The second he opened the door, Neena barged past him and into the house.

‘Neena?’

Tears glistened on her cheeks. Her eyes were bloodshot. She wore a winter coat and leggings with running shoes on her feet. From the bulky coat, her legs looked like twigs that could snap beneath her weight. He hadn’t noticed how frail she was before.

‘You’re a monster,’ she spat, marching down the hallway and shouting over her shoulder.

Richard followed behind her, and was thankful that Samantha was away for the night. Had Neena come any sooner, she might have destroyed everything.

‘It wasn’t my idea,’ he said. ‘I never wanted to hurt you.’

‘Then why did you?’

She looked utterly broken. Tears swelled in her eyes. Her whole body was shaking. He had helped destroy her, and for what? James had wanted money, and he had wanted James. He had concerns about the dark side of James – how could he be so cold to another human being? How could he destroy a woman’s life for money? But his love for him was far greater. Their obsessions had destroyed her, and in the end, Richard feared they would destroy them too.

‘Tell me,’ she said. ‘Tell me why you recorded us having sex and then sent it to my father.’

He looked away. It had been so easy to agree to James’ demands – he made them so well. Somehow he made the most despicable act sound reasonable. He had agreed to seduce her and refused to acknowledge the rest, even when he visibly shook before their intimate encounter and had to close his eyes and think of James to get through it. He had not only helped to destroy Neena’s life, but the lives of her family as well. The guilt surfaced. Tears scratched at his eyes.

‘I didn’t have a choice.’

‘What the hell does that mean?’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘That’s not enough. I’m here to get my ten per cent.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You’re blackmailing my father into giving you fifty thousand pounds at my expense. Because of you I have to move away and start a new life all over again. I want five thousand pounds. Tonight.’

He didn’t have to ponder the thought for even a second.

‘I’ll get my cheque book.’

She hesitated, as though she was surprised that someone who could do something so cruel would help her when asked.

‘You think I trust you not to cancel it before I get a chance to cash it?’

‘I understand why you don’t feel you can trust me, but I’m a man of my word.’

Neena laughed. ‘A man of your word. What about your wedding vows?’

Everything about my marriage was a lie, he thought. Our vows meant nothing. If only you knew.

‘Neena, I am truly sorry. I promise you will receive the money. I’ll go and get my cheque book.’