The narrator recounted that Amanda’s sister, Bella, gave Amanda £5,000 as a gift with no expectation of repayment. He noted Amanda’s honesty in passing the full amount to him and reflected on how he had learned to manipulate women by testing and exploiting Amanda’s devotion. He contrasted Amanda with Tara, admitting he failed to fully breach Tara’s defenses because Tara’s daughter kept pulling her away.

He described his connection with Martha as surpassing anything before. Using Amanda’s money, he booked a three-night boutique hotel stay in the Cotswolds, timing it with a fabricated “hospital treatment” so he could plausibly be unreachable. Amanda saw him off, tenderly offering a homemade packed lunch for his supposed train journey, while he actually walked to his Tesla, which he had kept parked and charging nearby.

He collected Martha at St. Pancras. Martha was effusive and affectionate, saying the trip had sustained her through the week. As they drove in the sun, he told Martha he had a new job as “Director of client liaison for a hospitality training company,” citing a real listing he had applied for but never interviewed for, thereby implying he had the role. Martha congratulated him but worried about how their schedules would mesh.

Seizing the opening, he raised the idea of living together. Over cocktails at the hotel, he elaborated that his supposed job would involve travel and last-minute nights away, framing cohabitation as the solution. Martha, glowing and receptive, considered the logistics—her sons and her shop—and said the boys knew him and seemed fine, even joking about her double basins. She confessed she missed him when apart.

He reassured Martha that he felt even more strongly, intensifying the romantic atmosphere. Despite the strong physical pull between them, they deferred going upstairs because of a deposit on their six-course dinner. The scene ended with him declaring their future together would be “amazing,” and Martha trusting his certainty.