Page 71 of Tainted Love

‘Yep.’

‘So when are you coming to join Team Ryans?’

‘Actually, if you want me, next week.’ I can sense his smile. ‘Thank you for the flowers.’

‘You’re more than welcome, fiancée. Can you come here this afternoon?’

‘I guess so. It’s not like I need to bank gold stars here. I’ll check on the registration of theBlack Diamondsportfolio before I come over.’

‘I’ll have Anya order lunch. Sushi good?’

‘Perfect.’

Scooping up my pile of documents related toBlack Diamonds, I head to the trainee, Hugh’s office. ‘Home alone today?’ I ask, taking note of the empty desk behind him.

‘Charles is in a meeting. How was your break?’

‘Too short.’

‘Argh, at least you got away. I don’t have anything planned until May and I’m already shattered.’

‘It’ll come around before you know it.’

‘I, ah, heard your news. Congratulations. In-house, isn’t it?’

‘News travels fast. Yes, I’m going in-house for the GJR group, which leads me nicely onto the reason I’m here.’

He pushes his chair back from his desk and twists his pen in the fingers of his right hand. A pose I’m sure he wouldn’t adopt if his supervisor were in the room.

‘Constant Sources is a GJR subsidiary. How’s the registration of the IP in the game coming along?’

‘I’ve been meaning to speak to you about that.’

I raise an eyebrow. ‘Sounds like you’re going to tell me there’s a glitch.’

Hugh leans forward and pulls a few tatty-looking pieces of paper from a disorganised tray on his desk. ‘There was a problem in China. Let me see.’ He flicks through the messy papers then rummages through the pile in his tray again. ‘Here it is. Local counsel in China said there were already registrations for some of the trademarks, including the nameBlack Diamonds, and the copyright, I think. Apparently, the applications were filed hours before we tried to file.’

‘Shit, seriously? In the same class? Gaming?’

‘Yep.’

‘Remind me who we’re dealing with in China.’

‘Wang Nongfan is handling the applications.’

‘Okay and this just happened today?’

‘No, let me see.’

I tighten my grip around my documents and tap the grey hardwearing carpet with my foot whilst he flicks through his papers.

‘He told me about it Wednesday so I assume it happened then.’

‘Wednesday? Hugh, it’s Monday. Why am I just hearing about this now?’

‘Well, you were on holiday and I tried to chat it through with Richard in the IP team but he was busy working on an injunction so?—’

‘I know about the injunction but that’s not an excuse, Hugh. I told you to contact me if anything went wrong. We’ve wasted almost a week now.’