Lara hates the way that Edward tries to control me, to the point they have had many an argument. I think they secretly like each other but would never admit it.
“Edward is…” I shake my head as I try to articulate my thoughts. “He’s at the height of his controlling phase.”
“Ha, what’s new?”
“William came home this week and Edward called Penelope a whore. They had a huge fight, and William took off back to Switzerland.”
“Penelope is a whore.” She screws up her face. “I wish she’d gone back to Denmark with that German she was fucking,” she adds. “If she just left William back then, he would be over her by now. Maybe he’d finally be with someone deserving.”
“I know, she makes me sick.” I sigh.
A comfortable silence falls over us, until Lara smiles at me, something clearly on her mind.
“What?”
“Why don’t you move to London?”
“Lars.” I sigh. “When are you going to give up on this?” She’s been trying to talk me into moving for about eighteen months now.
“Never.” She takes my hands across the table. “It’s not like you can’t afford it. Your trust fund is bigger than the English reserve bank. Look, just move there for six months, date gorgeous men, have fun, meet new people. Elizabeth is in London, and you can go out and meet new people.”
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?
Are they fucking?
No. They’re not. I know they’re not. I’m just imagining things that aren’t there.
God, I really do need to get out more. Lara is right; I’m going crazy cooped up in this castle.
I make my tea and sit on the couch, my mind in overdrive.
I tap my tooth with my fingernail as I think. I wonder if Lara’s car is at his house.
I go into my office and pull the drapes back. I can see the lights from his house in the distance.
He has his own road in and out of his place, just like I do, but because his house is at the end of the estate, I wouldn’t have any clue who he has down there. Until tonight I’ve never wanted to know.
Well, damn this.
I go out to my front porch, sit on the steps, and put my trainers on. I’m going to see exactly who Edward is bedding tonight.
And if it is Lara, there is going to be blood. Whether that’s his or hers, I don’t know yet, but I won’t be impressed if they are sneaking around behind my back.
His, I decide. It will be his blood.
The thought of him sleeping with my best friend boils my blood.
She’s way too soft and sweet for him.
I know for sure if I had someone here for the night, Edward would be here in an instant, ordering them home. I look down at my white sweater. Hmm, this won’t do. I run upstairs and change into a black jumper and a black beanie. If I’m going to go spying, I may as well look the part.
I turn the torch on my phone on, and I look left and right to make sure the coast is clear. Then I slowly start to walk down the road towards Edward’s house. It’s a fair distance from my house, but I know the security staff have done their last check for the night and are tucked back in their office at my father’s. Wyatt finished work at 6:00 p.m. because he thought I wasn’t going anywhere.
I walk, and walk, and walk.