Hot Revenge Box Set 2

Chapter 33

I scrutinize that crack in my footprint.

Need to get new boots soon…

Or I’ll have wet feet…

“I'm scared,” I admit.

His voice is soft. “Of what? Committing? To him?”

“No, not exactly. What if it all went wrong?”

I know that I sound like some spoiled child, complaining about homework or the wrong cookies with my milk, but the words keep coming… “What if I lost my job? Or Ryan was doing badly? If we couldn’t pay, we could lose everything.”

Klempner shrugs. “So, what’s the difference with that to paying rent for the rest of your life? That’s always going to be money down the drain. If you’re on a mortgage, you’re building it up.” He sniffs, scratches his nose. “It seems to me, that you need to sort out your priorities; to decide what it is you really want…”

He’s making a lot of sense…

But he keeps talking. “… Too many people go through life making do. If you fuck up what you really want, you could spend the next twenty years of your life regretting it, before you get another chance.”

“Like you did?”

His gaze goes distant, staring off down at the lake. “Like I did.”

Why are you talking to me like this?

Lawrence Klempner in the role of agony aunt…

However, my good sense rules and I keep that thought firmly inside my head where it belongs.

But I do keep speaking. “It’s just… it’s such a huge amount of money. I’m really worried we can’t afford it.”

Klempner sucks at his cheeks. “You work for Haswell? Do I have that right? And he’s arranging the purchase for this Mill you want to buy?”

“Yes, that's right.”

“And your Ryan, what does he do?”

“He owns his own company. They make heating and ventilation systems. He's doing a lot of contract work right now for James and Richard.”

“He’s the company director?”

“He is, yes.”

“So… his files are a matter of public record. Haswell probably has a very good idea of what he's worth too. And he knows what size of orders Ryan’s company is likely to pull in over the next few years?”

“I suppose so.”

Klempner huffs. “There’s no suppose about it. You don't get into Haswell’s position without having a knack for putting a value on people.” He levels a finger at me. “If he thinks you can afford it, you can afford it. And he’s the one offering you the sale and setting the price.”

Still I hesitate.

He lets out air. “Kirstie, you do realise that Haswell's selling it to you under value?”

He is?

said he was selling it on at the same price he paid

and the time period… he's… well, if he's not losing

said he didn’t have any plans for

why do you imagine he had an option on the

“I’m not a secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind races. “But

with them all in there…” He thumbs back into the house… “Jenny, James, Haswell and his wife… But they’re clearly all looking out for each other… Haswell seems a decent enough man. But you can be sure that to be where he is, he’s been playing the game at the edge. Still,

his words

Lawrence Klempner…

he know about

rest

as

went looking for skeletons on Haswell and I couldn’t find any. So far as I can see, he's as honourable as big business ever allows.” He aims a finger at

do you a favour. A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're

do that

smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget that. If you ever need my help, Kirstie, you can remember that I pay my debts too…” His gaze turns distant again… “… or I’m

space. He really is looking into the distance, scanning over field and lake and

air, are you? You’re watching

at me. “Baxter’s still out

worried about him?

to hurt my family, in the worst possible way, as a way of coming back at me.” His eyes flash

mouth drying, “You think he'll

I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back and forth... “Just

His words hang, half-said…

something else though,”

curses under his breath, then breathes in, lets it out. He

He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the police. We've known each other a

of you

friends exactly, but long-term colleagues.

someone

his head

Someone close enough to get inside his head… Is Baxter married?

teeth. “Not that I’m aware

to feel awkward. “You didn’t mention

head, jolting

James, Richard, Beth,

are cracking a laugh. “I

don’t like Michael?

minds Jenny was opting for when she married him. It’s not as though he’s the brains of the

not being

a brow. “You

with all the academic qualifications, the letters after his name, but whatever he feels inside, James isn’t

Klempner

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

Really?

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

It doesn't mean it's

that too.” He muses. “It's something Mitch is

if you can read people it's got to make you better at the

offended. More amused. “Perhaps. Still… she didn't

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