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.

it’s only sticking-plaster over the

a

through the panes, I give up on sleep and moving as quietly as I can, pull on some clothes and head for the

full of care, We have no

normally calms me. The long slide of grassy slopes down the mountain, the lake

Soul food…

am

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

steam, warming my fingers on the mug, I wait and I watch as the rim of

Pull yourself together man…

the low mist writhing

seen

never

clouds, a gash

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

my lips to a

and a robe. “Are you

I’m

“Would you like company?”

and join me. But put some

*****

And of course, I know

Anyone else around?

lobby is quiet. We have a few moments of what

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

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

all. I was just chatting with Kirstie

today, Kirstie. There’s a

you. I’ll put them in the daybook right

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

her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit

God save me…

Tell me

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

to break

then turns serious again. “James,

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