Can You Keep A Secret?

'I… have no idea,' says Jack.

Kerry leans forward and fixes him with her blue eyes.

'Golf.'

'Golf!' echoes Jack.

'Business is all about networking,' says Kerry. 'It's all about contacts. I'm telling you, Jack,

I've met most of the top businesspeople in the country on the golf course. Take any company.

Take this company.' She spreads her arm around the scene. 'I know the top guy here. I could

call him up tomorrow if I wanted to.'

I stare at her, frozen in horror.

'Really?' says Jack, sounding riveted. 'Is that so?'

'Oh yes.' She leans forward confidentially. 'And I mean, the top guy.'

'The top guy,' echoes Jack. 'I'm impressed.'

'Perhaps Kerry could put in a good word for you, Jack!' exclaims Mum in sudden inspiration.

'You'd do that, wouldn't you, Kerry love?'

I would burst into hysterical laughter. If it wasn't so completely and utterly hideous.

'I guess I'll have to take up golf without delay,' says Jack. 'Meet the right people.' He raises his

eyebrows at me. 'What do you think, Emma?'

I can barely talk. I am beyond embarrassment. I just want to disappear into the rug and never

be seen again.

'Mr Harper?' A voice interrupts and I breathe in relief. We all look up to see Cyril bending

awkwardly down to Jack.

'I'm extremely sorry to interrupt, sir,' he says, glancing puzzledly around at my family as

though trying to discern any reason at all why Jack Harper might be having a picnic with us.

'But Malcolm St John is here and would like a very brief word.'

'Of course,' says Jack, and smiles politely at Mum. 'If you could just excuse me a moment.'

As he carefully balances his glass on his plate and gets to his feet, the whole family exchanges

confused glances.

'Giving him a second chance, then!' calls out Dad jocularly to Cyril.

'I'm sorry?' says Cyril, taking a couple of steps towards us.

'That chap Jack,' says Dad, gesturing to Jack, who's talking to a guy dressed in a navy blazer.

'You're thinking of taking him on again, are you?'

Cyril looks stiffly from Dad to me and back again.

'It's OK, Cyril!' I call lightly. 'Dad, shut up, OK?' I mutter. 'He owns the company.'

'What?' Everyone stares at me.

'He owns the company,' I say, my face hot. 'So just… don't make any jokes about him.'

'The man in the jester's suit owns the company?' says Mum, looking in surprise at Cyril.

'No! Jack does! Or at least, some great big chunk of it.' They're all still looking completely

blank. 'Jack's one of the founders of the Panther Corporation!' I hiss in frustration. 'He was

just trying to be modest.'

'Are you saying that guy is Jack Harper?' says Nev in disbelief.

'Yes!'

There's a flabbergasted silence. As I look around, I see that a piece of chicken drumstick has

fallen out of Kerry's mouth.

'Jack Harper — the multimillionaire,' says Dad, just to make sure.

'Multimillionaire?' Mum looks totally confused. 'So… does he still want the quiche?'

'Of course he doesn't want the quiche!' says Dad testily. 'What would he want a quiche for?

He can buy a million bloody quiches!'

Mum's eye starts flicking around the picnic rug in slight agitation.

'Quick!' she says suddenly. 'Put the crisps into a bowl. There's one in the hamper-'

'They're fine as they are…' I begin helplessly.

'Millionaires don't eat crisps from the packet!' she hisses. She plops the crisps in a plastic

bowl and hastily starts straightening the rug. 'Brian! Crumbs on your beard!'

'So how the hell do you know Jack Harper?' says Nev.

'I… I just know him,' I colour slightly. 'We've worked together and stuff, and he's kind of

become a… a friend. But listen, don't act any differently,' I say quickly, as Jack shakes the

hand of the blazer guy, and starts coming back towards the picnic rug. 'Just act the way you

were before…'

Oh God. Why am I even bothering? As Jack approaches, my entire family is sitting bolt

upright, staring at him in awe-struck silence.

'Hi!' I say, as naturally as possible, then quickly glare around at them.

'So… Jack!' says Dad self-consciously. 'Have another drink! Is this wine all right for you?

Because we can easily nip to the wine shop, get something with a proper vintage.'

'It's great, thanks,' says Jack, looking a little baffled.

'Jack, what else can I get you to eat?' says Mum, flustered. 'I've got some gourmet salmon

rolls somewhere. Emma, give Jack your plate!' she snaps. 'He can't eat off paper.'

'So… Jack,' says Nev in a matey voice. 'What does a guy like you drive, then? No, don't tell

me.' He lifts his hand. 'A Porsche. Am I right?'

Jack meets my eye with a quizzical expression, and I stare back him beseechingly, trying to

convey to him that I had no choice, that I'm really sorry, that basically I want to die…

'I take it my cover's been blown,' he says with a grin.

'Jack!' exclaims Kerry, who has regained her composure. She gives him an ingratiating smile

and thrusts out her hand. 'Good to meet you properly.'

'Absolutely!' says Jack. 'Although… didn't we just meet?'

'As professionals,' says Kerry smoothly. 'One business-owner to another. Here's my card, and

if you ever need any help with travel arrangements of any sort, please give me a call. Or if

you wanted to meet up socially… perhaps the four of us could go out some time! Play a

round? Couldn't we, Emma?'

I stare at her blankly. Since when have Kerry and I ever socialized together?

'Emma and I are practically sisters, of course,' she adds sweetly, putting her arm round me.

'I'm sure she's told you.'

'Oh, she told me a few things,' says Jack, his expression unreadable. He takes a bite of roast

chicken and starts to chew it.

'We grew up together, we shared everything.' Kerry gives me a squeeze and I try to smile, but

her perfume is nearly choking me.

'Isn't that nice!' says Mum in pleasure. 'I wish I had a camera.'

Jack doesn't reply. He's just giving Kerry this long, appraising look.

'We couldn't be closer!' Kerry's smile grows even more ingratiating. She's squeezing me so

hard, her talons are digging into my flesh. 'Could we, Ems?'

'Er, no,' I say at last. 'No, we couldn't.'

Jack's still chewing his chicken. He swallows it, then looks up.

'So, I guess that must have been a pretty tough decision for you when you had to turn Emma

down,' he says conversationally to Kerry. 'You two being so close, and all.'

'Turn her down?' Kerry gives a tinkling laugh. 'I don't know what on earth you-'

'That time she applied for work experience in your firm and you turned her down,' says Jack

pleasantly, and takes another bite of chicken.

I can't quite move.

That was a secret. That was supposed to be a secret.

'What?' says Dad, half laughing. 'Emma applied to Kerry?'

'I… I don't know what you're talking about!' says Kerry, going a little pink.

'I think I have this right,' says Jack, chewing. 'She offered to work for no money… but you

still said no.' He looks perplexed for a moment. 'Interesting decision.'

Very slowly, Mum and Dad's expressions are changing.

'But of course, fortunate for us here at the Panther Corporation,' Jack adds cheerfully. 'We're

very glad Emma didn't make a career in the travel industry. So I guess I have to thank you,

Kerry! As one business-owner to another.' He smiles at her. 'You did us a big favour.'

Kerry is completely puce.

'Kerry, is this true?' says Mum sharply. 'You wouldn't help Emma when she asked?'

'You never told us about this, Emma.' Dad looks completely taken aback.