Chapter 46 Part III Current Situation-9

no one can predict the future I spent the whole morning helping my mother tidy up the clothes for the charity sale, and I had a relaxed and happy time.By 12:30 noon, we were in the kitchen making sandwiches together.As I looked up at the clock, it occurred to me that I was supposed to meet Derek Smeets three hours ago at Endwich Bank.But the thought was fleeting, like a voice in the distance.My whole London life seemed so remote and unreal at this moment.Only here is my home.Stay away from the frantic crowd and spend some quality time relaxing at home with mom and dad. After lunch I went into the garden with one of my mother's mail-order catalogs and sat on a bench under the apple tree.After a while I heard a voice from over the garden fence.I looked up and saw that it was Martin next door.Oh, now I don't want to see him.

"Hi, Becky," he asked softly, "how are you?" "I'm fine, thanks." I replied curtly.I don't care about your son, I almost added.But, they might think I'm in denial, no? "Becky," Janice appeared next to Martin with a small garden trowel in her hand.She looked at me with an awed expression. "We heard that someone... is stalking you," she whispered. "It's a crime," Martin said passionately. "These people should be locked up." "Is there anything we can do for you?" Janice said. "Anything that's useful, just talk to us."

"I'm really fine." I spoke softly to them. "I just want to stay home for a few days and get away from everything." "Of course you'd like to," said Martin. "What a sensible girl." "I was talking to Martin this morning," Janice said, "that you should hire a bodyguard." "In these days..." Martin went on, "you have to be careful." "That's the price of being famous," Janice said, shaking her head sadly. "The price of being famous!" "Okay, let's stop talking about that," I said, trying to change the subject. "howare you guys?"

"We're both fine," Martin replied, "at least I think so." To my surprise, he seemed to have a forced smile.After a pause, he glanced at Janice; Janice frowned and shook her head slightly at him. "Anyway, you're sure to be pleased with the news," I said cheerfully, "about Flagsteve's insurance company." There was a silence. "Well," said Martin, "we ought to be glad." "No one can predict." Janice shrugged slightly, "It's often like this, bad luck." "What's going on?" I was at a loss, "Aren't you going to get a lot of windfall money?"

"Looks like..." Martin wiped his face, "like that's not the case with us." "But...but why?" "Martin called them this morning to find out how much money we could get," Janice said. "They said in the paper that long-term investors could get thousands of pounds. But..." She glanced at Martin. "But what?" I felt a sudden panic. "Obviously, we're disqualified from dividends," Martin said awkwardly, "because we moved our investments. Our original investments would have gotten us a lot of money, but..." He coughed. " I mean, we can still get some money - but only around £100."

I stared at him blankly. "But you diverted your investment just to..." "Two weeks ago," he said, "what an irony! If only we could have held on a little longer . . . but there's no point in regretting it." He shrugged resignedly and smiled at Janice , and Janice smiled back. I bit my lip and looked away. A chill ran through my body.They took my advice to move the money, didn't they? They asked me if they should move the money and I said yes.But now that I think about it... I've heard rumors about this merger, haven't I? Oh God! I knew it already, I could have prevented it...

"We didn't expect it to be like this," Janice said, putting her hand on Martin's arm to reassure him. "They must have kept the news until the last minute, didn't they, Becky?" My throat constricted and I couldn't speak.Now I remember it perfectly.Alicia first mentioned the merger, the day before I came here.Then, Philip also talked about it in the office, saying that those fund holders did a good job.But...it's all because I was absent-minded and focused on manicure. "Twenty thousand pounds; they say we'll get twenty thousand pounds if we stick with it," said Martin despondently. "It makes me sick to think of losing a lot of money! But Janice is right. We don't Possibly a prophet. No one can predict the future."

God, it's all my fault, it's all my fault! If I had thought about it a little bit... "Oh, Becky, don't be sad!" said Janice. "It wasn't your fault! You didn't know it was going to happen! No one knew! No one could..." "I know." I heard myself answer miserably. They were both dumbfounded and speechless. "What did you say?" Janice asked feebly. "Exactly, I don't know." I stared at the ground, "But before this, I heard some rumors about mergers. When you asked me for advice, I should have said something, I should have reminded You wait. But I forgot all about it at the time." I forced myself to look up, and I saw Martin's startled eyes. "I...I'm really sorry. It's all my fault!"

In silence, Janice and Martin glanced at each other, while I stood dejectedly, cursing myself inwardly.At this time, I heard the phone at home rang, followed by footsteps of someone walking over to answer the phone. "I see," Martin said at last, "but . . . don't be sad. There's nothing anyone can do about it." "Don't blame yourself, Becky." Janice persuaded kindly, "We decided to transfer the investment, not you." "And don't forget, you've been under a lot of pressure recently." Martin put his hand on my shoulder sympathetically, "It's enough to upset you to be entangled."

Now I'm literally crying; I don't deserve the kindness they've been treating me like.Cost them £20,000 for my damned idleness.For God's sake, I'm still a financial reporter! Just like that, standing in the garden of my parents' house on a Monday afternoon, I suddenly fell into the lowest point of my life.What the hell can I do? Nothing, nothing bad.I can't manage my finances, I can't do my job well, and I don't even have a boyfriend.I hurt my best friend, I lied to my parents - and now I'm ruining the lives of my neighbors! I should just let it go and go find a monastery or convent or something.

"Becky?" Dad's voice interrupted our conversation, and I looked up in surprise.He was striding down the lawn towards us with a worried look on his face. "Becky, don't panic!" he said. "I was just on the phone with that guy named Derek Smeez." "What?" I felt my face turn pale with fright. "That haunting nuisance?" Janice exclaimed, and Dad nodded calmly. "I have to say, a really unpleasant guy. His attitude is quite arrogant and unreasonable." "But how did he know Becky was here?" Janice asked. "Obviously it's normal for him," Dad said. "I told him straight up, very politely, that you weren't here, and I didn't know where you were." "So... so what did he say?" I almost choked with tension. "He's talking nonsense that you promised to meet him." Dad shook his head. "That guy is clearly lying." "You should change the phone number," Martin suggested, "and not put it in the phone book." "But where did he call from?" Janice raised her voice alertly. "He could be anywhere!" Like jumping out. "Yeah," said Pa, "I think maybe you ought to go in the house now, Becky. You don't know who these people are." "Okay," I replied dully.I really can't believe what's going on.Looking at Dad's loving and caring face, I suddenly felt that tears were about to burst into my eyes.Oh why didn't I tell him and mom the truth? Why did I put myself in such a predicament? "Honey, you look terrified." Janice patted me on the shoulder. "Go back and have a good cup of tea!" "Okay," I said, "Okay, I think I will."