For Your Own Protection(10)
‘So, how about it?’
Matt hesitated. The King of the City wouldn’t have been his first choice for a meeting place.
‘There shouldn’t be anyone from the bank there,’ Sean said, interpreting the silence correctly. ‘And if there is, they’ll know better than to disturb us. Especially with my serious business face on.’
Matt couldn’t help but smile. ‘Okay. See you at three.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
Sean was sitting at the far end of the pub, and had already ordered two pints of Guinness. He raised a hand as he spotted Matt.
‘Told you it would be UGT-free.’ Sean smiled, as Matt took the chair opposite. Sean took a sip from his pint and let out a satisfied sigh. ‘Hey, I was wondering if you fancy going out tonight for a few drinks with some of the lads.’
‘You not going to the casino?’
‘Nah. Taking a break for a while.’ Sean clamped his hands behind his head and reclined, as if he was sunning himself on a beach.
‘I’m teaching.’
Sean was aghast. ‘A class on a Saturday night? That’s harsh in the extreme – for all concerned.’
‘It’s a one-off, to make sure we get through the syllabus before the exam.’
‘Maybe next time then,’ Sean offered.
‘Yeah, maybe.’ As much as Matt was planning to return to the company in the near future, he still felt some reticence about diving back into the UGT social circle.
Matt took a look around. ‘Just promise me, if you see Gabriel, warn me so I can hide.’
‘Oh?’
Gabriel O’Connell, Matt’s senior line manager and the head of fund management, was on the board of the company.
‘He left a voicemail a few days ago, inviting me to come and see him to discuss returning to work.’
Sean sat back upright, confused. ‘But that’s great. Isn’t it?’
‘Yes.’
‘You don’t sound convinced.’
‘No, I am convinced. But I haven’t got back to him yet. I feel bad about it, and I don’t want to see him face to face without having had a chance to reply.’
‘You haven’t had a chance?’
‘Okay, yes, I have had a chance, but . . . Oh, I don’t know – he called in the middle of the evening class I teach.’
‘You do still want to come back, though, don’t you? You’d be a big loss, Matt.’
‘I don’t know about that.’
‘Don’t undersell yourself. With your results, you’re worth a lot to the company.’
‘Is that what it’s all about? The money? Don’t you ever wonder, though, if there might be more to life?’
‘Like what?’
‘Helping other people?’
‘You mean like sick animals and children? That sister of yours, has she finally got to you? Is the teaching going that well? You’re getting me worried here.’
‘You don’t need to worry. But yes, it’s going really well. I think I’ll really miss it.’
‘Rather you than me. Are you sure you’re not going to do a Carla Conway on us?’
‘I don’t think so.’
Carla Conway had been an executive director of UGT. Tipped for a prestigious move to their global headquarters in New York, Carla had shocked the company by announcing her departure to take up the position of chief executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Hospital Trust.
‘Now, tell me about Catherine. What happened? You broke it off?’
‘Kind of. Well, neither of us actually said it was over, but I think it’s over.’
‘Clear as mud.’
‘It’s a lot less clear than that. You know how I thought she might have been following me?’
‘Not this again.’
‘Now I think she may have been using a false name.’
Sean looked sceptical.
‘I know you think I’ve got a paranoid streak,’ Matt said, ‘but while we were in the pub having lunch, some guy accosts me in the toilets.’
‘Whoa . . .’
‘Not like that. This guy, he said that Catherine wasn’t who she said she was. Said she’d ruined his life. And that if I didn’t do something, I’d be in trouble.’
‘Wow. So what did you do?’
‘I asked her if it was true. She didn’t deny it. But she didn’t say it was true, either. She just said she had to leave. Pretty much ran off.’
‘You’ve not spoken to her since?’
‘No. I thought I might give her a bit of time.’
‘False name . . .’ Sean shook his head at the thought. ‘Sounds a bit fanciful. Why would someone do that?’
‘Maybe if they were having an affair. Wanted to keep their identity secret.’
‘Yes, I suppose.’ Sean thought some more. ‘The guy who told you, you believe him?’
‘Not at first. He was drunk. But then, the way Cather— the way she reacted, I’m not sure.’
‘You accused her of lying, of pretending to be someone else. Maybe she was just upset and angry. It’d be understandable.’
Matt hadn’t really thought of it like that. That kind of reaction would have been reasonable. But she had recognised the man, he was sure of it. Or was he? Now the seed had been planted that he might have jumped to a conclusion, the doubt grew. ‘I’ll call her later. Give her a chance to explain.’