Hot Revenge Box Set 2

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?

at

so. But I heard what he’s offering you. With the terms of payment, the agreed interest rate and the time period… he's… well, if he's not losing money, he could have made a lot more by following his original plans for

didn’t have any plans for

brows, tilts his head. “Really? So why do you imagine he had an option on the place? He heads a multi-company international corporation, not a charity for

secretary.” Then what’s he’s saying to me sinks in. My mind races. “But why would he do that? He’s an important man.

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

words over in my

Lawrence Klempner…

much does he know about

the rest of

talk as

“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

sniffs. “I’d say you’ve been pulled under the collective family wing. Haswell’s making his best effort to do you a favour. A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're not too many women in your position who would be made an offer like that by a man like him; a billionaire,

do

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… “…

I realise that he’s not simply staring into space. He really is looking into the distance,

just taking the air, are

sidelong at me. “Baxter’s

worried about

me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe he’s given up on that.” He chews his lower lip, staring

mouth drying, “You think he'll

certainly not. He knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back and forth... “Just in

His words hang, half-said…

something else though,” I say, “Isn’t

his breath, then breathes in, lets it out. He paces, circles,

I still don't understand why. He

of

long-term colleagues. We knew

someone else,

head inclining.

Someone close enough to get inside his head…

I’m aware of. But I’ll think

begin to feel awkward. “You didn’t

shakes his head,

everyone else; James, Richard, Beth, Charlotte. You didn't mention

are cracking a laugh. “I understand why

Michael?

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

not being fair

a brow.

whatever he feels inside, James isn’t good at expressing

what?” Klempner seems genuinely

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

brow rises further. “Emotional intelligence? Really? That's an

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

that. It doesn't mean it's not

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

hooker? I suppose if you can read people it's got to make you better at the job…” Then I choke on my own

offended. More amused. “Perhaps. Still…