks.
“I need you in the office,” John says.
“What for?”
“We need to find the deeds to this place.”
“Why?”
“Because when they come back with a more realistic, sweeter offer, and they will, trust me, you’re going to have to provide proof of ownership.” He turns and walks away. “Plus the accountant wants some information for your tax liabilities, you need to find your banking customer number, and somewhere in there are my pension details.” He looks back, his bushy eyebrows appearing over his shades. “I’d ask Sarah, but—”
“So she looked after your paperwork too?” John should have details of his pension, that’s standard.
“Get moving,” he grunts, swerving my observation.
“I’m coming,” I grate, signaling to the boys that I’m off. I stop at the door and look back at Sam. “All right?” I ask.
“I’m meeting her in an hour.” He stands and pulls out his keys.
My smile is unstoppable. No point mentioning Dan, but I’m still curious why he wants to meet me. “Happy for you, mate.”
“Me too,” Sam says.
We both look at Drew as he passes his eyes between us both. “Me too,” he breathes tiredly, then scans the bar for potential playmates.
I carry on with John and once again sigh at the paperwork when I enter my office. “Fucking hell,” I murmur, going to my desk and flicking through a few pieces. “So you’re thinking of retiring?” I ask, casual.
“I’m off.”
“What?”
He taps the screen of his watch. “Your wife finishes work at six, am I right?”
“Oh, yeah.” I think I’d rather face Ava’s potential wrath than this paperwork.
“And where am I taking her?”
“Well, here,” I grunt. “Since you’re cracking your whip and putting me to work.” I flinch. Whip. “God’s speed.”
He laughs under his breath, shaking the room. “And have you told her I’ll be bringing her here?”
I glance up.
“Just preparing myself for what I’m walking into,” he adds.
“I’ll let her know.” I can finally show her the new bedroom too . . . if I get through this mess.
“Good. You need last year’s accounts and tax calculations too.”
“What do they even look like?”
“Numbers. Very big numbers.” The door closes, and I drop to the couch, exhausted by the mess. So I get up and head to our new suite to check it one last time before I show Ava.
I smile as I stand on the threshold, pleased with myself and the workmen. The lighting is moody, the soft furnishings pure luxury, the bed beautiful. I sit on the end and take a few quiet moments to myself, absorbing every detail. This room. It was the beginning of my new life.
My eyes fall to the wooden cross. Not a part of Ava’s initial design, naturally, since she had no idea what would go on in this room. But a later addition.
She wants hard. Shock and awe. She can’t have it. But there’s a way round that.
Compromise.
The key to appease my wife is to blindside her. I smile and go to the music system, loading it, ready, before brushing a hand across the bedsheets, smoothing out the crinkles I’ve made. Then I head back downstairs, texting Ava on my way.
I’m still at The Manor. Come? We’ll have steak.