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.

sticking-plaster

there’s a

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

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

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

Soul food…

am unquiet.

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

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

Pull yourself together man…

across the low mist writhing

seen her

you’d never see

clouds, a gash in the

You have everything…

Everything else…

“Master?”

my

and a robe. “Are

sleep. So I’m just watching the

“Would you like company?”

course I would. Come and join me. But put some proper clothes

*****

catches my eye. And of course, I know what she wants to

Anyone else around?

a few moments of what passes for privacy in

“Yes, Kirstie?”

“James, about….”

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

at all. I was just chatting with

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

them in the daybook right

to me. “Mr Alexanders.” Then she waddles

her then, “She’s um… she’s got a bit

God save me…

thing? Kirstie, please. Tell me that’s

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

my voice. “I hate to

turns serious

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