Feeling conflicted, as he permanently seemed to lately, Jason let himself through the security door and headed for the main office rather than his own small office, where he found Mark already seated at his PC. Jason was surprised. He’d expected him to come in later, given that he’d hinted his hot date might be an all-nighter.
‘How did it go?’ he asked him, dropping his laptop on the desk facing Mark’s and shrugging out of his jacket.
‘Phenomenally.’ Mark blinked blearily at his screen, one hand groping for the paracetamol to his side.
Jason smiled wryly as Mark popped two pills and reached for his mug of black coffee. ‘That good, hey?’
‘A ten, definitely,’ Mark said with a wink, and then winced and washed his painkillers down. ‘What’s more, I have another date.’
‘Better stock up on the pills then,’ Jason suggested, eyeing his friend amusedly. He doubted whether it would actually get past two dates. Mark had been married once. It had lasted approximately a year, before he’d discovered his wife wasn’t fully committed. This much he’d gleaned when he found her in bed with her ex-boyfriend. Mark had decided to play the field after that sobering experience. And he was obviously playing hard.
‘I might need to. The little blue variety.’ Mark yawned, leaning back in his chair and stretching wearily. ‘The woman’s insatiable. Sorry, mate – no sister, I’m afraid.’
‘More’s the pity.’ Jason sighed, turned to plug in his laptop and then seated himself in front of it.
Mark eyed him thoughtfully for a second. He’d gathered Jason was having problems, here and at home, but was diplomatic enough not to comment. ‘So,’ he said, looking back to his screen, ‘how did the mother-in-law’s party go? Has the self-made man thawed yet?’
Jason’s laugh was scornful. ‘You must be joking. There’s not a snowball in hell’s chance of that happening. I “got his daughter pregnant”, remember?’
‘Twelve-odd years ago,’ Mark reminded him. ‘That’s a long time to bear a grudge.’
‘Yeah.’ Jason was well aware of that. He doubted the man would warm to him, whatever he did. Turning his company around wouldn’t do it. Robert Fenton’s grudge went deeper, Jason was sure of it. It was more than him simply being protective of his daughter. Though if protective was what he was trying to be, it was laughable anyway, bearing in mind the man’s proclivity to sexually harass women Karla’s age and younger. He just wished he knew what the hell his problem was. Maybe he thought no man would ever be good enough for her. Jason definitely wasn’t.
He sighed heavily. ‘Sometimes, I wonder whether Karla does too,’ he admitted. ‘Bear a grudge, I mean. Being married to a loser wasn’t quite what she had in mind when she walked down the aisle.’
She had been so optimistic, that day. Looking radiant, with her long blonde hair sweeping her bare shoulders, her eyes shining, she’d been positive they were doing the right thing. They were going to get married anyway, she’d told her mother. They were just doing it a little sooner than planned, for the sake of the baby. She’d been positive about their future together, determined that their home together would be a happy one, built on love. At twenty-two, and working part-time while completing his final year in computer science, Jason’s income had been a pittance. He hadn’t quite worked out how they were going to build this house of love. Enter Robert Fenton, the great benefactor. He’d never let Jason forget that they had a roof over their heads thanks to him. God help him if he found out he’d taken out a mortgage against it to shore up their finances. Karla falling pregnant with Josh not long after having Holly had put paid to her going back to RADA. She’d remained bubbly though, enthusiastic enough for both of them, still determined that they could get through whatever life threw at them, provided they loved each other.
Jason was pondering that when Mark asked, ‘Do you still love her?’ as if reading his mind.
‘She’s the mother of my children,’ Jason answered. He’d never questioned his love for her. Lately, though, there seemed to be a hell of a lot more anger between them than affection.
‘Because if you don’t—’
‘Shall we take a look at the software package?’ Jason changed the subject.
‘I’m just saying that if you’re as miserable as your face has been telling me lately, maybe you should think about parenting your kids separately.’
So much for diplomacy. Jason was about to tell him the subject was closed when the office phone rang.Saved by the bell,he thought, twirling his chair around to answer it.
‘Tara might not have a sister, but there are plenty of other women out there looking for what I imagine is lacking in your life,’ Mark imparted, as Jason picked up the phone. ‘Plenty of other dating apps, too, if you’re looking for more than a quick hook-up.’
Unbelievable.Jason shook his head and pressed the phone to his ear. Just what mates were for: to offer you shite advice when your marriage hit a blip.
‘Though, personally, I think that would do you the world of good,’ Mark trundled on. ‘A quick no-strings-attached—’
Jason held up a hand, his look hopefully telling Mark to zip it, as he realised who it was calling.
‘Jason, Robert here,’ Fenton said. ‘Karla said you were working.’
‘I am,’ Jason confirmed, immediately agitated by the brusque tone.
‘Right, well, I’ll get straight to the point. Time is money, after all,’ Fenton went on, predictably. ‘I’m prepared to put a deal on the table.’
A… ‘What?’ Jason laughed, incredulous at the man’s gall.
‘Don’t be obtuse, Jason. It’s not a good business attribute,’ Fenton said, with his usual condescending sigh. ‘A deal. A business loan, boy. You’re haemorrhaging money currently and making nil profit. Come to my office, two o’clock on Monday, and we’ll discuss terms.’
And those terms would be what, Jason wondered. Apart from the fifty per cent share in his business he fully expected Fenton would demand. Karla had clearly discussed it further with him. Once he’d left this morning, presumably, which pretty much summed up her confidence in him. ‘Thanks,’ he said, his throat tight, ‘but I think I’d rather bleed to death.’
