by LP Lovell
He pours some orange juice and puts it back in the fridge. “Well, I’ve figured now it’s easier to get them to come to my house, then I can not only sleep blissfully, but if she’s hot I can go for seconds.”
I smile. “And if she’s rough?”
He pauses for a moment then shrugs. “Close your eyes and pretend she’s not?” I laugh because I love Hugo, but he really is something else.
“I shouldn’t even ask. Anyway, why are you here?”
“Charming. Well, I actually did come to see you, mainly because I know something that you my friend need to know.” He wiggles his eyebrows and pulls the paper out from under his arm.
“What’s this I hear about gossip?” Cat strolls in from the patio with a smirk on her face.
“Not gossip, news.” I grumble.
“Cat. I haven’t seen you in ages baby girl.” Hugo scoops Cat’s small frame off her feet in a hug. She giggles. I stopped death threatening Hugo about my sister years ago. I know she’s a no go for him, but he’s Hugo. He’s just…friendly. My head is banging. I decide to go and lay on the sofa, ignoring both of them. I lay down, hoping the urge to throw up will disappear.
“So what’s this news?” Cat finally asks.
“I was talking to Molly last night…” I sit up. If he’s come here having spoken to Molly, then this is about Lilly.
“Wait, why were you talking to Molly?” I can hear the smile in her voice.
“He’s fucking her.” I say, my tone bored. He shrugs and nods. “What did she say?”
“Well it turns out that Lilly is quite the martyr.”
I’m quickly losing patience. “What did she say?” I grate.
“So it would seem that Lilly and your baby mama are friendly.” What the fuck? “Seems Cassie got herself in a spot of trouble, has a drug problem or something…”
“Sorry, what?!” I cut him off.
“Only get this, she called Lilly for help. Turns out she’s been to see Lilly previously and obviously Lilly gave Cassie her number.”
I growl. “For fuck’s sake. Why can that woman not just leave it alone? She should have fucking called me. Jesus.” Why the hell is Cassie involving Lilly in her shit? Surely Lilly’s already suffered enough for all this crap. Something’s not right with this.
“It gets worse.” Hugo frowns. “In twelve hours Lilly managed to sell her car, paid for Cassie to go into a rehab facility, and gave her the rest of the money. Molly’s not happy about it, but she said you should expect it of Lilly.”
“Oh my god.” Cat gasps. “Theo, why the fuck is Lilly dealing with this?”
“That fucking woman.” I stand and kick the coffee table over. “Which rehab facility?”
“Not sure. I can try and find out.” He offers.
“I’m going out.” I snap. “Text it to me Hugo.”
Cat just sits there gaping at me. She’s never seen this side of me. Hell, only Lilly fucking brings it out. I used to be a rational and sane human being before she walked into my life.
“Don’t worry, he does this.” Hugo pats her arm. “I’ll keep you company. Oh, and don’t drop me in it with Molly!” He shouts as leave.
I storm down the stairs and throw on some jeans and a t-shirt. I turn to leave and find Cat standing in the doorway.
I make an effort to keep my voice soft. “Look, I’m sorry I couldn’t hang out Cat, but tomorrow maybe?”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You tell me what is going in with you right now Theo.” She steps forward poking me in the chest.
“You know most of it. I’m in love with Lilly, she doesn’t want to know. Cassie’s pregnant, blah, blah, blah.”
“You’re abandoning that baby?” She asks with wide eyes.
Fucking hell. “No, I’m not abandoning the baby.” I shout, exasperated at this entire conversation.
“I thought you were getting Lilly back?” She cocks an eyebrow at me.
“Cat, it’s complicated. I need to go.” I side step her.
“This isn’t over.” She says to my retreating back. That girl is like a dog with a bone. Jesus.
“Dually noted.”
I jump in the Aston and head into the busy London traffic. Why the fuck would Cassie go to Lilly? Why didn’t Lilly tell me? My phone beeps with a text from Hugo. I glance at it quickly and turn the car around, heading into South London. I call Lilly as I go, but it goes to voicemail.
“Lilly you need to call me.” I hang up. I could go and see her, but I know it will just be an argument. She’ll throw in my face how shit I am.
I drive the twenty minutes into South London and pull up outside South View Rehab. I approach the middle aged receptionist at the front desk who gives me the once over.
“Can I help you?” She asks in a bored voice.
“You have a patient her; Cassandra Blake. I need you to send all her billing to this address.” I hand her a card with the office address on it. She studies the card before her eyes flick up to mine.
“Let me just check her record.” She taps a few keys on the computer. “That account was pre-paid in full.”
“Well refund it and bill it to this address.” I grate out.
“I can’t do that sir. I’m sorry.” She frowns as though I’m crazy. Fucking great. I turn on my heel and leave. That was a total waste of my time.
Fucking Cassie never should have gone near Lilly. I won’t pretend that it doesn’t hurt that she sold the car. Yes, it’s just a lump of metal, but I remember the look on her face when I gave it to her. I remember her elation when she drove it in Rome. I remember her sucking my cock in it above the city of Rome.
Her selling it is a rejection of us that I’m not willing to take. She sacrificed her car to pay for Cassie’s rehab, something I would have done had she come to me, therefore, this is easily solved. I start the car and drive to the nearest Maserati dealership.
The salesman almost shits himself when he sees me.
“Mr Ellis.” He stammers. My reputation proceeds me.
“I need a two seater, top of the range and I want to be able to take it today. What have you got?”
He smiles wide. “This way sir.”
Chapter Sixteen
Lilly
I’m getting ready for the Florell and Simmons annual summer cocktail party, when there’s a knock at the door. Harry is down in London for the weekend to attend the function with me. Yes, I know I brought my brother as my date, how desperate I must be. No, I just can’t be dealing with men right now. If I come alone then Simon from accounting will have a drink and feel the need to ‘seize the opportunity’. No, just no. No guy makes a pass at a girl with her brother in the room, it’s just fact.
Harry answers the door before I get there. A guy is making him sign something.
“I’m to give the key directly to Miss Parker, as per instructions.” He shakes his head as I step forward. He drops the key in my palm along with an envelope. He looks at Harry. “What I wouldn’t give for a pair of tits sometimes.” With that he turns and walks out the door.
I look at the little key in my hand. There’s a red bow tied to it. It’s not really a key as just a fob…a black fob with a silver trident on it. Oh my god. He didn’t. I rip open the envelope and inside is a note.
Lilly.
I do not give gifts to just anyone, and it disappoints me to hear that you felt the need to sell my previous one. You should have come to me.
You are mine Lilly, and I take care of what is mine.
This one is registered to me, so you cannot sell it. Do not try to return it or it will just end up outside your house again.
Love always.
Theo. X
“Fucking psycho!” I scream.
“No fucking way.” Harry says as he reads over my shoulder. I snatch the letter away from his prying eyes. I don’t want my brother seeing Theo’s crazy ‘you are mine’ shit. Although apparently, Harry doesn’t care.
He runs outside with me running after him in my satin
dressing gown. He opens the front door of the building and low and behold, parked on the curb is a brand spanking new Maserati in bright red.
“Holy. Shit.” I breathe. It’s beautiful. Even more beautiful than the last one. I run my fingers along the paint work.
“Fuck your party, let’s go for a drive.” Harry bounces up and down like a child.
“No, I’m not taking it.” Oh god it pains me to say that. It’s so beautiful. Some girls like jewellery. I like cars.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Harry shouts.
I turn to him. “This is a power play. I went against his wishes and sold the car. This is just a means of gaining back his control. I’ll leave it on the double yellow lines until it gets towed.” I shrug. “Then he’ll have to take it back.” I smile to myself. See how the twat likes that.
“But, but…” Harry stammers.
I go back inside and put on my dress for the party. I swear to god, if I see him tonight, he is in for a world of shit.
We’ve been here ten minutes and Harry is already flirting with some blonde I don’t recognise. The party is at The Shoreditch rooms. It’s basically a building which has an open air pool at the top of a sky scraper, bi-folding doors open from the interior to the pool with its amazing views. They throw some of the best parties known to man up here. This is slightly more tame than the last one I came to here. People mill about the pool in their cocktail attire, sipping glasses of champagne. I take a seat on one of the white sofa’s that surround the pool area, in an attempt to avoid speaking to anyone. There’s a ten foot high glass barrier that surrounds the top of the building. I guess precautions have to be taken where people are getting trashed on the roof of a building. Beyond the glass is the most breath taking view of London. The sun is just setting, painting the city in red and purple. The soft tones of Jazz music filter through the noise of the party. A waiter comes past and offers me another glass of champagne. I take two. Great. Just keep them coming.
Harry flops down next to me. “Here you are. You hiding?” He smirks.
“Something like that? Did you pull?”
He holds up a napkin with something scrawled on it. “Got her number. Probably won’t call her though.” He shrugs.
“Why go to the effort of getting her number only to not call her?”
“Ego sis, ego.” He smiles.
I roll my eyes. “Men are so strange.”
“You look blue Lill’s. What’s up?” He nudges my arm playfully.
“Nothing. I just hate shit like this at the moment. Didn’t you get the news flash? I’ve officially turned into a miserable bitch.” I tilt my head toward him.
He smiles. “Not miserable, but you are a bitch. Still, everyone knows that partying is the best way to cure that. This would actually be a cool party if the attendees could pull the sticks out of their arseholes long enough to appreciate it.”
I smile. “We can’t expect miracles now.”
“Let’s just get drunk and have our own rave here in the corner.” He starts throwing big fish, little fish. Jesus.
“Seriously, you look like someone’s dad. Stop.” He grins at me as I elbow him. “And I can’t be the one who got drunk at the work party.”
“Hey, there’s always one. It might as well be you.” He raises an eyebrow at me. “I’ll stop you from doing anything too outrageous, I promise.”
I sigh. “Fine. Drinking it is.” I clink my champagne glass to his beer bottle. “But not drunk. Tipsy.” I point at him to clarify. Harry snorts and downs his beer. Why am I trusting my brother to keep me from embarrassing myself?
Lots of clients are attending the party tonight. It’s a bit of an opportunity for the firm to keep their clients sweet and encourage further business. I don’t think it’s the sort of thing that Theo will come to, but you know what they say; hope for the best, prepare for the worst. I’m pissed at him over the whole Cassie thing, but it’s none of my business. The whole situation is one I have no idea how to deal with, and have no urge to deal with any time soon.
I’m forced to leave my corner when Mr. Simmons waves me over. Joy. Harry just waves me off and bee lines for another blonde. So much for having our own party.
“Ah, Lilly. Mr. Hardy is here. He wanted to speak with you.” The old boy eyes me seriously. Translation, keep him on our side. He gestures to where he stands talking to another man. Hardy is tall and he’s wearing a tux which makes him look more imposing somehow. It’s a known fact that if you put any semi attractive man in an expensive tux, he looks damn good. Hardy is no exception.
“I should probably go and speak with him.” I say sweetly. Simmons smiles as I make my way to Hardy who I think is talking with one of the senior solicitors.
“Ah, Lilly.” He smiles when he see’s me. “Excuse me.” He says to the guy he was talking with. I recognise him, but have no idea who he is. I tend to keep to myself at work.
“Mr Hardy.” I flash him my most charming smile.
“Please, James.” He’s really quite dashing in that seasoned older man way.
“James. I wanted to personally apologise for the situation with the Wyatt buyout.” I say sincerely whilst working all of my charm and assets.
He waves me off. “That’s business Lilly. I don’t hold it against you.”
“Well, I appreciate that. I would hate to think that I’d offended you at all.” I take a sip of my champagne. I’m going to need alcohol if I’m to keep up all this arse kissing.
“Shall we sit.” He offers, gesturing me toward one of the sofa’s.
“Um, sure.” Hey, at least if I’m talking to him then I’m not getting trashed in a corner somewhere. The drinking is preferable, but probably less constructive to my career.
I’m midway through telling him how I came to work for Florell and Simmons, when I feel him enter my vicinity. I can’t explain how, it’s just a feeling. Perhaps I’m just attuned to him, or maybe his ego is that big it has its own energy field. I’m going for the latter.
I can’t resist the pull he has on me. I turn and glance over my shoulder. Low and behold, there he is, Theodore Ellis. Just like a bad penny, he’s fucking everywhere. He seems to physically suck all the energy out of the atmosphere until I can’t breathe. He’s wearing a tux and holy shit. He manages to make it look like a piece of art. How is it even possible for someone to look that hot?! Seriously. His eyes snap to mine as though I just called his name. He holds my gaze, and I can’t look away. He reels me in with just a glance. The trance is eventually broken when he diverts his attention to the woman on his arm, the woman I hadn’t noticed until then. I glance at her and she glares at me. She’s blonde and pretty, but leaning toward trashy. She’s the sort of woman I expect to see Hugo with, not Theo. She’s clutching at his arm, and it makes me want to claw at her fucking face. Apparently he’s over it. My chest clenches, and I have concentrate on breathing. I knew it would happen at some point, but actually seeing it is another thing entirely. Fuck, I need to get out of here. Theo catches my eye again, and flashes me a small smile. I turn away from him.
James meets my gaze before his eyes flick over my shoulder. “You should be careful with men like Ellis.” He says quietly.
“I’m sorry.” I almost choke. Personal much?
He huffs out a breath. “You’re a nice girl Lilly. I like you.” Nice wouldn’t be the first word that springs to mind when describing myself. “You can do better.”
“Um, we’re not together.”
He laughs. “From the way he’s looking at you, I think he may have other ideas.”
“Look, I am so sorry he came to your office. That was so far out of line.”
“He is a man who wants something he can’t have. Men of power will go to extremes to get what they want.”
“Having money does not give him the right to be an arsehole.” I mumble into my champagne glass. He laughs loudly. “I’m sorry, that was unprofessional.”
“Not at all.” He smirks. “I thought Ellis was the g
uy every woman wants.” He sips his glass of champagne.
“It’s complicated.” I shake my head. “Let’s just say, he’s the guy mothers warn their daughters about.”
He smiles. “Mothers warn their daughters about all men. After all, we are all primitive creatures.”
I nod. “That is true.”
I glance over my shoulder again and find Theo leaning against the open doorway. His date is talking to him, but he seems to be ignoring her. His eyes are fixed on me and I feel as though my skin is on fire. I quickly look away from him.
I watch as James’ eyes flick over my shoulder and then back to me. He smiles, and I catch the flash of pity in his eyes.
“Would you like to dance Lilly?” He asks.
“That depends.” I smirk.
“On what?”
“Well, can you actually dance? Because if I wanted to embarrass myself, I’d dance with my brother.” I motion to the dance floor where Harry is doing the three step shuffle with the first blonde.
He grins. “Well, I’m better than your brother.”
I raise an eyebrow at him. “That’s not helping your case.”
He grins and shakes his head. “Please, Lilly.” He stands and offers his hand to me. I roll my eyes and take it. He leads me across the pool area and into the building where the bar and the dance floor are. Harry winks at me very unsubtly as I pass him.
I don’t need to look to know that Theo’s eyes are on me. I can practically feel them burning a hole in my back.
James takes me hand and places the other hand at the small of my back. Micheal Buble’s sexy voice drifts through the speakers. He’s right, he is a better dancer than my brother.
“You know Lilly, I would love to take you to dinner sometime.” He says after a few minutes.
I smile politely. James is an attractive man. He’s probably fifteen years older than me, but he’s in good shape. He’s nice, well mannered, not an arsehole….and yet, there’s nothing. I am not attracted to him in any way. I’m dancing with him, but my heart is more focused on the man that I instinctively know is standing in the corner of the room watching me. James doesn’t take my breath away or make my heart beat faster. Now I’ve experienced that, I want it.