advantage of my wealth, so I’ve put that initial disappointment behind me. Now I need to concentrate on Cracking Crafts.
I am wearing a bright red jumper, and despite the pouring rain, it cheers me up. Just because we’ve lost the BUYIT TV account doesn’t mean we’re facing financial ruin. I say good morning to Nicky and the rest of the team and stride down the corridor to my office. I open the door and jump.
Ajay is sitting in my chair.
I take a step backwards. ‘What are you doing?’ I ask.
‘Waiting to talk to you.’
‘Where have you been all of last week? Why didn’t you get in touch?’
‘I needed time to think, Lydia, and now I have. I want to buy you out of Cracking Crafts. I can turn the company around. You’ve taken your eye off the ball, and it’s outgrown you.’
‘No! Absolutely not. This business is my life. I set it up and I’m not selling.’
‘That’s a very rash, ill-thought-out response.’
‘I’m not stupid, Ajay. One doesn’t sell a business when it’s doing badly. If you think you can buy me out on the cheap, think again.’
He raises an eyebrow and I feel like slapping his face.
‘And besides,’ I continue, ‘the screw-up with BUYIT TV was because you rang them to swap over the machines. I suppose you did that on purpose to undermine me and to reduce our profitability so that you can buy my shares on the cheap. Well, it’s not going to work!’
‘Lydia, I did not make any phone call. I do not want this business to fail. In fact, quite the opposite.’ He talks in a low, slow voice, his eyes narrowed. ‘I want a fresh start. I’ll give you a fair payout, and you can go and do whatever you want.’
‘No,’ I say, anger coursing through my veins. ‘What about the new evidence that has come to light? The fact that someone saw your car leave our house on the night Adam died? You’re still a person of interest to the police. You’re probably a murderer.’
His eyes narrow and his lips tighten. Veins stand out on his neck and he clenches and unclenches his fists. Fury is pulsating off him in waves, and it is scaring me. As he takes a step forwards, I take another step backwards; now I’m up against the door. I reach behind my back and grasp the door handle. I know every word I utter is provocative, but I can’t let this one go. It’s like a mosquito bite that you just have to scratch, even though you know it might make it infected. ‘And what about your conviction for GBH when you were in your early twenties. You conveniently forgot to mention that to me, didn’t you?’
‘What the fuck!’ Ajay shouts. ‘How do you know about that?’ But then he slumps back against the windowsill. His voice is quiet again, and I can’t decide whether I’m more scared of his overt anger or his silent menace. ‘Yes, you’re right. I did glass someone in a pub. He attacked a friend, and I did it in self-defense. I paid my dues. It’s in the past, and I didn’t see any reason to tell you. Marianne has known about it for the past twenty years. But you’re also wrong. The police have no proof that my car was at your house that night. If they did, don’t you think I’d be locked up? Look, Lydia, have I ever given you reason to think I’m violent?’ He stares at me intently.
I shake my head and whisper, ‘No.’ But that doesn’t mean I’m not scared of him. I am. I don’t know who the real Ajay is; I don’t know if he is capable of murder or just angry that I’ve found him out.
‘You should leave,’ I say, opening the door. When he walks past me, I shrink as far back as possible. He turns.
‘Think about what I said, Lydia. It’s for the best.’
He goes then, walking straight past his office and out the front door.
I find it hard to concentrate, playing over and over in my mind what Ajay said. But the more I think about it, the more unjust it seems. Why should I sell this business? Cracking Crafts was my original concept. I don’t need the money; I love working here. I know people will hate me for saying I don’t need the money, but I, more than anyone, know that the saying Money doesn’t buy you happiness is very