Ah. ‘Now there’s a surprise.’ Jason felt his hackles rising.

Karla pushed on. Jason really wished she wouldn’t. ‘I know he can seem aggressive and insensitive sometimes—’

‘Seem?’ Jason balked.

‘Has it ever occurred to you that he might be genuinely trying to help?’

Jason quashed an immediate overwhelming anger. ‘What, by telling me I’m a failure?’ He stared at her, incredulous. ‘Constantly reminding me I’m a disappointment? That helps, Karla. Really, it does.’

‘Jason…’ Dragging her long, tousled hair from her face, Karla sighed in despair. ‘The only one who perceives you as a disappointment is you.’

‘And you’re not disappointed?’ Jason asked, point-blank. ‘Disillusioned with me, with your life, now we’re struggling to make ends meet?’

‘No, I am not. You need to stop doing this, Jason: blaming yourself, worrying yourself silly, refusing to reach out,’ she went on imploringly. ‘Yes, accepting help might mean that you’re not Superman…’

Like Robert Fenton.

‘…but that’s not something to be ashamed of. There are people who are willing to help you. You have to let go of your own expectations of failure, though, and ask for that help.’

Your father’s expectations, Karla. Jason didn’t bother to say it.

Karla looked at the ceiling. ‘Dad wants to help,’ she said, looking back at him. ‘Why won’t you let him?’

She really hadn’t been listening, had she? He did not want to go that route. How many ways could he say it? He might as well be talking to fresh air. Attempting to contain his agitation, Jason searched her face, and was perturbed by what he found there. Had she spoken to him? He narrowed his eyes, his heart dropping as he noted her sudden inability to meet his gaze. She bloody well had. Incredulous, he shook his head. She’d gone ahead and discussed her father loaning him money without telling him? In exchange for what? His soul?

So much for trust in a relationship. Smiling cynically, he quelled a rush of hurt and defeat. ‘Why do you rate him so much?’ He studied her, curious – genuinely so. He got that she was his daughter; that her affection for him might make her blind to his flaws, but she must realise some of what he was like.

‘He’s a bully, Karla,’ he growled, his anger getting the better of him, despite his fervent desire not to allow Fenton to do this to him, ‘a womaniser and a fucking sleazebag.’

Folding her arms, Karla blew out a sigh. She still wasn’t looking at him.

‘Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed his hands straying all over the place whenever an attractive woman comes near him?’ Jason went on. He couldn’t help himself. God only knew how her mother put up with him. If he were Diana, he’d take Fenton for what he could and be out of there like a shot.