Page 2 of Forbidden Love

If only people knew the truth.

If only they knew my family put the guns on the streets that are killing thousands of people a year. They put drugs in young people’s hands. They’re killing them with an addiction many can’t come back from. The front my family hides behind sickens me.

When I turned eighteen two years ago, I stepped away from every business my family touched. I wanted no part of it, and I wasn’t shy about sharing that with the world. When I was fifteen, my maternal grandfather offered me a lifeline. He knew I was different from my family. He hated that his daughter entered the Collinson family and pushed him and the rest of their family aside, but he wanted to give me options. He wanted to make sure I didn’t just follow my father’s corrupt ways because that was all I had. Once I turned eighteen, he wanted me to join him in his publishing business. He wanted to make sure that, when he was gone, his business would thrive. I have a love of books—thanks to my grandfather and his endless stories—and it would be the perfect role for me. I took my inheritance from my grandfather and worked alongside him for six months until he passed away after a short battle with lung cancer. It has been a long, hard two years, showing people I’m the best in the business to deal with their manuscripts. I care about the work I do. I’m now floating by comfortably, making a name for myself with some of the world’s best-known authors. They trusted my grandfather, which meant they took a chance on me. I needed no handouts from my father, and as much as that plagues his life, it pleases me to no end. Everything I run is legal, and nothing will ever change that. I can sleep easily at night knowing I run a legit business. I earn my own money. I have no one to thank for that but myself… and my grandfather, of course.

“Clark, let me tie that for you,” says Mrs. Basingstoke, my live-in housekeeper.

Mrs. Basingstoke—Nancy—was my nanny when I was growing up. She was the mother figure who helped me do homework, wiped away my tears when I was hurting, or gave me friendly advice when I needed it the most. I was so glad when she asked if I had a job for her when I left my parents’ house. She’s much more than a nanny and housekeeper to me. She’s my favorite person in the whole world. She was there for me when I felt like I had no one. She’s my biggest supporter and all-round hero.

I turn to her and gladly hand over the offending item of clothing. I hate ties. It’s one accessory I’ll go without if I can, but tonight, I’m attending the birthday party of my best friend, Kally. Her eighteenth birthday party is being held at my parents’ house, which isn’t much of a surprise, since Kally’s father, Joe, does business with my dad.

“You’re looking very handsome, sweetheart.”

I smile at her endearment. Her soft tone always calms my racing heart and makes my nerves disappear. And I always get nervous going to my parents’ house because they’ve always got an ulterior motive for doing something nice.

“It’s Kally’s eighteenth birthday party tonight.”

“I know. Don’t you think it’s about time you tell that girl how much you love her? Get her away from the parasites you both call family? I know you could be so happy together.”

I know Nancy’s right, but every time I come close to telling Kally about my feelings, something comes up and I back out, or she gets dragged away to some family emergency. The time has never been right for us.

“I will one day. I want her to experience life before she settles down. She deserves that much, Nancy.”

“You’re such a good man, Clark. You’ve had to grow up quickly, and I hate that for you. I wish you could just kick back and have some fun occasionally. See the world without it being for work.”

“You did a good job raising me.” I lean in and place a soft kiss on her cheek. “I have fun, I just don’t go out partying like people my age, but I see the world and enjoy things. I’m happy because of you.”

“Don’t be soft. Go and have a good night.”

“At my parents’ house?” I scoff as I pick up my cell. “Hell will freeze over first. I’m only showing face for Kally’s benefit. I’d never forgive myself for missing this milestone in her life.”

Thinking about all the milestones Kally and I have shared warms my heart. Junior school, high school, prom, birthdays… they’re all good memories because she was in them.

“I’ll hear all about it in the morning. Jared is waiting in the car for you.”

“Thanks, Nancy. Have a night off. You deserve it.”

“I have a boxset with my name on it.”

I roll my eyes at her because she deserves so much more than a boxset and a bottle of wine. I would give her the world if I could. I keep telling myself she has a better life here with me than she ever did with my parents, but it’s still not enough.

I walk out of my house and see the black SUV waiting for me. Jared was also a butler my parents had from when I was about thirteen, I think. It didn’t take long for him to hand in his resignation when I left home. He’s just like Nancy. He’s kind and caring. I’ve come to respect him over the last few years. He will always have a job with me because he did a lot for me at a time when my head was messed up. A time when I didn’t know what to do for the best. I never liked to let people down, and when my grandfather came to me with his proposition, I was excited and nervous all at once. I knew that by following my dreams, I’d be letting people down.

Jared became friends with my grandfather for the last couple of years of his life. They shared the heartache of losing the loves of their lives. It’s something I hope I never have to experience. Once my grandfather passed away, Jared and I reminisced about him, laughed at his terrible jokes and sense of humor, and just enjoyed each other’s company. Jared reminds me of my grandfather. I take great comfort in knowing I have good people around me now who support me and my decisions.

Jared gets out of the SUV and opens my door. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve told him he doesn’t need to open doors for me, he never listens. He takes his job seriously. He’s a true gentleman. They don’t make men like Jared anymore.

“Clark. Ready to face the lions’ den?”

I smile at Jared. Everyone close to me knows my distaste for most of my family. I have two brothers. Colton is just like my father. He does everything asked of him. He’s the brother I despise. Damien is a little like me. Okay, a lot like me. He took his inheritance from our grandfather and opened a holiday resort in Italy. Since then, he’s ventured out and opened several other resorts all over the world. He’s home for a week, and I’m looking forward to catching up with him. He’s one of the only family members I can tolerate now. The rest, as heartless as this sounds, I could dig their graves for them and take great pleasure in it.

“As ready as I’ll ever be. It’s a good thing I love Kally.”

“I love you like a son, but I could really shake some sense into you sometimes. A good girl like that won’t be on the market forever.”

“You sound just like Nancy.”

“Nancy’s a wise woman.” I climb into the front seat of the SUV, and Jared leans in and smiles. “Us old ones have some good advice. We’ve lived a lot of years, seen a lot of things, got a lot of notches on our bed posts.” He winks at me and closes my door.

---