Just when I think that maybe we’re getting somewhere, his features harden once again, his mask goes back on, and he turns away from me.
He only makes it up two stairs before he falls flat on his face.
Silently laughing at his drunken state, I once again go to help him. To my surprise, he allows me to attempt to get him up the stairs, although I’m pretty sure he’s just humouring me.
We come to a stop at his bedroom door. I remove my arm from around his waist and go to step away, but my breath comes out in a rush when I’m forcefully pulled back to him. My breasts press against his chest, and his heat burns through the fabric between us.
“Is that hoodie your boyfriend’s?”
“Huh?”
“That hoodie you’re wearing. It’s a guy’s.”
“Oh. Yeah.”
“Boyfriend?” he repeats.
“No. It’s…it’s my ex’s,” I stutter. The look he’s giving me makes me nervous.
“Ex?”
“We weren’t a very good match.” His eyebrow lifts and I can’t help more falling from my lips. “He wanted things I…wasn’t ready for.”
“Fuck,” he barks, his features hardening as understanding dawns. I expect him to push me away but he only pulls me tighter against him. My heart thunders in my chest as his eyes continue to bore down into mine. He must be able to feel my body trembling against his, but he doesn’t react.
“Ben?” I ask when the silence continues to stretch between us.
His eyes flick down to my lips when his name falls from them. I’m powerless to stop my tongue running along my bottom lip in anticipation. When he does eventually move, I find myself stumbling across the hallway.
The slam of his door vibrates through the entire house. I feel it in the wall at my back. It’s the only evidence I have that what just happened wasn’t my imagination. My racing heart and quivering body sure point towards it all being real.
He was going to kiss me, I’m sure of it.
Why me, and why now? He’s gone out of his way to avoid me since our parents forced us on each other. He’s been nothing but an arsehole.
After a few seconds of confusion, the sound of another door closing has me moving. I push myself from the wall and make my way back to my room.
* * *
“Lauren? Ben? Are you ready?” Dad hollers up the stairs.
I’ve no idea where we’re going for this meal, but I’m assuming it’s somewhere pretentious to make Dad look good. I’m wearing a pencil skirt and a blouse instead of the jeans and vest I really want to be in.
“Just coming,” I call back before swiping some gloss over my lips and smoothing down my hair.
“You look beautiful, sweetheart,” Dad says when I get to the bottom step. Seeing him in a suit and Jenny in a floral summer dress makes me think my assumption might be spot on. He’s much less impressed when Ben eventually makes an appearance. “What the fuck is that?” he barks, making both Jenny and I turn towards the stairs.
He’s wearing a pair of ripped jeans and a white V-neck, skin-tight t-shirt. “What?”
“Go and put some decent clothes on.”
“These are decent.”
The two of them stare at each other, a silent argument raging between them.
“Ben, please,” Jenny begs, stepping in before things kick off. “Just go and put a shirt on, at least.”
“This is a fucking joke,” he mutters as he disappears up the stairs. I can’t help but agree with him. This whole ‘let’s be a family’ thing all of a sudden is a bit much. I’m actually surprised he even agreed to it in the first place. He usually avoids any family event at all costs.
The drive towards the restaurant is silent and awkward as fuck as Ben and I sit beside each other in the back. His words from the night before and the feel of his body pressed against mine are still at the forefront of my mind, but now we’re out as a family, it makes everything I’m still feeling seem very, very wrong.
From the moment we sit down at our table, Dad has his phone out. He’s totally oblivious to the death stares he keeps getting from Jenny.
“So, Lauren, are you looking forward to starting work tomorrow?”
“Uh…yeah, I think so. I’m a little nervous.”
“Aww, no need for that. Everyone’s lovely. Right, Ben?”
“Yeah, great. The boss is a bit of a dick, though.” I can’t help but snort a laugh.
“Ben, don’t,” Jenny snaps, but Dad’s too focused on whatever he’s doing to have heard.
The waiter comes over to take our orders and Dad actually looks surprised when we prompt him to say what he wants. His eyes scan the menu quickly before ordering a steak and being pissed off when he’s asked how he’d like it cooked.
“Who in their right mind would order it any way other than rare in a place like this?” he grumbles once the waiter’s left us to it.
“Let’s just enjoy our evening. Work keeps us busy all week.”
“This won’t wait. Unless you want to deal with it?” Dad snaps at Jenny, who pales at his outburst.
“No, no. You know what you’re doing. Just don’t spend all night on that thing.” The glare she receives would make most people cower, but somehow, she manages to hold her own.
Looking back to the two of us, she continues with her earlier small talk. I don’t need to see him; I can sense the tension radiating from Ben because of the way my dad talks to his mum. Thankfully, he has enough self-control to keep his disapproval to himself—for now, at least.
Dad’s phone rings and he immediately answers it before getting up and walking out of the restaurant to deal with whatever is so important on a Sunday night.
“I’m just going to use the bathroom before the food arrives,” Jenny whispers, watching her husband disappear from sight.
“Well, this is fun,” Ben says once we’re alone.
“That’s one way to describe it. I’m surprised you turned up.”
“There’s…suddenly something worth making the effort for.” His eyes drop from mine, to my lips, and then lower. My whole body heats under his gaze and I squirm in my seat. “You’re fucking trouble.” It’s the last thing he says before Dad reappears, looking pissed off. Ben goes back to sitting mutely beside me for the rest of the meal, but I don’t miss the odd glance my way when Dad’s distracted.
Once the bill’s paid, we rush out of there like the place is on fire. Jenny looks upset, and I feel bad for her…but I fear she’s trying to turn us all into something we’re never going to be.
A perfect family.
Chapter Three
I’ve no idea why, but as I walk into the office for my first day, I’m nervous as hell. I’ve been here many times, and I’ve met every single person, but still, butterflies continue to riot in my belly. I put it down to the fact my dad’s about to become my boss, and I know exactly what everyone around here thinks of him. I don’t expect special treatment because I’m his daughter, but I do hope for a little reprieve from him.
I follow Dad as he barks instructions at Betty and Erica, who are sitting at their desks, ready to start the week. Betty immediately jumps up and rushes towards the kitchen to make Dad his morning coffee.
“Would you like anything, sweetheart?” she asks when she spots me.
“Uh…tea would be great. Thank you.”
Betty has been working for Johnson & Sons for so long that she’s practically part of the furniture. I think before my dad took up residence in the office and started throwing his weight around, she was probably classed as one of the family. But Dad’s done a stellar job of turning this friendly family business into something more corporate. His desire to be the best knows no bounds, and the second he could get his teeth into this place, he did.
Pushing the nagging feeling that this business is the only reason Dad married Jenny to the back of my mind, I walk over to my desk. I worked here for a few weeks last summer so I know my way around. I mostly spent those weeks doing menial tasks
like shredding, but this time, I’m an actual employee with actual responsibilities. I’m not sure whether I should be excited or scared.
“Are you ready for this?” Erica asks. We hit it off immediately last year. She’d just dropped out of uni and found herself an admin job here. Thankfully, she’s got plenty of backbone and can handle herself around my dad.
“Honestly, I’ve no idea.”
“It’ll be fine. You’re up for tonight, right?”
“What’s happening tonight?”
Rolling her eyes at me like I shouldn’t even need to ask, she says, “Your new job drinks.”
“Oh…uh…it’s okay.”
“No, no it’s not. It’s tradition for any new staff—under the age of about…thirty-five,” she whispers, “to go out for drinks on their first day.”
“Even on a Monday?”
“This is London, hon. Every night is Friday night.”
I grin. “Okay, then. When and where?”
“The Olive Branch. Eight o’clock. To start with.”
“To start with?”
“Oh, honey, you’ve no idea.”
My first day is exhausting, and not just because I only had a few hours sleep the night before. My hopes for being eased in gently were dashed the second I was given accounts to go over, customers to contact, and invoices to process. Being a member of the ‘family’ means I get access to everything.
Dad’s mentioned the day I take over the company more than once since I moved in. To begin with, I corrected him, saying that Ben was the one who would one day own it, seeing as it’s actually his family business, but I was soon put in my place. He seems to think that, by marrying Jenny, he’s entitled to everything. Which I guess is true. Once again, I question his intentions, but I push the thoughts aside every time they pop up because, although my dad might not be winning any parenting awards anytime soon, I like to believe he’s pretty genuine and just wants to be successful.
* * *
Walking into The Olive Branch, I pull at my dress, questioning my choice when I see that most people around me are still in their work clothes. I look around for Erica or any of the others I might recognise from work, but I before I find them, I hear my name being shouted.
Following the sound, I find Erica waving like a loon from her spot by the bar. As I walk over, I get a better view of what she’s wearing. Her silver dress sits high on her thighs and the back is completely missing. Suddenly, I don’t feel self-conscious at all about my slightly revealing red wrap dress.
“Wow, Lauren. Look at you. The guys are going to trip over themselves!”
“I’m sure that’ll go down well with my Dad,” I say with a laugh I don’t really feel.
The bar soon fills up, and it’s not long before the sounds of a large group of guys filter through to us.
“Oh, they’re here. Are you ready for this?”
My stomach drops. I hadn’t realised when Erica invited me earlier that we’d be the only females, but I guess it was obvious seeing as we work for a building company and all the other women in the office are above her thirty-five age limit to be invited. We’re pretty outnumbered.
The second they get to us, Erica is pulled into Will’s arms before he spins her around, getting a good look at her exposed skin. “Looking good tonight, gorgeous,” he growls, his pupils growing darker by the second. Until he looks up and spots me. “Wait a fucking minute. Is this little Lauren?” My cheeks heat and my skin prickles as he runs his eyes over every inch of me. My hands clench with the need to do something to put an end to his molestation. I’ve no idea what it is, but something about Will creeps me out.
“Dude,” a familiar voice barks before Will lifts his hand to rub his head where he was just slapped.
“What? Just fucking look at her.” Something erupts inside me when Ben appears from behind him. His eyes run the length of me and, unlike the unwelcome feeling of Will’s attention, my body erupts in goosebumps. “Anyway, it’s not like she’s your actual sister.”
Ben has Will’s shirt in his fist in seconds, their noses almost touching. He drops his voice so low, I have no chance of hearing what he says. But whatever it is, it works, because Will does apologise to me the minute he’s released.
Thankfully, he turns his attention back to Erica. Once we’ve all got a drink, I’m introduced to some of the guys I’ve yet to meet. I get hungry eyes from a few of them, but the moment Erica reveals who my father is, they soon lose interest. I can understand why.
Ben says nothing to me. Instead, he stays with some of the guys at the other side of our group. That doesn’t mean I don’t feel his eyes burning into me every few minutes. I fight the need to look up, too afraid of my body’s reaction if I catch him staring.
We have a couple of rounds of drinks before Erica rounds everyone up to head towards a club.
“It’s a Monday night,” I complain when she links arms with me and steers me towards the exit.
“And?”
I guess if I’m going to be starting uni in a few weeks, I’d better get used to this kind of nightlife. “Nothing. Where are we going?”
“Just wait, you’re going to love it!”
The club, Erica’s favourite, is called Fire, and it’s insane. I’ve no idea how many floors there are, but we came up at least three sets of stairs to get to the bar we’re currently stood at, waiting for drinks.
“Two rum and Cokes, six pints, and eight shots of…Apple Sourz, please,” Erica shouts at the bartender.
In minutes, I’m holding a drink in each hand as I watch all the others down their shots. I follow suit and wince when the sour liquid makes my mouth water.
“And that one, hon,” Erica says, nodding to my rum and Coke. “It’s time to dance.”
Draining the glass as quickly as I can, I allow Erica to pull me towards the crowded dance floor. We’re only alone for one song before a few of the guys join us. Jon pulls Erica to him and they start grinding against one another before I feel hands on my waist.
My skin prickles, so I’m not surprised to find Will when I turn around and remove myself from his grip. Pouting, he tries to grab me again but, before he reaches me, his hands are slapped away and another body blocks him from me.
“We’re leaving,” Ben barks, grabbing my forearm to pull me away.
“Why?” I stand firm. I already have to follow Dad’s orders. I refuse to have another man trying to control my life.
“Because you’re drunk, and Will’s a dick.”
“And you’re not? You’re the one ruining my fun.”
“Lauren,” he growls.
“Don’t Lauren me. I’m having fun. How about you dance with me instead?” I step into his personal space, his body heat burning the front of me. He stills, his eyes boring down into mine. “What? You don’t dance?”
“I can dance just fine. Let’s go.” With his hands on my waist, he guides me from the dance floor and then the club.
Once we step outside and the coldness of the night hits me, I realise I’m too drunk and exhausted to start arguing with him. With his hand still resting on my lower back, he finds us a taxi and we head for home.
The house is in darkness when we enter. Leaving Ben in the hallway, I start to weave my way up the stairs, knowing I really need to get to sleep if I’m ever going to make it to day two of my job.
“Lauren, wait,” he calls when I’m halfway up. “Let me help you.”
With his arm wrapped around my waist, he helps guide me towards my room. I might be tipsy, but I’m not too drunk to manage myself. The feeling of his solid body pressed up against mine is too good, though, so I allow him to continue. I guess he owes me, anyway, after the other night.
Pushing my bedroom door open, he comes to a stop. “You okay from here?”
When I look up at him, I find dark, hungry eyes staring down at me. His lips are pressed into a thin line and there’s a rapid pulse throbbing in his neck.
Finding his eyes once again, the silence
between us stretches out. That is, until the sound of the toilet flushing from the other end of the house reaches us.
“Fuck. I need to…Damn it.”
I don’t get a chance to question him, because he’s gone and his bedroom door is closed behind him.
* * *
The week flies by once I manage to rid myself of Monday night’s hangover. As Friday comes towards an end, I can’t wait for the weekend to start. I have no plans as of yet, but that’s fine, because right now, all I want to do is sleep.
I’m just finishing up going through last month’s invoices when I spot something. Dad’s already been through them once, and he told me there was no need for me to do so as well, but it helps me understand the process. Now, I’m here, and I might as well make the most of the opportunity, even if I’m not sure I want to spend the rest of my life working with numbers like he assumes.
Everyone else in the office has left for the day, so when I come across something that looks wrong and doesn’t add up, I’ve got no one to ask. I go over it again and again, but I can’t figure it out.
Where the hell could fifty thousand pounds have gone?
Eventually, I shut my computer down for the night in frustration. I hate not knowing everything, but with only a few days under my belt, I’ve got a lot to learn and the answer is probably staring me right in the face.
Unsurprisingly, the house is deserted when I get home. Ben’s probably out getting pissed like he is most weekends. I’ve no idea where Dad and Jenny are, but they seem to make a hobby out of trying to spend as little time at home as possible.
I’ve barely seen Ben since the night he helped me up to my room. That makes it easier to pretend that what happened between us is just a very vivid part of my imagination.
Seeing as it’s Friday night, I run myself a bath and order a takeaway for when I get out. I’d hoped to spend tonight catching up with Mum, but when I rang her yesterday to make plans, she excitedly reminded me about her weekend away with her sister. We still talk almost daily, but damn, I miss her.
Falling for the Forbidden: Forbidden Series #1 Page 2
