Page 56 of The Lawyer
“Not there.”
“I have work to do.”
“You do. For me. Do as you're told.”
The sound of her moving makes me look out at the view again, imagining her in her suits. The vision is as appealing as her trussed up in her slutty costumes. A door closes, and I listen to the heels, possibly on my office floor.
“I don’t know what’s going on, Landon, but we have to learn to be professional. And I’m not backing down. You can’t—”
“Shut up, Willow. Get in the fucking car when it gets there.”
“Really? You’re ordering me?”
“Yes. You are, in fact, my employee, and if you’d like to remain so, I suggest you take your tone and check it. My patience only runs so far.”
“Fine.”
“Good. I’ll see you in a while.”
With that, I end the call, sigh again, and order her a car.
Christ, she winds me up.
In all sorts of ways.
I sink the rest of my drink and walk back into the house, damn tired of this noose around my neck. I don’t even know why I bothered putting a tie on this morning, considering I wasn’t even contemplating going to the office. Thankfully, I’ve got some old clothes here. Jeans maybe. A T-shirt. Anything but this fucking suit and the restriction it keeps me under.
Chapter Twenty
WILLOW
Idon’t know what’s gotten into Landon, but I’m pissed off when I reach the car waiting for me downstairs. He missed our usual meeting, and he had several unanswered calls. No message, no explanation.
“Where are we going?” I ask the driver as I slam the door shut behind me. There's no response. We simply pull out into London traffic, moving as quickly as mid-morning traffic allows. I grab my phone and fire off a text to Landon telling him he has to give me some idea what he’s doing, but that goes unanswered as well, so I resign myself to the mystery tour and get comfortable.
Thirty minutes later, we’re heading out of town, and a small jolt of excitement runs through my blood. This is the way to Tallington Hall. Of course, this is also the way to a million other destinations, but I remember taking the turn leading through the country. Where else would Landon be summoning me to?
As we wind deeper into the country and the journey continues, I’m sure that is our goal, but then the questions start. Why would he invite me here? Back to where we started. Started? I scold myself for the silly slip. We haven’t started anything, at least not from Landon’s view. No matter how I feel, it doesn’t matter unless he feels the same towards me. And we’re right back to the start of the problem. Neither identities are suitable for a Broderick, so what future can we have?
The midday summer sun is shining at full force by the time we arrive. Landon is waiting on the drive as the car approaches. At least I think it’s Landon. I’ve never seen him in jeans before. His usual white shirt is missing the tie, and he’s rolled the sleeves up, displaying his very fine forearms. It’s a casual look that is devastating on him. My smile is desperate to explode over my face, but I’m meant to be cross with him. That pretence will be hard to keep up, considering he’s whisked me off to his family home. Not the current residence of the Broderick’s, rather, the estate.
He opens my door, and I step out. The small pebbles are a killer on my heels as they crunch down into the surface, but Landon’s troubled expression pulls my attention.
“Is everything alright?” I ask.
“Maybe.” His cryptic answer is infuriating, and my eyes roll skyward.
“Can you do this? Just blow off work?”
He turns away and looks around the grounds. “I’m the boss. I can do anything I want.” His eyes land back on mine, but this time, there’s a spark behind them.
At least he’s not cross with me.
“Well, clearly, but ordering me to get in a car and just leave? You could have given me some warning. Or told me to pack. I’ve got nothing with me, Landon. Are we staying?”
The last part of my question is out of my mouth before I know it, and I inwardly kick myself for my presumptuous behaviour. The question hangs between us, and I’m not sure if I’ve screwed up again or cut to the chase. “What are we doing here?”
He turns towards the house and walks away. "I'm not entirely sure, but we’re having lunch in the dining hall," he says, waving me to follow.
