Page 75 of Fighting Mr. Knight

“Did he pay the money back? Is that why he lost the house?” I ask.

She shakes her head on camera. “Bonnie, your dad was lucky Jack Knight didn’t send him to jail. All things considered, he got off lightly. I think because they were East End guys, Jack went lenient on them. Your father put himself in enough debt to sink the Titanic. That’s why he lost the house. I’m sorry, but you’re old enough to realise the truth. He didn’t want you to know. You know how proud he is.”

I nod slowly. There’s no doubt in my mind that Mum’s telling the truth. I sometimes knew things fell off the back of a lorry and landed in Dad’s lap, but Dad always had a joke and a story to go with it. He made it seem harmless.

“Does he know you know?”

She sighs. “No. I left it alone. It’s better you do too. He’ll only get upset and drink himself into a state. No good will come from it now.”

I let out a long breath. I’m not sure how Dad will react if I ruin the illusion that his daughter thinks he’s the most successful man in East London. He holds onto these things a lot more now that he’s not with Mum. These past few years, he hasn’t seemed that stable.

I say my goodbyes and stand frozen on the spot, staring at nothing.

I spent ten years thinking Jack has wronged Dad. Ten years being awkward any time I’ve been in Jack Knight’s presence.

Kate and I would come back from uni and meet Sean. Jack would sometimes be there and try to talk to me, despite being surrounded by an entourage of hangers-on.

Now I don’t know what to do with the truth.

I shudder, replaying the scene in my head. Jack should have put me in my place and told me what’s what. I actually asked him if it waslegalwhat he did to my dad.

Dad and his conspirators owe Jackhalf a million pounds.He should hold a grudge against me, not the other way around. Maybe he will now he knows my connection.

“Oh, God,” I say out loud to the empty street.

Behind all the dominance, Jack was sweet last night. I’m not sure I know what to do with sweet Jack. The guy’s a confused tap, one minute he’s freezing cold, the next minute he’s blistering hot.

Before I can overthink what I’m about to do, I take out my phone and locate Jack’s number. And the one and only message he sent me at the wedding makes me laugh.

Jack:Now you have my number you can send me all the nudes you want.

I begin to type:Hopefully it’s okay to text you off the record.Mum told me the truth about Dad leaving Lexington. I’m sorry for how I acted last night and for what Dad did. I’m mortified.

The three dots tell me he is typing.

My breath stalls as I wait.

Jack:Forget it. It’s all in the past.

My breath gushes out. At least he doesn’t hold grudges. Or demand his half a million back which he would have every right to do.

Me:Why didn’t you say something last night?

The dots appear then vanish. Just when I think he’s not going to respond, they appear again.

Jack:Because he’s your father.

Oh my God. My heart’s about to break. Jack kept me in the dark so I would have a positive view of my father, but it meant a negative view of him.

What type of man does that make Jack?

A better one than my father.

A thousand thoughts rush through my head.

Jack:I hope you’re not at the office?

Me:I’m in a bar in Knightsbridge. But leaving now,I add hastily in case he thinks I’m on the sauce, right before the presentation tomorrow.

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