Page 85 of Be More Capybara

‘What type of car?’

‘A BMW Z4 Roadster convertible in red.’

Madison muttered ‘pathetic’ under her breath, but loud enough for the whole room to hear.

Nigel didn’t react.

‘Worth?’ Veronica asked.

‘Definitely worth it.’

‘I meant how much did you pay for it?’

‘£32,375.’

‘And how did you fund that?’

‘By withdrawing the money from the savings account at the top of the list.’

‘Not much left in that account now, then, Nigel.’

He smiled at Madison. ‘Enough for me. I’m not as extravagant as you.’

Chris shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘We need to take a break.’

64

HELEN

‘Helen?’

‘Sorry, Mark. I was miles away.’

He looked sympathetic. ‘In New York, by any chance?’

‘Sort of.’ Wondering how Nigel was getting on with the deposition, which would be starting any time now. And whether there was an alternative explanation for what she was now thinking of as “the other meeting”.

‘Let’s not talk about Nigel,’ she said. ‘I’d prefer to concentrate on today’s launch.’

‘Yeah, let’s do that. Do you think that lamp would be better over by the television?’

‘No, it really is in the correct place. We’re just tinkering now,’ she said, picking up a cushion and changing its angle slightly. ‘I’m sure the journalists won’t care where the lamp is. They’re going to be more interested in the treehouses’ eco credentials, and Adrian’s got that information printed off ready for them to take away. All the work I’ve done is just trivial set dressing.’

‘It’s a lot more than that. These places would look like not-so-glorified sheds on stilts if I’d had to furnish them.’

She gave him a half-hearted smile.

Lucy walked into the room. ‘They’re here!’

‘Come on, Helen,’ Mark said, putting his arm around her. ‘Let’s show them what we’re made of.’

65

NIGEL

Nigel stood outside Madison’s attorney’s offices and let out a huge sigh of relief. Thank God that ordeal was finally over. The second session hadn’t been as stressful as the first thanks to Madison failing to return after the break. She must’ve felt she’d made her point, or Veronica had insisted she leave. But the whole thing had still been mentally and physically exhausting.

He took off his tie, rolled it up and stuffed it in his jacket pocket. A pity he’d checked out of his hotel because the sooner he got out of his old office clothes, the better. They made him feel like someone he wasn’t anymore.