Wow. Alicia sounds like a Mafia boss. If I were Bryce, I’d be terrified. But I must say, he doesn’t look remotely scared. He’s gazing back at Alicia as though he can’t figure her out. Then he gives a small, incredulous laugh.

“Jeez, Alicia, are we really doing this?”

A strange little flicker passes across Alicia’s face.

“I don’t know what you mean,” she says, in the most icy Queen Alicia tones I’ve ever heard. “And I would remind you that you are still in the employ of my husband.”

“Sure. Whatever,” says Bryce.

There’s an odd pause, during which no one speaks. I’m trying to work out the vibe. Suze is breathing hard beside me, her fists clenched; Alicia is glaring at Bryce; Danny is watching, agog. But it’s Bryce who isn’t behaving as I expected. He’s not even looking at Suze. He’s still looking appraisingly at Alicia.

“Or maybe…I quit,” he says slowly, and there’s a kind of defiant glint to his eye. “Maybe I’ve had enough of this bullshit.”

“In which case, you will be bound by our confidentiality agreement, as per your contract,” Alicia replies before anyone can speak. “May I remind you that we have a very, very strong legal team?”

Alicia’s tone has got sharper, and the rest of us are exchanging puzzled glances. What’s this got to do with Suze?

“So sue me,” says Bryce, and snaps his gum. “It’s never gonna happen. You’d let all this out into the media?” He spreads his arms wide.

“Bryce!” Alicia exclaims. “Consider your position.”

“I’ve had enough of my ‘position’! You know what, I’m sorry for you poor saps.”

“Sorry for what?” Suze seems to wake up. “Alicia, what’s he talking about?”

“I have no idea,” she returns furiously.

“Oh, please.” Bryce shakes his head. “You are one manipulative woman, Alicia Merrelle.”

“I will not be insulted in this way!” Alicia seems incandescent. “And I suggest that this meeting ends right now. I will be on the phone to my husband, and he will be taking steps—”

“For Christ’s sake!” Bryce sounds at the end of his tether. “Enough already!” He turns and addresses Suze directly. “I’m not in competition with Wilton Merrelle. I’m working for him. Of course I was trying to get money out of you, but it wasn’t for me, it was for the Merrelles.”

There’s a stunned silence. Did I hear that right?

“What?” falters Suze at last, and Bryce gives an impatient sigh.

“Wilton is setting up a rival establishment. He figures if he can fill one Golden Peace center, he can fill two. Only this one will be branded differently. Lower price points. Scoop up all the customers who fell out with Golden Peace and want an alternative. It’s a win-win.” He looks at Alicia. “As you well know.”

I look at Suze, utterly speechless, then turn to Alicia. She’s gone a kind of mauve color.

“You mean…” My mind can’t process all this. “You mean…”

“You mean Wilton Merrelle is behind all of this?” says Danny, his eyes dancing with relish. “So when you targeted Tarquin…”