Page 58 of Built

Decision made, I find my boots and slip them on. “Hey, I’m just going out for some fresh air, OK? You want me to pick you up anything at the store?”

She shakes her head. “No, that’s OK. Are you sure you don’t want to come to bed with me?”

I smile a smile I do not feel right then and lean in, kissing her softly. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t wait up.”

A crease forms between her brows, but she slips into her pyjamas without questioning me further. I guess it’s a good sign I haven’t blown her trust yet the way Oliver did. And a good reminder not to.

I’ll meet her dad and find out what he wants. Then, if I need to, I can fill in Mia when she’s had a good sleep. No need to stir the pot now.

Shutting the front door behind me and zipping up my hoodie, I text Stephen back.

Luke: I can meet you now. Just tell me where

A moment later, a new text comes through with the name of a bar a few blocks down the road. I don’t ask how he knows where I am. I’m pretty sure Mia didn’t tell them, but I know enough to know a man who likes to keep tabs on his little girl when I see one, and I can’t say I blame him for that.

When I walk in, I’m not surprised to see the place is fancy as fuck. Even in the dim lighting, I can make out the marble bar and bespoke leather stools. I feel as out of place here in my jeans and work boots as a kangaroo in the surf, but I’m sure that was his intention.

Stephen is waiting at a table by the door. He doesn’t get up when I come in, just nods at the stool beside him. “Wilson. Thanks for coming.”

I sit as a waiter comes to the table. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

Stephen lifts the glass of whisky he’s drinking. “Can I buy you a drink? The nineteen ninety eight is a fine drop.”

I shake my head. “No, thanks. Just water for me.” Something tells me it’s just another move calculated to make me feel inadequate. Besides, I get the feeling I need to keep a clear head.

The waiter leaves and Stephen Sinclair swirls the whisky in his class, making the ice cubes clink against the side. Then he sighs. “I hate to have to do this, Mr Wilson. But I’m afraid I’ve got some unpleasant news.”

“OK.”

He fixes me with a sympathetic look from across the small table. “Your family owns the Inlet Views in Rosella Bay, is that correct?”

I nod as a prickle of heat sizzles up my spine. I don’t like where this is going already.

He takes a sip of whisky, leaving me in suspense a moment longer, and I wonder if this is all a calculated dance. “I know you and my daughter Mia have been...spending a lot of time together. So I felt I should bring something to your attention.”

“Right.” I’m still watching him, waiting for the moment he hits me with his trump card.

“I’ve had a client approach me about taking on a case. Mia’s told you I run Sinclair Law?”

I nod. Where’s that water? My throat is suddenly parched. The waiter is nowhere to be seen.

“Unfortunately, it seems like an ex-employee of your folks has some complaints to make about an unfair dismissal, and in the process, they’ve raised some concerns with me that I must say I take very seriously.”

“What concerns?” My hand clenches into a fist on the table and I stare at him. What ex-employee? I rack my brains trying to think of anyone who might have been fired or let go recently, but come up with nothing.

Mr Sinclair sits back in his chair with a shrug. “I’m afraid I can’t disclose the specific nature of the concerns yet, due to client confidentiality, but I can say that this is something I could make disappear. It might take a settlement out of court. I’m not certain yet, but I could certainly make the process much less painful for your parents.”

He swirls the whisky again, not looking at me.

“These sorts of civil cases can be lengthy and unpleasant for everyone involved. Ongoing hearings, legal fees. I’m sure you can see why it would be best if you let me handle this for you.”

“OK,” I say again, brushing sweaty palms down my thighs under the table. “What’s the catch?”

“Ah.” Mr Sinclair takes the last sip of his whisky and places the glass on the table with a little clink. “So you’re not as dumb as you look. All to the good. I can help your parents make this go away if you agree to two conditions: firstly Mia never finds out we had this conversation. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to upset her, and that’s always my primary goal. Secondly, you disappear from her life. I don’t care what excuse you make. I’ll come up with one for you if you can’t think of one. But you go back to Rosella Bay, and you never contact her again. Have you got any questions?”

I stare at him across the table. Is Mia’s father really this much of an asshole? “Yeah.” I get up, not bothering to tuck in my stool. “Exactly how soon after we met the other day did you start making phone calls to make this case happen?”

I don’t even wait for him to answer. He’s not going to anyway. I walk out of the bar and halfway down the street before the hot prickle along my spine becomes a flaming inferno covering my skin.

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