‘I know what it is. You mean you only learned about it through Facebook? It’s been around for years.’
‘I’m not someone who ever goes out for breakfast. How on earth would I know of it otherwise?’
Nat laughed. ‘Guess you’ve proved there is a global culinary need for Facebook.’
She logged on to the poker site and went to her account settings. Cancel Account stared back at her.
‘Hold on a minute.’ Phyllie put her reading glasses on. ‘What does this say exactly?’
‘It’s pretty straightforward. You just press cancel account.’
Phyllie shook her head. ‘No, in this fine print it says if you are experiencing issues with gambling you can cancel your account and also be blocked from setting up a new one. I think you should tick this box.’
‘I doubt they can really block me. I could set up another account with fake information.’
Phyllie shook her head. ‘Not easily. From the sounds of this, you’d need a different credit card and a valid driver’s licence with the name matching that on the credit card.’
As she said it, Nat remembered the sign-up process, thinking it was more elaborate than she had anticipated.
‘Good,’ Phyllie said. ‘They’ve made this very difficult. Make sure you tick the box.’
Nat ticked the box, her mouse then hovering over the ‘Cancel Account’ button.
Phyllie gave her a nudge. ‘Come on, you can do it. This site has brought you nothing but misery.’
Actually, it had brought Nat incredible adrenaline bursts and happiness at times, but yes, overall, she’d spiralled down a dark hole of misery because of it. She clicked the ‘Cancel Account’ button and a screen confirming the cancellation and blocking of PinkFish88 appeared. She shut it down and searched Poker site blockers.
It only took ten minutes, and they’d installed enough blocks to lock out all the main poker sites. When she searched now and clicked on any of the websites, she was instantly blocked.
‘We need to update those every few weeks,’ Phyllie said. ‘They’ll add any new sites that have popped up that might lure you in.’
‘We’re done then,’ Nat said. ‘I should log in to Gambler’s Aid and tell the women I was chatting to the other day that I took their advice on board. They’ll probably have tips on how to overcome any cravings I have.’
Phyllie stood and slowly moved back to her armchair. Her face was serious.
‘What? The group is for addicts. No one’s going to be encouraging me to gamble.’
‘It’s not that. It’s this new job of yours. It is real, isn’t it? You’re not just planning on heading out to work each day and going to the casino, or somewhere else you can play the pokies or join a poker tournament?’
‘It’s definitely real. In fact, why don’t you come and have lunch with me one day next week? I’ll show you around the offices, and you can see exactly what I do. I’m sure they won’t mind. Just give me a day or two to settle in first.’
Phyllie nodded. ‘Okay, but probably not for lunch. I’ll drop in when I’m free. If you’re available that’s great, if not you can say a quick hello and get back to it.’
Nat was about to object when she realised Phyllie was going to drop in at a random time to make sure she was there. If they pre-planned lunch, Nat could conveniently turn up whether she worked there or not. She felt awful that she’d put her grandmother in a position of not being able to trust her.
She didn’t say anymore, instead turned her attention back to the screen and logged in to the chat room. She had a message flashing and clicked on her inbox.
LizaE
Hey, PinkFish88. BrownDog40 and I have set up a private group for the two of us. After the ‘dick’ ruined our last chat, we decided to make it less public. Would love you to join us if you would like to. Just click on the ‘accept’ button on my name in your private groups tab. It should bring you into our chat. Eliza.
Nat smiled. Eliza, hey. A clever use of her name for her username. She’d quite liked the brief conversation she’d had with the two women. She clicked on the ‘Accept’ button, and the screen changed to another chat screen. This time it had a highlight at the top that said ‘Private Conversation’. LizaE and BrownDog40 were already chatting, and it appeared their real names were Eliza and Suze. She wasn’t sure she wanted to share her real name. She needed anonymity. Lia. It was perfect. She and Amy often joked that as it was the last three letters of their full first names, they actually shared a name.
She quickly read through their conversation. Her eyes widened as she read Suze’s comments about having done something her husband wouldn’t forgive her for and not knowing how to move forward. This probably wasn’t to do with poker, but it was indeed intriguing. From Suze’s earlier comment that she tended to overreact, Nat assumed this might also be the case.
PinkFish88
Hi ladies, thanks for the invite. Touched to be included. Lia.
BrownDog40
Great to see you here, Lia. How are you doing? Thought we’d get away from the ‘dick’, as we are now calling him.
Nat laughed. A perfect name for BBrooter.
PinkFish88
Good plan. I have lots to tell you both but can see you were mid-conversation. I’ve read through and am all caught up. I’m intrigued, so don’t let me interrupt. You sounded like you were about to get something off your chest, Suze?
Chapter Nineteen
Hannah had already started her message when PinkFish88, otherwise known as Lia, had joined the chat. She continued typing, realising it was going to be a long message. Part of her found it difficult to believe she was going to share what she’d done with two strangers. While she’d never met them, she still agonised over what they would think of her. She hit send on the message and waited. It would take them some time to read and digest everything she’d said. Would they come back telling her what an awful person she was and that it served her right that she was now being blackmailed?
She checked the clock on her office wall. It was almost six. She should get packed up and head home. She needed to relax before she picked up Amy and Bear, who had been invited to Skye’s after school. She posted another quick message.
BrownDog40
Leaving work now. Completely understand if you think I’m an awful person. No need to sugarcoat your thoughts, I probably need to hear them. Will check messages when I get home. x
She switched off her computer and quickly tidied her desk. She had a big week next week, presenting to Halpin and Sons, and she would need part of the weekend to prepare. She slid a number of files into her briefcase, picked up her bag and left her office. The reception area was deserted, as was the rest of the floor. She pressed the button for the lift, her mind still in the chat room. She shouldn’t have told them. She could imagine how she would have reacted if either of them had posted that message. She would have considered their actions not only irresponsible but downright deceitful. Would she have been able to see past this and realise they’d been protecting their husband and his adoptive mother?
It was close to seven by the time Hannah pulled into the driveway. She waited for the automatic garage door to open before driving into the space. She had two hours before she needed to get Amy. Two hours to get out of her work clothes, eat something, have a glass of wine and maybe even a bath. She felt like she needed to soak her mind if nothing else. It was always on the go, worrying endlessly about the Zane Fox situation.