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‘Look, can we stick to talking about the project please? There was more to it than being pissed with him for making you leave town, believe me.’
‘Sometimes, in business, you have to do things you aren’t proud of to get what you want.’
‘What exactly are you saying? That the things he did were justified?’
‘Obviously, I can’t comment on anything specific he did back then. But speaking as a businessman, I know what a cut-throat place the business world can be. I know what risks you have to take.’
‘Well, Jonny, it was never about what he did to make his billions. It was how he behaved when he walked back through the front door of the house every night. It was how I’d hide in my wardrobe if he was in a black mood. It was about him telling me over and over again how he wanted a son and what a disappointment I was. And it was about him stabbing me in the arm with a bread knife.’ She pulled at the collar of her jumper and revealed her shoulder. There was a small but deep scar at the top of her arm.
‘You always said that scar was where you scraped it on a nail,’ Jonathan remarked. He swallowed.
‘I did, didn’t I? Now I wonder who made up that story?’
She was shaking now. Not because the wind was twice as cold up high in the sky, but because she’d been forced to remember those times again. Her childhood with that monster.
‘My God.’ He put his hands to his mouth.
‘So you see, you may have this happy-family ideal in your head, but it is never going to happen in my world.’ She straightened the collar of her jumper.
‘I didn’t think the article was true. I was sure Russell Buchanan was cashing in on you and embellishing things.’
‘You read that article about me?’
‘It was all over the papers.’
‘But you didn’t believe it? Why not? I told you what my parents were like.’
‘I don’t know. I just didn’t think anyone could really do those things to their child.’
‘You don’t know my father. He’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants and that article in the paper today has probably just made my life hell again.’
‘You think Eric will be displeased?’
‘It’s been reported in the national press that his only child’s told someone he isn’t coming to her wedding. Then she topped it off by saying he was dead. That translates to she wishes he was dead. Wouldn’t you be displeased? He’ll be furious.’
‘What do you think he’ll do?’
‘You want me to be honest?’
‘Yes.’
‘I think he’ll probably try to kill me.’
17
That night, Nicholas and Freya went into the pandemonium that was central Hollywood. Nicholas had lived there before they’d moved to Mayleaf. It was like being in an all-action entertainment park. Great for a night out but not so pleasant to live in.
They’d visited three bars already and had been tailed by paparazzi the whole time. Now, they’d decided on a members-only casino, just to get a break from being photographed.
‘So are we agreed? We gamble a hundred thousand dollars and that’s it. And whatever we make, we split between my charity and yours,’ Nicholas said.
‘Make it a hundred thousand dollars each. I feel lucky.’ She smiled.
‘OK.’ He put his arm around her and they headed to the cashier.
‘Mr Kaden, Miss Johnson, it’s nice to see you again,’ Sammy, the middle-aged croupier at the roulette table greeted as they sat down.
‘Hi, Sammy. How’s the wheel going tonight? Anyone win big?’ Freya asked.
