Don’t make me come up! Car park 15 mins? Love you xxxB

‘That’s my girl,’ he said. Give me 25, he texted back.

Dan and Arun strolled the gravelled paths of the parterre, past statuary and urns, like characters in a TV costume drama, except neither he nor Arun fitted the profile of that bleached and fetishised past. Quietly, Arun laid out the terms of Griff’s proposed agreement, in all its watertight safety. Paligny would stay in the company name – which was Elven, as it turned out.

‘Elven? That’s kind of cute,’ said Dan.

‘Yes, isn’t it? Whimsical.’

Elven owned the Hotel Paligny. It would be months before anyone followed the paper trail to Cayman, and, when it was, ‘So what?’ said Dan.

‘Exactly,’ said Arun. ‘You would own Paligny, it’s hardly a crime.’

‘So it’s all just to keep Griff’s finances from being investigated?’ said Dan.

‘Griff has nothing to hide,’ said Arun.

‘So he always says.’

‘It’s very boring and expensive to be audited.’

‘What does it involve, anyway? Changing names on the deed, overwriting details?’

‘It’s not your problem.’

Dan stopped walking, and looked out at the hills and vineyards, and then up at the hotel, then back to Arun’s expectant face.

‘Sorry, no. Bea wouldn’t like this. Thanks and everything, but that’s it.’

‘That’s good,’ said Arun.

‘Good?’

‘I’m always wary of involving family members,’ said Arun. ‘I’ve told him before.’

‘So, you don’t need me?’ said Dan.

Arun gave a laugh at the idea. ‘No, no, we’re fine, thank you.’

‘So, why ask?’

‘Why? Isn’t it obvious to you? Griff worries about Bea. He hoped she might enjoy the money. She’s such a stubborn girl.’

‘Wait,’ said Dan, ‘the money?’

‘It is all by the by, now.’ Arun checked his watch. ‘She’s waiting for you, I think.’

He held out his hand, but Dan didn’t shake it. He tried, but couldn’t think of another way to phrase it. ‘What kind of money?’ he asked.

‘As nominal CEO of Elven?’ said Arun.

‘Yes.’

‘There’d be a token salary, obviously.’

‘So, what is a nominal CEO’s token salary? Out of interest.’

‘Oh, gosh, maybe a hundred and fifty a year. Something in that area.’