Mr Spencer(27)

“Only for your own safety, Charlotte. You are my most prized possession, and if anything happened to you...” His voice trails off. “You are a target now, love.”

“I won’t take stupid risks, Dad, and I’ll take the boys with me everywhere I go. I’m just going to be working through the day and going out to dinner with the girls at night. Nothing extreme.””

He inhales sharply.

“Please, I need some time with my girlfriends.” An unexpected wave of sadness rolls over me, because it really is true. “I’m lonely, Dad. I’ll go crazy locked up here at the house alone for six weeks.”

“I’ll speak to Edward.” He sighs.

“Thank you. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I hear the rustling of papers, and I imagine him sitting at his large mahogany desk, ruling the world from New York. “When do you want to go?”

“I have to be there for Monday, so I will go on Saturday, if that’s okay.”

“And where will you be staying?”

“I booked the Four Seasons penthouse so that I’m the only room on the entire floor. Nobody will be able to get in without a key.” I smile to myself. “See, I really do listen to you.”

“Okay.” He inhales again, and I can imagine him leaning back in his chair. “Are you really all right, Charlotte?”

My eyes fill with tears, because I honestly don’t know if I am. “Missing Mum,” I confess in a whisper.

“Me, too, darling. Me, too.”

We stay silent on the line, both lost in our own grief.

I smile sadly. “Thanks, Dad. I love you. I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“I love you, dear. Sleep well.”

After hanging up, I make my way to the kitchen and put the kettle on. That wasn’t a hard phone call, after all. However, the next one definitely will be, and if I know anything for certain, it’s that Edward will call me in approximately fifteen minutes and begin freaking out.

My phone begins to vibrate on the kitchen bench, the name Edward lighting up the screen. Five minutes—a new record time.

“Hello, Edward.”

“Charlotte, what do you think you’re doing?”

“I’m going to London.”

“Why?”

“I have to work.”

“Send someone else instead.”

“I can’t, I need to do this.”

“I’ll come home and go with you. I’ll only be a week.”

“Edward,” I sigh, exasperated. “I’m fine. I’ll be with Elizabeth.”

“That doesn’t make me feel any better. Beth is out of control.”

I get a flashback of him from the other night, and I want to blurt out the question, Are you sleeping with Lara? Why is it a secret from me? but I hold my tongue.

“Where will you be staying?” he asks abruptly.

“The Four Seasons penthouse. The only room on the floor.”

“You’ve spoken to Anthony?”

“Yes, Anthony can come, and so can Wyatt.”

“Hmm.”

“It’s just for work, Edward, and I’ll have the guards with me the entire time.”

“I don’t like this.”

“I know you don’t, but you can’t stop me going. Dad said it was okay. I’m going to London for work, not Ibiza to party. Lighten up.”

“Hmm.” He groans.

I smile, because I know I’ve got him. “I love you.”

“Fine, but I’ll organise their rooms at the Four Seasons myself. And I’m calling Alexander to keep an eye on you.”

I smile. Alexander York is his best friend from school, and he just so happens to live in London. “Fine,” I reply.

“And if I hear of you in London running amuck, I’m coming straight home and dragging you back to Nottingham.”

I chuckle. “You’re so dramatic.”

He exhales heavily. “See ya, Lottie.”

I grin with victory. I can’t believe this plan is actually working out.

“Goodbye, Edward, I love you.”

“Yeah… I love you, too.” Then he hangs up. I stare at my reflection in the kitchen window and smile. How the hell did I just pull that off?





*



The convoy of cars pulls into the Four Seasons at approximately 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.

I’m in Beth’s car, the black Mercedes with the two security guards inside it trailing silently behind us both.

I look over to Beth as she bounces in her seat. “My fucking God, can you believe you are doing this?”

“No.” I hold my stomach. “I feel sick. What if I get caught?”

She shrugs as she pulls the car to a stop. “Who cares? What’s the worst that could happen? Edward flips his lid, like he doesn’t do that once a fucking week anyway.”

I smile. It’s so refreshing having a friend who doesn’t give a damn.

Beth hands the keys to the parking attendant once we’re parked, and we get my bags out of the boot of the car. I’ve warned the boys that they’re to keep their distance. I don’t want anyone to know that they are with me or are my security team. I want to appear normal. I am normal… it’s just my life that isn’t.