“Alice, Alice…” Sir Alan’s voice takes on a cajoling note, the kind that used to make me cringe. He really isn’t made for charm. “Be Patient. You must see this baby is a serious complication.”
The way he keeps referring to my daughter as ‘this baby’ makes me want to slap him.
“Two years will go faster than you think. In Austria you’ll be safe. You’ll have every luxury, every comfort and–”
“No.” It’s my turn to interrupt him.
His eyes widen, surprised. No one interrupts him.
“I’m not going to Austria or Switzerland or any other place.”
“You have to. We can’t risk anyone suspecting your relationship with Clive –”
“I think we both know there is no more relationship.” The words are out before I can stop them. I didn’t want to break up with Clive via Sir Alan, but they’re not giving me much choice. “There’s nothing to manage or spin. It’s over.” I’ve only now spoken the words, but the decision feels as if I’d made it long ago.
“Alice, you’re feeling emotional, it’s childbirth...” His lips curl on the words.
“No.”
He pauses, watching me and I can actually see his eyes calculating this new situation, planning how to tell Clive.
“We will look after you, of course.”
“Thank you, I’m more than capable of looking after myself.”
“Don’t worry,” he says although it’s him who looks worried. “We will, of course, pay you a generous allowance–”
I see what’s bothering him. “You don’t need to bribe me to guarantee my silence and cooperation. I won’t speak to the press.”
He can’t hide his relief. “Are you sure about this decision? It’s not too late to–”
“Yes. I’m sure. And I don’t want your money.”
He talks over me. “Consider it child support. We’ll set up a standing order to your bank account. We’ll reinstate your salary and call it consultation fees.”
It’s one thing to accept child support from Clive for his daughter, but not Sir Alan’s hush money. “I don’t want it.”
He doesn’t listen, of course. “I’ll have it taken care of, and if you need anything else, you can use the same safe number.”
He is smiling, actually smiling. Sir Alan is happiest when he can pay to solve problems. Clearly, I had been a problem, and now he is happy to have solved me away.
I must have been staring at the blank screen for a while because I’m startled to feel a warm hand on my shoulder.
“You okay?” Brandon has his eyebrows scrunched.
I honestly don’t know how to answer this, I just look at him and notice his clenched jaws.
“You seem angry.”
He scoffs. “Not at all, I just want to meet this man so I can break his teeth.”
This makes me laugh despite everything. “I can just imagine thousands of pounds worth of dental implants flying out of his mouth.”
Brandon’s lips twitch with a smile. “Something tells me this man can afford it. The way he was trying to buy you off.” His voice darkens on the last part.
“Claire Shaw, MP, once told me, ‘When your favourite tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail’. Sir Alan’s hammer is money. He is rich enough to buy a premier league football club if he wanted. So why not politicians, they are considerably cheaper than footballers.”
“You don’t sound very upset.” Brandon gives me a searching look.
