Page 7 of The Romance Library

My heart sank. I really needed that money. Although she wasn’t the warmest woman in the world, I liked Mrs Davis, and I’d much prefer working with her than in this sleazy bar. She seemed interesting and I bet she had a lot of cool stories to tell.

There was so much I wanted to ask about her. I wanted to know about her romance library plans. I wanted to hear more about why she had so many books and I wasn’t gonna lie. As unprofessional as it sounded, maybe in time I’d be able to start reading again and I was kind of hoping that if I did, she might lend me some of her novels too. I really missed reading and it would be a good way to pass the time when the bar was quiet.

‘Look, I know I shouldn’t have spat at her…’

‘You spat at a client?’

‘Yes. No. Not intentionally. It was an accident, but I can fix it. If you let me call her, maybe I can convince her to give me another chance. I mean, she even smiled a couple of times. And she asked me questions. She wouldn’t have done that if she didn’t at least like me a little bit. I promise I won’t mess up again. Just let me speak to her.’

‘That won’t be possible.’

‘I know it’s not protocol to call clients directly, but…’

‘It’s not because of protocol. You can’t speak to Mrs Davis because…’ Marion paused. ‘Because she’s dead.’

‘What?’ My stomach plummeted. ‘Oh my God! How? I only saw her last week and she seemed fine!’ She was a little tired towards the end of the trip, but I thought that was just because she wasn’t used to going out. ‘That’s really sad and so… shocking.’

‘Yeah,’ Marion sighed. ‘And that’s not the only shocking thing.’

‘No? What could be more shocking than that?’ I frowned.

‘Her solicitor called. He needs you to come to a meeting.’

‘Why?’ My face crumpled.

‘Because Mrs Davis left you something in her will.’

2

Theo

‘How did I know I’d find you here!’ Father barked as he burst into the gym in my penthouse.

I wished he wouldn’t just turn up whenever he wanted. I might’ve had company. Then again, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d brought a woman back to my place.

‘Considering this is where I live’—I lowered the weight on the bar, then sat up—‘the chances of finding me here were pretty high.’

‘Enough of your lip, boy!’ he snapped. ‘I’ve been waiting for an update. Why are you not at the office?’

‘It’s six thirty in the morning. And you know I like to work out first.’

‘The early bird catches the worm. I’ve already had two meetings.’ He puffed out his chest, then adjusted his hand-stitched silk tie.

As always, my father was dressed immaculately. His sharp grey suit was custom-made, his shoes were so shiny you could probably see the reflection from the moon and his white skin was freshly shaved. I’d never seen him with a hint of stubble. Even though he was in his sixties, he still had a full head of hair. That was one of the few traits I hoped I’d inherit from him.

‘Good for you,’ I said sarcastically. He hated when I answered back. Or had any kind of opinion that went against his, but he’d been here for two minutes and he was already pissing me off.

‘When you start running the company’—he stepped forward—‘you can’t have any more of these late starts. When I founded Eaves Enterprises forty years ago, I was at my desk by five, every morning. And nothing’s changed. You need to get into the habit now. Forget all this gym nonsense.’

‘Working out is important to me.’ I reached for a towel and wiped the sweat from my face.

‘Those ghastly muscles make you look like a thug.’ He wrinkled his nose like my arms were covered in horseshit. ‘Focus on sharpening your mind, not your body.’

I clenched my jaw as frustration bubbled inside of me. Now I’d have to go on the treadmill again to run off this conversation.

‘I’ll be in by seven thirty.’

Luckily my penthouse wasn’t far from our main office in London’s Mayfair, so once I’d shaved and showered, I’d head straight there.

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