Masters & Lovers Box Set Three

Chapter 16

After Finchby and Yakovlevski leave, Bech still wears that ‘just sucked a lemon’ expression.

“Something to say, Bech?”

He scowls and looks down. “No, sir.”

“Good. Remember who's in charge here. And who's already made you a rich man.”

“Yes, sir.”

I turn to the girl where she cowers at my feet. “Tell her she can write a letter. Make sure her family know it’s her.” Luuk translates.

“Thank you, sir.” She launches herself at me, wrapping her arms around my ankles, weeping incessantly. “Thank you.”

Bech lashes out with a foot. “Get back, you little bitch!”

Disentangling myself from her grasp, I stoop, looking her in the face. “Remember, they have to pay for you. And they have to outbid the others. I’m a businessman, not a charity.”

“They will, sir. They will,” says Luuk.

*****

 

James

Sleep escapes me. My green-eyed Love lying next to me, my friend beyond her, I toss and turn in the dark, my mind churning.

Georgie…

Family matters…

Michael was right to pull me away that day. He enjoys a drink as much as anyone but doesn’t normally overdo it.

When did I last see him drunk?

?

When he believed he was losing Charlotte…

… to me…

He’s right, partially at least. It helps blot out the worst for a few hours. And he went there with me. Stayed with me.

only sticking-plaster

and there’s a chasm inside

as I can, pull on some clothes and

if, full of care, We have no time to stand

this view, normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes

Soul food…

inside, I am unquiet. I

bathed in the grey light of the predawn, but Venus, hanging low, heralds the dawn and is already fading against

wait and I watch as the

Pull yourself together man…

blood-red across the low mist writhing over the

not seen her for

never see

seeps into the clouds,

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

twisting my lips

wearing slippers and a robe. “Are you

I’m

“Would you like company?”

and join me. But put some proper clothes

*****

eye. And of course, I know what she wants

Anyone else around?

the lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

appears from the back office with a file. “Am I interrupting you,

I was just chatting with Kirstie

at me. “Here’s the visitor list for today, Kirstie. There’s a couple more confirmations to come in, but

I’ll put them in the daybook right

“Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles off back to her

her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit of a thing

God save me…

Tell me that’s a

around her mouth and eyes. “Not a joke. She’s awfully

hate to break this to you, but she’s not

turns serious again.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255