‘No.’
‘Why?’
‘Because I’ve realised she’s dead-set on restoring the theatre.’
‘Wait. How did she end up owning the theatre anyway?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘Well, did you ask her?’
‘No, not yet. Oliver turned up and rather put his boot in.’
‘Ah, so that’s why the meeting got cut short. He put Bridie in the picture about your reputation. Is that why you didn’t offer to buy it off her, because you knew she’d refuse?’
‘My reputation? What do you mean?’
‘In business, how ruthless you are. How you don’t put anything back into the community.’
He looked across his desk at Jade. ‘Is that what people think?’
‘Of course.’ She looked at him as though he was stupid. ‘This is a small town. Do you think it goes unnoticed that you buy up old properties, develop them, and sell to rich London clients?’
Jack glanced at his phone, now convinced that Bridie was going to tell him she’d changed her mind.
‘I’m still confused. You said you were going to get a big payback out of investing?’
He didn’t see the harm in telling Jade his plan now, especially as he’d got a feeling Bridie had changed her mind and it wasn’t going ahead anyway. Besides, his wife knew him well. He did have a ruthless streak when it came to business. It was the only way to succeed, as far as he was concerned.
‘I want that theatre, to tear it down and redevelop the plot.’
‘So, just wait for her to figure out it’s not going to work, especially if she can’t afford to renovate it. Then she’ll have to sell. Why even get involved?’
‘Yeah, I had thought about doing that, but what if someone else steps in and helps her with the money, like a family member?’Or Oliver, Jack thought, frowning. He continued, ‘At least this way, I’d have a controlling stake, which means that when things go wrong …’
‘She’ll have no choice but to sell it. And she’ll have to sell to you.’
‘Exactly.’
‘Clever.’
‘I know. Then I can do what I want with it.’
‘You mean tear it down.’
‘Oh yes.’
She threw him an odd look.
‘What?’
‘You’re obsessed with that theatre, like you want it gone.’
‘I do.’
‘But how do you know things will go wrong for sure? What if people rally around, like the community, and she makes a real success of it?’
Jack looked at her oddly. ‘You know, the way you talk, I’d be forgiven for thinking that you wouldn’t mind seeing that happen.’
