Winner Takes All by Katie Price

Author:Katie Price
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House

Chapter 23

Richard’s two-week suspension had passed. He’d cut out the drugs and hookers and, instead, joined his parents for a skiing trip in the Swiss Alps, a favourite excursion of the Butlers. On his first day back in the office he was greeted by cheers, claps, pats on the back and assurances that it was ‘good to have you back, Butler’, and ‘things haven’t been the same around here’. By lunchtime he’d closed a major deal and celebrated with a four-hour champagne dinner, a strip club visit and a party back at his flat. The clean break was nice while it lasted, but impossible to maintain back in the City.

Meanwhile his plan to befriend Lila and get to Jas through her was right on track. After some weeks of chats over Facebook Messenger, they’d now progressed to frequent messages over WhatsApp. Richard would ask how her day was going and had even persuaded her to send him a picture of her outfit before going out last Friday, to which he replied with a wink and a flame emoji.

Lila loved the attention. She also clearly revelled in having a secret from Jas. Richard knew it. But, as far as Lila was concerned, he was nothing more than a mate. And much to his surprise, on the two occasions he’d suggested Lila join him for a drink, she’d said no.

One Friday night his team were celebrating the fortieth birthday of one of the more senior and most celebrated traders in the company. The plan was to be done in the office by 8 p.m. and then head straight to Mayfair for an expensive three-course dinner (though no one would touch the food) before they headed to The Box where they had a table reserved. The Box was one of the most notorious, decadent and glamorous clubs in Soho – nude trapeze artists included. In the taxi from the office, Richard drew out his phone to text Lila.

‘What you up to 2night?’

‘Nothing. Friend just bailed.’ A pause for a few moments then: ‘What u doin?’

‘Mews of Mayfair 4 dinner then The Box. Full guest list, celebrities. We have a table. Come join?’

No point in messing about, Richard thought. He might as well be direct. It wasn’t until the second uneaten course had been swiped from the table at Mews of Mayfair that Lila finally replied.

‘The Box? Really? You can get me in?’

Richard smiled.

‘Haven’t you learnt yet that there is nothing I can’t do?’

‘What time?’

‘10.30. Text me your address, I’ll send a car.’

‘That’s easy. I’m at your old address. Send the car to Jas’s flat.’

Richard booked the car. What was another Addison Lee on the company account? No way Lila was used to this level of treatment. A simple bit of Facebook stalking on her profile had shown Richard the sort of cretins she had dated before. A pathetic bartender with a nose piercing and baggy clothes. An out-of-work ‘ethical artist’ who no doubt used his dole money for weed. Really? This was her type? It was almost an insult for a girl that hot to be seen with losers like them.

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