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

With the terms of payment, the agreed interest rate and the time period…

he didn’t have any

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 retired

in. My mind races. “But why would he do

But they’re clearly all looking out for each

words over in my

Lawrence Klempner…

much does he know

rest

as

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

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

didn’t do

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

he’s not simply staring into space. He really is looking into the distance, scanning over field and lake and

air, are you? You’re watching for

slants sidelong at me.

about him? I

His eyes flash fury. “I have

drying, “You

not. He knows I'll be looking. But...” He rocks his hand back and

His words hang, half-said…

though,”

breathes in, lets it out.

insisted that I betrayed him, and I still don't understand why. He said I’d abandoned him. Left him for the police. We've known

two of

colleagues. We knew

it's someone else,

his head inclining.

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

teeth. “Not that I’m aware of. But I’ll think about what you

silence and I begin to feel awkward. “You

shakes his head,

everyone else; James, Richard,

cracking a laugh. “I understand why my daughter is

Michael?

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

not being fair

brow. “You think

but whatever he feels inside,

Klempner

“Michael… has emotional intelligence.”

further. “Emotional intelligence? Really?

Slaver... Trafficker… Murderer…

It doesn't mean it's not

“It's something Mitch is strong on. Reading

it's got to make you better at the job…” Then I choke on my

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

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