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?

was selling it on at

heard what he’s offering you. With the terms of payment, the agreed interest rate and the time period… he's… well, if

he didn’t have any plans for

do you imagine he had an option on the

in. My mind

pursing his lips. “I’ve not truly worked out what’s going on with them all in there…” He thumbs back into the house… “Jenny, James, Haswell and his wife… But they’re clearly all looking out

turn his words over in

Lawrence Klempner…

he know about

rest of

talk as though

a smile. “Once… in my previous life… I 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

No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're not too many women in your position who would be made

didn’t do

as Jenny’s kidnapper.” He muses then smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget that. If you ever need my help, Kirstie, you can remember that I pay my

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

just taking the air, are you?

me.

about him? I

worried about him. He’s tried his best to hurt my family, in the worst possible way, as a way of coming back at me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe he’s given up on that.” He chews his lower lip, staring

drying, “You

He knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back

His words hang, half-said…

though,” I say, “Isn’t

his breath, then breathes in, lets it

why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him

of you

but long-term colleagues. We knew

someone

blinks, his head inclining. “Like

you, perhaps? A partner? A brother? A lover? Someone close enough to get inside his

his teeth. “Not that I’m aware of.

lapses into silence and I begin to

his head, jolting

Richard, Beth, Charlotte. You didn't

cracking a laugh. “I understand why my daughter is married

Michael?

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

not being fair

brow. “You think

letters after his name, but whatever he feels inside, James isn’t good at expressing it well. And he doesn’t always

Klempner seems

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

brow rises further. “Emotional intelligence? Really?

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

realise that. It doesn't mean it's

realise that too.” He muses. “It's something

people it's got to make you better at the job…” Then I choke on my own words. “Oh,

he doesn’t seem offended. More amused.

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