[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.But& ' She glances at Martin.'But what?' I say, feeling a twinge of alarm.'Apparently we're no longer eligible,' says Martin awkwardly.'Since we switched our investment.Ourold fund would have qualified, but& ' He coughs.'I mean, we will get something  but it'll only beabout ?100.'I stare at him blankly.'But you only switched& ''Two weeks ago,' he says.'That's the irony.If we'd just held on a little bit longer& Still, what's done isdone.No point whingeing about it.' He gives a resigned shrug, and smiles at Janice, who smiles back.And I look away and bite my lip.Because a nasty cold feeling is creeping over me.They took the decision to switch their money based on my advice, didn't they? They asked me if theyshould switch funds, and I said go ahead.But now I come to think of it& hadn't I already heard arumour about this takeover? Oh God.Did I already know? Could I have stopped this?'We could never have known these windfalls would happen,' says Janice, and puts her handcomfortingly on his arm.'They keep these things secret right up until the last minute, don't they, Becky?'My throat's too tight to answer.I can remember exactly now.It was Alicia who first mentioned thetakeover.The day before I came down here.And then Philip said something about it in the office.http://www.fictionbook.ru/author/kinsella_sophie/the_secret_dreamworld_of_a_shopaholi.3/16/2006The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic Page 100 of 140Something about with-profits holders doing well.Except& I wasn't really listening.I think I was doingmy nails at the time.'Twenty thousand pounds, they reckon we would have got if we'd stayed,' says Martin gloomily.'Makes you sick to think about it.Still, Janice is right.We couldn't have known.Nobody knew.'Oh God.This is all my fault.It's all my fault.If I'd just used my brain and thought for once in mylife&'Oh Becky, don't look so upset!' says Janice.'This isn't your fault! You didn't know! Nobody knew!None of us could have-''I knew,' I hear myself saying miserably.There's a flabbergasted silence.'What?' says Janice faintly.'I didn't know, exactly,' I say, staring at the ground.'But I heard a sort of rumour about it a while ago.Ishould have said something when you asked me.I should have warned you to wait.But I just& didn'tthink.I didn't remember.' I force myself to look up and meet Martin's astonished gaze.'I& I'm reallysorry.It's all my fault.'There's silence, during which Janice and Martin glance at each other and I hunch my shoulders,loathing myself.Inside, I can hear the phone ringing, and footsteps as someone goes to answer it.'I see,' says Martin eventually.'Well& not to worry.These things happen.''Don't blame yourself, Becky,' says Janice kindly.'It was our decision to switch funds, not yours.''And remember, you've been under a lot of pressure yourself recently,' adds Martin, putting asympathetic hand on my arm.'What with this dreadful stalking business.'Now I really think I'm going to cry.I don't deserve these people's kindness.I've just lost them ?20,000,through being too bloody lazy to keep up with events I'm supposed to know about.I'm a financialjournalist, for God's sake.And suddenly, standing there in my parents' garden, I'm plunged to the lowest ebb of my life.Whathave I got going for me? Nothing.Not one thing.I can't control my money, I can't do my job and Ihaven't got a boyfriend.I've hurt my best friend, I've lied to my parents  and now I've mined myneighbours.I should just give up and go to a Buddhist monastery or something.'Becky?'My father's voice interrupts us all, and I look up in surprise.He's striding across the lawn towards us, aperturbed look on his face.'Becky, don't be alarmed,' he says, 'but I've just had that Derek Smeath chap on the phone.''What?' I say, feeling my face drain in horror.'The stalker?' exclaims Janice, and Dad gives a sober nod.'Quite an unpleasant fellow, I would say.He was really quite aggressive towards me.''But how does he know Becky's here?' says Janice.'Obviously just taking pot luck,' says Dad.'I was very civil, simply told him you weren't here and that Ihad no idea where you were.''And& and what did he say?' I say in a strangled voice.'Came out with some nonsense about a meeting you'd set up with him.' Dad shakes his head.'Thechap's obviously deluded.''You should change your number,' advises Martin.'Go ex-directory.''But where was he phoning from?' says Janice, her voice rising in alarm.'He could be anywhere!' Shestarts looking agitatedly around the garden as though expecting him to jump out from behind a bush.'Exactly,' says Dad.'So, Becky, I think maybe you should come inside now.You never know withthese characters.''OK,' I say numbly.I can't quite believe this is happening.I look at Dad's kind, concerned face andsuddenly feel like crumpling into tears.Oh why didn't I tell him and Mum the truth? Why did I letmyself get into this situation?'You look quite shaken up, dear,' says Janice, and pats rne on the shoulder [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]