Josephine Dighby is Peter’s daughter and the apple of his eye. Peter was widowed many years ago and he used to bring Josephine to visit at Heaven’s Gate, our estate in Hampshire, when my family retired there during the summer months. He worked closely with my father and our estate is huge, so Peter was always welcome to bring his girl with him. We used to play as kids, but after I left home I had limited interaction with her. But I remember her as a gentle and lively girl.

A strange look passes between Peter and Lydia at my question. Is there something I ought to know about Josephine and have forgotten? Or is it that my imagination runs rather too high because of my memory loss?

Before Peter replies, my cell phone buzzes with a text. It’s from Jonathan.

Meet me at my estate in Scotland the day after. The project is getting delayed and I can’t wait any longer. So far, your team has failed to impress me. I’ve yet to see if you can. If not then I’ll find someone else.

Damn! If it were anyone else, I’d have asked him to fuck off. But it’s Jonathan and I know he’s hurting and that’s why he is pushing me, taunting me to retaliate. I check my anger and go through my schedule on my phone. Thankfully, it’s clear for the day Jonathan has proposed.

I’ll be there at ten am, I reply back.

I turn to Peter. “Sorry, what were we talking about?” I ask him, my mind still on Jonathan. Since I am going to visit his estate, it’s perhaps a good idea to find out what exactly he’s looking for and to talk to him and sort things between us.

Peter and Lydia are both silently observing me. “Sorry, where were we?” I ask again.

“Lydia will get back to you with a list of merchants with whom we’ll have to increase business to fulfill our diamond stock now. I will revert on the cost impact of this new decision of yours. It’ll have a substantial brunt on the profits. At least twenty percent from what I can guess, maybe even more. I’ll also show you a list of all payments made as soon as they’re done.”

“Do it, Peter. I don’t care about the profit loss,” I tell him. I fix my attention on the first email in my inbox after Peter and Lydia exit my office.

Damien

IT’S DARK OUTSIDE THE window when I finally lift my head from my laptop screen. The whole day has gone by working here at Annette & Co. I roll my shoulders and suppress a yawn, deciding to call it a day.