I chuckle, which turns into a belly laugh. ‘Padawan? So that makes you the Jedi Master, does it?’
‘Speaking as someone who’s been married twice, aye. And I’m trying to give you a bit of advice. You’d better treat Chas right because Paisley can use a gun.’
‘Of course she can. But it’s one of those ones that spray-paints makeup on her client’s faces though, right?’
‘You don’t want to find out, ’cause I’m warning you—’
‘No need to, mate. It happened. I’m in love for keeps. Chastity is the woman for me.’
‘Well, fuck me sideways.’ Elbows on the arm of his chair, Keir holds his Mont Blanc between the fingertips of both hands. He must’ve gone snooping around my desk to have found it. ‘And she hasn’t impaled you with an umbrella yet?’
‘Not yet but I have high hopes.’ He doesn’t answer but shakes his head. ‘Obviously,’ I begin, ‘your sex life isn’t as adventurous. My commiserations to Mrs Keir.’
‘Leave Paisley out of it.’
I nod, accepting the warning, empathising for probably the first time. Wives and sweethearts are off limits, even from the mildest jab. ‘Anyway, speaking of adventure. I think it’s time I moved on.’
Keir’s eyebrows almost retract to his hair line. ‘You’re serious?’
‘As a heart attack.’ Fuck, bad timing. ‘Chastity has stolen my heart and only this morning threatened to make earrings out of my balls. What was I to do but give in?’
‘Because she has your balls?’ he repeats, confused.
‘And my heart. I wouldn’t be giving up my position in perpetual servitude if she didn’t.’
‘Piss off,’ he counters mildly. ‘You wanted to learn the ropes, do the thing without bearing the responsibility, and that’s what you’ve done.’
‘But now I want it all.’ A wife, family, a home life. It’s time to grow up.
I’ve worked for Keir for a couple of years now. I’ve learned from the best but it’s time to stand on my own. I’d never had the incentive before. I was happy with my life, switching off from work at six o’clock, no responsibilities beyond that hour. Weekends spent playing rugby, going out, and getting lucky.
It’s been good to know Chastity doesn’t care how I made my living. She’s a cool kind of chick, I know. She realises I’m more than just a pretty face but has appreciated me for who I am, and not for what I appear to be.
What she doesn’t know is that I’m actually decently well off. Rich, some might say. Not the yacht dwelling kind, though I’d previously spent enough years bumming around and squandering my inheritance. When I met Keir, the deal he offered me was pretty sweet. I’d assist him, be his back up, and meanwhile learn to become a killer property developer.
‘You’d better find yourself another slave,’ I tell him with a grin. ‘Because I’m off to the bank to transfer some cash. I want in on the Walton job.’
Keir nods, holding out his hand. ‘Welcome to the land of grown-ups, man.’
