Jake stood up, his face now serious. ‘I love you, Sharon, but don’t forget how you live, and where. How many credit cards and accounts you have at some of the best shops in London. All that is down to his cockeyed plans, as you put it, that he comes up with in the shower. On top of that, he may not be my blood, but he’s my big brother, and he’s always looked after me.’

Sharon pouted and looked apologetic. Jake was right. Most of the way they lived was down to Tony. He had done all the planning and taken most of the chances. He had put his life on the line many times.

‘Sorry, Jake, it’s just that we don’t need to keep striving for more, we have everything anyone could possibly want already. Why does Tony always reach for the stars when the moon will do?’ She raised her hand and stroked Jake’s face. She knew Jake was very protective of Tony, he always had been and he wouldn’t hear a word said against him.

‘That’s okay, love.’ He smiled at her, and took hold of her hand and kissed her palm. ‘It’s just that Tony feels this is the time when we need to keep our eye on the ball. All the other bosses, who I may say didn’t have half as much as we do, stopped worrying about their business deals. They felt they had done enough and that was how it all started to go wrong. It’s easy getting to the top, Sharon, the trick is staying there.’

Sharon nodded. She could see Jake’s point, but over recent months they seemed to have worked themselves into the ground, sorting out the clubs and the casino. ‘Why don’t you and Tony go on holiday for a few days? Get away from it all; you deserve it. Ashley and Mathers are looking after the men’s club and so, may I add, am I. Graham is more than capable of looking after the casino, and of course the accountant is there to look after us all.’

‘Wouldn’t you like to come away with me? Just us, some sun, sand and time for ourselves. We haven’t had a lot of that, lately.’

Jake’s eyes were full of love for Sharon, they always were. She had been patient, in fact very patient, especially lately, taking a back seat while he sorted out the business with Tony. She was a good woman and an even better wife.

‘Go and see Miriam in Italy. Tony hasn’t been there for a long time. You and I will go away soon, just us, together. I’ll look forward to it.’ She leaned forward and kissed him, and suddenly they were kissing passionately. This was the most intimate they had been in a long time. Tony didn’t care about intimacies, he enjoyed playing the field. Easy come, easy go.

Sharon started undoing the buttons on her blouse. ‘Come and help me check something out in the office. I hear there’s a large Chesterfield sofa in there.’ She walked around to Jake’s side of the bar and took his hand. It wasn’t perfect making love on a sofa in the office, but at least it was making love.