The night was cold. Rob undid his wool overcoat and wrapped her in it, as she put her arms around his waist.
‘Finally, no spies,’ he said. ‘No parental or sibling eyes.’ He kissed her, and the feelings rushed in.
‘Can I stay tonight?’ he said.
She considered his words. She was ready; she trusted him. She wanted Rob to be her first.
But she wanted all of him.
‘Better not, I think. Until you’ve sorted things properly with Amy. Moved out.’
He groaned. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Cool it, Rob. It’s taken us all our lives to get here. We can wait a bit longer.’
Chapter 17
Eliza
Eliza woke to sunlight pouring through the sheer curtains of the balcony windows.
Welcome, clichéd sunny morning for person newly in love.
Oh my gosh – I am. I’m in love!
‘Yoooou, you make loving fun,’ she sang in the shower. It was an old song off one of Clare’s favourite albums. Rumours, if she remembered correctly. No doubt there would soon be plenty of those flying around at Rose.
After smoothing her hair into long waves, she put on the dress she’d bought in Covent Garden back in January. It was the colour of sunshine, and short. Yellow dress, red hair – loose, today – red lipstick. Why not? Ankle boots to finish. She twirled in front of the mirror.
Oh yes.
She set off for the office, and smiled to herself as heads turned on London Bridge. She felt like a woman in a shampoo advert.
Striding into the atrium, she waved to the receptionists and took the lift up to the top floor.
‘You look lovely today,’ said Pippa.
‘I feel lovely.’
‘Why’s that then?’ said Pippa with a knowing smile.
‘Kind of a hot date last night. But shhh.’
Pippa grinned. ‘What with you and your sister, it’s Romance Central round here.’
Eliza knocked on Maria’s office door, which was closed. If she’d looked through the pink-tinted glass she’d have noticed the person in there wasn’t Maria, before opening it.
‘Er, Eliza, she’s not—’ called Pippa.
‘Oh. Sorry, Phil! Maria not in yet?’ It was the first time she’d seen Maria’s fiancé since the board meeting.
‘Come on in, Eliza. How lovely to see you again, looking so bright and pretty.’
Phil was sitting at Maria’s desk, jacket off, his white shirt as dazzling as his teeth. It would be rude to back out again. She stood awkwardly, just inside the door.
‘Please, come on in, sit down. We haven’t had a chance to get to know each other, and we’ll be family soon. Family is the most important thing in the world. After God, of course.’
‘Right. I’m looking forward to the wedding.’ She sat down opposite him.
‘As am I. Maria is going to make a wonderful wife. In this day and age it’s not easy to find a woman of substance who agrees with my views on marriage.’
Hardly surprising.
‘Yes, well . . . it’s lovely to see her so happy.’
He came round to her side of the desk, leaning a hand on it. He was uncomfortably close. She could smell his aftershave.
Boss, if she wasn’t mistaken. Ironic.
‘I know you and Maria don’t see eye to eye on Rose Corp’s future direction, my dear, but I trust that won’t affect our relationship. I hope, as family, we can all get along just fine. Especially you and me.’ He looked into her eyes, then at her dress, then her legs, almost all of which were on show.
Then his eyes met hers again, and he smiled, slowly. ‘That’s a very lovely dress, Eliza,’ he said, his voice husky. He stood up and took a step towards her.
Oh my god.
There was a voice from the doorway. ‘Eliza?’
‘Maria!’
Eliza pushed her chair back so quickly it almost tipped over.
Her sister’s eyes were on Phil, who was leaning nonchalantly on the desk again. The leer had given way to a brotherly smile.
Maria’s eyes narrowed as they moved to Eliza, and to her legs. Had she seen Phil’s . . . what was that? Had he been about to touch her?
‘I just wanted to catch up, Maria.’ Eliza tried to keep her voice steady. ‘I’ll come back later.’ She headed for the door.
‘And when you do,’ said Maria, as she moved past her, ‘perhaps we could discuss whether your – ’ her eyes moved to Eliza’s legs – ‘attire is appropriate. It shouldn’t be necessary to spell out dress codes to executive staff.’ She lowered her voice, so that only Eliza could hear. ‘But then, I suppose it’s difficult to escape one’s background. History repeats, as they say. I believe your mother seduced her boss.’
The loathing in Maria’s eyes took Eliza straight back to those times in Wales, and she flinched.
But no. She wasn’t a child any more. There would be no more cowering.
‘I’ll wear what I bloody want. If your fiancé sees a pair of legs as a temptation from God, that’s his problem.’ She didn’t look at Phil. ‘And probably yours. But it’s not mine. There is no dress code at Rose. This place is all about creativity. Expressing yourself. Great things get done by enabling, not by dictating. Today I woke up happy, hence the dress. I feel good in it. When was the last time you felt this good, Maria?’
She swept out, and immediately took the lift down to The Rack’s floor.
Her assertive words had been a response to Maria’s, but in fact Phil’s behaviour had left her shaken. Why, though? It had been basically little more than a leer. Had he really intended to touch her? Phil wasn’t stupid; he wouldn’t do that in Maria’s office, would he?
She was glad to find Terri alone.
‘Was never one for yellow myself,’ she said, as Eliza sat down heavily. ‘But it works for you.’
‘Terri—’
‘Something up?’
‘Phil. I just ran into him in Maria’s office.’
‘Think of it this way. Your day can only get better.’
‘He . . . harassed me. It was . . . it frightened me, Terri.’
‘Harassed you how?’
‘It was the way he looked at me.’
Terri snorted. ‘Fuck’s sake, Eliza. Most blokes look at you like that. Have you not noticed before?’
‘I think he was about to touch me. If Maria hadn’t come in . . . ’
‘What? Are you OK?’
‘I think so. But Maria—’
‘She’ll probably blame you. Now you’ll have husband-seducer to add to Daddy’s favourite.’
‘She implied that’s what I am. My mother’s daughter.’
‘Tosh. Ana was the seducee. Although . . . Christ, that dress she wore to the Christmas party.’
Eliza let out a shaky laugh.
‘Are you sure you’re all right, love?’
‘Yep. I’m just . . . I’m a bit hyper today.’
‘Any other reason?’ said Terri, with a small smile. ‘Might it be connected to this . . . exuberant colour palette? Wait. Eliza Rose, is that pink I see on your cheeks?’
‘Impossible.’
‘I’d always thought so. Therefore something’s clearly changed. Tell.’
‘Is this how you interview your victims for The Rack? Dad calls you The Terrier.’
‘Better believe it.’
‘Just between us?’
‘Naturally.’
Eliza prepared herself. What Terri – perhaps Mum’s closest friend – thought, really mattered.
‘What do you think of Rob?’
‘Ah. History repeats. Again and again.’
‘God, not you as well. Maria just said that. What do you mean?’
‘Your wretched father, of course. Rob was my protégé, as was your mother. Harry gave them both to me, then stole them away again.’
‘Oh. So you think Rob’s all right, then?’
‘So you’re together, then?’
‘You guessed?’
; ‘Eliza, love. The temperature in this office when you two were in it was off the charts. If you hadn’t been returning to Oxford, I’d have got rid of one of you before something combusted.’
Eliza giggled. ‘He is hot, isn’t he? We’re kind of together, but it’s not official. He’s . . . well, he’s married.’
‘Yup.’
‘You knew?’
Terri gave her a look.
‘Ah, right. But he’s getting a divorce, and then I guess we’ll be a thing. An item. Do you think that’ll be a problem, with us both working here?’
‘It won’t be ideal, you being his boss. It all fell apart when Harry and Ana tried to work together. There’s no point worrying about it now, though. He’s in Sales, you’re up on the top floor and there’s uni in the meantime. But I’d say keep it to yourselves, for the time being.’
ROB: How’s your day?
ELIZA: Shaky start, OK now
ROB: Why shaky?
ELIZA: Tell you later?
ROB: cafe at 1?
ELIZA: ‘A thousand eyes see all I do’
ROB: Who said that?
ELIZA: No idea. But can we make it off base? How about Caffe Uno near the Golden Hinde? Nobody from here ever goes there ROB: With good reason
ELIZA: To love is to suffer
ROB: Fair enough. Laters x
Rob arrived first, and Eliza enjoyed his reaction as she walked over – this look was working a treat.
‘Cool dress,’ he said.
‘Aiming to please.’
‘You look like one of those rocket lollies we liked when we were kids. Mostly yellow with orange and red on the top.’
‘Was thinking more Amal Clooney at Harry and Meghan’s wedding.’
‘Top girl – she knocked it out the park. Did you go to that?’
‘No, but Dad and Clare did. Apparently Dad tried to out-Clooney George, with the whole dapper older-man look.’
‘The coffee here’s not great,’ said Rob. ‘I suggest you get a smoothie instead.’
‘I’ve already got one of those,’ she said, ruffling his curls. ‘Be right back.’
‘So what was the shaky start?’ asked Rob, as she sat down.
‘I bumped into Phil. He was in Maria’s office. Alone. He was all like, “Let’s get to know each other, we’re going to be family.” I’ve got a horrible feeling he meant “know” in the biblical sense. And then he got this close.’ She held her hand in front of her face.
‘He’s a creepy arse.’
‘He so is. And he’s getting married! He’s meant to be in love with my sister.’
‘Yeah, well. What you said before – what Harry thinks about it. He’s probably right, about being after her for her position. A guy with Phil’s power and money could have his pick of dumb-ass beautiful women willing to be his “helpmate”. With Maria he gets to spread his nonsense throughout Britain without the bother of setting up a separate entity. If I were you, I’d avoid him.’
‘Good plan.’ She sipped her hot chocolate.
‘So, Lizzie. I’m moving out at the weekend.’
Oh my gosh, it’s actually happening!
Her face broke into a smile, but then she registered his expression.
‘I guess that’s going to be hard for you.’
‘Very. I’ve just got to hope it doesn’t push her back into depression. Might have to ask Chess to be on stand-by.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘Mum and Dad’s London pad. I’ve told them I’m moving out, and I may have mentioned you had something to do with it.’
‘And?’
‘Wanted to punch Dad’s smug face, to be honest.’
She took his hand and laced her fingers between his. ‘It feels good, Rob. It feels right.’
He took a breath. ‘Lizzie . . . what will Harry think?’
‘Leave Dad to me. He likes you, Rob. He told me.’ She didn’t mention the ‘wide boy’ comment, and tried to forget the ‘you don’t need the distraction’ part.
Eliza opened her messenger window.
Bard’s Babes
ELIZA: Remember how I said I was staying strong, menwise?
FRANKIE: Is this to do with your ‘shaky moment’?
LEIGH: best man?!! Hot guy who pushed you in lake?
ELIZA: the very same
FRANKIE: saw him in FB wedding pics – guy with dark curly hair?
ELIZA: name of Rob
LEIGH: we warned you about that dress FRANKIE: invite him to Oxford IMMEDIATELY!
ELIZA: calm down!
FRANKIE: That’s lovely. Seriously I’m so pleased for you ELIZA: Thx. GTG, miss you xxx
Eliza went to Richmond for the weekend. As she and Harry took their usual stroll in Richmond Park, the biting March wind turned Harry’s cheeks pink. But Eliza was in her personal warm bubble as she took his arm.
‘You’re looking well, Lizzie,’ he said, patting her hand. ‘It’s good to know both my daughters are happy at last.’
‘I am happy, Dad. Um, I wanted to tell you why.’
‘Think I may have guessed. Young Studley?’
‘What! Honestly, Dad. How the f—? How did you know? I swore Terri to secrecy. Ah, wait . . . John?’
‘Yes. But I saw how you were with him at the wedding. It was clear this had moved on from that flirting thing you two have always done. I had my doubts, as you know. But Clare told me to let you get on with it.’
‘What flirting thing?’
‘Since you were . . . I’d say thirteen, fourteen? Confession time – John and I have had a bet on for years, about when you two would get together.’
‘I knew it!’
‘I just won five hundred quid. Ha! But he heartily approves. Not so sure I do. What’s he doing about Amy?’
‘He’s moving out, as we speak. Asking her for a divorce.’
‘I see.’
Eliza registered his frown. ‘Dad, don’t dismiss Rob as some sort of pretty-boy charmer. There’s a lot more to him. He’s smart, ambitious, and we’re into the same things. And . . . he knows me so well. He sees the real me, not the rich girl with the famous dad. I just love being with him.’
‘That all sounds reasonable,’ said Harry. ‘As long as he accepts your heart belongs to Daddy.’ He winked.
‘Ew, Dad.’
Chapter 18
Eliza
ELIZA: Hi, was maintaining radio silence at weekend as thought it best. How did it go?
ROB: Horrible. Have moved into the flat. Come over tonight?
Was there a sleepover implication in that text?
ELIZA: Sure
ROB: Shall I come up to your office 6ish? Can go home together ELIZA: OK xx
Home together. Those two words.
By six o’clock, Maria, Pippa and the receptionists had left, and Eliza was sitting alone at her desk beside the tall windows that looked out across the Thames. The evening sun was reflecting off the glass towers of the City, and down below, the tourist hordes milled around on Bankside, getting in the way of office workers heading for the trains, tubes and buses.
Rob strode in, loosening his tie, looking right at home. There was something of a swagger going on, but when you looked like that, you could afford to swagger.
‘Welcome to the top floor, Mr Studley,’ she said, coming out from behind her desk.
He grinned. ‘Are you all alone at the top of your pink tower, Ms Rose?’
‘It would appear so.’
‘Then it’s OK if I do this?’
He picked her up by the waist, sitting her on her desk. His eyes locked on hers as he put a hand on each of her legs and pushed them apart, moving between them. Then he kissed her, his arms round her waist, pulling her towards him.
Heavens, this was gut-meltingly gorgeous.
He pushed himself against her and muttered, ‘So, Ms Rose, have you ever done it on a desk?’
She managed to stop herself from shoving him off. Just.
She wanted to be honest with him, bu
t in the face of his obvious know-how, was hesitant about sharing the sad depths of her own inexperience.
She put a hand on his chest. ‘No, Rob. I haven’t. Not loving that chat-up line, actually.’
‘Sorry. I got carried away.’ He pulled a contrite face. ‘Shall we go, then? Back to mine?’
Eliza slid off the desk, pulling her skirt down. ‘Rob – how many girlfriends have you had?’
‘Had? Or had?’
Oh god, this was going downhill at a rate of knots.
‘Well, I don’t know. Both?’
‘You’re meant to have these conversations afterwards, Lizzie. In bed.’
‘I just want to know. It’s a simple enough question.’ Suddenly, she really needed to know.
‘OK.’ He ran his fingers through his hair. ‘Before Amy, three – no, four – proper ones. Several flings, one-night stands, whatever. Some probably ill-advised. I was a bit of a tart at uni, to be honest. Wild oats sown near and far. But I got it out of my system.’
She said nothing.
‘Look, let’s go home. Start this evening over? I messed that up big time, didn’t I? What can I do to make it better?’
Eliza thought for a moment. This was probably as good an opportunity as any for the truth. ‘OK. Time for some honesty from me, too. Your youth may have been misspent, but mine was a model of propriety. I studied hard, didn’t go out much. I don’t do casual, I don’t do flings. I hardly ever do dates.’
He grinned. ‘Hard to please. Makes me feel special.’
‘No, what I’m trying to say is . . . I’m inexperienced.’ She was horrified to hear a tremor in her voice.
He registered it too, and the grin faded. ‘God, I really blew it, didn’t I? Look, none of the others meant anything. Not compared to this. To you.’
‘Really?’
He took her face in his hands and kissed her, gently this time.
‘I love you, Lizzie. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. You’re the boss of me.’
‘It’s true, I am.’
The Studleys’ London pad was a loft apartment near Leicester Square. The walls were white, the furniture was white, the floors were pale bamboo.
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