Chapter 28: The Man at the Meeting
Clara did not tell Olivia about the black car until she was already back in the flat.
Olivia listened in silence, which was worse than her usual commentary.
Then she said, “Describe it.”
“Black saloon. Tinted rear windows. No plate. Or I didn’t catch it.”
“That is extremely unhelpful.”
“I was busy being followed after winning a project.”
“Fine. Historic excuse.”
Daniel joined by phone ten minutes later.
Clara told him everything: the contract, the unknown message, the car.
“We document. We do not assume,” he said.
Then Mara Lewis called.
The director from the wellness project did not begin with congratulations.
“Ms Bennett, you should know something before it reaches you another way.”
Clara sat straighter.
Olivia grabbed a notebook.
Mara continued, voice controlled but angry underneath. “This morning, a representative contacted our board chair.”
“He suggested your publicity could make you unsuitable for a family-centred project.”
Clara closed her eyes.
Ethan.
Of course.
“Did he give a name?” Clara asked.
“He said he was calling on behalf of parties concerned for the reputation of the centre.”
Olivia silently mouthed coward.
Mara said, “He also implied donors might reconsider support.”
There it was.
Pressure in a clean shirt.
Clara asked, “Why are you telling me?”
“Because after your presentation, the board chair called him back with me present and asked whether he had a formal objection to your qualifications.”
“What did he say?”
“He said we were misunderstanding.”
“And were you?”
“No.”
For the first time that day, Clara laughed.
Not happily.
Cleanly.
Mara added, “The contract stands. We will not withdraw it because someone wealthy dislikes your evidence folder.”
“I am sending a written note summarising the contact. Use it however your solicitor advises.”
Clara’s throat tightened. “Thank you.”
“Do good work,” Mara said. “That will be enough.”
The call ended.
Olivia pointed at the phone. “I like her.”
“So do I.”
Daniel’s voice came through the speaker. “Forward the written note as soon as it arrives.”
Clara did.
The email arrived within minutes.
Subject: Unsolicited Third-Party Contact Regarding Tender.
It did not name Ethan.
It did not need to.
The description was careful: male caller, claimed connection to Hayes family interests, referenced Clara’s public situation, raised suitability concerns, suggested donor discomfort.
Daniel read it silently.
Then said, “Useful.”
Olivia threw a cushion at the phone.
“Say something with blood in it for once.”
“It is very useful.”
Clara smiled despite herself.
Then her phone rang.
Ethan.
This time, Daniel said, “You may answer. Speaker. Say little.”
Clara accepted the call.
Ethan did not bother with warmth.
“You signed with the centre.”
“Yes.”
“You should have told me.”
Clara looked at Olivia.
Olivia mouthed, why?
Clara said it aloud. “Why?”
“Because this affects all of us.”
“My work affects you?”
“When your name is tied to mine, yes.”
“My name is tied to yours because you helped make sure it was dragged through a chapel.”
Silence.
Then Ethan said, “You are being used by people who want a fight.”
“No. I am being hired by people who want a room.”
“That project will put you in the press.”
“It will put me on a site schedule.”
“You are impossible.”
“I am employed.”
That landed better than any insult.
Ethan’s voice lowered. “Do not mistake one contract for safety.”
Daniel’s tone cut in, calm and lethal. “Mr Hayes, this is Daniel Reed. That sounded unwise.”
Ethan hung up.
Olivia clapped once.
Then Clara’s laptop chimed.
Mara had sent one more attachment.
A screenshot from the board chair’s call log.
The number was not Ethan’s.
It was registered to Julian Marks.