‘Maybe I have,’ she replied. There was only one thing it could be. She had few secrets from Pat. And Nathan only knew about one of them. Because if he’d found out about the others, she’d already be a dead woman. He would kill her, and he wouldn’t care if there were a dozen witnesses.

‘So what the fuck’s going on? My old man treats you like his daughter. He thinks you’re the second coming. So, what can you have possibly done to make him refuse to see you?’

‘I don’t even know where to start.’

‘Let’s go for a coffee downstairs. And you can start at the beginning.’

‘Later. Right now, I have to be somewhere.’

Michael looked at her with concern. ‘Where are you going?’

‘I’ll be back later,’ she said, ignoring his question.

‘If you’re going to see him, I think I should come with you.’

She shook her head. ‘No. I’m going alone.’

‘Grace, don’t be stupid,’ he pleaded.

‘I said I’ll see you later,’ she said as she walked off down the corridor.

Grace’s stomach bubbled with anger as she climbed into her car. Nathan had gone too far this time. He was poison. He had the exact opposite of the Midas Touch – everything he touched turned to shit. She wasn’t going to let him hurt her or anyone she cared about anymore. She’d wondered whether she really had it in her to end Nathan Conlon – and now she knew.

Grace pulled up outside Nathan’s club. Her heart was hammering in her chest. Her hands trembled. She took a moment to compose herself. She couldn’t show him any weakness.

Walking through the double glass doors of The Blue Rooms, she headed towards Nathan’s office.

‘Do you have an appointment?’ a young brunette in a black miniskirt and purple crop top asked her as she approached the door to Nathan’s office.

‘No,’ she snapped, pushing past her and opening the door.

Nathan looked up as she entered the room. ‘Grace, darling,’ he grinned.

Closing the door behind her, Grace walked over to his desk. ‘You’re a fucking animal,’ she spat.

‘Woah. Is that any way to speak to the man you love?’ he laughed.

‘How could you do it, Nathan?’

‘What are you on about, Grace?’ he said dismissively.

‘Pat Carter. I assume you’re the one responsible for his current situation?’

Nathan shrugged. ‘Can’t believe the old bastard’s still breathing to be honest.’

‘What?’

‘He had it coming, Grace. Trust me. You’re just pissed off because I told him your big secret. And now Pat won’t be your bestest friend anymore,’ he mocked her.

‘Why did you tell him about Tommy?’ she shouted. ‘Why?’