Page 75 of Behind Frenemy Lines

Charles

Shared an Uberto the office with Kriya on Monday morning. Original plan was to walk in together—it was only a half an hour walk, Kriya said—but we’d got a bit distracted. Then my phone had buzzed with the news that Farah wanted a pre-brief before our meeting with Shaw at ten a.m. I’d ended up booking a cab on my phone with one hand and buttoning up my trousers with the other, while Kriya pulled her dress back down and fixed her makeup.

She said in the car: “Is it the old school friend we’re meeting? The client contact.”

CG: “‘Friend’ is overstating it a bit. But yeah, we were at school together. Our dads are mates.” Lowered my voice, glancing at the driver. He was listening to a podcast in Urdu. “Shaw runs an investment firm we’ve done some work for, but he’s not the client in this instance. It’s one of his investors, an individual. Shaw’s bringing the paperwork we’ll need to register him as a client.”

Kriya, frowning: “Is the investor going to be there?”

CG: “Just Shaw.”

Kriya: “Seems an odd way of doing things.” It seemed asthough she had more to say, but she looked at the driver and fell silent.

She didn’t know the half of it. Shaw had been talking about getting a letter out to the blogger today, even though I’d explained over email that we’d need to clear conflicts and complete the client due diligence process first. The CDD team hadn’t yet responded to the email I’d sent them on Sunday, and I was worried the process was going to be complicated. Shaw hadn’t said so in so many words, but it sounded like the client was a politically exposed person.

There were other things I was worried about. Like Kriya. Was she my girlfriend now?

Hadn’t asked before. It hadn’t seemed necessary, over the weekend.

Now, with her at the other end of the backseat of the taxi, was not the place or time. I should have raised it this morning and clarified the point.

Instead, had used the time to eat her out. Seemed a good move at the time. Starting to reconsider that.

CG: “We can discuss it later.”

At least we weren’t late. The cab drew up outside Swithin Watkins at 9:20 a.m. Farah wanted to speak at half past. We should have had ample time to get our heads together before the client showed up.

But as we were getting out of the Uber, I saw Shaw, walking towards us.

Shaw: “Hey, Chinky Charlie! Long time no see!”

Kriya’s jaw dropped.

CG: “Hello, Shaw.” We shook hands. “We weren’t expecting to see you so early. Are we not meeting at ten?”

Hadn’t seen Shaw in years, but he looked exactly the same as he used to, except in a suit instead of school uniform. Short, chubby, baby-faced guy, with spectacles.

Looking at the two of us, you would have thought Shaw wasthe one who’d got bullied at school. But you would have been failing to take into account the power of Shaw’s personality. Everyone had liked him. Even the masters, for all the trouble he gave them.

Shaw: “I had a nine a.m. down the road. Thought I’d come round and see if you’d give me a coffee and somewhere to sit down.”

He smiled at Kriya. Not in a nice way.

Well. Not in a way I liked. Wolfish.

Kriya smiled back at him. Couldn’t tell if this was automatic politeness to a client, or if she’d taken to Shaw. Women said to admire confidence in men. One thing about Shaw, he’s never lacked for confidence.

He lowered his eyes. Kriya was wearing a purple dress that crossed over at the top, making a V at her neckline. No denying her breasts looked fantastic in it, but you’re not supposed to visibly take notice of that sort of thing in a professional setting.

Shaw not bothering to hide the fact he’d noticed.

Could hear the touch of frost in my voice when I said:

“This is my colleague, Kriya Rajasekar. She’s kindly stepped in to assist on the matter.”

Shaw shook her hand. “Shaw Boey, Blackmount Capital. Appreciate your help on the case.”

The smile dropped off Kriya’s face.

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