The Truce (London Suits 1)

I sighed in frustration and slumped back against the wall.

Shaking my head to remove all thoughts of Luke Davenport, I headed into the large open-plan space that made up the main working area of Barrett London and slid into my comfy office chair. My desk was part of a bank of four, occupying a large space under the huge windows that looked over the London skyline. Luke’s desk was positioned on a separate bank of four, thank goodness, although not far enough from mine for either of our liking. If I looked around my computer screen, I occasionally caught him staring at me. I have to say, I did love my giant monitor. Anything to hide me from him.

A moment later, Eddie, digital marketing apprentice and good friend, poked his head around the door.

“One caramel latte,” he announced, handing me a steaming mug of coffee. I smiled, grateful to see my friend’s face.

“You’re the best. Thanks, Ed.”

He leaned his tall, lanky frame against my desk, arms folded. “You’re welcome.” His blue eyes twinkled at me as he continued chatting. “What did you get up to at the weekend?”

This was our usual Monday routine—I’d arrive at work, Eddie would bring me coffee as soon as he arrived (not that I’d ever asked him to, he was just nice like that), and we’d spend the next ten or fifteen minutes gossiping about our respective weekends while I booted up my computer and started going through my emails.

“I helped out at the youth centre on Saturday. Then yesterday, I had a date, remember?”

“Oh, yes! Alex. I take it from your face that there won’t be a second date?”

“No. Neither of us felt a spark. Anyway, I’m sure he’s moved on to the next woman by now.” I shrugged, unconcerned. “We had a good time, even so, and the bar was gorgeous. We should go there for drinks with Avery sometime.”

“You know me, babes, I’m always up for drinks. I miss Avery. I hardly see her anymore, since she stopped working here.”

He glanced up, narrowing his eyes and lowering his voice. “By the way, not to change the subject, but he-who-shall-not-be-named is giving you the evil eye again.”

He-who-shall-not-be-named was Eddie’s nickname for Luke Davenport. He’d witnessed enough of our altercations to know that it was hopeless trying to persuade us to get along. Unlike me, Eddie found our conflict highly amusing.

“Ugh. I have no idea what his problem is. I expect he’s pissed off that I knocked into him in the lift, which was a total accident.” I rolled my eyes. “Can we please not talk about Davenport anymore? Tell me about your weekend.”

“Oh, you’re going to love this.”

Sipping my coffee, I settled down to listen to Eddie’s account of the previous day. His boyfriend, George, had booked an escape room experience for the two of them, and it had turned out to be very different to the image painted on the company website.

“Oh, Liv, I should have known something was wrong when George told me how much he’d paid. He kept telling me it was a bargain offer. It was a dodgy basement under some shop, looked like something straight out of a horror film, and the guy running it was giving off total serial killer vibes.”

He shuddered dramatically. “Suffice to say, we won’t be going back there in a hurry.”

“What have I told you about booking these cheap deals?” I chuckled, shaking my head.

Our conversation was interrupted by my computer chiming with a reminder. “Is that the time? We’re going to be late.” Swallowing my last mouthful of coffee, I hurriedly pushed away from my desk and rushed towards the conference room, Eddie hot on my heels.

Every Monday morning Ethan called a meeting to go through everyone’s workloads for the upcoming week, and to keep us all up to date on the happenings at Barrett London. Somehow, Eddie and I had been so engrossed in our conversation that we’d managed to overlook the time.

We entered the conference room, and Eddie slipped past me to take a seat halfway up the huge conference table. The only remaining seat was near the head of the table, directly opposite Luke Davenport.

Groaning under my breath, I steeled myself. I didn’t have to wait long.

“Late once again, Payne. What a surprise,” Luke murmured, disdain dripping from every word.

I glanced up to see Ethan giving me a warning look, and I bit my lip, swallowing my angry retort. I hated that I was so affected by Luke. Even worse, I reverted to ridiculous playground behaviour in his presence.

Ethan began his spiel, and I tried to concentrate. My phone buzzed in my lap, and I surreptitiously opened it.

A-hole: Spilled coffee on yourself, did you?

What? I looked over myself but couldn’t see anything. Opposite me, Luke sniggered. Bastard.

Me: You’re so funny, you should be a comedian.

A-hole: I try.