Page 15 of Tangled Trust

I watch as the father-son duo play in the water.

"Aren’t they lovely, Dash?"

The dog cocks his head to the side before he abandons me and rushes off to join his master in the ocean. What a stunning way to usher in a perfect summer evening.

I take a few selfies with the ocean in the background. I’ll send them to Aunt Sue and Anna later.

* * *

Sebastian

I’m astounded by Ella’s cunning. How the hell did she manage to plan her escape right under my nose? It’s been a month, and still no word. I must be the laughing stock of her friends. I’m sure Anna had something to do with it. Bitch.

I’ve given up on calling Ella’s phone. The number must be disconnected.

My phone rings. Oh, great. My mother.

"Hello, Mother."

"Sebastian, darling. You haven’t been over for dinner in a while. Is something the matter?"

"No. I’ve been busy."

"We’re all busy, Sebastian. This weekend?"

I was hoping to avoid the family for a while longer until I figure out where the hell my girlfriend has run off to. What will I tell them when they ask why she isn’t with me? I know they are convinced that there will be wedding bells in our future. ‘Ella’s the one’, I hear my mother’s words. Well, guess what, Mother, she’s a sneaky bitch. One who will have her comeuppance sooner than she thinks.

"Fine. I’ll see you on Saturday. I have to run now, I have a patient waiting. Sorry."

"See you Saturday."

I do not have a patient waiting. A little white lie now and again comes in handy. Wonderful. Dinner with the family. I can hardly wait to listen to my mother banging on about how wonderful Giles’s new baby is, or how fantastic Porsche's riding lessons are coming along. Show jumping. Yee-bloody-ha! Oh, and the fun of watching my aging father drooling into his soup is super fun.

What about me? Am I honestly that repulsive because I’m single? Is everything with the gentry about procreating? Ella would have been the perfect mate with whom to do all these dreary things. Mother loves Ella. Or, perhaps the idea of Ella, if I’m honest. A doctor. Huzzah! Giles has his professional ballerina, and Sebastian has his doctor.

Except my prize has run off, and I have no idea where she’s gone. Women! You can’t please them. What a life I afforded Ella. She wanted for nothing. How dare she? The ungrateful little whore.

I look at my watch. I have two hours before my next patient. Mrs. Hollard was a no-show again, the senile old bat. Perhaps I’ll have some luck if I go see Ella’s aunt, Sue. She and I have always gotten along well. I’m sure I can talk her into telling me where her foolish niece has run off to. Surely, Sue will see the folly of hysterical Ella’s ways.

"Poppy, I’m going out for a while. I’ll be back at 3 p.m.," I tell my assistant as I walk past her desk in reception.

"Yes, Dr. Drake."

Poppy’s very sexy. I’d have her on my desk if she wasn’t such a good assistant. But, I’d hate to lose her. God knows there are very few assistants out there with half-decent organization skills.

It’s a wet Wednesday. Of course, it is. What else? It’s winter, and the sky is the same color as my mood. Sue lives about half an hour’s drive from my office in central London. It will most likely take me a tad longer to get there today, though, in this sodding torrential downpour.

I practice my endearing look while I’m driving in the hopes that Sue won’t sense my irritation. It’s hard work maintaining this pleasant facade when you’re seething with rage on the inside. I have to admit, though, that it’s been one of my talents since childhood. Not even my mother knows the depths of my hatred or the lengths to which I’ll go to get what and who I want. How else could I be such an excellent therapist?

Sue’s compact Vauxhall is parked in the driveway, so I know she’s in.

Time to play nice, Seb. Charm the old bird and get what you came for.

I ring the doorbell and wait. After a minute or so, I hear footsteps approaching. I know she’s looking at me through the peephole.

"Hi, Sue," I call out. "It’s Sebastian."

Is she havering?

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