For Your Own Protection(48)

Matt took a sip. ‘He didn’t tell you what happened?’

‘No, he didn’t. I thought maybe that’s why you wanted to see me.’

It seemed inconceivable that Gabriel wouldn’t have reported back, as they worked so closely together, but Sean genuinely didn’t seem to know. In a way that was a pity, as Matt didn’t particularly want the revelation to dominate their conversation.

‘I told Gabriel I wanted to leave the company.’

‘What?’ And now there was no doubt. Sean’s stunned reaction was not playacting. Mouth open, it actually looked as though the colour had drained from his face. He took a couple of seconds to gather his thoughts, and even then all he could manage was a disbelieving shake of the head. He gulped back some of his beer.

Matt felt the need to explain. ‘I didn’t really plan what I said, it just came out. And when it did, I realised it was what I wanted to do. I want to be a teacher. I don’t want to work for UGT anymore – I don’t want to work in banking anymore.’

Sean still seemed lost for words. ‘I can’t believe it,’ he said finally. ‘I really can’t believe it.’

Matt shrugged. ‘It’s fine. I feel totally fine about my decision.’

‘What did Gabriel say?’

‘Not very much. To be honest, I can’t remember much. It took the shine off the meal though.’

‘Shit,’ Sean said, as if to himself. ‘You do realise you’re not a Carla Conway, don’t you?’

‘How d’you mean?’

‘I mean, she left the industry, moved across to do something deemed more morally commendable. But she was a big beast, Matt. She can walk back into the boardroom of any number of big City companies, or anywhere around the world. If she gets bored or frustrated in the health service, which she probably will do, then there’ll be more than a welcome-back handshake for her. But for you, there’s no going back. Do you really understand that?’

‘I can’t see myself wanting to go back.’

‘Yes, but what I’m saying is, you go through with this and you won’t have a choice. You won’t be able to come back into the industry, anywhere. Sure, you could set yourself up as an accountant, do some tax returns for little people, but you’ll never get back to where you are now. He won’t allow it.’

‘You mean Gabriel?’

‘Yes, I mean Gabriel. He likes you, Matt, a lot. He really had your back during all your problems. If it wasn’t for him, you probably wouldn’t now have the chance to throw the opportunity back in his face.’

‘Now hang on—’

‘Can you imagine just how angry Gabriel must be? He put his neck on the line for you, backed you, and for nothing.’

‘To be honest, he seemed to take it a lot better than you are,’ Matt shot back. He was taken aback by the strength of Sean’s reaction. Couldn’t his friend just be happy for him and wish him luck?

Obviously not.

‘Gabriel wouldn’t have wanted to give you the satisfaction of knowing how annoyed he was,’ Sean said. ‘But I know how he’ll be feeling. And he’ll make sure you never work at the top of this business again. You know his contacts. Even our competitors will toe the line if he sends out a message not to employ you.’

‘I think you’re overestimating his influence.’

‘You think? I’ve seen it before. Everyone who’s ever crossed him is now out on their arse.’

Matt shrugged. ‘As I said, I won’t want to come back. Can’t you just be happy for me, Sean? I’m finally doing something I really want to do. After all the problems over the past couple of years, I’m starting to feel good about myself again.’

Sean looked at him. ‘Yes, I can tell,’ he said, softening. ‘Look, Matt, I don’t mean to come across as a UGT fanboy, wanting to rain on your parade. I just want to make sure you don’t do something you might regret, because I care about you. I’m just doing the big brother thing.’

‘I know. And I’m sorry about walking out the way I did the other day. The business with Beth and Charlie and Australia, it’s just very, very difficult for me.’

‘I know, mate, I know. To be honest, the thought of my sister and Charlie being on the other side of world hurts like hell, so I can’t imagine how you must be feeling.’

‘I have this feeling of dread,’ Matt explained. ‘Every time I think about it, it just makes me sick in the base of my stomach.’

‘I’m sorry, Matt. If there was anything I could do, I would. But I can’t interfere, I really can’t. It’s just not my place.’

Matt considered what he was about to reveal, and whether that might change things. ‘I understand. As much as I’d like you to beg Beth not to go, I know you can’t do that.’

There was a pause as the understanding between them sank in.

Matt took a metaphorical deep breath. ‘The main reason I wanted to meet you, it’s about Catherine. You remember I told you about the man in the pub?’

‘What, the guy who said she wasn’t who she said she was?’

‘Yes. I went back to the place and found him. He told me she worked for an agency that caught out men who were cheating on their partners. Two years ago, he was caught out by her – she was paid by the man’s wife, who’d suspected he’d been cheating on her with other women for a while.’