His hard body up against mine. His hands all over me.
It felt so natural. With his classic good looks and his sense of humour, I’ve thought of him often over the last ten days, and always with regret.
I wish I was experienced enough to please him. Lord knows, I wanted to.
Beth is right; I need to change my life, and I need to start living. My plan is to ease my father and the guards into this different lifestyle, and then when they get back into the country, I’m not going home.
I don’t care about the consequences anymore. It is what it is, I’m not doing anything wrong by wanting some independence.
I’m staying in London to find myself, whoever she may be. I’ve done my time being a good girl and toeing the Prescott line. My pining for Spencer has shown me exactly what I’m missing out on: Fun.
I would look for an apartment to rent permanently, but I know it will only entice a panic, and Edward will be here in an instant to drag me back to Nottingham.
I’m going to ease myself into it to—see if I even like living in London.
I hear the door open, and Beth comes into view. “Are you ready to hit the town?”
I snap my computer shut. “Sure am.”
She holds her hands up in the air.
“What?”
“Anthony just checked me out on my way in.”
“He did?” I smirk.
“He told me I looked gorgeous.”
“Well, it’s true, you do.”
She narrows her eyes. “Do you think he has a girlfriend?”
“No idea. Edward would know.”
“Next time you speak to Edward, ask him for me.”
“Okay. You ready to go?” I ask.
“Sure am.” She rubs her hands together in delight. “I’m going to prick-tease Anthony tonight ‘til his balls fall off.”
I grab my keys and bag. “That will be traumatising for me to watch, but whatever.”
“This time tomorrow, he’s going to be jerking off to the thought of me,” she brags as she reapplies her lipstick.
I burst out laughing. “Beth.”
“No, it’s, Oh, fuck yeah, Beth,” she says, feigning a man’s voice as she pretends to wank herself off.
“Where did I pick you up?” I cringe.
She bats her eyelashes playfully and links her arm with mine. “From the Fun Friend Lottery. Now, let’s go.”
*
“So, you won’t let anyone see you, will you?” I ask Wyatt for the tenth time. It’s Monday morning and I am freaking out about my new job. The two of us are walking down the bustling street towards my new office building.
He raises his brows with exasperation. “I told you ten times… no, but I don’t understand why anyone can’t see us. They all know you have guards.”
“It’s just weird you know, I don’t want to seem odd to my new colleagues.”
He rolls his eyes.
“And there are guards in the foyer of the building, so you don’t need to hang around, Wyatt.”
“Well, we sure aren’t leaving you here.”
“That’s ridiculous,” I scoff. “Go and do your thing for the day and I’ll text you half an hour before my lunch break. Then you can come back and take me to lunch.”
We arrive outside the tall building. We peer through the glass to see a metal detector and three armed guards.
“See.” I smile. “This place is like Fort Knox.”
One of the floors upstairs is the home of the American Embassy. I couldn’t have planned it any better myself.
Wyatt looks around and exhales heavily. “Fine. Call me half an hour before your lunch break and I’ll meet you back here.”
I bounce on the spot as I grab his big arm and squeeze it tight.
“Thank you.”
I take off through the large glass doors and hop into the lift, my nerves really beginning to rise.
The elevator is full, and people are all staring straight ahead. I clutch my handbag tightly, flinching when my phone beeps with a message. I scramble to read it.
It’s from Beth.
Good luck today, Lottie Preston xxx
I bite back my smile and reply.
I’m so nervous, I’m about to throw up.
See you tonight.
xoxo
The doors open on the twenty-fifth floor, and I tentatively walk out and look around. There are people and desks everywhere. This place is a hive of activity. Where do I go?
I see a girl sitting at a desk, and I walk over. “H-hello. I’m starting today, would you know where I should go?”
She looks up at me and fakes a smile. “Hey, sure. Back office on the farthest wall.” She gestures to the other end of the space. “Ask for Veronica.”
I grip my handbag tightly. “Okay, thank you.” I make my way to the office and stand by the door.
“Listen, if you continue to be lazy and not get through your work each day, I don’t have a position here for you. Do you understand me?” I hear a woman chastise.
“Yes, Veronica,” a man answers.
I swallow the lump in my throat and stand still. Shit, she sounds mean.
“Why weren’t these reports done on time?”
“I’ve been doing three people’s jobs, and I haven’t had time.”
“Then you make time,” she snaps. “Get back to work right now, and don’t make me call you in here again. I don’t have the time or the energy to follow you around doing your work for you, Marcus.””
“Yes, Veronica. It won’t happen again.” He turns and scurries past me, too rattled to even say hello.
The blood drains from my face.
“Yes?” she barks at me.
“Oh.” I pause and step into her office. “My name is Lottie Preston. I’m meant to be starting here today,” I whisper nervously.
She frowns. “Just a minute.” She dials a number on her office phone, looking me up and down as it rings.
I shrivel under her glare.
“Yes. I have a Lottie Preston here, says she’s starting today.” She listens for a moment. “Okay.”
I glance over at the door wondering if it’s too late to run.
She takes something out of her top drawer. “You’re in the mailroom, follow me.”
She stands and storms past me, and I swallow the lump in my throat. God, this woman is a rude pig. Not even an introduction? She’s short and stocky with a strawberry blonde bob. I follow her as she powers through the office.
Who was I kidding? This was a stupid idea.
“You’re on the tenth floor in the mailroom.” She passes me a security card. “This is your key to get around the building.”
I take it from her. “Thank you.”
We get into the elevator and she hits the button hard. “I’m your manager. My name is Veronica, obviously, and as you probably just heard, I don’t tolerate laziness.”
My eyes widen.
“You’ll be on time, you will work hard, and you won’t gossip with colleagues and waste my valuable time. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes,” I murmur with wide eyes. “Of course.”
The doors open on the tenth floor and she storms out again. This floor is different. There are huge conference tables everywhere, and over in the back corner I can see five small desks. Only one woman and a man are sitting at them working on their computers.
“What are you doing, Paul?” Veronica snaps.
He spins on his chair, obviously not having heard us coming. “Hello, Veronica.” He smiles cheerily.
“This is Laurel,” she says to Paul, introducing me incorrectly.
“Lottie,” I whisper.
She frowns and looks me up and down again. “Lottie.” She rolls her eyes like I’m an inconvenience. “Lottie is starting in the mailroom today. Sarah, you can train her, please?”
The pretty girl smiles, and it’s the first genuine smile I have seen aimed my way since arriving here. “Hello.”
She has long dark hair and looks like a sexy penthouse pet with her huge boobs, silicone lips, and fake eyelashes. I feel so dreary in my sensible clothes.
“Hi,” I croak.
“Back to work,” Veronica says. “Laurel, if you need anything, come and see me in my office.”
I frown. “It’s Lottie.” But she doesn’t hear me—she’s already power walking back to the lifts.
“Fucking slut,” Paul groans once Veronica has disappeared.
My eyes widen.