Page 303 of Double or Nothing

He raises his eyebrows. “Enough? I’ve barely even started.”

“That’s what worries me.”

Jack’s attention travels past my shoulder.

Alice is still speaking with Helena. Her hands move as she explains something about the painting.

Jack’s expression softens. For one second, all the mischief falls away.

“She looks absolutely elated,” he says.

“Yes. She’s over the moon.”

“I’m going to personally congratulate her. I mean, I just bid on her work, didn’t I?”

“Now isn’t the best time,” I say.

“When is going to be, exactly?”

“When her father is considerably more than ten feet away.”

Jack looks towards Bill.

“Come on, BT. I don’t want to miss the opportunity to demonstrate my excellent manners, do I?”

“Stop it, Jack. Nothing about your intentions is polite, and you know it.”

He puts a hand on his heart. A cracker of a grin on his face. “Ouch. I’m wounded.”

“I mean it,” I say. “Let Alice have her success without turning it into a battle.”

“I’m not going to start a battle.”

I try to change tactics.

“You crossed our limit by five hundred grand. That’s one hell of a gamble.”

“I had a read on it. Don’t worry.”

“It was balanced on a knife edge.”

“Yes, but I was right.”

“That doesn’t make it responsible. And neither does your demeanour right now.”

As if on cue, Bill looks directly at the pair of us. His gaze drops to the champagne in Jack’s hands, then moves to my face.

Bollocks.

The room seems to narrow. Bill’s attention zoning in hard.

Jack’s posture changes. Not noticeably to anyone who doesn’t know him.

But I do.

His joking looseness remains, but something harder settles beneath it. I can feel it brewing.

Bill says something to Alice’s mother and steps away from the group.