‘I guess that was his idea. Something like that. I never followed how all his deals and his businesses worked. I only know that he either has a lot of money or none at all.’

‘Be careful, Grace,’ Andy said as they walked across the garden at the front of the hotel. ‘It sounds to me like he was trying to cash in on your goodwill with the family here, and he might be feeling desperate if this latest ploy didn’t work out. But as we know, you don’t mess with the Pangisars.’

Grace shrugged. ‘I’ve realised that Lawrence isn’t a good judge of whether or not people can see through him and his plans. I don’t think he reads people well.’

‘I think you’re right.’ Andy gave her shoulder a comforting squeeze. ‘Let me know how things go, okay? Come on, you and I have a lot of work to do.

*

There was a certain energy and buzz around the place as word spread of Johnny’s coup in booking Bruno Mars for the grand opening. Steve, Henry, Mateo and the production boys were already in the bar area when Grace and Andy walked over.

Grace noticed that Rosie was sitting beside Steve, showing him something on her phone. In a minute everyone was clustered around her, watching a video clip of Bruno Mars singing and dancing to ‘Uptown Funk’.

Steve turned and saw Grace and made room for her to sit down, but she shook her head.

‘It’s okay. I can see from here,’ she said, her voice flat, and she realised that Steve must have noticed because he stood up straight away.

‘What’s worrying you?’ he asked quietly, standing next to her.

She shrugged. ‘Do I look worried? Apart from this big job getting bigger?’ Even to her own ears she sounded petulant. What was wrong with her?

‘Yes. You gave me such a cool look just then. Is it to do with Lawrence? Is he butting into your life again? Don’t let him put you off us blokes.’

Grace suddenly felt limp. ‘That’s part of it, yes. He’s been trying to pull the Pangisars into a shady deal of some kind. I’m just fed up.’

‘Bad move. Oh Grace, I’m sorry you’re having such a hard time.’

‘It’s more than that. He says he’s going to find somewhere to live – possibly in Singapore, maybe even London; he never says anything concrete – and he wants Daisy to live with him.’

‘That’d be laughable if it wasn’t so transparent. He’s stirring you up.’ Steve dropped his arm around her shoulders. ‘It’s incredibly complicated to get permits and visas to live and work in Asia. And you need a fat bank balance, which I guess he doesn’t have.’