Page 41 of When The Night Falls

I gaped, awestruck. Was I really looking at the legend himself? To what did I owe this honour? I doubted it was normal for a CMD to welcome insignificant trainees like this, so why the special treatment? Was it because I was his son’s flatmate?

‘It’s an honour to meet you, sir,’ I said.

‘Please, call me John.’

‘Then you must call me Cara.’

He smiled crookedly. ‘Theresa told me you were here, so I thought I ought to welcome you myself. It’s a shame we haven’t met till now. I know Jason’s very fond of you.’

‘I’m very fond of him too.’

‘I’m glad to hear that. Anyway, thanks for being motivated to move things around on such short notice. I hope you didn’t have to cancel any plans for the summer.’

‘I’d happily cancel my entire social life for this opportunity, John.’

He chuckled. ‘Then you’ll make an excellent solicitor when the day comes. Are you anxious to start?’ He ushered me past the security gates and toward the lifts.

‘Definitely.’

He put his hand on my back. ‘You’ll fit in perfectly, I’m sure.’

‘I hope so.’

‘How was my son this morning?’ he asked as we entered a lift. He pressed the button for the tenth floor.

‘Groggy, but grateful for the breakfast I served him in bed.’

‘He has mentioned that you’re an excellent chef.’

‘Has he?’ I asked, surprised.

‘Yes. Hasn’t he told you?’

I smiled and shook my head. ‘Must have slipped his mind.’

‘He’s probably just too busy devouring your cooking to think of commenting on it,’ he said amusedly. ‘Wherever he lost his manners, I don’t know, but I’m sure my parenting is free of any blame.’

I laughed, grateful to discover that John was a man with a sense of humour.

‘My office is on the top floor,’ he said, ‘but yours will be on the tenth floor, with the M&A department. That’s where the solicitor you’ll be aiding has got his. If ever there’s anything at all, don’t hesitate to stop by.’

I nodded.

‘You’ll be shadowing my eldest son during your time here, so he’ll be in charge of overseeing your work. He’s a good man, I like to think, and one hell of a solicitor. I couldn’t be prouder of his achievements. Hopefully you’ll learn a great deal from him.’

My eyebrows climbed up my forehead. I would be shadowing Jason’s elder brother? I hadn’t expected that.

‘If he’s your son, I’m sure I will,’ I said sincerely.

The lift stopped at our floor and the doors parted, revealing an open-plan office which closed offices surrounded. The contemporary interior design was dominated by pale colours and looked expensive. Down the corridor on my right, I saw a break room, fitted out with fancy furniture and decorations of various shapes and sizes. Was that huge olive green thing a beanbag?

I noticed a small kitchen then, and my eyes focused on the coffee machine beside the kettle. I would probably be using that a lot.

John put his hand on my back and guided me past the curious eyes of a few future colleagues of mine, then further toward a dark brown door. The office behind it seemed to be rooted in the corner of the building. I wondered what the view from it was like.

John gave me a wink as he raised his hand and gave the door three gentle knocks. ‘He may bark, but he never bites.’

A short, nervous laugh escaped me.

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