Addicted to Mr Parks (The Parks Series #2)(56)

“She is. But David manages the media side of things. Public image and so forth.”

Most of the time I forgot how significant Parks actually was. In the business world. Celebrity word. Everything world. It made me feel insignificant whenever I thought about it. So I didn’t tend to.

“Is he miserable like Joanna?”

Parks chuckled and held up his ID card to the scanner on the lift. “Is Joanna miserable?”

I scoffed out a laugh. “She hates me with you, put it that way.”

His eyes grew curious and narrowed. “What has she said to you?” He held out his hand for me to enter the lift before him.

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

The lift hit the bottom floor quicker than I’d have liked, and Parks hurried me along the lobby and out to Cleaver’s car. There was also another important-looking car with blacked-out windows waiting.

“Oh.” I halted. “We’re not riding together?”

“No, Princess, I have to catch up on a few things on the way to work, and you’re a distraction.” Parks turned on his heel as a short, slim-built man approached. Greying hair came down his forehead into a widow’s peak, and a grey beard suited his features and wide-spaced brown eyes. He was also wearing an expensive tailored suit. “David, I would like you to meet Evelyn.”

Oh, the PA.

“Nice to meet you.” David shook my hand quickly, displaying a huge smile which only seemed to be on show for Parks’s sake. His eyes weren’t genuine as he studied me, and I could see right through them. Only when he started talking did I notice he had an abnormally long chin.


“Likewise, Dave.” My short smile was also fake as I scanned his body like he was doing mine.

“David,” he corrected me on a stiff nod.

My shrug was purposeful. “Dave, David. All the same to me.”

“But not to me,” he went on, acting in a playful manner, but I could see his gritted teeth under that fake smile.

“How about Twat, then?” I offered, gaining a mortified reaction from Parks.

“Evelyn!” he scolded me like I was a child. Seemed he didn’t see David for what he was. “David, excuse me.” Parks pulled at my elbow and marched me to Cleaver’s waiting car.

“What are you doing?” he hissed. “He was being polite.”

“Polite,” I scoffed, yanking my arm from his hold. “He doesn’t like me. So therefore, I instantly don’t like him.”

He ran a hand through his hair, clearly exasperated. “Evelyn, how the hell do you know that? You’ve only just met.”

“Listen, Parks.” I prodded him in his rock-hard chest with my finger. “I’ve met a lot of people who don’t like me, and I’ve sussed the body language out. He doesn’t like me.”

“Evelyn, you seriously drive me crazy.”

“I told you I was a handful.” I smirked.

“Well—” he bent down, and his lips quickly skated across my temple and into my ear, “—that’s why I have two hands. Now get to work.”

Parks opened up the door of the car for me to enter and gave my arse a harsh slap when I climbed in. “Bastard,” I gasped. “What was that for?”

Holding on to the car door, he called in, “You called me Parks.” Then he slammed the door shut.

Five thirty came around in no time, and I packed up my briefcase and climbed into the lift, needing to get to Parks’s office. Whilst riding the lift up with eight more people, my smartphone began to ring in my bag. I shoved my briefcase onto the floor and fished in my bag, where I saw a text on my phone. It was from Tabby, and she was reminding me of our planned night out. Shit. I’d completely forgotten. Not wanting to let her down a second time, I told her I couldn’t wait and asked that she text me her address so I could meet her there.

I picked up my briefcase and scrambled out into the lobby when it came to the top floor, trying to carry my briefcase and put my smartphone back into my bag at the same time.

“So you got your way, then?”

Flicking my hair out of my face after gathering myself, I came into contact with Joanna. Her beady eyes were in slits, her lips pouting, and her plump arms crossed.

“What?” My reply was mindless as I looked through the glass and saw Parks was still with somebody.

“I knew you would get your claws into Mr. Parks and his money somehow.”

“Oh Joanna, I really couldn’t care what you think. Go ahead and tell everyone I’m after his money if you like, because to be quite honest, I’d much prefer his dick.”

Leaving Joanna gaping, I let myself through the glass doors. Parks was just shaking hands with a client and showing him out.

“Princess.” Parks sagged when we were alone and brought me into his arms. “Ready to go home?”

“I’m going out tonight.”

He furrowed his brows, his body tensing around mine. “With whom?”

“Steph.” Shit. I almost scrunched up my face after that lie. A lie I told because I knew there was no chance in hell he would allow me to go out with a new friend. He’d tell me they weren’t trustworthy. Steph was completely trustworthy. I knew he wouldn’t stop me seeing her, and a fight was not something I intended on embarking on right then.