He checked his wristwatch, a heavy gold one he only put on when he was meeting corporate clients.

“My legal team drew up the short form this morning,” he went on.

“It’s on the dining table right now.”

“What’s the rush, Patrick?”

He reached over and shut the catalog with a sharp snap.

“Because dragging this out doesn’t help either of us, and I’ve got a firm to run.”

By eleven thirty Patrick had laid three freshly printed pages out across the polished mahogany dining table.

“It’s a standard full release,” he said, drawing a heavy silver pen from his jacket.