Page 1 of Endgame

ONE

ARIELLA

‘We’re here.’

I look out of the helicopter window as we circle the sprawling estate. From the sky, a spectacular white hotel situated in the middle of the property is gleaming in the sun, surrounded by picturesque cottages scattered through lush greenery, woodland, meadows and lakes. The journey from Boston has been short but the views from the air, as we made our way to Kennebunkport, were indescribably beautiful.

‘Is that a vineyard?’ I ask into my headset microphone, pointing.

‘Yes,’ Dominic says with a laugh as he leans over to look outside my window. ‘It’s small but still very much working. We’ve got about six acres and yield about twelve tonnes of grapes a year; so about nine thousand bottles. There’s also an orchard, so we make cider too. Farmers’ market stuff. We should go and play in the tasting barn a little later.’

‘Definitely!’ I accept enthusiastically as we start to descend.

When we disembark, we are led across the helipad and through an immaculately trimmed hedged path to the main building. We are then met at the hotel’s imposing wooden doorsby an older gentleman in a sharp, dark grey suit, and taken to meet a radiant lady of roughly the same age.

‘Dominic. You made it! I am so pleased.’ She reaches out to him for an emotional hug.

‘MrsThompson.’ He greets her affectionately as he steps into her arms. It’s nice to see him like this, especially as he almost didn’t make it here for his parents’ ruby anniversary. It’s a long, loving embrace, making it obvious that it has been a while since they have shared one. When they step away from each other, I see MrsThompson give him a warm smile before she straightens up, waiting to be introduced. I find myself straightening too. I know it’s silly, but I want her to like me. When Dominic does nothing, she sighs, steps forward and extends her hand.

‘Hello, Miss. I am MrsThompson, the house manager, and have been since Dominic was an ankle-biter. It seems he’s forgotten his manners and how to introduce people to each other.’

‘Of course, I’m sorry. MrsThompson, this is Ariella, she’ll be staying with us for a couple of days.’

‘Welcome, Ariella. Your bags will be delivered to Dominic’s suite shortly. Let me just check where…’ MrsThompson happily assures me as she reaches for the walkie-talkie clipped on to her waist.

‘I was hoping we could find a cottage for her? It’s only for a couple of days before she heads to Louisiana,’ Dominic asks politely, interrupting a surprised-looking MrsThompson. This is news to her. I’m obviously not the first guest Dominic has hosted here, but clearly I’m the first who has required her own space.

‘Dominic, an email or even a text would have been nice,’ she scolds like a mother speaking to her adored, mischievous child.

‘I’d be more than happy to stay in town and rent a car. It looks impossibly picturesque in this part of the world and I’d quite like to take the opportunity to explore,’ I offer.

‘Oooh, you’re British. Delightful. You will do no such thing, Ariella. It will be my pleasure to find you a cottage.’ MrsThompson looks conspiratorially at Dominic, prompting him to lean into her.

‘The Grahams were supposed to arrive yesterday and haven’t showed up, as usual.Theycan stay in town. Silly me, something must have happened with the room allocation system. I’ll have to get the technical team to take a look at it.’ She winks at him.

‘I really don’t mind—’ I start.

‘Aari, you’re staying. The Grahams are my mother’s cousins. They do this all the time. They insist on staying the week before and after whatever they are invited to, but then just appear for a couple of days; or sometimes don’t turn up at all. They can stay in town.’

‘Also…’ MrsThompson whispers theatrically as she moves closer, ‘the staff are not fans.’

I can’t help laughing. She makes it easy to imagine some of the trouble she and Dominic must have caused and covered up over the years.

‘Thank you.’

‘You are welcome, Ariella. If you’ll excuse me, I’m just going to move a few guests around so that you’re in one of the cottages closest to the house. Something I would have done ifsomeonehad sent a message in advance.’ She tugs the jacket lapel of an apologetic-looking Dominic.

‘I’ll make it up to you,’ he promises.

‘You better. I want dinner in town and a detailed catch-up on the last five years.’

‘Done.’

‘I’ve missed you. Come here.’ MrsThompson pulls Dominic into another indulgent hug and it’s clear from his submission that he has missed her too.

‘Right. Would you like to wait for your cottage allocation first or would you like to join the family now?’

I can tell her question is loaded. ‘Is Max with everyone?’ Dominic asks.

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