Page 33 of Love or Your Money Back

CHAPTER

The T&C Media private box is decked out like a wedding with the usual white tablecloths, flowers and huge silk bows.

Totally dull, in Freddy’s opinion. If he had his way, he’d do bright red tables with stuffed monkeys holding giant salt shakers. But that would put off some of his corporate clients.

As Freddy leads Kat past the beige buffet table and out onto the balcony, everyone stares. Not at Freddy, which would be the usual way of things. But at Kat, who is both stunning and interesting – a rare combination.

‘What was that

all about?’ Kat shakes herself free of Freddy’s arm. ‘Ahmet and I were getting on well. I was about to suggest a game of chess –’

‘Marcus just arrived,’ says Freddy. ‘He messaged. You should make yourself visible, then wait for him to come to you.’

‘But Ahmet and I were having a good time –’

‘Our promotional strategy is exclusivity,’ says Freddy. ‘That means you must appear in demand. Don’t spend too long with one person. Always leave them wanting more.’

‘I don’t like all this game-playing.’ Kat’s glorious green-golden eyes look unhappy.

‘You want to get married, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, this is the way to sell products in a competitive market. Don’t look like that. I hate seeing you sad.’

‘Freddy, we’re sort of friends now, aren’t we?’ Kat removes her hat, and finger combs her gleaming, black hair.

‘I suppose … yes. We sort of are.’

‘So, you’ll tell me the unvarnished truth, won’t you? Do you think all this marketing stuff is the wrong way to go about getting a husband?’

Freddy hesitates. He isn’t wired to tell the unvarnished

truth. In fact, he has a big pot of metaphorical varnish with him at all times.

‘Kat, I think putting time and energy into finding a husband will get you great results,’ says Freddy. ‘But you should hold out for the very best. The person who lights you up inside, but also feels like coming home.’

Freddy isn’t sure where he got that last turn of phrase, but he makes a mental note of it for future marketing campaigns.

‘Look! There’s Marcus. MARCUS!’ Kat waves at a tall, top-hatted figure on the lawn.

‘DON’T CALL OUT!’ Freddy barks. Too late, Marcus looks up. He gives an enthusiastic wave, makes expressive hand gestures, then sprints towards the private box staircase.

‘He’s coming up,’ Kat beams.

‘Stop smiling,’ Freddy hisses. ‘You’re an exclusive product.’

‘Can’t exclusive products look happy?’

‘No,’ says Freddy. ‘Exclusive products are serious. You’re not a bag of Haribo.’

‘What’s wrong with being a bag of Haribo –’ Kat snaps her mouth closed as Marcus careers onto the balcony, doubled over, hand on his heaving ribcage.

‘I saw you on the … so I … lots of stairs!’ Marcus gasps. ‘And here you are!’

‘Yes, here she is.’ Freddy can’t keep the stern, fatherlike note out of his voice. ‘With her chaperone.’

Marcus blinks at him. ‘ Chaperone

?’

‘Yes, chaperone.’ Freddy’s voice is still stern. ‘A beautiful woman like Kat needs someone keeping an eye out for her. Otherwise, she’ll be mobbed by undesirables. Unless … are you saying Kat is too old to have a chaperone? Are you calling her past it?’

‘No!’ Marcus looks horrified. ‘Not at all. I just wondered … well, if Kat would like to have a drink with me.’

‘A drink!’ Freddy claps his hands together. ‘Marvellous idea. The three of us should have a drink. Kat, champagne for you? And Marcus, what are you in the market for?’

‘What?’

‘A beverage, Marcus. What do you want?’

‘Um … sparkling water?’ Marcus turns to Kat. ‘My word, Katerina. You look amazing. The hat. The dress. Just perfect. Have you placed a bet yet? Surely you must be good luck in that outfit.’

‘I’d love to place a bet,’ says Kat. ‘I’ve always been good at gambling.’

‘Let’s go place a bet together.’ Marcus pulls a wedge of fifty-pound notes from his wallet. ‘You can bet for me too.’

Freddy looks at Marcus with distaste. Good god, the man does not know how to play it cool around women. Waving his cash around like a Flash Harry. But Kat, for some unknown reason, isn’t rolling her eyes in disgust.

‘Okay, sure –’ Kat catches Freddy’s slight head shake and stops herself. ‘I mean … I have a lot of people to meet today, Marcus. I can only spare an hour …’ She pauses as Freddy rapidly shakes his head. ‘I mean, 30 minutes?’

‘YES.’ Freddy claps his hands together. ‘30 minutes. That’s fine! Leave your bag, Kat. So, you won’t be tempted to stay for longer, haha! Off you go then.’

As Kat and Marcus leave, arm in arm, Freddy has an unwelcome rush of emotion. Marcus just isn’t right

for Kat. Nor is Ahmet. They’re both perfectly nice men, but they don’t see her like he does.

Oh shit

.

Freddy walks to the corner and kicks a wall. He is having ridiculous thoughts that are entirely off-brand. Time, drink and women will cure him, though. This combination makes everything better.

As Marcus and I leave the Salt Marketing Box, I feel Freddy’s eyes on my back. He needs to tone down this whole ‘pretending to be attracted to me’ thing. There’s no need to overplay it.

Marcus and I place bets, with me attempting to explain the mathematical logic behind choosing the 4-1 favourite, Drunken Lady.

We head trackside just in time to see Drunken Lady thunder into the lead. As we’re observing the race, I notice a man up ahead. He’s watching me. Actually, not just watching me but really

staring.

I do a double take and then my stomach drops.

Oh god.

It’s Chris

, dressed like a Dickensian theatre character in a crumpled suit jacket and dusty top hat.

My heart pounds and I grab the track rail to steady myself.

‘Kat?’ Marcus notices my shocked expression. ‘Everything okay?’

I swallow. ‘Yes. Um … I just noticed a … well, I suppose he used

to be a friend of mine.’

‘Used to be?’ Marcus gives a sharp laugh. ‘That sounds ominous.’

‘Yes.’ I give Marcus a tight smile, noticing Chris walking towards us on unsteady legs.

Part of me screams, go away, go away

! But another, treacherous part wants Chris to see me all dressed up and talking to a handsome man who houses down-on-their-luck artists.

‘Kat?’ Chris grins as he approaches. ‘Is that you in there? Wow

. Just wow.’

‘Chris.’ I swallow. ‘What are you doing here? You’re not an Ascot person. You’re a Shoreditch Beer Festival person. And even then, you don’t pay for the commemorative beer glass. You bring your own tankard from home to save three quid.’

‘I came to see you,’ says Chris. ‘The Little Voice team told me you were here.’

‘Great.’ I give a humourless laugh. ‘The one time they correctly distribute information.’

‘I can’t believe this.’ Chris gestures to my dress. ‘It’s like you’re in disguise or something. Wow

. Who knew you could look this good? Listen, I came here to see you.’

‘You came here to see me?’ I’m not quite sure how to feel. Actually, that’s not true. I know how I should

feel. Indifferent. Maybe even angry, because Chris is married and I doubt Minola knows he’s here. But I feel frightened. Because I’m happy Chris has come to see me, and I don’t want that ridiculous, treacherous feeling to undo all mine and Freddy’s good work.

‘Yeah.’ Chris rubs his overgrown beard. ‘I need a friend, Kat. Minola and I are having some problems. Things haven’t been great since the camper-van honeymoon.

The reality of burying our own shit every day …

it was a real romance killer. And this morning Minola just went off on one.

Going on and on about me not buying food or paying rent and spending all our money on alcohol, which she

drinks too. Then she defaced the camper van and went back to her parent’s house. I need somewhere to crash and some kind of cleaning stuff that can get sharpie-pen off leather upholstery.’ Chris gives me big, puppy dog eyes. ‘Is there still a space in your bed?’

‘ God

, Chris.’ I put a hand to my forehead. ‘You certainly pick your moments.’

Chris notices Marcus then. ‘Wait a minute. Who’s this?’

‘Marcus Ajulo.’ Marcus grabs Chris’s hand and gives it a firm shake. ‘I run Ajulo Legal. We have a presence in London, New York, Johannesburg and Luton. Last year, our turnover was 15 million dollars –’

‘Oh wait.’ Chris laughs. ‘Kat. This isn’t about that whole ‘getting married by the end of the year’ thing, is it? Are you here trying to land a –’

‘Chris, go away!’ I shout, turning red. ‘Just leave!’

‘Leave?’ Chris laughs. ‘You’ve never asked me to do that before. Usually it’s all stay, stay, please stay.’

I am now gripping the rail so tightly that I have lost all feeling in my left hand.

‘Don’t you dare,’ I say, through gritted teeth. ‘Don’t you dare try and humiliate me when you’re here trying to play away from your wife.’

‘I’m not –’

‘Oh, come on? Is there a space in your bed? You know what you’re asking. Chris, please go away. I don’t want to speak to you.’

‘But I want to speak to you.’ Chris takes a step forward.

‘Now wait a minute.’ Marcus puts a gentle, but firm hand on Chris’s shoulder. ‘Katerina just said she doesn’t want to talk to you right now.’

‘Oi!’ Chris shakes off Marcus’s hand. ‘Her name is Kat, not Katerina. And we used to be engaged. I’m trying to patch things up and you’re in the way. So, if you wouldn’t mind, mate

–’

‘My name is Marcus.’ Marcus’s voice is terrifyingly calm. ‘And I’m not your mate. Katerina, would you like to talk to this gentleman?’

‘No.’

‘Then you need to leave,’ Marcus tells Chris.

‘I don’t need to leave.’ Chris crosses his arms. ‘Kat, you can’t do this. I’m your first love, remember? I don’t want to be married anymore. I want out. I made a mistake.’

‘Have you gone insane?’ I stare at him. ‘You’ve been married less than a month. Try harder, for God’s sake. I’ve deleted your number and I’m trying very hard to move on. You made your bed with a twenty-year-old, now go and lie in it.’

A vicious look forms behind Chris’s shaggy beard. He turns to Marcus. ‘Mark, mate, you’d better watch out. Kat is on a mission to get married. And get this. She’s so desperate, she was talking to this guy at my wedding about getting marketing help to find a husband.’

I feel the blush spread down my neck. As it does, a pain moves down my left-hand side. Oh no. My left leg begins to twitch. Then hot flashes move over my brain and my eyes go in and out of focus.

‘Marcus.’ I try not to grimace as numbness moves into my left foot. ‘Maybe I should

talk to Chris alone. Just quickly. I’ll catch up with you later, okay?’

‘Katerina, I don’t think this gentleman –’

‘It’s okay, Marcus.’ I try to keep my voice from shaking.

‘You’re sure?’

‘Yes.’ I nod, neck stiff. ‘Just give me a few minutes.’

‘Okay. I’ll be in the T&C Media private box. I’ll meet you there later.’ Marcus’s lips pull tight. He walks away, strident and unhappy.

‘Chris?’ I turn, voice low and furious. ‘You need to leave. Haven’t you caused me enough pain already?’

‘How am I causing you pain?’ Chris demands. ‘I want you back. I would have thought you’d be happy –’

‘You always want me back,’ I hiss. ‘And when you get me, you leave again. Can’t you just go? I don’t want you here.’ Pain shoots up into my hip and tears come.

‘I’m not leaving.’ Chris crosses his arms, revealing a hole in his suit elbow. ‘Not until you give me another chance.’