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Ok, so clearly she’s not in on it.

“That will depend on his professional commitments,” Dad says. “Bryce has a demanding position. You know that.”

“So he might not be there? Not even for the after party?”

Dad looks at Christopher, not at me.

“Someone might have to hold the fort at head office. Bryce might well be the man for the job.”

My blood starts to boil. Fuming. It takes everything I have to keep my fake smile in place.

The little girl inside me searching for an explanation goes quiet.

“He is ok, though? Just busy working?”

“Perfectly fine, yes. Very busy working.”

I shove my plate away from me.

“No, he isn’t!”

Dad stops cutting his sea bass. He stares at my discarded dinner.

Christopher looks towards him rather than at me.

“I’m not sure what the hell you’re talking about,” Dad says, but I see the twitch in the corner of his mouth when he speaks.

Damn, Jack taught me how to recognise tells I already know.

“Oh yes, you are, Dad. Yes, you are. You know exactly what I’m talking about.”

“Alice,” Mum says. “Darling, what is going on?”

She looks horrified. Wide eyed, as though I’ve lost my mind.

“Bryce resigned,” I say. “He doesn’t work for Parker Capital anymore.”

Silence fills the room, but nobody looks surprised apart from Mum. Dad and Christopher are statue still.

Dad’s eyes settle on mine. Finally.

“Who the hell told you that?”

Not a denial. Only anger that I know.

“It’s true, then? Bryce resigned?”

“There has been a professional disagreement. We’re going to resolve it, I’m sure.”

“He resigned, didn’t he? Admit it.”

Dad keeps his eyes on me.

“Bryce made a regrettable decision under pressure. Once tempers have settled, there will be an opportunity to discuss it sensibly.”

“You told me he was doing well. You told me he was busy with work!”

Dad’s jaw tightens.