‘If I get one, I’ll leave straight away without a fuss. I won’t drag your name through the dirt. I won’t tell everyone what a bastard you are and I won’t go to the board with lurid tales of your misconduct.’

His adversary smiled tightly. ‘I won’t be blackmailed, Jake.’

‘Oh, and I won’t tell your wife either.’ Jake returned his smile.

‘I’ll get Annabelle to forward one to you.’

‘I don’t want Annabelle to do it. I want you to do it,’ Jake said. ‘And I want you to do it now.’

Alec reluctantly sat at his desk. ‘This is out of order.’

‘I think you should know all about that.’

Alec’s fingers were poised over his keyboard.

‘I’ll tell you what to write.’

‘Now wait just a minute…’

‘To whom it may concern,’ Jake dictated.

Pursing his lips unhappily, Alec typed.

Jake stood up and paced the floor, US lawyer–style, ‘Mr Jake Swift has been a valued and talented member of our team for many years….’

Alec glanced up at him. Snorted and then typed again.

Jake continued, ‘His vision and originality are unsurpassed in the world of advertising.’

His boss could hardly bring himself to do it. Jake felt his lips twitch as he watched Alec’s fingers clenched tightly over the keys. Serves the bastard right.

‘His conduct and demeanour have always been exemplary.’ Jake winked at him. ‘More than we can say for some members of staff, hey?’

Alec fumed silently.

‘We are desperately sorry to lose him. Desperate is d-e-s-p…’

‘I can spell “desperate”,’ Alec said tersely and bashed away.

‘Mr Swift would make a fine addition to any team.’

Alec snarled. He finished typing, hit the print button and, with a few clunks and a whirr, a copy came out of the printer in the corner of the office. Alec strode over to the printer and snatched the copy out.

‘Sign it,’ Jake said.

Alec’s hand shook with rage as he did so. He handed the reference over to Jake.

‘Thanks.’ Jake gave it the once-over, folded the paper carefully and slipped it inside his jacket pocket.

‘Is that all?’ Alec snapped.

‘No,’ Jake said. ‘There’s just one last thing.’

He cannoned his fist into Alec’s chin with as much force as he could manage. His boss reeled in shock before his knees buckled and he slithered peacefully to his shag pile carpet. Jake rubbed his knuckles. That was unbelievably painful, but it felt very, very good. He smiled to himself.

‘Thanks, Alec,’ he said as he stepped over his inert form and walked towards the door. ‘Thanks for everything.’

Chapter sixty

Chapter sixty