Page 51 of Double or Nothing

“I wouldn’t put it quite that way…”

“So, what would he do if your dad told him to fuck off and fired him on the spot?”

The idea makes my stomach flip.

“Dad wouldn’t do that. He loves Bryce.”

“But what if he did?”

Even the thought has me dumbfounded. Bryce has been working with Dad from so young.

“It wouldn’t happen,” I repeat.

“Why not?”

“Because Bryce is so good at what he does.”

Jack is super calm as he eyes me up. Stare still digging.

“I’ve no doubt about that. Bryce is blatantly a ferret of a workaholic. If your dad said jump I’ve no doubt Bryce would go grab a trampoline.”

“That’s his job. He’s Dad’s main assistant. He churns the figures for Dad. Does the research and compiles it before mergers, that kind of thing.”

Jack nods.

“So, what is Bryce? A chartered accountant? A financial planner?”

“I don’t know what his official title is. He’s just… Bryce. Dad’s assistant.”

Jack’s eyes narrow.

“Right. Your dad’s assistant.” He takes a sip of coffee, but his eyes don’t leave mine. “Back to my original question. What would Bryce do if your dad told him to fuck off and fired him on the spot?”

“He’d, um…” I try to picture it. “He’d be very upset.”

“Understatement, by any chance?”

Jack is so on it with the observation, it’s insane. His eyes are still on me, but they are cool blue pools of calm.

“It would fuck him up big time, wouldn’t it?” he says. “I saw the clique of work colleagues last night. Close knit community, I imagine. Everyone knows everyone…”

“Yeah. It’s like that at the top.”

“Bryce would be fucked then, wouldn’t he?”

“He could get another job.”

“From who? In London? As an assistant to another high-flyer?”

I feel churned up. Almost under attack on Bryce’s behalf.

“He’d probably have to move out of the area, but he could do it.”

Jack leans back in his seat.

“Fucking hell. No wonder the guy is shitting it. How did he even get the job in the first place?”

This isn’t the road I thought the questioning would take. I can’t help but stiffen up.