Page 39 of Mercury Rising

“I hate to tell you this. You need an influencer. It’s a good job I’m here.”

Nick stood and paced the small room. “No, I don’t want any unnecessary attention. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Think about it. If we raised enough to buy this place and got a few patrons with deep pockets, you’d operate with no stress. Even Fenella must see the positive in that.”

“I don’t know. What if the kids get silly ideas again?”

“Then let them. You must be the only person in the world who hasn’t realised that social media is a necessary evil. It can be powerful when used correctly. Don’t you trust me?”

Nick stared into his eyes. “Of course. Do you really think we have a chance?”

“I live on a street with more wealth than this whole postcode,” Mercury said. “If I pitch this as the worthiest cause since Live Aid, they’ll be falling over themselves to help. We’ll open houses all over London.”

“Whoa, let’s calm down. We just want to save this place.”

Typical of Mercury to get carried away. “Sorry, you’re right. Let’s focus on the first hurdle.”

“Hurdle? That’s putting it mildly.”

“Pah, I am Mercury Morrison. I laugh in the face of hurdles.”

Nick still looked unsure. Mercury got up and stood in front of him. “I can do this, Nick. I promise you I can.”

“I’m not saying I’m up for this,” Nick replied. “But it can’t hurt for you to get a plan together. I’ll run it past Fenella. How is that?”

Mercury beamed. “I’ll have it to you by the end of the day.”

“I think we can do better than that. Fenella’s coming for her monthly supervision meeting with me on Friday. How about you present it to both of us then?”

“Consider that a deal.”

He went to sit, eager to get all the ideas that were swirling around in his head onto the computer. Nick stayed him.

“You amaze me, Mercury. When I heard we were getting a rich kid who’d been done for criminal damage, I braced myself for a spoilt brat who’d refuse to lift a finger. The way you’ve thrown yourself in with us, well, it’s incredible.”

Nobody had ever called Mercury incredible before. Good-looking, yes. Funny, definitely. Incredible? Not so much. He found he quite liked it.

Their eyes met. He only had to lean in a few inches and finally find out what those lips tasted of. The ones that had filled his waking thoughts since the climbing wall.

Then Nick sprang back. “I should let you get on with that plan.”

Mercury sat, shaken. “Yes, I guess so.”

Nick went out of the office, leaving Mercury on his own. He stared at Nick’s empty chair. It was becoming harder to fight these emotions and it appeared Nick was having the same urges.

What would happen if they stopped fighting it? Did he dare take that risk?

They’d agreed not to mention anything to the kids yet. Bodhi House provided them with stability. Nick didn’t want them to feel they were threatened until absolutely necessary.

Mercury got his head down and prepared a presentation. He hadn’t done anything like this since school.

When Friday came around, the nerves swirling around him were intense. Fenella had arrived at ten and been holed up in the office with Nick ever since. The clock was nearly at half past eleven.

Mercury had occupied himself playing Monopoly with Hassan, Olena and Anna. Olena appeared to feel no loyalty to Mercury for practically saving her life. She cackled as he landed on one of her properties again.

“That’s one thousand pounds, please,” she gloated.

“You’re going to clean me out,” Mercury wailed.