by L M Bee
“If I may add one more thing. Again it wouldn’t have been possible to get this done in such a hurry this morning, without relying on Bernard’s incredible contacts who seem able to achieve anything in record-breaking time! Sophia, I’ve got something for you, a little memento. A souvenir that’ll hopefully remind you of all the good times and the laughs we’ve shared.”
She held out the little box to Sophia, who got up from her seat to gratefully accept it, smiling quizzically. Sophia was delighted to see Mary’s face lit up with joy, surrounded by her friends and children, celebrating an extraordinary achievement. Thankfully the depression seemed to have lifted, replaced by the adoration of her three children whom she was so proud of. Happy and grateful that they could continue normal family life as they knew it, and looking forward to their futures with eager anticipation.
Sophia carefully lifted the lid off the tiny cardboard box, and placed it on the tablecloth. Smiling at Mary, as she held up a fine gold chain with a small gold disc hanging from it. Turning the disc over in her hand to examine the engraving, she appeared baffled, and looked at Mary for the answer.
Mary reached across, took the chain, and fastened it round Sophia’s neck.
Sophia looked questioningly at Mary, twiddling the gold disc in her fingers that had been engraved with three initials. “FFL?”
“Friends For Life!” beamed Mary, welling up with tears of happiness.
Sophia welled up too and hugged her friend tightly. Everyone clapped and cheered, with some subtle wiping of their own eyes too, a deeply emotional moment that meant so much to everyone seated round the table.
Bernard attracted a waiter’s attention.
“Could you ask them to serve coffee and chocolates, please.”
Instantly some cheerful staff appeared, placing cups and pots of coffee in the middle of the table, with little pottery dishes of homemade chocolate truffles.
Sitting next to Sophia, Bernard nudged her elbow and held out his phone.
“Someone would like a quick word with you.”
Looking bewildered, Sophia took the phone and listened intently to the voice on the other end.
“Hello Sophia, this is Jake Mann, old friend of Bernard’s.”
“Oh, hello, Bernard’s told me lots about you.”
“Not too much, I hope!” he replied jokingly. “Sophia, I want to commend you for taking the lead role in the operation. Very brave and courageous of you. Thanks to you, we’ve been able to rid the South of France of those con artists. They’ve been robbing the region for years, tainting the Riviera’s reputation and having a damaging effect on many local businesses. Nobody has ever managed to convict them before, but this time, mainly thanks to your laudable performance we’ve achieved a successful result. If you ever decide to give up interior design, you should definitely consider acting! You were probably unaware, but the hidden cameras were also live-streamed to my office in London. I thoroughly enjoyed watching every minute of the party, particularly when you threw the dog in the pool!”
“She jumped,” squealed Sophia, trying to keep a straight face.
“Hmm, that’s a matter of opinion,” he laughed. “An inspired tactic and the perfect stunt, nobody would’ve expected you to do that, it made the whole sting from then on appear totally authentic. And you make a very credible con artist! If you ever need anything in the future, you only have to ask Bernard to contact me, I’ll be there for you. You went out of your way to see your friend done right, and for that I admire you very much indeed. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call me.”
Sophia blushed and thanked him, handing the phone back to Bernard, cheeks on fire.
“I don’t think that’ll be the last time you hear from him,” confided Bernard.
Sophia tilted her head and raised one eyebrow, waiting for clarification.
“He’s intrigued by you, my dear. Thoroughly impressed by the confidence with which you handled the challenge. Not many people would have the balls to con a con artist. And apart from almost drowning that poor little dog, you’ve not hurt or injured a single person throughout the entire operation. Your performance was outstanding. You went out of your way to protect your friend and her family, a rare quality. Admirable to be driven by loyalty and the determination to see your friend done right. I’m certain Jake Mann will be watching your every move from now on. If you ever need help or advice from a London underworld boss, I have no doubt he’ll support you.”
“But Bernard, I’m not planning to continue my career as a con artist! In fact, I can’t wait to get back to my normal day job.”
“What you want and what you get in life are often two very different things, my dear. Bet you never expected to be caught up in a plot to snare con artists in the South of France, did you?”
“True.”
“I have no doubt you’ll find yourself caught up in something similar again. It’s in your nature to protect those you care about, your moral code of conduct won’t allow you to turn a blind eye. This is just the beginning, trust me, I know about these things.” He gave her a big wink and a hearty pat on the back.
“Really? Are you sure?”
“Yes. Send me a postcard next time you get tangled up with villains. Bet you a bottle of local rosé it won’t be long – and if you get into difficulty, remember the London underworld will be there to assist you.”
There was an earnestness in Bernard’s voice that unnerved Sophia; he was deadly serious.
“But I’m not looking to get 'tangled up with villains' as you put it!”
“Trust me, my dear, it won’t be long!”
Sophia had turned her phone to silent for lunch, and could feel it vibrating in her pocket. She decided to nip off to the loo and check her phone at the same time.
The missed call was from Tom Oldfield, another very good client. A banker and workaholic, whose American wife had died in a tragic road accident. Local gossipmongers in Berkshire spread rumours of substance abuse, and, worryingly, Tom Oldfield had never disputed that. The sad thing was that their two young daughters were now being brought up by a swift succession of useless nannies. None of them giving a toss about the little girls, far more interested in trying to snare their wealthy widower father. Sophia felt sorry for Stella and Skye; she’d got to know them quite well when running the interior design of their holiday home in Cornwall, demolishing a dilapidated old bungalow and building a modern three-storey glass and slate house facing out to sea. Her phone pinged as Tom’s voicemail registered, she pressed play and held it close to her ear.
“Hi Sophia, it’s Tom Oldfield. Hope you’re well. I’m planning to go down to Cornwall with the girls for the last two weeks of August – just wondering if there’s any chance of you joining us there for a few days. It would be great to catch up, the girls would love to see you, also a good opportunity for us to go through the house together checking everything’s working properly. I’m told the aquarium maintenance company have a few questions, I’d be grateful for your input. I’ll coincide your visit with the delivery of my new speedboat, so we can all have a bit of fun too. Hope you can spare a few days, and look forward to hearing when you can join us. Stella and Skye send their love. All the best, Tom.”
Sophia was about to call him back and then hesitated, deciding to wait until after lunch when she was back in the privacy of her room to finish packing.
Bernard’s words were still ringing in her ears.
“Send me a postcard next time you get tangled up with villains. Bet you a bottle of local rosé it won’t be long – and if you get into difficulty, remember the London underworld will be there to assist you.”
THE END
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank my special friends for their positive attitude and unwavering support that has enabled me to finish this book.
I would also like to thank Jamie Houlihan (www.ascothealthandwellbeing.co.uk) for introducing me to Nicola May (www.nicolamay.com), rom-com superstar and au
thor of the best-selling Kindle book of 2019 in the UK, across all genres, The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay.
Nicola was enjoying her recent success with the first volume in her bestselling trilogy, and wanted some interior design advice for her home. I confessed that writing a book had always been on my Bucket List, my first manuscript was sitting in the bottom drawer of my desk, so I offered my interior design services for free in return for her advice on what to do with my book. I am incredibly grateful to Nicola for introducing me by email to the writer, editor and publisher Scott Pack ([email protected]).
Scott Pack read my first manuscript, that will now be reworked to become my second novel, and ripped it to shreds. My first experience of literary criticism - not an enjoyable experience. Admittedly his accompanying email apologised for being so “ruthless” and “brutal”, but softening the blow by adding that he thought "it was worth it”. We got off to a frosty start when we met for the first time, in a coffee shop in Windsor, to discuss his comments on my first attempt. He sat down and opened the conversation by asking, “So how do you feel after a brutal bashing?” I glared at him, seething with rage. “How do I feel? Like I want to kill you!” I replied to the man that I felt had dashed my hopes by splattering his remarks and highlighted comments all over my 100,000 word dream. Little did I realise then, as I do now, that he is a consummate professional with a wealth of valuable experience, who has taught me so much already. Now I know, that if I listen to him I will learn a lot!
I am in awe of his expertise and incredibly grateful for all his words of wisdom.
I would also like to thank Nell Wood (www.nellwood.co.uk) for her fabulous cover design, and Kat Stephen for her eagle-eyed copy editing and proof reading.
And last but not least, all my love to Russell, with grateful thanks for putting up with me. When I have shut myself away at my desk for months on end, closing out all noise at home with my Beats headphones, he has been patient and kind and I am very lucky to have such a strong, supportive and loyal partner.
Thank you for reading my book – I hope you enjoyed it.
Word-of-mouth is vital for any author to succeed, so if you are able to leave a review on Amazon, GoodReads or elsewhere online, it would be hugely appreciated. It’ll only take you a moment, but it might be helpful to the next person, looking for a book, who reads your recommendation.
If you would like to contact me, my email address is [email protected]
Text copyright © L.M. Bee 2020
L.M. Bee asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work
Conditions of Sale
This ebook is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the author’s prior written consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Credits
Cover design: Nell Wood
Structural editing: Scott Pack
Copy editing and proof reading: Katherine Stephen