by Julie Archer
Before he had finished the sentence, Clem came trotting into the hallway asking who was at the door. Upon seeing Nate, she ground to a halt, her mouth falling open.
“What are you doing here?”
“I needed to see you.” Nate stepped inside, holding up his gifts. “I wanted to explain. You left before I even had a chance.”
Clem walked towards him and he half expected her to shove him away and tell him to go. Instead, she peeked into the bag. Dean stood there, watching the pair of them.
“You’ve got five minutes.” She turned her back to him as she walked into another part of the house.
Quickly, Nate followed her, shooting a grin at Dean.
They went into the conservatory, which was probably about half the size of Nate’s entire flat. The glass roof let in swathes of light, the trees casting shadows on the tiled floor from the pale sunbeams.
Clem sat on one of the sofas. Nate was tempted to go and sit next to her, then decided against it.
“Are the others still at Waterfront Lodge?” he asked, trying to start with something neutral, something to at least get them talking.
“As far as I know. Leona said she was coming home today.” Clem frowned at him. “Did she tell you where I was?”
He nodded. “I hounded her until she told me.”
“I’m glad she did.” Clem gave him a small smile. “I think.”
Nate knew he had to put things right between them and took a deep breath. “What happened with Anastasia…”
Clem held up a hand. “I know, I know. She made a move on you and you couldn’t do anything to stop her. It has happened about a million times before.”
“If that’s true, why were you so upset? If you know what she’s like, why take it out on me?”
She lowered her eyes to the floor, staring intently at the patterned tiles. “Because it brings back all the memories of being at school with her and having her bully me the whole of sixth form.”
“She bullied you? What for?”
“When I was at school, I wasn’t always a skinny blonde. In fact, I had braces, glasses and about four spare tyres I couldn’t seem to shift.”
Nate raked his gaze up and down Clem’s body, shaking his head. “I don’t see that at all.”
“Anastasia was one of the coolest girls and she always taunted me when she wanted to feel better about herself. When you’re stuck in boarding school, there’s no escape and she made me feel worthless. Even when I came back from LA, looking how I do now. She’s constantly around, always everywhere. And you know she slept with Liam when I was with him.”
A tear ran down her cheek and Nate desperately wanted to reach across to brush it away with his thumb. He didn’t really have the first clue about how private schools and boarding worked. He guessed that it must have been pretty bad not to be able to avoid the person who was persecuting you the whole time.
“Have you ever spoken to her about it?” he asked.
Clem shook her head. “I tolerate her, mainly for the sake of the group. A bit like I do with Byron, if I’m honest.” She let out a small laugh. “Maybe I should try and get them to hook up.”
There was another pause before Nate said anything. “It’s obvious to me that’s she’s jealous of you. That’s why she did it and then sent you the pictures. But I swear to you, I don’t remember any of it. Come on, you’re a successful businesswoman. You’re on a TV show and you’ve got the most amazing, hot, rock star boyfriend. She’s got, what? A crush on your ex? Maybe a job she hates?”
“I’ve tried to tell myself that several times. So has Leona.”
“Sounds like you’ve moved on since school and she’s still stuck in the playground.”
“I think you just hit the nail on the head.” Clem smiled. “I can’t help but be insecure about it though. Sometimes I still think I’m the fat kid with no prospects.”
“You’re anything but.” Nate moved across the room and sat next to Clem. “I don’t want anyone else except you,” he whispered in her ear. “I couldn’t care less about Anastasia Green, no matter how many times she throws herself at me. You’re worth a million of her.”
He felt her stiffen, then pull back.
“Thank you,” she said, softly. “No-one’s ever said that before.” She paused. “Though I don’t think I can keep on seeing you.”
Nate’s heart plummeted into his boots. “Why? I can promise you I will never go anywhere near that girl ever again.”
“It’s not that.” Clem shifted her body, so she was a little further away from him. “I’ve been talking to my mother and Dean and we’ve been talking about my future. We’ve decided that I’m going to leave Pretty Rich Things and concentrate on the business full-time. I’ll probably be moving back down here, so I can be closer to Dean.”
“I can still come and see you here. It’s not that far from North Ridge.”
“It’s not going to work, Nate.” Her face was set, as if she were struggling to hold it together. “I’m sorry.”
“Can’t we talk about it? We can work something out, surely?”
Clem stood up, biting her lip, trying to stop the tears from coming. “I think you should go.”
There was a huge part of Nate that didn’t want to give up, didn’t want to leave it like that. He couldn’t understand how they had been so happy one minute and then the actions of a silly, jealous little girl had ruined everything. Maybe Clem hadn’t really cared about him after all. The other part of him wanted to get back home, back to his guitar and a joint.
Knowing he was defeated, he stood up and followed Clem back into the hallway.
Dean and a woman Nate assumed to be Clem’s mother were standing by the front door.
“Yes, it seems to have had the desired effect,” Dean was saying.
“And you can get in touch with Anastasia to send her our thanks?” the woman asked. “Tell her we’ll find her a little something for helping out.”
A cold hand clutched at Nate’s heart. “Helping out with what?” he asked, his voice booming into the space.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Clem stopped abruptly and Nate barrelled into the back of her. “You said something about Anastasia? What for?”
Dean and Marika exchanged a glance, which didn’t go unnoticed by Clem.
“Oh, um, she was going to do something for Stelle D’Oro,” said Dean, trying not to meet her eyes.
“No, she isn’t. She would have taken great delight in telling me that she was involved. And she hasn’t, so it’s not that.” Clem glared at her brother and mother in turn. “Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”
Nate put a comforting hand on her shoulder and it filled her with unexpected strength.
“Isn’t it time Nate was going? After all, we won’t be seeing him again, will we?” Marika stepped towards the couple.
“And we’ve got things to discuss about the business, such as how much you’re going to get involved now you aren’t seeing anyone,” said Dean.
“Why are you so keen to get rid of Nate? You got Dean to try and warn me off, but that didn’t work. All you needed was someone like Anastasia to come along and whisk him away from me.”
When neither Dean nor Marika said anything, suddenly everything fell into place.
“Oh my God, that’s it, isn’t it? You did get Anastasia to come along to trap Nate! That’s why you need to thank her. For getting him out of my life.”
A wave of nausea rushed through her. However preposterous the idea was, at all made sense. Anastasia’s appearance at the Festival, feeding Clem with drinks to make sure she went to bed early and was out of the way. She screwed up her eyes, trying to get the images of Nate and Anastasia out of her head. Why had he kissed her? When he knew how much she loathed the girl?
“Don’t be ridiculous, darling.” Marika’s tone was meant to be soothing, but it set Clem on edge. “That far-fetched notion is absurd. Why would we do something like that when your rock star boyfriend is simpl
y reverting to type. After all, someone like that could never be faithful.”
“You’ve never even given him a chance or got to know him. How do you know what he could be like?”
“He kissed Anastasia, Clem. What more proof do you need?” Dean tilted his head to one side, his mouth set in a line.
“Hang on a sec.” Nate’s voice piped up from behind Clem. “I didn’t. I pushed her away. I don’t know how she got those pictures, but I swear on India’s life that I didn’t kiss her.”
Clem whirled around to face Nate. His brows were knotted together, eyes radiating tiredness. It had to mean something for him to bring India into this mess. Her heart contracted. Maybe he was telling the truth, but that didn’t explain what Dean and Marika had done. She took his hand and squeezed it, before facing her family.
“I want to know everything. The truth. Now.”
The four of them went back into the conservatory and sat opposite each other on the two sofas closest to the French doors.
“Which one of you is going to do the talking?” Clem’s head swivelled between Dean and Marika. “I’m sure one of you was the main instigator of this. Mother?” Her gaze finally rested on her mother.
“We just wanted the best for you, Clementine. And we didn’t think Nate was it. You’re better suited to someone like Liam Avery.”
Clem snorted. “Because he likes sleeping with Anastasia too?”
“If you’ll let me finish. Like we said, we thought you weren’t really doing enough for the business and that show was taking you away from it. Then when you started seeing Nate, things started slipping and we didn’t think your heart was in it. We needed to get you back on track.” Marika paused. “Dean chatted with Anastasia to come up with the best idea to get you onside, and she thought of this.”
“This was all Anastasia’s idea?”
Dean took over the explanation. “To some extent. We planted the seed of what the outcome needed to be, and she knew the best way would be to get together with Nate.”
“How do you explain the pictures?” Nate interrupted. “I would never have kissed Anastasia willingly. I wouldn’t do that to Clem.”
He gripped her hand tighter, and she knew he was being honest.
There was a pause before Dean continued. “Anastasia mentioned something about spiking your drink. She knew you wouldn’t be a willing participant.”
As his words sank in, Clem couldn’t believe what they’d done. Not just teaming up with the person that she truly, truly despised, but dragging Nate into the whole mess and drugging him?
Nate’s head fell back against the sofa. “When I woke up the following morning, I felt like shit. I thought I’d drunk too much. She spiked my drink?”
It was like a bad plot in a soap opera, not real life. The lengths her mother and brother had gone to. The fact they could have made Nate ill. She didn’t even know who they were anymore.
She took a deep breath, aware of the fact her world was imploding around her. Any decision she made now wasn’t exactly one that came from a sound mind.
“I never want to see or talk to either of you again. You’re meant to be my family, and support me, not want to destroy my life. This is so low, so shady, that I can’t even believe we’re related right now.” Clem stood up and pulled Nate to his feet. “We’re leaving.”
“Clem, what about the business?”
“Right now, it can burn in hell. Just like the two of you.”
The journey back to North Ridge was silent. Clem stared out of the window, trying to come to terms with everything she’d found out. She’d packed her things, slung them in the back of Nate’s car, and sat there until he joined her. He must have a million questions, but she couldn’t answer them now. She could barely think straight. The one thing she did know was that she hated her family.
By the time they got back to Nate’s flat, she was exhausted.
Nate unlocked the front door. “Sorry about the mess. I didn’t have chance to clean up before coming to see you. And I didn’t actually expect you to be coming home with me.” He gave her a sheepish grin.
He was right about the mess. The living room was strewn with empty takeaway wrappers and beer bottles, the table was covered in paper with scribbles on. Basically, it looked like every other student accommodation she’d been in. Quickly, he cleared a space on the sofa.
“I’ll take your stuff into the bedroom.”
Clem followed him. It was, at least, tidier in there, if a little bare. She sank down onto the edge of the bed, fatigue taking over.
Nate touched her temple. “Are you okay?” He shook his head. “Sorry, that’s a dumb question.”
She pulled him down beside her. “It is a dumb question, but I forgive you. In fact, I forgive you about everything. I’m sorry you got dragged in to all of this shit.” A tear slid down her cheek and Nate brushed it away with his thumb.
“Don’t cry. It’s fine, I get it.” He caressed the side of her face, tracing the line of her jaw.
Clem placed her hand over his. “I’m sorry I ran away when I saw the pictures of you with Anastasia. I should have known to have trusted you. When she sent them to me, I just flipped out. It felt like it was happening all over again; what she did with Liam, with so many others before.”
Nate gave her a wry grin. “They did look rather convincing. Although I promise you, I don’t remember any of it.”
“Ugh, I’m glad.” Clem shuddered. “What the hell am I going to do about my family though?” Her mood plummeted to the floor.
“Whatever you want. Or don’t want. You need to work out what’s important to you. Take some time away from everything, decide what you need. You can’t let them control you anymore.”
In that moment, Clem knew he was right.
She didn’t have to fight them.
Nate was all that mattered.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
The reopening of The Roca Bar couldn’t have come at a better time. After all the drama in Westbourne Deane and the revelations of Dean and Marika’s treachery, Nate and Clem needed to get away. Even if the alternative was spending a few days with Poppy and Alik, who still weren’t exactly their biggest fans.
When Nate first asked Clem, she had been reluctant to join him. He insisted, saying that fresh surroundings and distance would help her work out what to do. Otherwise, she would be stuck in his flat, staring at the walls.
Plus, it gave him the opportunity to introduce her to India properly. When Poppy suggested that she and Parker wanted some time alone, Nate jumped at the chance to babysit. With Clem’s help, obviously.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Seriously, Poppy, how many times have I looked after my own daughter before?” Nate swept India up in his arms. “We’re going to have fun, aren’t we, sweetheart?”
“Just make sure you reapply her sunscreen regularly if you’re going to be out here.” Poppy smoothed a hand over her daughter’s hair. “And she seems like she might be coming down with a cold, she’s been a bit sneezy over the last day or so.”
“Don’t worry, Poppy, we’re going to be fine.”
Poppy’s gaze was drawn to Clem, who came out of the villa, a sarong wrapped around her hips, a string bikini top barely covering her breasts. She was carrying an armful of magazines and a jug of what looked like margarita. “How many times have I told you not to drink while you’re looking after India?” she snapped.
“It’s lime and mint cordial with sparkling water,” said Clem. She set the jug down on the table between two of the sun loungers. “It’s way too hot to drink alcohol.”
“You don’t have to explain,” said Nate. He didn’t want things to be prickly between the two of them. After all, it wasn’t long since he’d managed to get Alik onside and he didn’t want it to be awkward between Clem and Poppy.
Clem shrugged and settled herself down on the sun lounger. India wriggled in Nate’s arms and he let her down. The little girl ran over to Clem and picked up one
of the kids’ magazines from the pile.
Parker appeared from inside. “Are you ready to go?” he asked.
“I guess so.” Poppy sighed and tossed her red hair over one shoulder. “We won’t be late.”
“Seriously, just go!”
The couple finally left and Nate went to join Clem and India.
“Daddy, look! S’Clem!” India waved one of the other journals at him. It had fallen open at a page with Clem modelling the Stelle D’Oro lingerie range. It was one of the more conservative shots of her, lounging on the bed, her legs stretched out, a robe around her, covering her modesty. “She’s pwetty! The pwetty princess!”
Nate laughed. “She certainly is, sweetheart.” He glanced over at Clem, whose mouth had turned up at one corner with a smile. “Daddy certainly agrees with you on that one.” Seeing that the little girl’s face was red, he placed a hand on India’s skin. “Ooo, you’re very warm, let’s get some of that suncream on you.”
India wriggled as he rubbed the cooling lotion on her body, then sneezed, snot coming from her nose. Clem reached for a tissue and held it while the little girl blew into it, then coughed.
“Oh dear,” said Clem. “Sounds like she is coming down with something. We should keep an eye on her.”
“Now you’re starting to sound like Poppy.” Nate shook his head. “Anyone would think I’ve never looked after her before.” He stretched, basking in the sun as it warmed every inch of his body. He stripped off his t-shirt. “Time to get a bit more of a tan.”
“You want me to rub cream on you?” Clem quirked an eyebrow at him.
“Much as I love the sound of that, we are in the presence of a minor and she’s definitely not ready for that.” Nate watched as India wandered a little too close to the pool and he jumped up to scoop her up just before she fell in. “Hey, let’s go and play in the baby pool.”
“I’m not a baby, Daddy.” India pouted.
“You’re not big enough to go in the grown-up one yet.” Nate took her hand and they went over to the shallow end.
Clem stood up and joined them, gently splashing him. “Why don’t you get some rest? I can look after India.”
