Stanton Box Set

Her eyes shoot up to me. “Tell me now,” she demands.

I shake my head as Joshua approaches. “Ready?” He smiles and I melt—for you, my love, I will always be ready. He takes my hand and we walk through the beautiful double doors into the house with the girls following us. The walls of the huge foyer are all white and the floors are dark polished concrete. A huge bright abstract painting hangs on the wall and a large pendant light hangs in the space.

“Joshua,” Bridget whispers through her shock as her eyes look around the room.

“It’s just a house Didge,” Joshua replies nonchalantly and as we turn the corner we see Ben deep in conversation with Birgetta who looks over, catches my eye and smiles broadly.

“Excuse me,” she says to Ben and then she comes over and gives me a huge cuddle. “Darling, you have come back.” She holds me at arm’s length to look at me and smiles again and then she grabs Joshua into an embrace.

“Birgetta, I have news. I am getting married,” Joshua says gently to her.

“Ah,” she cries. “Oh my boy.” She grabs me again and spins me around and then she hits Joshua in the chest as she tears up and shakes her head.

“You will be the death of me, son. Sick with worry I have been over you.”

She then laughs out loud and shakes her head. My eyes wander over to the girls who are standing still watching the interaction.

Ben walks over. “Um, Stan, the police are on their way.”

Joshua frowns. “What for?”

“Mike hasn’t turned up for work for three days and Birgetta can’t contact him.”

Joshua rolls his eyes. “Has anything been taken?” He sighs.

“I’m not sure, but he worked his last shift here on his own,” Birgetta replies. “So I thought I had better call the police just in case.”

Ben shakes his head. “It will be all good; he has probably just broken up with his girlfriend and done a runner.”

I turn to look at the girls who are listening intently to the conversation. Joshua frowns and turns to Adrian. “Murph, can you show the girls up to their rooms in the west wing. I just want to look around a bit.”

“Sure thing,” he replies and gestures to the girls to the sweeping split staircase and they exchange looks and giggle like schoolgirls. Can’t they even pretend to be cool?

I grab Joshua’s hand gently to show my support. “I won’t be long, presh. Make yourself at home.” He gently kisses my lips and then disappears with Ben down one of the hallways toward his office. I turn and see Max standing awkwardly at the door.

“Hi Max.”

“Hey Tash.” He smiles warmly. “What’s going on?” he asks as his eyes follow the boys up the hall.

I shrug. “Not sure. Someone didn’t turn up for a guard shift or something and they are checking that nothing has been stolen.”

He frowns. “Who?”

I screw up my face. “Matt?” I shake my head as I try to remember the name. “I think it was Matt.”

He nods as he thinks.

“Can you and Joshua try to get along for my sake?” I ask. I know he wants go up and see what’s going on.

“Natasha, I have apologised to Joshua numerous times and he has made it clear that if it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t be here.” He sighs.

I narrow my eyes. “I’m going to talk to him; this is ridiculous.”

He shrugs. “It’s ok. Don’t worry about it. I would rather guard you than him anyway.”

“It’s uncomfortable for me, Max, having a boyfriend and a guard that despise each other. It’s damn uncomfortable.” I shake my head. “You have no idea how it makes me feel.”

He smiles as he gently puts his arm around my shoulders as we walk into the kitchen.