Only You - Lord of the Manor book 1

Chapter 15

The next morning, I land in the office with an almighty crash – quite literally. I'm sprawled across the wooden floor, surrounded by boxes, with Tom's running towards me, horror plastered all over his baby face.

'Oh God. Are you okay?' He reaches down to help me up, brushing down my black, fitted pants before beginning on my shirt. 'I'm so sorry. I was just moving them into storage.' He flaps around me like a mother hen, babbling about health and safety and accident books.

'Tom, I'm fine. Now, get your hands off me'

He quickly withdraws his flapping hands from me, giggling.

'What's in the boxes?'

'Samples, Sally took delivery of them. You would've thought she'd have put them in the cupboard. The girl's useless.' Tom moans. I scan the office and see Sally fighting with the photocopier. She really is in a world of her own.

'Morning,' I hear Victoria before I see her. 'Tom, I'm never going out with you again.' she hisses at him, perching herself on her chair.

I look to each of them in turn, waiting for an explanation, but it's not forthcoming from either of them. 'What's going on?' I ask. Tom shrugs guiltily as Victoria takes a long breath, ready to launch into an inch by inch account of her grievance.

'He dumped me again!' She narrows her eyes on Tom accusingly. I drop my bag by my desk and watch as Victoria fires all sorts of accusations at a very guilty looking Tom. 'Don't ask me to come out with you ever again,' she spits, pointing her pen at him. 'Friday, you cleared off with the scientist, and last night you didn't even have the decency to go home with the same man!'

'Tom!' I gasp sarcastically. 'I thought the scientist was your soul mate?'

'He still might be,' Tom defends himself in a high pitched voice. 'I'm just sampling what's on offer before I decide on what to invest in.'

Victoria scoffs and swivels her chair around, effectively blanking him out. I sit gingerly, wincing as my butt comes to rest on the soft, padded seat that feels more like iron. I get my phone from my bag and find a text from Beth.

Left early, didn't want to wake u in case u were dreaming of all things Lord like
Baroque at 1? Have to be back for 2:30 xxx

Yes. And daydreams too. I start to text back a big, resounding NO to Beth's lunch offer – I'm seeing a God – but then freeze mid-type. I'm supposed to be meeting Luke for lunch. I slump in my chair. My mind's all over the place at the moment, and I'm not going to try and kid myself as to why that is. I sit drumming my nail on my front tooth, trying to work out how I can get around this. My conclusion? I can't, so I text Beth first.

Sorry, busy busy busy. See you at home !

I can't believe I'm sat twiddling my shirt as I text a lie. She would go loopy if she knew I had arranged to meet Luke. I recommence the drumming of my tooth, struggling to decide which man I'm going to be letting down. Luke sounded really low and said he wasn't okay. Harry wants me back at The Manor to commence design, with the possibility of some added extras. My thighs squeeze together at the prospect. I pick my phone up to call Luke.

'Hey,' he greets me, sounding happier than I thought he would. Probably not for long, though.

'Hey, listen, something's come up. Can we rearrange?' I hold my breath, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip as I wait for his response, and yes, I'm twiddling my shirt. I'm not even really lying. Something has come up.

'Louis, please!' he begs. I drop my shirt immediately. The sure, arrogant Luke's gone again, being replaced with an uncertain, timid stranger. 'I really need to see you.'