Speak of the ... - by Paul Coates (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Martin Hazel lives an unremarkable life living alone in a flat in north London and commuting daily to work in the City. Habitually, he takes the same carriage everyday on the underground, at the same time, seeing the same people whose routine matches his own. He never talks to his fellow passenger who, like him, bury their faces into books, newspapers or their mobile phones. His relationship with his girlfriend, Maureen, has become a little stale, and he fantasises about one of the regular commuters, an attractive blond, who he sees occasionally on his way to work. At work he has been overseen for promotion in favour of a younger, less capable, colleague who has risen to the dizzy heights of Assistant Manager by stroking the egos of those above him. Martin's friend and work colleague, Ben, is carefree and single and thinks Martin needs to remove his self imposed shackles and live a little. One day a new commuter appears in his carriage who is good looking and exudes charisma. Subsequently, Martin bumps into the stranger in social settings and, eventually, the stranger introduces himself as Sebastian Balfour. Sebastian insinuates that he is not what he seems, but is clearly wealthy and has a proposal that would take Martin out of his comfort zone as well as make him a multi-millionaire. But who, or indeed what, is Sebastian Balfour and will Martin take up the challenge.