Don't Marry Thomas Clark Read Online Free PDF Page A

decide to marry her after a mandatory period of cohabitation lasting six months. You explain that the illness, unfortunately, had made him more and more confused. That’ll be convincing enough to get her to believe it all. And at that point you start building on her feelings. Confess that you care too much about Garden House to risk losing it. It’s a place full of happy memories, where you often take refuge from the difficulties of life, especially since your parents died. Add a big cheque, with five zeros, and you’ll see – she won’t say no… She’s a woman.’
    â€˜Perhaps you haven’t understood, I don’t want to get married,’ reiterates Thomas, unconvinced.
    â€˜And in fact you’ll get her to sign an agreement where she specifies that after the six months of living together she’ll leave you. In fact, we’ll make it spectacular: she’ll leave you at the altar, in front of everyone. Family, friends, acquaintances…’
    â€˜Is that really necessary?’ asks Thomas, turning up his nose and not at all enthusiastic about the prospect of being dumped in front of three hundred guests.
    â€˜No, but it guarantees you an army of witnesses ready to speak in your defence, and proof that you did everything possible to make it work. Try and imagine the scene: you standing there grief-stricken beside the priest, and she, cruel and insensitive, leaving you with a broken heart.’
    A mischievous grin creases the corner of his mouth. ‘Good God… you’re evil. ’
    â€˜Thank you. I do my worst.’
    â€˜When can I contact her?’
    â€˜Right now, if you like. Actually, you know what we’ll do?’ he asks, tapping his lip with his index finger. ‘After you’ve spoken, we’ll arrange to meet in your office so we can get it all down in black and white.’
    â€˜What for? A contract like that wouldn’t be worth the paper it was written on. In fact, if someone got hold of it, I’d lose everything.’
    â€˜I know that and you know that, but she mustn’t find out.’
    â€˜It’s risky…’
    â€˜Have you got an alternative?’

Chapter 3
    â€˜I’m sorry Miss Price, but the bank cannot grant the loan if you do not provide some form of security.’
    â€˜And can you tell me where I might get hold of it at this time of day?’
    â€˜I’m afraid I can’t.’
    â€˜Are you completely heartless? Do you realise that if we don’t pay off the debt we’ll lose our deposit?’
    â€˜Miss Price, believe me, my hands are tied. You’re unemployed, and so are your partners. If you had a guarantor, or if there were some property that belonged to you or to the company, that would change everything.’
    â€˜But if I had a job, a guarantor or property I wouldn’t be here asking for a loan, would I?’
    â€˜I realize that, but we’re talking about a hefty amount. What would happen if you couldn’t pay the instalments?’
    â€˜If the business were to go under, God forbid, we could sell the premises and pay off the debts with the proceeds.’
    â€˜At the risk of sounding obstructive, at present you have no premises. So how can you sell something you don’t have?’
    â€˜I know perfectly well that I don’t have any premises, and that is precisely why I’m asking you for the frigging loan! No… No, sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. No, don’t hang up, please… Oh, bloody hell!’ I snap, slamming the cordless down onto the table.
    How can anybody be that dense? And what am I going to tell the girls? I want to cry.
    We’d used all that was left of our savings to put down a deposit on that little bistro. Debby has even given up her flat and moved back in with her parents. It wasn’t exactly our lifelong dream, but what with the times we live in and the unemployment figures nowadays… We