The First Mistake(87)

‘It would have been wise to secure your future a little,’ says Liz, ‘whilst you still had the chance. But you were in love and sometimes love is blind.’

Alice can’t help but notice her use of the word ‘were’. Does that mean we aren’t any more? she wonders. I guess that’s why I’m calling her.

‘But I can draw something up to give you more detail if it should get to that stage,’ Liz goes on. Right now, Alice can’t see any chance that it won’t.

‘Thanks,’ she says. ‘But just before you go . . . About Japan – Nathan has largely been dealing with the business end of the transaction up until now. We’ve – I’ve – already paid a hundred thousand on exchange, and I’m about to complete this afternoon. I know I’m asking a lot, Liz, but is there any way you could take a quick look at the contract, just so, you know . . .’

‘I assume a conveyancing solicitor has read through it before now?’ asks Liz.

‘Well, yes,’ says Alice. ‘My lawyer is based in Japan and he seems happy enough, but as I say, Nathan’s been dealing with that side of things. I would just appreciate you checking it through, especially if I’m going to be on my own, going forward.’

‘You’re not leaving yourself an awful lot of time,’ comments Liz. ‘And I can’t claim to be an expert on international property law, but if you send it over now, I’ll take a quick look at it.’

‘Thanks Liz, just let me know how much I owe you.’

‘If it’s all straightforward it shouldn’t take me too long. You’re lucky you’ve caught me in the office. Any other day this week and I would have been in court.’

‘Thanks Liz, I really appreciate it.’

Alice puts the phone down just as Lottie is passing her office.

‘Lottie, would you mind asking Matt for a copy of the Japan contract?’ she says, as nonchalantly as she can manage.

‘Yep sure,’ she says breezily.

A few minutes later, Matt pops his head around Alice’s door. ‘I hear you’re after the Japan contract?’ he says. ‘I believe Nathan’s put it in the safe, under lock and key.’

‘Good job I’ve got a key then.’ Alice smiles as she reaches into her desk drawer and throws Matt a small bunch of keys. ‘Would you mind?’

When he brings the contract in, he closes the door behind him.

‘Can I have a word?’

‘Sure,’ says Alice, knowing it’s unlike him to ask. ‘What’s up?’

‘The company credit card has taken some pretty hefty hits recently.’

The news is no surprise to Alice.

‘That’s okay,’ she says. ‘I’ve been hitting it hard with fabrics and furniture for Belmont House. There was some stuff we needed to pay for up front.’

‘Well, that’s the thing,’ he says. ‘I know where we are with Belmont, but it already feels as if the Japan project is running away from me.’

Alice looks at him, her brows knitted. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Large sums are already being spent, mostly with one company, and I understand that we need to be a little organic on this, but I could do with a bit of a heads-up so that I can prepare for whatever’s coming at us over the hill.’

‘There must be some mistake,’ says Alice. ‘I’ve not spent money on anything over there yet. Perhaps a couple of hotel bills and the odd lawyer’s bill, but that’s it.’

Matt scratches at his head. ‘That’s not going to have busted through our twenty-grand limit.’

‘Twenty grand?’ exclaims Alice. ‘We couldn’t possibly have spent that kind of money.’

‘We have, and most of it has gone to a company called Visions. Do you know who they are?’

Alice shakes her head. ‘Have you spoken to Nathan?’

Matt nods. ‘I mentioned it when the balance reached ten thousand and a couple of times since, but he said everything was fine and that the payments were all accounted for. But now we’re at our limit, there’s nowhere for us to go.’

‘Might our credit card have been cloned or something like that? It definitely sounds as if there’s been a breach somewhere. Can you check it out?’

‘Sure. I’ll find out what’s going on and report back.’ He offers a tight smile and turns to leave Alice’s office.

She flicks through the contract that he leaves with her, but without speaking lawyer language, it’s double-Dutch. She can’t see any anomalies, but scans a copy straight over to Liz for her to check.

I’m popping to the bank reads a text from Nathan and Alice instinctively walks over to the window.

So why do you need your car? she wonders, as she watches him hurry towards it, peering around furtively before sliding behind the steering wheel.





42


Alice watches through the windscreen as Nathan types something into his phone. There’s an uncomfortable sensation rising up from her toes, and as much as she tries to shrug it off, she just can’t shake it.

As he reverses out of the parking space, Alice grabs her keys and bolts down the stairs. She wants to know, once and for all, what the hell he’s up to.

She keeps her distance as his car manoeuvres its way through the mid-morning traffic, heading out of town.