Page 105 of The First Mistake

Alice goes quiet, trying to find something worthwhile to say, but sensing the unfavourable answer, Liz puts her out of her misery.

‘Okay, so despite Nathan turning up with nothing but the shirt on his back, he can still make a claim on your wealth if you separate.’

Alice winces at the lawyer’s brutal choice of words. ‘So that’s not looking too good for me, then?’

‘It would have been wise to secure your future a little,’ says Liz, ‘whilst you still had the chance. But you were in love and sometimes love is blind.’

Alice can’t help but notice her use of the word ‘were’.Does that mean we aren’t any more?she wonders.I guess that’s why I’m calling her.

‘But I can draw something up to give you more detail if it should get to that stage,’ Liz goes on. Right now, Alice can’t see any chance that it won’t.

‘Thanks,’ she says. ‘But just before you go ... About Japan – Nathan has largely been dealing with the business end of the transaction up until now. We’ve – I’ve – already paid a hundred thousand on exchange, and I’m about to complete this afternoon. I know I’m asking a lot, Liz, but is there any way you could take a quick look at the contract, just so, you know ...’

‘I assume a conveyancing solicitor has read through it before now?’ asks Liz.

‘Well, yes,’ says Alice. ‘My lawyer is based in Japan and he seems happy enough, but as I say, Nathan’s been dealing with that side of things. I would just appreciate you checking it through, especially if I’m going to be on my own, going forward.’

‘You’re not leaving yourself an awful lot of time,’ comments Liz. ‘And I can’t claim to be an expert on international property law, but if you send it over now, I’ll take a quick look at it.’

‘Thanks Liz, just let me know how much I owe you.’

‘If it’s all straightforward it shouldn’t take me too long. You’re lucky you’ve caught me in the office. Any other day this week and I would have been in court.’

‘Thanks Liz, I really appreciate it.’

Alice puts the phone down just as Lottie is passing her office.

‘Lottie, would you mind asking Matt for a copy of the Japan contract?’ she says, as nonchalantly as she can manage.

‘Yep sure,’ she says breezily.

A few minutes later, Matt pops his head around Alice’s door. ‘I hear you’re after the Japan contract?’ he says. ‘I believe Nathan’s put it in the safe, under lock and key.’

‘Good job I’ve got a key then.’ Alice smiles as she reaches into her desk drawer and throws Matt a small bunch of keys. ‘Would you mind?’

When he brings the contract in, he closes the door behind him.

‘Can I have a word?’

‘Sure,’ says Alice, knowing it’s unlike him to ask. ‘What’s up?’

‘The company credit card has taken some pretty hefty hits recently.’

The news is no surprise to Alice.

‘That’s okay,’ she says. ‘I’ve been hitting it hard with fabrics and furniture for Belmont House. There was some stuff we needed to pay for up front.’

‘Well, that’s the thing,’ he says. ‘I know where we are with Belmont, but it already feels as if the Japan project is running away from me.’

Alice looks at him, her brows knitted. ‘What do you mean?’

‘Large sums are already being spent, mostly with one company, and I understand that we need to be a little organic on this, but I could do with a bit of a heads-up so that I can prepare for whatever’s coming at us over the hill.’

‘There must be some mistake,’ says Alice. ‘I’ve not spent money on anything over there yet. Perhaps a couple of hotel bills and the odd lawyer’s bill, but that’s it.’

Matt scratches at his head. ‘That’s not going to have busted through our twenty-grand limit.’

‘Twenty grand?’ exclaims Alice. ‘We couldn’t possibly have spent that kind of money.’

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