Page 70 of Viral Affair

“Are you serious? You have fallen in love with Laura’s roommate. Spencer’s Laura? How did this even come about?”

“We met two years ago in Greece, had a great time together, but then she vanished without any of her contact information,” I explained, thinking about my day ahead. I still had to go see Matthews. We had a few things we needed to discuss.

Mum poured the tea into my glass and raised her left eyebrow.

“I’m happy for you, Rupert, but are you sure about this girl? You hardly even know her.”

I had to take a step back because I couldn’t even imagine what I was hearing.

“Wow, this is not the reaction I pictured in my head. Weren’t you the one who insisted I needed to find myself a wife?” I asked, shocked that my mother hadn’t jumped with joy upon hearing the news. She was acting strange, as if reluctant to hear more about Veronica.

“Rupert, honey, you’re so young and have your whole life ahead of you. Maybe you shouldn’t be hung up on this one woman,” she said. “I … I just think you should be sure. Be careful…” she stammered.

I was ready to smash the glass as my blood pressure rose.

“What the fuck is going on, Mum? What the hell do you know that I don’t?” I asked, knowing that something didn’t feel right.

“Language, Rupert,” Mum snapped, then she walked across the kitchen. She took the phone that was charging and opened it.

I needed to get out of there because it looked like I was wasting my time. I had to call Spencer and figure out if he’d said anything to her, but my brother wouldn’t snitch on me. Besides, he would do everything to keep Laura happy.

“I knew something was going on with you so I asked the private detective to look into this girl after I heard that you started seeing her,” Mum explained, showing me pictures of Veronica on the phone.

There it was, Veronica getting into the black limo, Veronica with another client, laughing and dining. Veronica coming out of the Ritz hotel. My blood rushed to my head as I clenched my fists. This was the reason why none of my brothers were willing to share anything with Mum—because she did shit like this, stuck her nose exactly where she shouldn’t have.

“I know Veronica used to be a call girl, but she’s not anymore because she quit right before she went away with me,” I snapped, heading to the door.

“Rupert, wait, where are you going? You know I only want what’s best for you,” Mum said, following me. “I … I just don’t want you to get hurt. Not just your reputation, but more… Think also about your brother. There are things about her you don’t know about…”

I turned, ready to blow up, but I took several sharp intakes of breath into my lungs and kept my voice even.

“This is none of your business, Mum. You're wrong about her. I told you before that you’re poking too much into my private life, and this … fucking hiring a private detective … who knows what kind of bullshit he has been feeding you just to get your money? I will continue seeing Veronica, and I won’t be introducing her to you, so you can call off your dog or I’ll take care of it myself.”

“Rupert, darling. I’m sorry, I didn’t—”

“No, Mother, I’ve had enough. We have nothing else to discuss,” I said and then left without looking back.

My mother shouted after me, but I wasn’t listening. I couldn’t believe she’d hired a private detective to look into Veronica’s background. Suddenly, this whole situation appeared fucking diabolical. There I was, thinking that Mum would be delighted that I was finally in love and happy, but no … instead she’d ruined it all. I was fucking pissed off, so much that I was ready to cut my mother out of my life for good.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Veronica

“Come on, spill it. How in love are you with Mr. Prime Minister?” I teased Laura after seeing her for the first time this weekend.

It was Sunday morning, and we’d both been back from our incredible holidays for about a week. I’d missed Laura and we had a lot to catch up on. I knew she’d had a great time with Spencer in Sicily.

She blushed scarlet and looked away. Laura was beautiful, and now, with a deep tan, she looked breathtaking. I had a feeling that she’d finally moved on after that famous pop star broke her heart.

Maja had started school already, so Laura was busy making sure the girl’s schedule wasn’t as packed as it had been before the holidays. She said she’d had a chat with Spencer, and they’d mutually agreed to cut some things out from her weekly activities. We’d chatted over the phone, but today was officially our day when we could freely talk face to face.

“Spencer hasn’t told me that he’s in love with me,” she admitted as we sat on the sofa and drank wine.

“Yet.”

She blushed again, which told me she was reluctant to admit how she felt about him.

“He’s been sweet and demanding, but we have to slow things down. The other night we had sex in his office,” she said, whispering the last bit like she was afraid someone was eavesdropping on our private conversation, which was, of course, impossible.

---