Page 1 of Reinventing Cato
Chapter One
Cato sprawled on the bed in his hotel room, trying to work up some enthusiasm for a party he’d been excited about a few hours ago. He’d flown four hundred miles to get here, and was now contemplating staying in his room all night. On his own.Get a hold of yourself, you wimp.Yeah, well having a wank was likely to be the only pleasant thing that would happen this evening, and the pleasure in that would be fleeting.
He started at the knock on the door, his heart giving a heavy thump, but stayed where he was. When the knock came again, he put on his glasses and padded to the peephole, then sighed and pulled the door open.
Darth Vader twirled a flashing lightsaber. “May I come in?”
Even with the voice distorter, Cato knew who this was and stepped back to allow Robert inside. “Darth Vader wouldn’t ask, he’d just stride in. And don’t twirl the bloody weapon like a magic wand.”
Robert slid his mask up onto his head. “I was too well-trained by my nanny. I’m incapable of villainy.” He pushed the door closed behind him.
“Just as well, considering you’re a criminal lawyer.” Cato returned to the bed, dropped onto his back and crossed his legs, hoping he looked more relaxed than he felt.
“I didn’t know,” Robert said. “I’d have warned you, I swear.”
“You already said.”
“Clara didn’t think they’d come. It was just a throwaway offer when she bumped into Louise in London. And Clara doesn’t know the details of what happened because you asked me not to tell her. So don’t blame her.”
“It’s okay.” It wasn’t.
“I hope you don’t think you’re going to stay in your room all night.”
“There’s a James Bond film on.”
“Cato! Come downstairs. You’re 33, not 13. If you stay up here, they’ve won. Dinner’s about to be served. You’re not on the same table. We had to jig things around to fit them in.”
“Are they sitting in the corridor?”
“That would be a touch rude, but they’re as far away from you as humanly possible. They were lucky to get a room in the hotel.”
And Cato was unlucky. “I’ll be down in a bit.”
“Sure?”
Cato nodded.
“Where’s your costume?”
“I only need a bowtie and a jockstrap. I’m coming as a stripper.”
“Very funny.” Robert paused at the door and turned to face him. “Youarejoking, aren’t you? Because—”
“Yes, Robert.”
“I’m on your side. I miss you. I wish we could meet up more often. But we’re definitely coming out to California to see you.”
“I don’t have the job yet.”
“You’ll get it. They’d be lucky to have you.”
Robert left and Cato sat up. Louise and Maxhadwon. Him going downstairs to the party wouldn’t change that. They were together and he was on his own. But appearing to be perfectly fine about what had happened would make him feel better.Wouldn’t it?Plus, he was hungry. He’d already scoffed the complimentary packet of shortbread.
Cato pulled his costume out of his bag, tugged it over his head and looked at himself in the mirror. Before he could change his mind, he put his lenses in and applied eyeliner. He always felt braver with his eyes made up. It had nothing to do with the fact that Max liked him with it on. He clenched his jaw, shoved his feet into his boots and headed downstairs. Sulking in his room like a lovesick teenager would achieve nothing. He shouldn’t have needed Robert to point that out. What he ought to do was find someone for the night, show Max he was over him.
The dining room was full of noisy people. He checked the seating plan at the entrance and made his way to table three. Louise and Max couldn’t be seen from where he was sitting and his anxiety subsided. He knew two of the people at his table; he’d met them at Robert and Clara’s wedding. The others were Robert’s colleagues in his Glasgow chambers.
Cato would have been happy for the meal to last all night, but once the dessert plates had been cleared away, and Robert and Clara had thanked everyone for coming, the tables were pushed back and the dancing started. Cato found a quiet corner to sit in and people watch. He’d had one glass of wine with the meal and not finished it. Unlike him. But there was undoubtedly a conversation coming that he didn’t want to have. One he needed to be sober for. Or very drunk.Hmm.Maybe he should rethink his position on alcohol.
