Free Persuading Annie by Melissa Nathan Page B

us? What about Victoria’s boys – poor little Bertie and Harry? Their other grandfather probably has another fifty years in him yet. Until then, Charles, Victoria and the boys basically live off my father. It doesn’t bear thinking about. And of course there’s me. I’m fine for now, living off my pathetic gallery salary but I don’t see why I should risk losing my inheritance—’
    ‘I’m sure Mummy can sort all of this out before it comes to that. Is she aware of any of this?’
    ‘We’ve never discussed it, but I’m fairly sure she sees what’s going on,’ said Annie. ‘Either way, Davina is bad news for our family.’
    Cass pondered the predicament as they made their final menu decisions.
    It was tough one. She never knew whether to take Annie’s problems seriously any more. After that ridiculous episode when Annie had thought she was pregnant by the love of her life but actually she was just a week late and said love of life was actually an idiot, she’d learnt to take Annie’s problems with a rather large pinch of salt.
    When they’d given their orders to the waiter, she sat back, crossed her arms and looked at Annie.
    Annie took her courage in both hands.
    ‘But there’s more news. Something far worse than all of this.’
    ‘Go on.’
    After a decent pause, Annie explained about the management consultants moving into the flat below hers.
    ‘They’re called … Jake Mead Associates,’ she announced dramatically.
    Cass’s face was blank. She shrugged her shoulders. Is that supposed to ring a bell?’ she asked.
    Yes, thought Annie.
    She tried again, enunciating perfectly. ‘Jake Mead?’
    Cass shook her head.
    ‘ Jake? ’
    Nope.
    ‘ Mead? ’
    Nope.
    Time to elucidate.
    ‘Immature twat you stopped me eloping with seven years ago?’
    Cass stared, open-mouthed and wide-eyed. Annie continued.
    ‘Accused me of murdering his non-existent baby?’
    Cass’s mouth and eyes opened wider.
    ‘Ran out crying, never to be seen again? Ruined my degree?’
    Cass was now nodding.
    ‘Ugly humpback with acne?’
    Cass stopped nodding. ‘OK, now you’ve lost me,’ she said. ‘I thought I had him, but that last one—’
    ‘OK, that last one was a lie.’
    ‘Oh really?’
    ‘He didn’t have acne.’
    ‘Skin as smooth as a baby’s proverbial, I recall you saying at the time.’
    ‘Yeah well, I’ve had my eyes tested since then. And stopped speaking in clichés.’
    They stared at each other, their minds humming with activity. Cass didn’t know where to start.
    ‘And this hump-backed, immature, acne-ridden scaredy-cat now owns the management consultants who are going to save your father’s company?’
    ‘Yup.’
    ‘Wow. Didn’t he do well?’
    ‘He’s an arse, Cass.’
    ‘Have you seen him?’
    Annie shook her head. ‘I managed to escape – thanks to you – yesterday.’
    ‘So I’ve saved you from him twice now?’
    ‘Yep. Thank you Supergirl.’
    ‘Do you want to see him?’
    ‘Nope. I hate him. He’s turned me into a bitter, twisted old woman.’
    ‘Oh nonsense. You aren’t twisted.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    They started to pick at their food, their excitement levels almost audibly decreasing.
    ‘Is he married?’ asked Cass.
    Annie shrugged, a little too emphatically Cass felt.
    ‘If he’s not yet, it’s just a matter of time.’
    ‘Yes, well it usually is.’
    As suddenly as Annie had wanted to discuss Jake, she now wanted to close the subject. Jake had only been mentioned yesterday and already she was suffering from thought-fatigue about him. Her brain ached.
    ‘There’s only one thing for it,’ Annie said firmly. She took a deep breath. ‘I’m going to have to meet this bloke with the knock-out knees and unfortunate manor.’
    Cass smiled.
    ‘But I won’t go shooting,’ said Annie firmly.
    Cass poured more wine.
    Annie was never quite sure why she went on Cass’s excruciating blind dates with men who owned more land than chin. All she knew was that it gave