Page 122 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

It’d been chucking it down with rain all day not that anyone in BlackWater would have noticed Maddie thought as none of the offices had windows to look out. But it still felt miserable.

Cole had somehow persuaded her to meet him for lunch and she knew it was to do with what she’d told him over the weekend. About the stabbing. And what he’d done too. The boy he’d killed. Damn the pair of them had some serious skeletons, she thought. Maybe that’s why they worked so well. Because they were similar after all.

She drove over to Black Industries parking her car in one of the visitor bays and headed round to the reception.

But just as she walked in through the huge glass doors her phone went off. She groaned pulling it out and seeing who it was. Daddy Dearest.

Of course, she thought, he’d been oddly quiet since their lunch and she’d had a gut feeling he was about to raise his ugly head again.

“Yes.” She said picking it up and walking to stand in the street.

“Still need to work on the manners Maddison.” Alfred replied and she rolled her eyes.

“You’re one to talk about manners.” She stated.

He laughed as if what she’d said had been even remotely funny.

“This Friday. Lunch one pm. At Nobu.” He said like he was giving some sort of order.

“No can do. I’ve got work commitments.”

“Cancel them.”

“I can’t just bloody cancel them.” Maddie snapped. “Do you have any idea who I work for?”

“Yeah and you’re fucking the boss.” He replied.

“Cole is not my boss.”

“He’s as good as and if you want him to keep those nice multi-million pound businesses I’d watch your tone.”

“Fine. Whatever.” Maddie muttered.

“So you’ll be there?”

“Do I have an option?” She replied.

He laughed.

“Repeat it back.”

“Excuse me?” She said.

“Repeat back the instructions like a good girl.” He said.

“Whatever. Nobu Friday. One pm. I got it.” She snapped before hanging up half tempted to launch her phone into the busy traffic.

She stuffed it back into her bag turning to head inside and her eyes widened as she saw Jennifer right there eyeing her up. Her long blonde hair looked more perfect than ever and the dress she had on was a deep burgundy that set off her skin tone beautifully.

“Maddie.” Jennifer said awkwardly.

“Jennifer.” Maddie replied with a tight smile. She knew Jennifer hadn’t known she was on the call when she’d propositioned Cole but still, they were both more than aware that the other knew what had happened in his office.

“This is Martin, he’s my replacement. I was just showing him around.” Jennifer said quickly.

“Right.” Maddie said glancing at the man who looked the dictionary definition of a government pencil pusher. “Nice to meet you Martin.” Maddie added holding her hand out and he shook it.

“And you are?” He asked smiling genuinely at her.

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