Read Online The Exciting Life by Karen Mason - Free Book Online

much work. All I did was form allegiances with the
sons of other crooks. I didn’t leave with a qualification to my
name. Anyway, you were saying?’
    ‘ Yes, why don’t you do something for charity? An event or
something?’
    ‘ Like what?’
    ‘ I don’t know. Maybe something for Annie’s brother. He runs
Tanner Beresford. I’m sure they would benefit from some help, and
it would make you look good.’
    ‘ You know that isn’t a bad idea. What could we do
though?’
    ‘ Why don’t I meet him and discuss it?’
    ‘ You want to do it?’
    ‘ I’ve already met him. He seemed to like me.’
    ‘ I bet he did.’
    ‘ Nothing like that. Please Patrick. I want to do something to
help you.’
    ‘ Okay,’ he smiled. ‘See what you can do.’
     
    Iris didn’t even phone to make an
appointment to see Kenneth Holland. She decided to grab the bull by
the horns and go and visit him on spec. She wondered if she should
call Annie to get the address of Tanner Beresford, but changed her
mind. The least she could involve her, the better. Instead, once
Patrick had left for the day, she put on her favourite suit - an
emerald green dress and jacket that complimented her colouring, and
was decorated with a beautiful diamante brooch given to her by a
wealthy jockey she’d once had as a client. It was a reminder of the
life she wanted to leave behind, but at the same time it made her
look respectable and well-off.
    There
was a library round the corner from her flat, and Iris found a
business directory, to look for the address of Tanner Beresford.
She saw it was based on Horseferry Road, and so she set off and
caught a bus to Victoria. Once there she took a taxi the short
journey to Horseferry Road. She wanted to create the right
impression and turn up in style.
    The
offices of Tanner Beresford were based in a large block close to
Lambeth Bridge. Iris knew the area well. One of her clients had
been an MP with a flat in a street off here, and she laughed to
herself when she recalled her visits to him - when he would always
get her to dress as a French maid and talk in a stupid accent.
Who’d have thought just a few months later, she would be here on
business; about to put a non-sexual proposition to the head of a
major charity?
    She
entered the heavy, wooden rotating door that led onto a very
grand-looking reception. A prim-looking girl in heavy-rimmed
glasses sat behind a huge desk, and on spotting Iris, gave her a
very insincere, well-rehearsed smile.
    ‘ Can I help you?’ she asked in a snooty voice.
    ‘ Yes, I’d like to see Mr Holland please.’
    ‘ Do you have an appointment?’
    ‘ No, but I’m a friend of the family.’
    ‘ Well you can’t see him without an appointment. He’s a very
busy man.’
    ‘ But it’s important that I speak to him. Just tell him it’s
Iris Lindholm.’
    ‘ Mr Holland is indisposed. Could you please make an appointment
Miss Lindholm?’
    Iris
took a deep breath. There was nothing she hated more than jumped-up
office girls who thought they were better than her because they had
a job where they got to skivvy after some man. But she couldn’t let
the girl see her irritation - it would spoil the image she’d
cultivated for herself.
    ‘ Can you just telephone his office and ask him to see me for
five minutes?’
    ‘ No.’
    There
was the sound of a bell, and Iris realised it was the lift
announcing it’s arrival. There was a bank of lifts to the left-hand
side of the marble-floored lobby, and when the one nearest to her
opened, and Kenneth Holland emerged, along with a tall, rather
sleazy looking dark-haired man, Iris hoped and prayed he’d
recognise her. At first he walked past her, just throwing her the
slightest glance. She caught sight of the receptionist smirking and
she felt her cheeks burn red. But suddenly there was a
voice.
    ‘ Miss Lindholm?’
    She
silently thanked God and turned around. Kenneth and his associate
had both stopped close to the revolving door and Kenneth