‘It was going to be a surprise for you, like. That is where I wanted us to go, for a while anyway. Imagine it, Donna, owning your own hotel. It’s a real luxury place, all marble floors and colonial décor. That was where I eventually wanted us to end up, see? I wanted to surprise you with it.’

His voice was soft, and as Donna listened to him, the words he spoke were like music to her ears.

‘But what about Lewis, Georgio?’ she persevered.

He grinned. ‘If it’s all up and running, then we can sort him out, can’t we? All right he might have lost out in Bangkok, but at least the Sri Lankan deal is still sound.’

Donna sighed heavily.

‘That fax, Georgio, the one that came a few nights ago. It said there was trouble, government trouble, and that they need help. It was signed “Candy”.’

Georgio refused to let her down him. He needed her to think there were great things happening, and he would make sure she thought it if it was the last thing he ever did.

‘Look, the only trouble they can have with the government now the hotel is built is trouble with backhanders.’ He smiled. ‘Oh, don’t go all moral on me again, that’s the way of the world out there, love. Everything comes down to who knows who and who can pay the most. Come to think of it, it’s pretty much the same as here, eh?’

Donna smiled with her husband. ‘But I thought it had all fallen out of bed . . .’

Georgio sat up straight in his chair and said seriously, ‘Fallen out of bed? That’s a Coxism if I ever heard one.’ He laughed then, a harsh sound. ‘You’re turning into a Cockney, girl. I’ll have to knock that out of you once we’re on the outside.’

Donna didn’t laugh at Georgio’s quip and he grabbed her hand tightly. ‘I was only joking, love.’

‘I should think so as well. You ever raise your hand to me, Georgio, and you’ll get the shock of your life. Go on - you ask Alan Cox what I’m like these days. I threw a glass of water in his face!’

She was gratified to see Georgio’s jaw drop several inches in amazement.

‘You what?’

Donna grinned. ‘Honestly, we had an argument. Oh Georgio, he can be the most obnoxious man! Anyway, I lost my rag and chucked a glass of water in his face. We were in a restaurant in Scotland; he was soaked.’

Georgio shook his head in amazement. ‘My God, if anyone said you would ever do anything like that to me, I’d refuse to believe it. But to Alan Cox! What did he do?’