Stanton Box Set

“Hmm,” he murmurs.

“And besides you can get some ideas as what to write in your wedding speech.” I smile.

“Shut up or you’re going to cop it again,” he purrs as he rolls on top of me and puts my hands over my head.

“Cause your wedding speech will be totally shit, I just know it.” I squeal with laughter. Joshua narrows his eyes and then rips into my neck with his open mouth.

“That’s it,” he growls. “All aboard for Pound Town.”

Three hours later we are at the wedding and I think I have been introduced to everyone on the planet who has a huge bank balance. I will never in a million years remember any of their names. A lot of people are from horse-related activities and Laura and her now husband are merchant bankers so the banking world are here too. Ben, Max and our security are lingering outside. They ate the same meals as us but in another room—they seem to be having their own party.

We are seated at the table with Cam, Murph, the girls and six other people that the boys all know well. Joshua’s arm is slung over the back of my chair, and he runs his fingers backwards and forwards over my shoulders as he listens. The speeches start and Laura’s father is first to speak.

“I would like to thank you all for coming here tonight.”

Joshua’s phone beeps a message and he retrieves it from his pocket. He opens the message, his body straightens and he pulls his arm off the back of my chair.

My eyes flick to him and he glares at me. Huh? I frown in question.

He blows out a deep breath and shakes his head angrily as he keeps reading the message. He starts to scroll through the message. Jeez, it must be big.

I frown again. What now?

His tongue runs over his top teeth and I know he’s angry.

I lean into him. “What’s wrong?” I whisper.

He passes me his phone as the crowd all bursts into applause. We both clap for the sake of good manners. I take his phone and look at the screen. Oh dear god, the blood drains from my face. The headline reads:

Natasha Marx caught having an affair with her bodyguard.

My horrified eyes meet his and he glares at me. Photo after photo of me and Max, arm in arm. One where we are holding hands—When the fuck was this?—and one where it looks as though we are kissing. What the hell?

“I don’t understand,” I whisper nervously. “These photos are not true, Joshua.”

His cold eyes hold mine and he angrily pushes his chair back in a rush and stands and storms from the ballroom. Oh crap, my nervous eyes flick to Abbie and Bridget who are frowning at me. I stand and quietly follow him. Where is he going? I run into the foyer to find an absolutely furious Joshua.

I shake my head nervously. “Joshua, it’s not how it looks,” I whisper as my eyes fly around to the people surrounding us.

“I fucking warned him,” he yells.

Everybody around us starts to stare and Ben immediately walks over to us. “What’s the problem?” he whispers.

“Him,” Joshua yells, too angry to articulate himself. “I have warned him time and again to keep his mother-fucking hands off her,” he yells.

I stand frozen on the spot. Shit, this is bad. This looks really bad… and it had to be Max, didn’t it?

Ben’s eyes immediately flick to the horrified guests around us and, trying to diffuse the situation, he grabs Joshua by the arm and pulls him outside. “What are you talking about?” he whispers angrily.

“Natasha and fucking Max,” he sneers.

Ben screws up his face as his eyes flick to me. Max follows, unaware of what is going on. Joshua’s furious eyes meet his and he lunges for Max. Max steps aside and misses Joshua’s hit.

“What the hell are you doing?” I whisper angrily.

Joshua grabs Max by the shirt and pushes him up against the car. “Are you fucking happy now?” He slams him again. “Are you?” he screams.

“What are you talking about?” Max yells as Ben steps in and pulls Joshua off Max.