Part 5 - Sydney swims out of his depth

Sydney swims out of his depth

There’s deep, too deep, then you’re having a laugh deep. Sydney had waded into this latter area. It was one of those client meetings where in your head you are screaming no, but out loud you are nodding yes.

‘So that’s a yes?’ asked Arthur, clearly leading the witness.

‘Erm,’

‘Come on now Sydney! Don’t be shy!’ encouraged Arthur.

‘Yes!’ replied Sydney trying to add as much positivity into his affirmation as possible. Arthur offered his accountant charge a knowing nod and then turned into the table of collected scoundrels with a big smile, his arms outstretched, his palms turned upwards. It was a position that the Lord himself could have used when addressing the crowds on the Mount of Beatitudes.

Sydney watched over his thick rimmed reading glasses as handshakes, hugs and back slaps were handed out around the room. What he had agreed to was of course highly illegal and they didn’t even have the funds for but, and here was the rub, Arthur surely knew best.

The room cleared leaving alone on his own the in it too deep accountant who was now desperately in need of a visit from one of Celia’s Friends. Hilary was his personal favourite but to be frank even Daphne the 72 year old moustached receptionist would do the job right now.

‘Well done Sydney,’ declared the returning and triumphant Arthur, ‘Harriet and Tania will be delighted that we’ve brought, and indeed bought, all the factions together. Now you just need to find the cash to pay everyone off Syd!’

Sydney waited, assuming this was a joke but realising as the minutes passed with Arthur sat working away, whistling as he did so the Marseillaise, that this was no joke but rather an elaborate set up.

‘I can’t Arthur,’ Sydney spluttered, his heart now pounding as much as his head. ‘We don’t have those funds.’

‘Well you said you could Syd, just then in front of all those nice people.’

‘But you made me!’ Sydney said, his voice trembling as he did so.

‘It will be fine!’ declared Arthur, rising from the desk and packing his things into his briefcase. ‘After all, you are the money man and you did say yes didn’t you…’

A X