• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

By Root 379 0

his hands against the cold window and leant his forehead against it, closed his eyes. Never had he felt so vulnerable or alone. He rolled his forehead over the glass. The more he thought about things, the less he understood. He had done as Mia had said and he stayed at home sorting his father’s papers. He stood alone in his apartment surrounded by the piles of communications from solicitors and accountants. On the table was the original deed to the Mansions. It had been amongst the last of the papers to be delivered to him. Victoria Chan was right, they had several shared interests whether Mann wanted it or not. He could see why she and CK wanted him on board so badly. His father had made some shrewd investments.

He picked up his phone and dialled a number.

‘Hello stranger,’ a deeply accented Dutch voice answered.

‘Hello Alfie. Sorry, meant to keep in touch but you know how it is–work took over. How are things? How is Jake?’ Alfie took his time answering. ‘Is he there?’

‘No. He is not here much now. I think he is not coping well. We all miss Magda more than I can say.’ Mann bowed his head and listened. He knew Alfie was choked. He knew just how Jake felt. He felt it too.

‘She was a brave woman, Alfie.’

‘Yes.’ Mann could hear Alfie dragging on a joint.

‘What is going on with Jake?’

Alfie sighed. ‘I don’t know. He is drinking, taking drugs. He is getting out of my reach. He stays away for days. He doesn’t want to go to university in October any more. I have tried to talk to him about Burma, about what happened but he will not.’

‘You have to give him time, Alfie. He’ll be all right.’

‘I hope so, Johnny. I hope so. He needs his family.’

Mann showered and dressed. He couldn’t think in the flat. He had to get out. He had already drunk enough to render most people unconscious but the alcohol had little effect. He walked across the shopping mall and down to the MTR station, getting on the first train that came.

Chapter 81

Ruby waited until she saw Mann leave. She smiled sweetly at the doorman who was sitting behind his front desk. He got up to let her in. It was a different man than last time. He wouldn’t have remembered Ruby anyway, but they changed buildings on a rota and she hadn’t seen this man before. ‘Sorry, I’ve forgotten my key.’ He looked at her and hesitated. She felt in her bag for her purse and discreetly handed him two hundred Hong Kong. ‘Silly me. I’m so forgetful. I hope you don’t mind?’

‘No, no, of course, miss, please come in.’ He was delighted with the generosity of her tip. She took the floor up to Mann’s apartment and let herself in. She gently closed the door behind her. She opened her bag. She had a special surprise to leave Mann this time. This would really freak him out. She looked at her watch; she hadn’t time to stop longer. She had much to achieve before the night was over.

Chapter 82

Mann stood in the stark light of the carriage holding on to the handrail. He felt as if every person in the carriage was staring at him. He felt that he was falling off the end of the world.

He walked into the Cantina. Miriam was talking to someone: a European, a businessman, by the look of him, he wasn’t a local. He was Miriam’s type; tall, fifty-ish, a hint of Cary Grant about him. Mann listened to her laughter, it filled the bar. He smelt her perfume. He watched the curve of her waist, the smoothness of her dress as it rounded her hip.

She came over. Mann looked over to see her friend putting on his jacket.

‘Hello, Miriam. Thought we might pick up where we left off the other night.’

He saw the look in her eyes as she stared deep into his, then he realized the rules had changed.

‘Not tonight, Johnny. I have a date.’ The European was waiting for her.

‘Okay. No problem but, if you change your mind,’ he smiled, ‘there’s always a place for you on my pillow.’

She kissed his cheek. She turned back to smile at him at the door. He knew she was waiting for him to say something else. She wanted more from him. He understood, the way he always did, that their relationship had run its course. She was