I hold my hands out proudly. “This is Spencer’s place.”
“Very nice.” He nods, impressed. “Although, I’m here to see you, not Spencer’s apartment.”
I exhale, knowing I’m about to be lectured. “Would you like some tea?”
“That would be lovely.”
We walk out into the kitchen and he takes a seat at the kitchen counter.
“What’s going on, love?” he asks softly. “I hardly slept last night.”
My eyes fill with tears. “Me, either.” I take his hand in mine. “I love him, Dad.”
He smiles softly. “I know you think you do…”
“No.” I shake my head. “Dad, I do.”
His eyes hold mine. “Tell me everything.”
I feel my nerves rise, because I know how important it is that I get this right.
“We met a while ago and…” How much do I actually tell him? All of it. “We went on a few dates.”
“How did I not know you were dating anyone?”
“Dad, you don’t know anything about me. I’m alone most of the time. You and Edward are so busy with work that you would have no idea what’s going on with me and my life. Not really.”
His face falls with disappointment.
“Spencer’s not what he seems, Dad.”
“Surely you can understand my fears.”
“I know, and I hate his reputation, too, but he’s not like that.” I shrug. “He used to be, but he’s changed, and a lot of the stories about him are untrue. That story said he was in Ibiza last week when he was here with me the whole time. He doesn’t even know the models named in those stories.”
He raises his brow sceptically.
“I know some of it’s true, and I have no doubt he was a player,” I add. “I’m not stupid.”
His eyes hold mine. “You are a target for someone like him. You’re young and innocent. He’s a lot older than you, Charlotte.”
“I know, but thirteen years isn’t that bad. I just don’t seem to like men my own age.”
“You haven’t dated any. How would you know?”
I shrug. “I just know.”
“I feel like he’s taking advantage of your inexperience.”
“Dad, he rejected me at first because of my inexperience.”
He frowns. “What do you mean?”
Oh Hell, why did I say that? I hesitate.
“Go on,” he urges.
“After a few dates, when we got closer, I told Spencer that I was… inexperienced… and he immediately broke it off with me. He said he didn’t deserve me.”
His eyes hold mine as he listens intently.
“Weeks later, I lied and told him that I wasn’t a virgin anymore in the hope that he would relax and take me out. I know he didn’t want me if he had to take that innocence away from me.”
“Charlotte,” he whispers in horror. “What on earth were you thinking?”
“Dad, don’t you see? I pursued him just as much as he pursued me. It’s special between us.”
He exhales heavily and puts his head into his hands. “I’m just…” He pauses. “I’m just asking you to slow down. I’ve already lost one son to a bad relationship. I couldn’t bear to lose you, too.”
“Dad, Penelope is different.”
“Is she, Charlotte?” He shakes his head. “When William met Penelope, we were warned by numerous people what she was like.”
I listen as I watch him.
“Both mine and Edward’s instincts told us that she was all wrong for him, but we trusted his judgement. Edward’s closest friend Alexander York came to us in the very early stages of their relationship and told us that he had seen Penelope with another man at a club.”
I frown. “When was this?”
“Before William even moved in with her.”
“I didn’t know this.”
“Edward blames himself for his brother’s heartbreak. He hates the fact that she holds Harrison hostage to William.”
Sadness fills me.
“Your brother cannot leave that relationship without leaving his son.”
I drop my head.
“He’s effectively trapped if he wants his son to grow up in the same house as him.”
“I know,” I whisper.
“Alexander York came to us again last week… to warn us about Spencer.”
I frown as my eyes rise to his.
“Charlotte, just as you feel now is exactly how William felt in the early stages of his relationship. He fell madly in love, rushed in and got burned badly. I just don’t want the same fate for you. And to make it worse, the press are involved in this now. Spencer Jones gets attention wherever he goes.”
“He didn’t ask for it, Dad.”
“Where there is smoke, there is fire, Charlotte. He gets attention for all of the wrong reasons.”
“He’s not Penelope. He’s a good man.”
“I’m not saying he isn’t. To be honest, he impressed me last night. I like the way he stood up for himself with Edward. I like the way he had a prenup contract drawn up to protect you, and I like the way he was offended by Edward’s lack of time for you. It showed me he has a backbone and that he genuinely cares.”
I smile, suddenly filled with hope.
He takes my hands in his. “But I cannot, with a clear conscience, let you move in with him just yet.”
I sit back in my seat.
“Charlotte.” He cups my face in his hand. “If you want to move to London, that’s fine, sweetheart. But get your own apartment and make an informed decision about your relationship. When he’s had time to prove himself… to all of us.”
I stare at him and exhale heavily. “Dad.”
“Don’t Dad me. You know I’m making sense. If you show me that you are not being led like a fool, and that you keep your independence, I will happily support anything you do, or any man you choose.”
“What about Edward?” I ask.
“Edward will listen to me, and you must know that your brother acts out of love. He couldn’t stand to see you hurt like William is-it would kill him.” He smiles over at me. “You honestly can’t blame him for being concerned about Spencer when he has that appalling reputation of his.”
I smile softly.
“To be honest, I think he was impressed with Spencer, too, although he would never let on.” He winks. “Nobody will ever be good enough for you in his eyes.”
“I don’t want to be a fool for anyone,” I whisper. “I’m not stupid and I’m not blind.”
He smiles and leans forward to kiss my forehead. “I know, darling, and I know that deep down, you know I’m right. Step back, take your time, and breathe. If he loves you and does the right thing by you, you have my blessing. I hope that he proves Edward and I wrong in every way. I want to see you happy. More than anything, I want you to be happy.”
I smile.
“It isn’t a race, Charlotte. If he loves you, he will wait.”
I nod. “I know.”
His eyes hold mine and I know there’s more.
“What is it?” I ask.
“What have you been doing with your security while I’ve been away?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, have you been clocking them off at night?”
I drop my head.
He puts his finger under my chin and brings my face to his. “What have I told you about that, Charlotte?”
“Well, I don’t need them at night when I’m at home in Nottingham,” I argue.
“Our estate is completely enclosed. We have guards there at all times. They don’t need to stay at your door because they are patrolling the grounds every minute. Nobody can get in. Edward watched the security tapes last night, and Wyatt and Anthony have been at the bar of your hotel on most nights.”
“I told them I didn’t need them anymore. It wasn’t their fault. They stay close.”
“Do you understand how vulnerable you are? Why would you put yourself at risk like that? I trusted you to do the right thing, and here I find out you are dismissing your guards mid-shift so they can go to a bar?”
I roll my eyes.
“Don’t roll your eyes at me, young lady. You’ve been very irresponsible.”
“No, Dad, I just fell in love.”
“Love is one thing, Charlotte. Stupidity is another.” He stands. “You are a target because of me. You have four billion dollars in the bank. Take the security threat seriously. I’ve brought four more guards with me to leave with you. You will not be photographed with Spencer Jones at all from now on. They’ve been instructed to take the cameras off of anyone who tries. I will not have you become a trashy tabloid heading… not under any circumstances.”
I exhale heavily, knowing this is non-negotiable. “Okay.”
“Now.” He smiles down at me. “Where on earth is my tea? You really are a terrible host.”
* * *
It’s just gone six in the evening when Spencer walks in, and my nerves tumble around in my stomach.
I’m in the kitchen cooking dinner. His face lights up when he sees me, and he smiles broadly.
“Hello, my beautiful girl.”
I practically run and jump into his arms and we kiss slowly. “I’ve missed you today,” I whisper.
He holds me tight. “Why are there a load of guards in the hall?”
I roll my eyes. “Long story.” I pour us both a glass of wine. “My father came over today.” I try to sound casual, even though I’m a nervous mess.
“Oh.” He smiles. “And?”
I sip my wine and look into his eyes. “He wants me to get my own apartment.”
His face falls, and then he frowns. “And what did you say?”
“I said that I would.”