Mr Spencer(20)

I stare at her.

“You are going to go crazy in that stuffy castle of a prison, Charlotte. You are wasting the best years of your life.”

“It’s not a prison,” I retort. “I live there because of my father, and it’s my home.”

“Bullshit. Edward will control you while you continue to live there, and you know it.”

I stare at her.

“He knows who you date, when you get home, what you are eating for dinner.”

I sip my wine. “It’s true, he does.”

“All I’m saying is that it’s great that you’re ready to start dating, but do it in London, away from your brother.”

“I love my brother, Lars. I know he’s just trying to protect us all after mum died.”

“I know he is, too, and he’s a good man. Just misunderstood.” She smiles as she watches me. “He goes away tomorrow for six weeks, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah.” I frown. “How do you know that?”

Her face falters. “You mentioned it the other week.”

I stare at her for a moment. I didn’t even find this out until two days ago, and I haven’t spoken to Lara in that time.

“What are you doing in town, Lars?” I ask casually.

Is she fucking my brother?

No. Don’t be stupid.

“Oh, it’s Mum’s birthday tomorrow. I got the day off work, so I came home to see her. Do I need an excuse to see my best friend, too?”

“No.” I smile.

“Will you think about London?” she pleads.

“I have my job and I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” I shrug. “If I’m meant to move to London, the universe will give me a sign.”

“I know it will.” She smiles knowingly. “Now, we need to talk about Spencer.” She widens her eyes. “Tell me everything. Let’s stalk him from afar.”

I giggle.

“What does he do for work?” She frowns.

“Steel or something.”

She takes her phone out and begins to search him.

“Don’t tell me anything about the women you find on that thing,” I snap. God, it’s bad enough that he didn’t want me, I don’t need the women he did want rubbed in my face.

“Oh.” She frowns as she reads. “So, he’s an architect who designs skyscrapers and he owns a steel company that supplies to most countries for the said skyscrapers.” She purses her lips. “His company has four hundred staff. Wow, he’s no slouch.”

“I never said he was. You did.”

“Just don’t tell Edward that he came to your work. He will go nuclear. Or your father, for that matter.”

“I’m not that stupid.”

Lara’s eyes hold mine. “Promise me.”

“Promise you what?’

“Promise me you won’t fall for this guy’s cheap pickup lines. He’s a player—the player of all players.”

“I know, I’m not stupid. Give me some credit, please.” I sigh.

“Good.” She smiles broadly.

I sip my wine and stare across the restaurant. If only she knew that I offered myself to him on a silver platter and he turned me down.

I close my eyes in disgust. What the hell was I thinking?





*



It’s 10:00 p.m. and all is quiet on the estate. I pull the curtains back and stare out into the darkness. My mind keeps going over the fact that Lara knew Edward was going away tomorrow.

How did she know that? Had I told her and forgotten?

No. I hadn’t even known it myself.

I see the two security guards walking down the road performing their last sweep of the grounds for the night, and I walk out onto my front porch. “Hello,” I call out as they approach my property.

“Hello, Charlotte.” They both smile.

“Lovely night,” I say, aiming for casual.

“Yes, and warm for this time of year.”

“Does my brother have company tonight?” I ask.

They glance at each other. “I believe so,” Ryan says with caution.

“Do you know who with?”

They exchange looks again. “A… female friend,” Ryan answers.

I fold my arms over my chest. “And her name is?”

They once again look at each other. “We’re not sure, Charlotte.”

I tilt my chin and think for a moment. “Is this the first time she has been to the estate?”

“No, I don’t believe it is,” Ryan says. The two of them keep walking past in the hope that their interrogation will soon be over. “Goodnight, Charlotte,” Ryan calls out, effectively ending the conversation.

“Goodnight.” I huff, and I turn back into my house.

I head straight for the kitchen and flick the kettle on.

Edward and Lara? Surely not.

She sees other people. It was only last week that she went on a date with someone.

I think back over all the times over the years when they have had aggressive arguments with one another… mostly over me. Although, I must admit, they have always seemed to know a lot about each other.

Why would they hide it if something was going on?