Charlie and Lance stroll in and start chatting shit with Elliot whilst I order in our lunch. It’s been months since we have all been in the office together. Charles Aldridge—our best friend—is a lawyer and works in an office just a few minutes up the road. We have known him since college. He opened his own firm six years ago and now has four spread out over the country. Turning over five million pounds last year, it’s safe to say he is doing alright for himself.
Lance Sullivan works downstairs, running our accounts department. He is two years younger than the three of us, but it doesn’t show. Not only does he fit with us, but he also keeps the company financially stable—A multimillion pound company. He may be a prick at times, but he is a savage, and I wouldn’t have anyone else in his place.
“We are going out tonight, yeah?” Sullivan asks when I’m off the phone.
I stand and walk to the sofa, leaning on the back of it. “Yeah, I’m game. Where you thinking?” I ask.
“Somewhere that’s got plenty of pussy.” Elliot smiles, stretching back in the seat and widening his knees.
Charlie cringes, thwacking him in the gut with a cushion and making Elliot shoot forward.
“I’d start looking at the quality instead of quantity if I were you, mate,” Charlie tells him.
He shrugs. “That’s what my forties are for. I’m in my prime and ready to give a good ribbing.”
“You’re pure filth, Montgomery.” Charlie chuckles.
“Sue me!” Elliot replies.
“Please, fucking sue him,” Lance pipes up. “He wouldn’t stand a chance in prison,” he laughs.
“Fucking funny, Sullivan. Keep it up, and you can eat in your office on your own.”
“Calm your tits, Elliot. He was only joking—”
My eyes snap up when Vinny walks into the room. I don’t think I had any appointments today. Have I missed something? It wouldn’t surprise me if I had. My mind has been preoccupied this past week.
“Alright, Vin?” I ask.
“A word,” he says.
I look to the boys. “It’s fine. What’s up?”
His jaw locks, annoyance etching the lines of his face. “Nina Anderson. You asked me to let you know… she is currently at The Elm café with Joey Wilson.”
Joey fucking Wilson. I should have known he wouldn’t listen; the little prick has a death wish.
“She is having coffee, Mason,” Vinny assures me. “I don’t think It’s necessary to—”
Charlie sits forward, cutting Vinny off as I stand. “Think before you do anything stupid, Lowell.”
“Vinny, is Nina safe with Joey?” I ask, not looking at him, already knowing the answer.
“Sat in a public café, yes, I would have intervened if she wasn’t.”
“And if she leaves with him?” I shoot back.
“She is smarter than you think Mason, give the girl some credit.” Vinny says.
Nina is smart. That isn’t my worry. My concern lies withhimand the file on my desk that tells me everything I need to know about the prick.
“No. Let’s go.” I leave my friends in the office, not willing to risk it and not giving a shit what anybody thinks.
* * *
Nina
My feet dragas I make my way to The Elm, annoyed that I agreed to meet Joey in the first place. I plan to have a coffee and then get out of there. Fast. I need to set him straight and tell him I’m not interested. He can’t think he has a chance, making advances on nights out and sending me flowers.
