Page 97 of Behind Frenemy Lines

Farah: “We’ll have to see what Shaw decides to do, if anything. He might choose to raise it, but I can’t imagine he’ll want to go into the details of what was said. As for the bigger picture, if he decides to take his business elsewhere, that would make life simpler, in a way.”

She seemed remarkably unperturbed.

CG: “Do you think I should report it?”

Farah: “We may need to make reports if money laundering is at issue, but I wouldn’t worry about the, ah, exchange between the two of you. At the moment, it’s your word against Shaw’s. He told me it was an accident, this morning. And I’m sure you won’t do anything like it again.”

CG: “No. But—”

Farah: “It was actually Kriya I wanted to talk to you about.I heard she’s resigned, and she’s leaving at the end of the week. Can you tell me what happened?”

CG: “Is that all you’ve heard?”

Farah, after a pause: “Does it have anything to do with Arthur?”

CG, carefully: “Kriya spoke to HR. I was present at the meeting, to corroborate the details I witnessed. But I don’t think it’s my story to tell.”

A shadow passed over Farah’s face. “I see. This is very upsetting.” She glanced over at Kriya’s desk again. “She’s working from home today, is she?”

Started to say, “For the rest of the week,” but the words wouldn’t come.

Didn’t understand what was happening at first. Then it hit me. There was a real risk I was about tocry.

Farah realised around the same time as me. Saw her face change.

Jumped to my feet and turned to the window, blinking. Could see the corresponding floor of the office building across the road, occupied by a mid-size national firm. It was close enough you could see the computer screen of the guy in the office opposite. He spent a surprising amount of time watching video game play-throughs on YouTube.

He wasn’t there today. Must be working from home.

Somehow it made me feel even lonelier.

CG: “I might never see her again.”

Didn’t mean to say it out loud.

Farah: “Oh, Charles.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]

Subject: Potential legal action against Helen Daley

Dear Charles

Kriya Rajasekar suggested I contact you in the first instance. I’m writing in connection with an approach Swithin Watkins may have received from Shaw Boey, to act in a potential claim against the journalist Helen Daley, in respect of a series of articles she is publishing in theGuardian(the first can be readhere).

I am not aware of whether you will have been instructed on behalf of Mr. Boey, a company connected to him, or one of his associates. However, before your firm agrees to act in this matter, you may wish to consider the attached materials, which provide extensive documentary evidence for the misconduct described in Ms. Daley’s article.

You may also be aware that Ms. Daley has posted about the threat of legal action on her bloghere. This has gained significant attention in Malaysia.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or would like to discuss further.

Kind regards,

Ket Yap

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