Mr Spencer (Mr. 2)

“Oh, it’s Mum’s birthday tomorrow. I got the day off work, so I came home to see her. Do I need an excuse to see my best friend, too?”

“No.” I smile.

“Will you think about London?” she pleads.

“I have my job and I love it. I can’t imagine doing anything else.” I shrug. “If I’m meant to move to London, the universe will g

ive me a sign.”

“I know it will.” She smiles knowingly. “Now, we need to talk about Spencer.” She widens her eyes. “Tell me everything. Let’s stalk him from afar.”

I giggle.

“What does he do for work?” She frowns.

“Steel or something.”

She takes her phone out and begins to search him.

“Don’t tell me anything about the women you find on that thing,” I snap. God, it’s bad enough that he didn’t want me, I don’t need the women he did want rubbed in my face.

“Oh.” She frowns as she reads. “So, he’s an architect who designs skyscrapers and he owns a steel company that supplies to most countries for the said skyscrapers.” She purses her lips. “His company has four hundred staff. Wow, he’s no slouch.”

“I never said he was. You did.”

“Just don’t tell Edward that he came to your work. He will go nuclear. Or your father, for that matter.”

“I’m not that stupid.”

Lara’s eyes hold mine. “Promise me.”

“Promise you what?’

“Promise me you won’t fall for this guy’s cheap pickup lines. He’s a player—the player of all players.”

“I know, I’m not stupid. Give me some credit, please.” I sigh.

“Good.” She smiles broadly.

I sip my wine and stare across the restaurant. If only she knew that I offered myself to him on a silver platter and he turned me down.

I close my eyes in disgust. What the hell was I thinking?

* * *

It’s 10:00 p.m. and all is quiet on the estate. I pull the curtains back and stare out into the darkness. My mind keeps going over the fact that Lara knew Edward was going away tomorrow.

How did she know that? Had I told her and forgotten?

No. I hadn’t even known it myself.

I see the two security guards walking down the road performing their last sweep of the grounds for the night, and I walk out onto my front porch. “Hello,” I call out as they approach my property.

“Hello, Charlotte.” They both smile.

“Lovely night,” I say, aiming for casual.

“Yes, and warm for this time of year.”