Page 30 of Scars of Silk

“Hi,” I say, smiling bright, as I step up to my father and kiss him on his cheek. He rises to meet me and pulls me into a hug.

“Good drive up?” He knows I’m still in Brighton. Where does he get his information?

“Yes, I’m glad to get back up here. It’s nice being in my home again and not in hotels.” Oh, the lies.

I turn to the fair-haired man at Dad’s side. He has changed little. He’s still slimy looking, but his flesh has rounded—too much. Soft wrinkles etch across his skin, and he is wearing a truly awful outfit.

Now this is the Scott Harrington I remember.

When we were at Uni, and while most of us—especially those of us who were just as likely be papped as called to a lecturer's office—tried to fit in, Scott always paraded around like he was about to tee off and play eighteen holes. The guy is a prize dick.

“Sienna, so wonderful to see you again after all these years.” He leans in and kisses my cheek. His aftershave is excessive and strong and there’s a tingle of whisky in the air, so I assume he and dad have had a pre-dinner drink or two.

“Wonderful, wonderful, how fabulous to see you.” I say what my dad wants to hear and smile at Scott, although my fingers twitch with the need to stab my eyes out.

On closer inspection, he has changed. His skin has mottled, red almost in places, despite the fact he must only be thirty-ish. He’s a banker though, and they all like to drink too much. Work hard, drink hard. It’s the bankers code. That and be a wanker.

Now that would have made Dan laugh…

Bloody, fuck. Stop it!

“I hear you are working for old Fairclough?” Scott takes my arm, claiming me as his own already. Dad is oblivious as I glare at him, his smile wide, almost clapping Scott on the back in a congratulatory—she hasn’t punched you yet way—as he moves towards the decanters on the sideboard and pours me a sherry without even asking me what I want. I take the glass, but then put it back down again without taking a sip. He doesn’t even notice.

“I do occasional work for Elijah.” I smile.

“And you never became a lawyer yourself?”

And here it is…

“No, I never felt the need,” I reply, making sure my smile is a small as humanly possible. Dad walks up and puts a heavy arm around my shoulders.

“She’s never quite utilised her full potential. She needs a good man to show her the way.”

Where is a bucket for me to puke in?

I’m going to kill him.

Mother’s face is frozen into a masked smile while Scott looks at me like he hasn’t eaten since I last saw him a decade ago; although clearly he has, because his spread around the middle of his buttoned shirt is considerable.

“I don’t know about that, Dad. I’m pretty happy making my own way.”

“Ah, but look, you could be as happy as your mother.”

Is he taking the piss? I cast a glance sideways at him, but he seems pretty serious. This is what he does though. It’s all a pretence. Everything about the Richards family is a pretence, a lie, so no one can see how fucked up we all are.

I open my mouth to tell him just so when mother’s voice interrupts. “Dinner is ready. Shall we step through to the dining room?”

“Wonderful!” Dad claps his hands together. “Isn’t this just excellent that you two old friends have time to reconnect?”

“Mm.” I glance over at Scott who is nodding and smiling widely. Clearly, he has forgotten that we’ve never been friends at all.

“That was amazing, Mrs Richards, thank you so much.”

Mother nods like she cooked the meal herself. “Thank you, Scott, and please call me Elizabeth.” She’s told him this, many times already but he’s determined to play the “charming” card.

He can charm right off.

“It’s been lovely to see you again. I can’t believe it’s been all these years since graduation.”