Unimpressed by his tone, she walked into her office, ignoring him, but hoping he would follow so that she could sit on her office chair that was higher than the one opposite and take up her position as head of her business and conduct it in a way her father would have done.

Mike followed and sat down, just as she planned. It worked a treat. She definitely had the height advantage. She leaned back and raised her eyebrow. ‘Why do you want to know, Mike?’

He realized she was playing the tough cow and rolled his eyes. ‘For fuck’s sake, Zara. Stop being so bloody stubborn, will you? Look, I know what you saw after the party, but it wasn’t like that. I was drunk, I fell asleep, and that little tart did likewise on the other sofa, end of. She had nothing to do with me!’

Zara stared at him silently, with those copper, catlike eyes peering impassively. She knew she’d got right up Mike’s nose.

‘Come on, Zara. You know me better than that. Look, I’ve left you to have time to yaself, but, seriously, do you think I would be with some tart when I’m engaged to you?’

‘Mike, you said you were here on business, so what do you want?’

Mike jutted out his jaw, and, like Zara, he leaned back on his chair. ‘All right, Zara, fine. I think the Lanigans are taking you for a right mug. They are peddling drugs right under your nose.’

A sudden laugh left her mouth. It made Mike flare his nostrils. ‘And what’s so fucking funny about that?’

‘Mike, my restaurants have been used to supply cocaine for years, but surely you knew that? I know while you were inside you had a lot on ya mind, but you knew about the Italians.’

Mike shook his head. ‘Of course, I fucking knew. I ain’t deaf or blind. I’m not talking about cocaine, I’m talking about this new drug called Flakka. It’s being flogged from an ice-cream van opposite the Pomodorra.’

Zara’s eyes narrowed. ‘Well, my restaurants are all closing down. The managers have been terrorized by some gang, so they’ve fucked off back to Italy.’

Mike frowned. ‘You never said. Christ, what the fuck’s been going on?’

‘A lot, Mike, a bloody lot. So, if you don’t mind, I have much to sort out.’

Just as Mike was about to quiz her, there was another loud knock at the door. She looked across at the security monitor. ‘Sorry, Mike. Would you excuse me? I have a meeting.’

‘What? Who with?’