I smile. The fucking nerve of this guy.
“Let me tell you this, Mr Prescott.” I exhale heavily. “If I were to contact Charlotte at any point, it is none of your damn business, only mine and hers.”
“The hell it isn’t my business.” He jumps up from his seat and moves to stand in front of me. “My job is to protect her from men like you.”
“I thought your job as her brother would be to love her?”
He raises his chin in defiance, unimpressed with that hidden accusation I planted there. “I protect her from everything. Sleazy arseholes like you being one of the more specific threats.”
“Is that what you think I am?”
He steps forward until our faces are close. “Stay away from my sister, Mr Jones.”
I glare at him. “Or what?”
“Or you’ll deal with me.”
“Do you really think that you could keep me away from her, if she was truly who I wanted?”
“Is she?”
I smirk. “I will not discuss my intentions with you, but I will say that you underestimate her greatly. She is intelligent and old enough to make her own decisions.”
“She is not accustomed to men like you.”
“And what kind of man would you have her go out with?” I fire back. “Alexander York, perhaps?” I smirk. “I’m quite sure he would love to be a part of the Prescott family.”
His face falls before he quickly masks it. “Don’t be ridiculous, he’s a friend to her.”
“Does he know that?” I ask with a raised eyebrow. “Have you seen him with her?”
The best form of defence is attack. I’m going to throw him off the scent.
“Maybe you should ask Charlotte about Charlotte and stop jumping to ridiculous assumptions. Have you really driven all the way from Manchester to London, just to see me?”
Satisfaction flashes across his face, and that’s when I know he’s just fallen for my fake ignorance of his family. If I knew her well-which he doesn’t need to know I do… not yet-I would know Manchester isn’t where they live, or where he has just travelled thousands of miles from.
“I was in town doing business,” he lies.
“Well, it was nice meeting you, Mr Prescott.”
His eyes hold mine and we glare at each other.
“I don’t want to have this conversation again. Stay away from Charlotte. Do I make myself clear?”
I smile broadly. I would just love to throw it in his face right now for being such a conceited prick, but I won’t. I won’t… for Charlotte’s sake. Edward doesn’t respect her, but I do.
“Perhaps next time we meet, you will be a touch more well-mannered, Mr Prescott.” That’s the only answer I give him. “Or at least have some idea what you are talking about. I don’t have time for childish, half-thought out assumptions. I’m a very busy man.”
His eyes blaze with anger, and he steps forward so his face is only millimetres from mine. “I don’t like you.”
Our eyes are locked.
“You don’t have to.” I smirk. “Now get out.”
We stand toe-to-toe as fury boils between us. Eventually, he turns and leaves without another word. The door clicks closed, and I inhale a deep breath as I drop into my chair.
Fucking hell, this really is going to be World War Three.
Charlotte
I push the heavy mail cart though the office. “Lottie!” Scott calls as he leans back on his chair.
“Yes?” Scott is the cheeky man from level six. He’s good looking, and so, so much fun.
“Are we on for tonight?” he teases with a wiggle of his eyebrows.
I hand him the wad of mail for his department. “No, we’re not on for tonight. I tell you that every day.”
He winces and tips his head back to the Heavens. “Oh, come on, you don’t know what you are missing out on. I’m every woman’s dream, you know?”
I chuckle and keep pushing my trolley.
“Call me!” he cries out in a girl’s voice. I smile as I walk along and continue handing out the mail. Who knew that this shitty job could make me so happy? I look up ahead and see Sarah swinging on a chair as she talks to three girls. She glances over at me.
“This cart is heavy, you know…” I huff.
She ends her conversation and skips over. “Oh, I was just getting the gossip. Apparently Tiffany broke up with Zane because she caught him having sex with Brittany from level two. They were doing it in her car in the basement car park.”
I wince. “Oh shit.”
“But apparently Tiffany gave Darren a blowie the other night in his car when he drove her home, and that’s why he fucked Brittany. It was his payback.”
My mouth falls open. “Who told you that?”
“Darren told Paul, Paul told me, and I just told them.”
“God, it’s so sleazy. Who gives other guys blowies when they have a boyfriend?”
“I know.” She takes the cart for me. “I told you, this place is Hot Dick City, and every woman is here for herself. Women can’t control themselves.”
I giggle as I walk beside her. “Have you ever given anyone here a blowie?”
“Yeah.” She nods. “Last year at the Christmas party I had a threesome in one of the offices on level eleven.”
My mouth falls open. “Sarah,” I gasp. “What the hell?”
“I know, right?” She shrugs. “Weirdest night of my life. It was like the twilight zone, and it was totally shit.”
“Why?” I frown. I’ve been watching this stuff on YouPorn and it looks anything but shit.
“Frigging hell, there was just too much going on, you know? One minute I’m riding, then I had a dick getting shoved down my throat at the same time. Then the other one is flipping me around and doing me doggy, while the other one is pulling my hair so I can suck his dick just how he wants it. I couldn’t concentrate on any one task enough to do a good job of it.”
I burst out laughing, imagining her getting flipped around like a ragdoll while trying hard to concentrate.
“Honestly, threesomes are like some kind of Olympic pentathlon except you have to do all the events at the same time. Good in theory.” She puffs air into her cheeks and shakes her head. “Not so much in practice.”
I put my hands over my face and laugh. I’m never going to think of Olympic pentathlons the same ever again. I love this girl, but a sadness fills me. I’m going to miss her when I leave.
Maybe she could come with me?
Enjoy every day while I can.
My phone rings in my pocket and I take it out, the name Spence lights up the screen.
“I’m just going to take this,” I whisper.
“Sure thing.” She continues pushing the cart.
I step into the stairwell. “Hello.”
“Angel.” His deep voice purrs, and a broad smile crosses my face. Even his voice makes me giddy.
“How are you?” I ask dreamily.
“Missing my girl.”
“Well, you get to see her in…” I glance at my watch, “approximately five hours.”
“I’m counting the minutes.”
I swoon. He’s so gorgeous.
“I’m calling to give you my address.”
“Oh.” I bunch my shoulders together in excitement. “That’s right, we’re having a sleepover at your house tonight.”
“We are,” he purrs. “What time will you be here?”
“I’ll finish at five and go back to grab my stuff, and then I’ll be over.”
“Bring a few days clothes.”
I smile. “Is this an extended sleepover?”
“Mmmhmm, it is. Don’t shower before you come.”
“Why not?” I frown.
“Because that’s fifteen more minutes that I don’t get to see you. Besides, I like to wash you.”
My heart sings in my chest. He does love to wash me. I’ve never felt so adored in all of my life.
“Okay,” I whisper. I’ve told him I love him a few times, and he hasn’t said it back yet, not since that first time he said it when we were arguing about Sheridan. I’m trying not to be needy.
“Goodbye, Spence,” I say.
“Where’s my I love you?” he asks.
Relief hits me. “I love you.” I smile.
He inhales sharply. “And now my day is complete. See you tonight, angel.” He hangs up and I frown. I stare at the phone in my hand for a moment. Why does he notice when I don’t say it to him, but then he never says it back to me?
Men.
Well, that’s it, I’m not saying it again until he does. I walk back into the office to find Sarah laughing out loud with a group of girls and I find myself smiling broadly. Who’s slept with who now?