We watch Abdulla climb into the back of a limousine, then a Savoy butler whistles through his fingers for the next cab in line.
‘Actually, Neil, I’m going to stay here and work for an hour. I have another meeting not far away.’
‘Okay, well, give some thought to Dubai and we can discuss it further once Abdulla has given me a more detailed scope of work. You know, Scarlett, it would be a good experience for you and great for you to get so close to a new client. It wouldn’t hurt your chances of partnership one day to build a relationship like that. And I don’t mean to speak out of turn but with what you’ve been through recently, losing your father, it might be a goodtime to take a break from London too. I’ll leave it with you for now. Think about it.’
‘I will,’ I say, knowing too well that he’ll expect me to go.
Once the car has pulled away from the hotel, I wander back into the bar and nurse a latte for fifty minutes, neither drinking the coffee nor doing any work until Apple’s standard ringtone chimes through my iPhone.
‘Sandy. I’ve been meaning to call.’
‘But you haven’t,’ she snaps. ‘How are you? I’ve been worried sick.’
I sigh. Sandy’s been more of a mother to me than my own mum ever was. She stayed for more than five years of my life, for a start, and when the going got tough, in my dad’s worst days of Alzheimer’s, she stuck with us and nursed my dad so I could keep my career, keep making him proud. Neither of them would be proud of me now, not if they knew what I’m capable of.
‘I’m sorry. I just didn’t know what to say.’
‘Girly, I ought to slap your backside. Your dad would kill me for not looking after you properly.’
I smile. ‘He really wouldn’t.’
‘No. He wouldn’t. But I ought to look after you better.’
‘How are things at Lara’s? Do you like the new job?’ It’s still strange to me that Sandy now keeps house for Gregory’s mother.
‘Demanding. We’re still cleaning up after the party. Stop changing the subject. How are you? I meanreally, not what you’re feeding other people. Tell me the truth.’
‘Shit.’ The word leaves my mouth without any real intent or conviction.
‘Watch that potty mouth!’
‘Sorry,’ I mutter. ‘So Jackson told you what happened, how it happened?’ It’s also odd to me that Sandy is striking up arelationship with Jackson. And terrifying that, on some level, Gregory’s dark web has caught her too.
‘Yes, he told me.’
I hold my breath and nervously wait for seconds that feel like an eternity. ‘Say something, Sandy, please.’
An enormous exhale comes down the line. ‘Genesis 9:6. “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.”’
I’ve no idea whether that’s acceptance or confirmation that I’m damned but that’s not what’s playing on my mind. ‘Sandy, please don’t hate Gregory. I can stand other people having an opinion of him but not you.’
‘Sweets, hate Gregory? I’m saying in his shoes, in the circumstances, knowing everything he knew about his father, what he did, who he was, I can only hope I’d have the strength to do what he did.’
Relief overwhelms me and fills my eyes with tears I can’t hold back. I dip my head, aware of my surroundings, and rub my eyes with the back of my hand, conscious that I don’t want to smudge black into my cheeks. ‘Thank you,’ I sniff.
‘Scarlett, please don’t cry. I want to give you a big, fat Sandy snuggle.’
Sniffing a laugh, I try to compose myself, feeling like everyone in the bar is watching me unravel over my now cold cup of coffee.Christ,I never used to cry.‘I’ve been asked to go to Dubai with work,’ I blurt, desperate to change the subject and my melancholy thoughts but actually introducing only my latest dilemma to the forefront of my mind.
‘Dubai?’ It’s more exclamation than question.
‘It’s for a big client and it could be a good opportunity but… I don’t know… I don’t think I can go.’
‘When?’
‘I’d need to leave in December.’
‘For how long?’
