Page 345 of Double or Nothing

A woman answers on the third ring.

“Good evening. How may I help you?”

“Hello.” I clear my throat. “I was wondering whether Jack Reid is in tonight.”

“May I ask who’s calling?”

Shit.

“It’s Harry… from Rouletto Lighting Services.”

“Sure, Harry. One moment, please. I’ll find out.”

Soft music plays as she puts me on hold.

Rouletto Lighting Services? What the actual fuck?

I pace between the coffee table and Alice’s red painting until the phone picks back up again.

“Yes, Harry, Mr Reid is here tonight. Would you like me to put you through?”

My pulse leaps.

“No! No, thank you.”

“Ok. Would you like to leave a message?”

“No. Please don’t tell him I called.”

I hang up and almost laugh at the absurdity of what just happened there. Jack would be pissing himself if he heard that bollocks of a concoction.

But it achieved what it needed to.

I know Jack is at the casino tonight.

I change twice as I get ready, shaking like a leaf as I picture walking into the place he owns and trying to find him.

The first suit feels too much like Parker Capital. The second feels as though I’m trying too hard, dressing up for a royal wedding.

I settle on dark trousers, a pale shirt and a navy jacket with a matching tie. It takes me an age to get my hair to behave with trembling fingers.

The cab takes me to Mayfair. My nerves increase with every turn, zipping like livewires in my stomach.

What if he’s stopped giving me space and found someone new to fill his?

What if he thinks I’m nothing but a stupid prick who didn’t even give him the respect to read his messages?

I am.

I was.

I could still bail and go back home to work on another round of message attempts, since that option seems a lot less terrifying. But why should I? Jack reached into silence five times. He opened himself up to rejection, took ghosting on the chin five times over, and still put a kiss at the end.

I can damn well cross London for him and present my own message in person. It’s the very least I can do.

Should do.

I’ve looked up The Argent online before, but it’s always different seeing somewhere in the flesh.