Richard joins me in the kitchen, peering over my work surface and hob, where onions and mince sizzle with the spices. “What are we having?”
“Chilli con Carne.”
“Sounds good. Want some help?”
“No, I’m fine. I enjoy cooking.”
“I’ll rephrase that. Do you mind if I join you? It’s getting a little heated in there.”
“Join me by all means.” I nod across to the bottle. “Help yourself to a drink. Problem?”
Richard examines the label, Hmmms, then pours himself a glass of wine. “Um, not a problem exactly. But I think when Michael accepted my investment in his spa hotel, he thought I’d be a sleeping partner.”
“And…?”
“If you recall, I had the investment made in Elizabeth’s name, and she definitely wants to have an input.”
I pause from chopping chillies as the humour creeps over me.
Of course, he’s used to running everything himself….
invested in Michael’s business,
wants
side of my nose, then immediately regret
Ahhh… Shit!
Chillies….
watering, I dab at my face, trying to rub
you don’t
sure. I’m
in tomato puree and the
“Let’s see how Michael’s bearing up under the strain, shall
*****
over a table-top of rosters and
a reason for not doing it now?”
she’s a sub, is
for support. “What
sparkle. “The boxing I used to do gives you a really good workout. And at the end
like the
Most women would like to be able to at least have a shot
eSg3pDjBh4VTP3265PCrFMPUH4EvctJO1aRRt/+NsQ1p6ZnXvGOgmk+C6FFgYCfn8t6It9JIFo7PZcckjPYNJ6J7Uzc0hwj4V7HD4K3hNjxuaDKLT+7KYVGYd9/l+BNMieDAfdSG/TTdMtfNQ0/z9dIUQKR8gNpuaCgp1Mp1ek5aR7A2FT6TMe9V3OWo2NyRunsWnpmbH3BxnxWZ06pwBZVH4kyWPMBBzi9vUJBtLsocmmBxgmg0WIG/z/w3TDLAVFwSBcv+V+m08HQucoGZa734MRZgf83evfY54gDqz1NGw2uo2pBaPd0KEkGpdiSNZs/30ty85bGdyXxwHjq347iPNAuMWisIQs4IUtXW7/Md1M7XktN7m0xNfKIkgrne2rqALXGUBHP9wi+vCmrun3SIIW01QPfYvO+5zYg1K4W+fye9gqgGv53cNLT+Wox81F5IsUgFIisIitA1wECEXn2eGG1PAg0c3zZqxqspsbTZcpxPEXf+L0+DytTWtfEsPQgDu6L2WBvnE+hHNXBZVt2aNi6ndVYBm6euKHHpsvNfDJ7sJRCySNlBgINIswa/PIugAPsqJV/uWzTEOKalJ2YzUQiP4DZ4h1dEQM4sNyT2jNY9Zf7lQ4hsQbm1k6LgkPALCu9hiclNqBsCnX8DUMBNyXBaPJy7fLnJ6lOENx7X9EdtoEvL/Mbsat6HCNsymd2oIflni30shv1zt6b6IA1fcgVGbR/Xv3ctCzTMf1AXTer/pR8MyAjEKlZSXvJBjOGvVWmqYO8zmS9x3M/LmZVnDO+/HorPXFm52ZOzh8dEtY5vFow7V9y+vFX5hZwXipE/cHdwHdOgqEjdb1ue3rQMdmEhpFJ2t5oekIhvJQNDVoTl3z+PFOzGXAFfZoiwLmNsuSzs9daKbOAaYSTHlh8k/0dWcyQBl/kINr5PdsWbkfrqyHJ67t9k/Lm2AJrye8P19OnJxUoEC1L6188fYW6jjx9dN07Yo/kGeQ8Ftl0o/zqbLeQ54pqz8wBVyDe0HyImURMQWwTxpAtkSb9FCOU6wyrbkPvv9VwowxIPaVJn09fVX7YMo7dez+gcXDRxiXMyujLLDNWBcycszBNrwUtgxnCajNWXfI23eMk1dzBuGjTXfstliUeszgDBpF8ahlP10LemcTG7vqGdf5P2wyV8yfaVlkRScl3t+IfEJvGh+3nCx9rQua8EaAVP0Ka7jOTWCi/YcCeCriGxVj14mNXYFVwZwRBF5YSIwffQ4Yemo4z26LGwxq+FP4pThZSPJAv+jLOy0ONYVTRULtMUahWrsdrNDqNYHj6KbvLt90V/bwbbvwkSkYFNtObPPr2fhQsEKIRHzvdOJTmUR4JtOHvTvHMaEFDCazNWJUyltZ2j1Xd5k+TP6KheshxsA8qUAtLXxx3xZUneDe7W4U82kBgZPf7KGH6y4L8zFiV48ePUd+JKg9J+xe+61Eg6tADDT3pUbARLuZ5OuEK2TsoEuCQEU2TAzLbbPDWbAiB1FBuvKM+XYsaf3o3McdRjo5Tuh+e5WTTtoIjDIh2CZ5oKmQ6ICXG/zvxMxIaSPsA5Qc7lzinGfoEL0rxBul6YGFE0VZdWBMeBUjKcZ6MKUtYK/0LNLLQn46vY7ymXsetplw8r3NjBZZDLQBrbPbylTFtm6MndQ2y/+ZQYjdNt9HjiD5tiFqCoFI96qOpaPKrqhs+BTxNO19spvR4rHkYI+eao2TOfSRYG9vQfhkI93gZxqw+v1wbfLRxzoHe2kAyMN8gzXkYaJMVrKGx8AnUsYzv7WGbGroGsswZdR+FDgji8AVr+Q8H2yxsUo/9V2AiuudmXzKvlifOIPaR6+5U2qu61N1gfVjWMrwwQ9w2miwtr7pwAC9CRf/Moz7OXCXy2ESLEO+JU7glkmQcw8oO9JDJs38gzQDiU8KcXQcRrWkWI6c1hLwQ65n6SzgR03Shvjfso8B35nLq9xZ0lemYmJLC73if9gtGqQwmXYqU6iGrPjvI1hT1rGEZsgMfAvSFnuYcDEtOHZgWeX5Y+h7315lafq1dDNcg2honY0cfjgosDyNtG8Znu2kAlhg1OZ1QcpnM2M5e4p3xwNttk5pFxaYo/RumNE3gf9+1VNDe4avziHnVK4pVEOiRTC6D5MacXAcRoDgGhWoX3vwrpGybzh9koWwfGfbafR7r2LBrhfhI6hoSn+j2N1jh/SllUT6M4MkK2LVt3SlE0UJ23OGAr9SeJ9c7AFy5wLqYOUdotKdkpG88/Mrk/UWRAKDoMpg70VUo1FXqDRCipn9GTvg4ikROXeIElSzTZZHlHHN4dHBR3/5bSZetB+FvypSintb/OnXY9ch/ToGGVDw1ZG1K+Ho2FfdtphllxWjQCpXIuzoWYjSvdXEq0XG/47IDp/3IDSdFZtIzX/jCsaAwonjlnFoxmPMB/Fqk=
The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!