Jonathan narrates that he and Martha have a two-month-old daughter, Nala, conceived naturally despite their ages. He professed love for children and presents himself as not wholly dark, contrasting past relationships with Amanda and Laura, whose children were tainted by his contempt for their mothers. With Martha, he feels genuine attachment and new vulnerability, fearing she might leave him, and he desires a better life for all three of them.

He describes a client in Hastings named Jessie, nearly seventy, whom he has serviced for over fifteen years. Jessie lives alone in a lavish seaside penthouse and treats him kindly, paying for his visit even when she says she may be done with sex. He seeks a reason to be by the coast and arranges to see her shortly after Nala turns two months old.

On her balcony, Jessie explains she feels she is moving on and wants to give Jonathan a parting gift. He anticipates money or something valuable, but she instead presents a pebble from the beach, urging him to think of his future and to pass it on one day. Internally enraged and disappointed, he jokes about expecting something valuable and conceals his true anger when she says she cannot disinherit her children.

Her refusal triggers Jonathan’s resentment over his own mother’s decision to deprive him of inheritance, briefly stirring violent fantasies toward Jessie. He suppresses these impulses, pockets the pebble, and feigns understanding. As he leaves, he flings the pebble back onto the beach, takes the £500 she insisted on paying, and reveals he has also stolen a man’s watch from her drawer.

In his car, Jonathan confirms the watch is a Cartier worth around £800. He then drives to a coastal village called the Riviera to observe Nina Swann. He describes Nina’s appearance, habits, and routine at her job in Dover, noting her Tuesday/Thursday schedule and her 3 p.m. café stop.

From a nearby table, he watches Nina order a green tea and muffin, noting her northern accent and speculating about her relationship with Paddy Swann and what might have attracted her to Paddy. He considers how Nina might react to him but restrains himself from making contact, determined not to be noticed yet. He returns his attention to his phone as Nina leaves the café and heads back to work.