‘No, there were other bodyguards too.’
Grace thought her head would explode.
‘So, let me get this straight. There was a line of bodyguards sitting at the back of a classroom, where, presumably because the parents are already paying astronomical fees, there were only a few children anyway?’
‘Basically, yes.’
‘That seems ridiculous.’
Will shrugged.
‘As a teacher, I can tell you it’s not healthy. Is that the sort of life you’d want for your own children? Anyone’s children?’
‘No.’
At least she’d slowed down Will’s drinking.
‘How do you get into a job like that? Are they advertised?’
‘Not really. Everyone is basically ex-forces or police weapons trained. It’s all word of mouth.’
‘So they don’t let just anyone fly around the world using a gun whenever they feel like it? That’s a relief.’
Will ignored her outburst.
‘I got fed up with the travelling too. It may sound glamorous, flying to these people’s homes in the Caribbean or the Swiss mountains, but you’re always on duty. You’re not on holiday.’
‘Is there anything you do miss about it?’
Grace unloaded the last of the calamari and bread onto his plate in the hope that he’d finish it off.
Will forked a baby calamari into his mouth.
‘The food. The guy I worked for in London had a team of top chefs and each day one had to get the ingredients and prepare six potential meals for the boss and his partner. Then during the day they’d narrow down the choices to one.’
‘What a terrible waste.’
Will smiled for the first time that evening.
‘Oh, nothing was ever wasted. We got to eat food made by Michelin-starred chefs on a regular basis. That’s why it paid to be mates with the chefs. Get in there first before the nannies.’
Grace finished off her second beer.
‘What a strange life. For everyone involved.’
‘Agreed. I got fed up with it in the end. Wanted to be in one place for more than a couple of weeks. I came here on holiday and never left. Picked up the house for a song and did it up myself. Picked up a job at the same time.’
Will made inroads into the final beer on the table.
‘It’s suited me down to the ground.’
‘Why are you saying suited instead of suits? Is it about to come to an end?
‘Sadly, yes. I retire at Christmas. You don’t get many heads of security over the age of sixty.’
‘Oh, I see. And is that what you want?’
Will didn’t seem anywhere near old enough to be giving up work. He was obviously still very fit; she’d seen enough of his body to attest to that.
