Chapter Six

Stressed

It wasn't a good day at all for Malcolm Landgraab.

Things weren't going his way at all this week.
His bank balance was dwindling fast, all thanks to his recent divorce.
From wife number three.

Not only that, Club Dante was giving him a headache.
It was losing money and staff on a regular basis.


Cale, his right-hand man, called him, earlier this morning, demanding that he, Malcolm, had better get his ass over to the club before he quit too.

That was all he needed.
A mass walk out.


On top of that, he'd just checked out the stocks and shares on line and was annoyed to see Tinker Toys doing so well.

"Damn that man," he muttered, scrolling down the page, "I could have had that business, if it hadn't been for his stupid pride and loyalty."

Once again, Stephen Tinker had flatly refused to cave into Malcolm's 'generous' offer to take over Tinker Toys.

From Malcolm's point of view, it stood on prime land, that was ripe for development.
Bluewater Village had been a sleepy town for far too long.

It was time to move into the 21st century.

Already, he had acquired quite a sizeable portion of land.
Tinker Toys was the only property to get in Malcolm's way of progress.

His eyes began to hurt from staring at the screen for so long.

Besides, he'd been putting it off for too long.
It was about time he paid a visit to Club Dante.

But as he logged off, he wondered to himself.

The Landgraabs had been a fearsome lot, not afraid to grab what they deemed theirs, using their cunning and ruthlessness.

But with things going so badly wrong.
Malcolm had serious misgivings.

Besides, these were gigantic shoes he was stepping into, and the fit wasn't quite snug enough.

At the same time, still on a high from her successful shopping trip, Jacqui felt a little thirsty and decided to go for a quick drink.

After searching for a while and not finding anything that was remotely suitable, she decided to pop into a place called Club Dante.

She was a little put off that she had to pay an entrance fee.
And taking a look around, she felt that she'd spent far too much as it was.

The walls were covered in wallpaper and paint that desperately needed updating.
The bare brickwork was in dire need of re-pointing, and the toilets left much to be desired.

As for entertainment, well.

All that was there, was a large screen TV, a smattering of video games and a mini dance floor that had seen better days.


The guy behind the bar looked tired and jaded as he sullenly served her a drink.

It tasted watered down too.


Malcolm walked through the doors of Club Dante, right into a minefield.
First of all, Cale had a go at him for all the long hours he'd worked.

"Dammit man," he exclaimed furiously, "where's the extra staff you promised me?"

Malcolm shrugged indifferently.
It was no use trying even to explain.
Nobody wanted to work for the Club, and that was that.

Then a slightly built, well dressed man approached him, an irate expression on his face.


"What are you going to do with those toilets?" he hissed, his Italian accent really showing through, "and that hideous sign outside. I've a good mind to call Environmental Health and have this place closed down once and for all."

But Malcolm wasn't paying the slightest bit of attention to Checo Ramirez.

His gaze was fixed elsewhere.
A woman in a light blue suit, was just about to walk out of the Club.

And out of his life forever.


He thought she was the most striking woman he'd ever laid eyes on.

She was just what he needed.

And true to Landgraab policy.

Whatever a Landgraab wants....
...a Landgraab gets.

And Jacqui Delavaux was next on his list.