Page 45 of Behind Frenemy Lines

CG: “I’ve got to go, Ba. I’ve got work to do.”

Ba, voice rising: “If you hang up now, I will no longer have a son!”

Gave me pause. You only have one father, Ma had said.

But it wasn’t true that I had all the power and Ba none. Maybe if someone, anyone, had expected more of Ba before now, he might have learned his lesson earlier in life.

As it was, nothing would change so long as everyone behaved as though he wasn’t capable of change. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy. I’d had enough of going along with it.

CG: “I hope you’ll see things differently when you’ve had a chance to think about it. We can speak another time, if you want. But I’ve got to go. Bye, Ba.”

Ended the call. Half expected my phone to start buzzing as I slipped it into my pocket, Ba ringing me back. But he didn’t.

As I walked up the stairs, back to my office, I was working through what needed to be done.

Farah had said she’d be free to speak after two. Where should I start? Needed to tell her about Ba being offered this job, in case it affected my involvement in the Jamaludin case. But I could explain there was a low risk of the case going ahead, on account of me punching the client in the face.

Wasn’t sure why Shaw hadn’t told Farah what I’d done, when we saw her outside the building earlier. Suppose it was a bit embarrassing for him, really. “Weedy little Charlie Goh knocked me over.” And if he’d told her, questions would naturally arise as to why I’d done it.

It was funny, in retrospect, me grandstanding to Ba about my ethical duties as a lawyer. There was a real possibility I might not be a lawyer after I spoke to Farah.

Did you get struck off for assaulting clients, or was it merely a matter of a fine and telling off? The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal probably published their rulings. Should take a look.

On an ordinary day, I might have felt distressed at the prospect of losing my job because of Shaw Boey. But it hadn’t been an ordinary day. Hadn’t been an ordinary week. More than anything else, I felt a great sense of calm.

Wasn’t simply the relief of no longer being on the hook for ￡ 25,000. It was the thought of not having to live through Ba’s crises anymore. Not having to be dragged into every drama he concocted.

He’d probably change his mind about disowning me, once he simmered down. I might not hear from him directly, but no doubt Ma or Iza or even one of the kids would be in touch, in due course. Life would be too simple if Ba never spoke to me again.

But I’d realised, now, that I could decide not to speak to him. I could simply decline to be involved.

Hadn’t realised how wound up I’d been over the money until the tension evaporated. Felt years younger.

Back at my desk, I went through my inbox, triaging. Was typing out an email to a client explaining she wouldn’t be getting a full analysis of their legal position by close of play, given that would require a review of the 384 documents she’d granted me access to that morning, when Farah appeared.

Farah: “My call wrapped up early. I’ve been wanting to speak to you. Is now all right?” She shut the door behind her and came to stand by my desk. “I heard the news.”

CG: “You have?” Thought Shaw must have followed up and told her about our altercation, after all. “Has Shaw decided to go elsewhere?”

Farah blinked. “What?”

CG: “I thought you meant Shaw told you about what happened this morning. When I punched him.”

Farah: “You did what ?”

Gave her the executive summary of the morning’s encounter with Shaw. “I was thinking I might need to declare an interest, if my dad gets a job with Shaw’s dad’s company. Do you know if there’s a form I need to fill out?”

Farah, frowning: “It sounds very concerning, what he said to you. I think we need to look into the existing relationship with Blackmount, even leaving aside the new instruction. Apart from anything else, if our fees are being paid out of the proceeds of fraud, they may well be recoverable by the defrauded party.”

CG: “I was thinking that.”

Farah: “But I must say, Charles, I don’t see what there was in the conversation to provoke your reaction.”

CG: “Oh, that happened later. Shaw, er, used inappropriate language. About a colleague.”

Found myself looking over at Kriya’s desk. Farah looked too.

Farah: “I see. I was thinking it was out of character for you, but that explains it.”

What did that mean?

Farah: “We’ll have to see what Shaw decides to do, if anything. He might choose to raise it, but I can’t imagine he’ll want to go into the details of what was said. As for the bigger picture, if he decides to take his business elsewhere, that would make life simpler, in a way.”

She seemed remarkably unperturbed.

CG: “Do you think I should report it?”

Farah: “We may need to make reports if money laundering is at issue, but I wouldn’t worry about the, ah, exchange between the two of you. At the moment, it’s your word against Shaw’s. He told me it was an accident, this morning. And I’m sure you won’t do anything like it again.”

CG: “No. But—”

Farah: “It was actually Kriya I wanted to talk to you about. I heard she’s resigned, and she’s leaving at the end of the week. Can you tell me what happened?”

CG: “Is that all you’ve heard?”

Farah, after a pause: “Does it have anything to do with Arthur?”

CG, carefully: “Kriya spoke to HR. I was present at the meeting, to corroborate the details I witnessed. But I don’t think it’s my story to tell.”

A shadow passed over Farah’s face. “I see. This is very upsetting.” She glanced over at Kriya’s desk again. “She’s working from home today, is she?”

Started to say, “For the rest of the week,” but the words wouldn’t come.

Didn’t understand what was happening at first. Then it hit me. There was a real risk I was about to cry.

Farah realised around the same time as me. Saw her face change.

Jumped to my feet and turned to the window, blinking.

Could see the corresponding floor of the office building across the road, occupied by a mid-size national firm.

It was close enough you could see the computer screen of the guy in the office opposite.

He spent a surprising amount of time watching video game play-throughs on YouTube.

He wasn’t there today. Must be working from home.

Somehow it made me feel even lonelier.

CG: “I might never see her again.”

Didn’t mean to say it out loud.

Farah: “Oh, Charles.”