‘You bitch, you fucking bitch of hell.’

Taking back his arm he slapped her across the face, sending her flying across the office on to the desk. The inkwell crashed to the floor. In the silence, Briony pulled herself to her feet.

‘I’ve tried, Briony, to be a good man to you. I’ve put up with things off you another man would have scalped your arse for, and this is how you repay me, is it? Well, we’re finished, girl, after tonight. I know exactly where I stand now, don’t I? We’ll sort out the pennies and halfpennies another day. For now, I have to get as far away from you as possible.’

Briony went to him, her eyes beseeching.

‘Tommy, Tommy, listen to me ... I didn’t mean it.’

He held up his hands.

‘Don’t touch me, Bri. Not now, not ever again. You’ve finished anything we ever had between us. You always had the gift of the gab, didn’t you? Talked us in and out of every situation. Well, you talked yourself out of me! I sat back today while you talked me out of five grand, lady. I’ve always listened to you, let you have your head, and all the time you had no more feeling for me than a mad dog. Talk about a fucking eye opener, eh! Get out of me way.’

Briony held on to him, grabbing the sleeve of his jacket.

‘Let go of me, Bri, or I’ll knock you out, I mean it.’

She held on harder, beginning to cry now.

‘Please, Tommy! I never meant it, any of it, I was hurt!’

Putting the flat of his hands on her chest, he pushed her with all his considerable strength. She flew backwards against the wall, the force knocking the breath from her body. She crumpled down on to the floor, her back aching with the blow.

‘Good night, love. See you around.’

She was crying hard now.

‘Tommy, I’m begging you ...’

He looked down at her and laughed.

‘I’ve got to hand it to you, Bri, you never did know when to give up, did you? Your big trap will still be moving when they put you in the ground.’

He walked from the office and Briony sat on the floor and cried bitter lonely tears.

Tommy walked from the club and out into the evening air. He pushed his hands down into his pockets and walked quickly towards the East End, his motor car left behind.