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's not losing money, he could have made

said he didn’t have any plans for

had an option on the place? He heads a multi-company international corporation, not a charity for retired friends and

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

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 for each other… Haswell seems a decent enough man. But you can be sure that to be where

his words over in my

Lawrence Klempner…

does he know about

the rest

talk as

He eye-flashes me, suppressing 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 aims a finger

Kirstie, but there're not too many women in your position who would

do

I’ll not forget that. If you ever need my help, Kirstie, you can remember that I pay my debts

staring into space. He really is looking

just taking the air, are you? You’re watching

slants sidelong at me. “Baxter’s

worried about him?

me.” His eyes flash fury. “I have no reason to believe

mouth drying, “You think he'll come

be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back and

His words hang, half-said…

else though,” I

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

still don't understand why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the police. We've known each other a long time. He knows

two of you

long-term colleagues. We knew each

someone else,

blinks, his head inclining.

than you, perhaps? A partner? A brother? A lover? Someone close enough to get inside his head… Is Baxter married? Is there

at his teeth. “Not that I’m aware of.

lapses into silence and I begin to

shakes his head, jolting

Richard, Beth,

cracking a laugh. “I understand why my

Michael?

was

being fair

brow. “You

name, but whatever he feels

what?” Klempner

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

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

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

doesn't mean

He muses. “It's something Mitch is strong on.

better at the job…” Then I

More amused. “Perhaps. Still… she didn't read me

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