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  Nathan took another sip of whisky and then another. By God, it was good, probably the best he’d ever had.

  ‘I’ll tell you why it’s bullshit Cassie. It’s bullshit because you have done exactly what I’ve been doing until now. Until last night when I saw you again. I convinced myself that I was over you. I decided to settle. Settle on the status quo. Yes I was a coward, you’re absolutely right. But no more. I want you now more than ever and unless I’m very much mistaken, you still want me too, despite everything you just said.’

  Cassie did not reply and took a sip of her scotch and then another until the glass was empty.

  ‘You bastard. Why did you have to come to La Scala of all places? And why last night. It’s not fair. I was in a good place. I was content. I have bought a lovely house in Bellagio on Lake Como. I’ve got friends for the first time in my life. Friends who care for me and look after me, like Marcello. And no, I’m not working. Don’t need to. Don’t want to. And you come along and fuck it all up. And what’s to say that if I give us another chance, Sylvia won’t get to you again and you’ll dump me a second time.’ Her eyes were moist and she was struggling to hold back tears.

  ‘That’s not going to happen but I’ll need your help.’

  ‘My help?’

  ‘If you agree to take me back then I’m staying here with you. I won’t go back. Sylvia can have everything and then she has no hold over me. None at all. How can you help me? Well,’ he said smiling, ‘you will have to agree to support me. I’ll be penniless. Just the shirt on my back as the saying goes.’

  Cassie smiled too. ‘I think I might just be able to manage that. But next time at La Scala it’s the stalls for you, not a box.’

  They both laughed. Nathan slid in beside Cassie and put his arm around her. She nestled her head into his shoulder. This is heaven he said to himself.

  Nathan suddenly remembered one of the episodes of Fawlty Towers that he and Cassie had watched together more than once. It was the episode where Basil had pretended to forget his and Sybil’s wedding anniversary, planning to surprise her, only to have it backfire on him of course. He remembered that last line of the episode.

  ‘Piece of cake, now comes the tricky bit.’ Cassie got the reference immediately and they both began to laugh, uncontrollably. They only stopped when the waiter came over and gave them a disapproving look while handing them the bill. It was time to leave.

  Nathan was back in the room at 7 pm. Sylvia was still not there. He had stopped at the hotel bar to fortify himself for the encounter which he knew would be unpleasant. Her note did say late dinner, but how late? Not that he was hungry. He kept pacing around the room and by 7.30 when Sylvia had still not returned, he raided the mini bar having to make do with two miniatures of Johnny Walker Black. It was not Lagavullin but it did have the desired effect.

  Sylvia arrived at 7.45. Nathan had stopped pacing and was lying on the bed. He felt relaxed from the whisky and in another 5 minutes would have fallen asleep. Sylvia was standing in the doorway, three shopping bags in each hand.

  ‘You’re not dressed,’ she said. ‘Aren’t we going to dinner?’

  ‘No Sylvia. We’re not. At least I’m not. Put those shopping bags down and have a seat. I have something I want to tell you.’

  ‘Sounds serious Nathan. Have I spent too much? Is the credit card maxed out?’

  ‘I’m sure you have spent too much but that’s not it.’

  Sylvia put down the bags and sat down on the chair that was already partially covered in clothes.

  ‘I’m listening.’

  The alcohol had mellowed him but he still found it difficult to start. This was going to be tough but here goes.

  ‘I’ll start from the beginning. Something unusual happened at the opera last night. I bumped into an old friend. An unbelievable coincidence that we were both there. One in a million chance.’

  ‘That’s nice,’ Sylvia replied. ‘Anyone I know?’

  ‘As a matter of fact, yes Sylvia. Someone you know although the two of you have never actually met.’

  ‘You’re talking in riddles Nathan. Who was it?’

  Before Nathan could answer, he could see by her face that Sylvia had worked it out.

  ‘No Nathan, not the whore. I don’t believe it. You planned this, didn’t you? That was no one in a million coincidence. You arranged to meet her. The opera. I should have suspected something. You have never been to the opera in your life.’

  ‘Firstly, I did not plan it. I don’t care whether you believe me or not, it’s the truth. Secondly, you are not to refer to Cassie as a whore again. She is the woman I am going to spend the rest of my life with.’

  Sylvia was momentarily too stunned to answer. She quickly composed herself.

  ‘That’s what you think Nathan. Have you forgotten what I’ll do even if you contemplate such a move?’

  ‘I haven’t forgotten Sylvia. I also haven’t forgotten what a fool I was to give in to your blackmail. But it won’t work this time. Do your worst. I don’t care. And do you want to know why?’

  No reply.

  ‘Because I’m not going back home with you. This is goodbye. It’s all yours. The house, the money, the cars, my share of the practice. So go on, tell my partners, tell my clients. Do your worst, it doesn’t bother me. But as far as my parents are concerned, let me make one thing clear. If you say anything to upset them, even the slightest, I’ll have you tied up in the Family Court for so long that there will be nothing left for you after the lawyers’ fees. So do the smart thing Sylvia. Take the money, take it all. Just leave my parents out of it and leave me alone.’

  Suddenly Sylvia’s tone changed.

  ‘Nathan, how can you do this to me? We have been good together haven’t we? You can’t leave me now. What will happen to me?’ Sylvia was pleading with him.

  ‘You’ll survive Sylvia, you always do. Quite frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn. (He loved that line from Gone with the Wind and finally had the chance to use it). I don’t really care what happens to you. For the first time I’m more concerned about what will happen to me. I found someone who makes me happy. I let her go once, thanks to you. I won’t make that mistake again. So Sylvia, this is goodbye. Have a safe trip back. I’ll instruct my solicitor and he will draw up the papers. You’ll be able to reach me through him. I’m staying here, in Italy for now. Don’t know for how long. Maybe forever. I can think of worse places to live out my days. Goodbye Sylvia.’

  Without waiting for a reply, Nathan turned, walked to the door and left the room. He headed to the elevator, pushed the up button. When the elevator arrived he pushed the button for the twelfth floor and as the elevator door slowly closed, he was smiling.

  Also by David Finchley

  and PUBLISHED

  BY SID HARTA PUBLISHERS

  Can one man change the world?

  To find out,come to the small Victorian town of Eden.Here you will meet Martin Brophy, who carries with him the scars of an horrific emotional trauma suffered in childhood.

  As a consequence of his experience, Martin has shielded himself from the media and has come to the conclusion that overexposure to the news, mostly bad news, may be doing more harm than good.

  Martin comes in to an unexpected inheritance which provides him with the financial means to test out his theory.

  Martin is joined by Arthur Fromm, a disgraced former accountant,down on his luck and sent to Eden as part of the Work for the Dole Scheme.

  The two men form a close bond and with Martin’s money and Arthur’s expertise, they set up a social experiment in Eden to test Martin’s hypothesis.

  The result of this experiment become known as The Eden Effect. Its ramifications reverberate around the world and pit Martin against the might of the global media, with devastating results.

  One man can change the world.

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