‘Me?’ What was he going to do? He’d been riding the crest ofbusiness success earlier. He wished he’d never opened the stupid website. It had killed his mood. He couldn’t let that happen.
‘I’m going to go home, get a shower, call Tony and head out into the bright lights of the city.’
‘No more Chinese food,’ Clara said as a warning.
‘Perhaps Spanish tonight.’
Clara took a breath and gathered herself. ‘Thank you, Oliver.’
He waved a hand quickly, almost desperately. He couldn’t handle any more sentiment. ‘Go home.’
She smiled again and headed towards the door. Just as she was about to cross the threshold, Oliver had an urge to stop her, to ask her if she’d finished the letter to Luther Jameson. He hadn’t signed the cheque yet. He could change his mind. He could give the McArthur Foundation fundraiser his support. He could speak there; he could takehisload off.
As the thought of standing up in front of a function room of people soaked into him, he felt his heart convulse and he had to swallow down the nausea. Clara waved a hand at him and it was all he could do not to throw up. He couldn’t do it. He wasn’t changing his mind. It was inconceivable and that was the way it was going to stay.
18
VIPERS NIGHTCLUB, DOWNTOWN MANHATTAN
‘I shouldn’t have eaten so many burritos.’ Tony let out a belch, one hand on his chest.
‘You think?’ Oliver said. ‘I’d guess it was the two sides of fries that really did it.’
‘Why didn’t you stop me?’
‘Because both of us having heart attacks and going together might be kind of cool.’
Tony swiped a hand out, catching Oliver on the shoulder. ‘Asshole.’
Oliver smiled. The music in the club was thudding through his body, banging his ribcage, pulsing through every internal organ and he was relishing it. He wanted this buzz; he needed to be part of this life. People filled the dance floor, their bodies moving to the sounds of Bruno Mars and Jason Derulo, swirling under glitter balls and bright-white Christmas lights. Garlands decked the windows, tinsel hung from contemporary art on the walls, the holidays were coming and everyone here was hungry for it. Except him. Because he didn’t want anything to stop. He needed to be busy, vital, involved in the fabric of something, to stop himselffrom thinking too much. Like today, when he’d clicked on that website and given Clara the day off.Weak.
He put the bottle of beer to his mouth and let his eyes rove over the clientele. They were spoiled for choice here. There was a group of women to their right joining the dance floor. Despite the snow outside, they were dressed to impress in figure-fitting dresses that didn’t leave much to the imagination. The blonde of the party looked Oliver’s way, sending him a mere hint of a smile. He raised his beer bottle a little, just to show interest. She moved her hips in time to the next track as it came through the speakers and he admired what he saw. Tonight was going to be a good night. He could just feel it.
‘I’m seeing this,’ Tony said, nudging Oliver’s ribs with his elbow. ‘Why do they always notice you first?’
‘Don’t knock it. It means they get to notice you at all.’
‘Hey!’
‘Come on,’ Oliver said, stepping towards the group of ladies.
Dean Walker’s Apartment, Downtown Manhattan
‘Did you know that Central Park was originally opened in 1857?’
‘Did you know if you don’t put that guidebook down, I’m going to start eating your pizza,’ Hayley said, playfully.
They were sat around the large dining table eating pizza Vernon had made from scratch in about ten minutes. It was the most divine-tasting base Hayley had ever had and it seemed her brother’s partner was turning out to be a catch in every department. If only she could meet someone like that instead of being set upon by the likes of Greg.
Hayley drained the wine from her glass in one mouthful thentook a look at her watch. It was almost ten o’clock and she couldn’t help feeling that Angel should really be in bed. It was the second late night in as many days and coupled with the jet lag, it didn’t bode well for tomorrow. She also had plans of her own for tonight. Plans that didn’t involve the company of a nine-year-old. Vipers nightclub.
‘What was your favourite animal at the zoo?’ Vernon asked, topping up Dean and Hayley’s wineglasses.
‘Oh I loved the sea lions,’ Angel announced. ‘Did you know that sea lions can stay under the water for up to forty minutes?’
‘I didn’t know that,’ Vernon answered.
‘The longer you know Angel, the greater your life’s knowledge will be, trust me,’ Hayley said, picking up a piece of pizza.
