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

period… he's… well, if he's not losing money, he could have made a lot more by following his original plans

said he didn’t have

why do you imagine he had an option on

saying to me sinks in. My mind races. “But

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

turn his words over in my

Lawrence Klempner…

he know

the rest

as though you've

previous life… I went looking for skeletons on Haswell and I couldn’t find any. So far as

effort to do you a favour. A big favour. No offence meant, Kirstie, but there're not too

didn’t do that

Jenny’s kidnapper.” He muses then smiles. “Haswell aside, I’ll not forget that. If you ever need

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

air, are you? You’re watching for

at me.

worried about him? I

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

“You

But...” He rocks his hand back and

His words hang, half-said…

else though,”

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

I still don't understand why. He said I’d abandoned

of you were

friends exactly, but long-term colleagues. We knew each other

it's someone

head inclining.

him better than you, perhaps? A partner? A brother? A lover? Someone close enough to get inside his head…

sucks at his teeth. “Not that I’m aware of. But I’ll think about

and I begin to feel awkward. “You didn’t mention

head,

Richard, Beth, Charlotte. You didn't mention

a laugh. “I understand why my

Michael?

meeting of minds Jenny was opting for when she married

being fair on

a brow.

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

what?” Klempner seems genuinely

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

rises further. “Emotional intelligence? Really?

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

doesn't

too.” He muses. “It's

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

doesn’t seem offended. More amused.

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