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“But, Saain”

“Of course you will, Seb Think long-term, and you’ll understand the difference between Adrian Sloane and Cedric Hardcastle Because I’, very few people will be attending Sloane’s funeral”

Friday turned out to be the longest day of Sebastian’s life He’d hardly slept the previous night as he tried to work out what Kaufman was up to

When Sa’s, he pottered around the flat, pretended to read aup the few breakfast dishes, even went for a run in the park, but by the tiot back, it was still only just after eleven

He took a shower, shaved, an

d opened a tin of baked beans He continually glanced at his watch, but the second hand still only circled the dial every sixty seconds

After what passed for a fork lunch, he went upstairs to the bedroom, took his smartest suit out of the wardrobe, and put on a freshly ironed white shirt and his old school tie He finally polished a pair of shoes until a sergeant major would have been proud of them

At four o’clock he was standing at the bus stop waiting for the number 4 to take hih he walked slowly, he was standing outside Kauf for it but to stroll around the block As he walked past so many familiar City institutions, he was re in the Square Mile He tried not to think about being uneth of time

At 4:38, Seb marched into the bank and said to the receptionist, “I have an appointment with Mr Kaufman”

“Which Mr Kauf him a warm smile

“The chairman”

“Thank you, sir If you’d like to take a seat, I’ll let him know you’re here”

Seb paced around the lobby watching another second hand er clock but with exactly the sahts were interrupted by a tap on his shoulder and the words, “The chair for us in his office I’ll take you up”

Seb was impressed that Vic hadn’t said “Dad” He could feel the pal, and as the lift trundled slowly up to the top floor he rubbed them on his trousers When they entered the chairman’s office, they found Mr Kaufman on the phone