Chapter 15
Seeking solace over his impending destitution, Robin opened a bottle of Peroni and watched – not for the first time – Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
He had a passionate, albeit secret, love of musicals.
When he’d been married, briefly and unsuccessfully in his late twenties, he’d been able to kid himself that he bought tickets as a treat for his wife.
On the day she declared that musicals bored her to tears and she’d only gone along with it the last four years because she hadn’t wanted to rock the boat and upset him, he’d wondered if he’d ever really loved her at all.
Jax adored musicals. Phantom was her favourite. Of course it was.
His phone was ringing. A number he didn’t recognise, but prospective new clients were always to be welcomed. Without thinking, he answered.
‘Mr Knight, my name’s Shireen from Assurance Debt Management Services. I’m calling about the outstanding balance on your account.’
Robin’s stomach churned. Two years earlier, he’d bought a car on credit.
It had cost far more than he could afford, but he could hardly turn up to client meetings in a rust bucket.
The monthly repayments had been eye-watering and, one month, distracted about the Tintagel wedding furore, he’d missed a payment.
It had been a simple mistake, but having the money in his account for a change had felt like a breath of fresh air and when nothing bad happened, he skipped the following month as well.
He’d planned to put it right when things improved, but nothing improved as quickly as it should have done, and his credit card company had passed the loan on to a debt collection service.
The people at Assurance were relentless.
They’d phoned him daily, sometimes more than once, badgering him about how and when he was going to pay the money back.
Unable to bear it any longer, he’d bought a new phone, giving the number only to trusted clients, but somehow Assurance had got hold of it.
Seven Brides wasn’t doing it for him anymore. Robin got up and crossed the hall to his study. The letter from Barker, Momen and Dodds still sat on top of the pile. Edging his way around boxes, he upended it and let the token fall onto his desk.
Was there any possible way?