ログインCharlie suggested that I ask Mum to meet me at the cafe across from our office building. It would be neutral ground and also not draw attention from my co-workers.Stepping inside the cafe, I felt like the walls were closing in on me. I didn't want to fight with my mother but I also didn't want her to push me around to get her own way. I’d kept my relationship with Charlie a secret from my parents out of fear they'd try to destroy this for me. My mother, especially, had always been weird about my wanting to date or even talk to boys. I wasn't allowed to go to parties as a teenager if boys were going to be there. If I had a crush on a boy I would keep it to myself, knowing it could never become anything more than a crush. My parents’ reaction when they met Charlie just proved I was right in keeping him secret from them. Now the truth was out and I don't know if they will ever accept my relationship. Mum was sitting alone at a booth down the back, her head buried in the menu so she d
When I got to my office I started working on the artwork for our upcoming promotion. Our next campaign would begin in autumn, which meant changing the seasonal fruits we offer for Summer and creating a new menu. This was going to be my first menu update since joining More and one of the most challenging tasks I’d had. Until now I had only done the social media posts and videos, this was far more in-depth. My mobile started ringing, distracting me from my task and when I looked down and saw it was my mother calling I groaned. I'd hadn't switched my phone back on until this morning and this was the reason why. I was still so angry with her and Dad over the way they'd treated Charlie on Saturday. I knew she wouldn't be calling to apologise for their behaviour because neither of them would ever consider their behaviour rude. This would be a call to try to guilt me into feeling bad about not staying for lunch. It was a conversation I just wasn't in the mood to have, especially with the
CharlieRichard’s BMW was parked in my spot when I arrived at More. His way of asserting whatever authority he believed he had over me. I resisted the strong urge to run my key along his door, knowing that I'd be getting my revenge on him soon enough. He was like a disease slowly infecting my company. I hadn't noticed at first because I thought he was doing me a favour, but now I know he was trying to edge me out and make all of this his own. Kicking him out will be my greatest victory over him but I know that he won't go without a fight. Coming through the office entry I spot him walking toward the elevators, where Nortica is standing. The parking spot may have pissed me off but I won't allow him to creep all over my girl. I sprint toward them and wedge myself in front of Richard, pretending I'm dashing for the elevator. “Morning, Richard,” I greet my father, keeping my tone polite to disguise the fact that I want to tear his head off. “You’re late,” he replies, still trying to
The fight from last night had stayed on my mind, well after it was over. Charlie had apologised for lying, and I told him I accepted his apology, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I’d lost trust in him. While Charlie slept soundly next to me, I tossed and turned, unable to shut my mind off. Was this the only lie he's told me? If I hadn't caught him out would he have confessed? These questions plagued me, every time I shut my eyes and tried to fall asleep. At dawn, I gave up trying to sleep and decided to take my mind off my problems by cooking us breakfast. I carefully snuck out of the bedroom, not wanting to wake Charlie, got dressed and wandered down to the street, where I had spotted a convenience store. As I gathered up ingredients to make pancakes from scratch, I soon realised how expensive convenience really was. The prices were three times more than I'd pay at the supermarket but I had no choice, this store was all there was near us. Our kitchen in the suite was huge a
Charlie“What happened?” I ask Nortica when she returns to the terrace in a huff. She had been gone for so long that I was beginning to wonder if she had bailed on me. I was just about to go searching for her. “Dimity happened,” she says matter-of-factly, oozing anger as she works herself up. “She saw me go into the bathroom, then waited near the basins for me to come out so she could fill me in on who you really are.”Fuck! I thought I had this contained and under control. I didn't anticipate Dimity ambushing Nortica in the bathroom, the one place she knew that she could get to Nortica without me. “What did she tell you?” I ask, trying to sound like I don't care when, in reality, I'm shitting bricks. “Nothing I didn't already know,” my Goddess answers coldly. “You lied to me.”“We’re not doing this here,” I announce to her. I know this fight is about to kick off but I'm not giving Dimity or her arsehole co-worker the satisfaction of seeing they won. I had paid the bill while she
Charlie obviously knew Dimity, our first waitress, but didn't want to talk about it with me. Was she someone he had on contract? A one-night stand? An old friend or was it just like he said, she knew his name because he dined here? The questions plagued me throughout the night, haunting my every thought but after the day we’d endured with my parents, I didn't want to start a fight and ruin the evening. If Dimity was someone from his past then, after we leave the restaurant, that's where she’d stay, in the past. I didn't need to know what happened between them, because it would only make me jealous. Charlie had to spend every working day with his past relationship shoved in his face so I could manage to get through dinner. I was grateful when we got a different waiter, even if he was a rude jerk. Whatever that guy's problem is, he shouldn't be working in the service industry. “That was delicious,” I announced to Charlie after taking my last bite of chicken.“Shall we order some d
Charlie’s meeting with Francesca went on longer than I liked. I couldn’t stand the thought of that red-haired dragon running her hands over my man’s arm as if she owned him. What pissed me off more though was that Charlie just sat there and allowed her to touch him. I know he was just trying to ap
CharlieI felt morally disgusted with myself for having sunk to such a low level. I’d made a deal with the devil, just to save my company from falling into Jessica’s hands. When I came up with the concept of More, it was Richard who backed me when no one else would give me a chance. Without his fi
I was never really that great at keeping secrets. Even at Christmas there's been times when I accidentally tell someone what I bought for them. I don't mean to spoil the surprise, it's just that I get too excited and it bursts out. This time though, I knew I'd have to hold my secret in or it would
Charlie“Good morning Mr Elemore, Miss Sterlington is waiting for you in the boardroom,” My receptionist, Cassandra, greeted me when I entered the building on Tuesday. Of course, Francesca would arrive early, leaving me little time to prepare. It didn't help that I'd been up til the early hours wi







