Charlie
I raced around the house cursing at how late I was going to be, before heading to check on Nanna.
“Nanna, are you going to be okay while I’m at the fashion show?” I asked breathlessly, sweat beading my forehead from the roaring fire that was lit in the hearth.
“Of course, Charlie boy. I’ll be fine,” she said, giving me a toothless smile.
“Okay, I’ll—”
“Fucking feed me,” she said before looking over to the cat. “Now dearie, you need to wait until Charlie gets home.”
I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Nanna, that was you talking,” I explained, exasperated at the new turn of events and not for the first time. It would seem that over the last year Nanna had started to channel her large, tabby cat.
“No darling, you know that was the cat talking,” she responded earnestly, her expression giving no sign of the fact that she was pulling my leg.
My lips puffed out but I kept my thoughts to myself as I bent to give her a kiss. “I’ll be back in about three hours and I’ll feed Sissy then.”
“Yes dear.” She gave me a kiss on the cheek and patted my shoulder. “Go and enjoy yourself. Maybe you’ll find a nice boy… to, you know… do things with.”
Heat flared in my face as I shook my head. “You’re so wicked, you know that, right?” I choked out, mortified by her thinking about what I got up to with boys.
She gave me a devilish smile that lit up her eyes. “Yes, and your point is? Didn’t you say you were running late?” she reminded me, stopping the conversation from taking a turn that I was sure I wouldn’t like.
Giving her a quick salute and goodbye, I grabbed the bag of things I might need for the show and ran for the door. Some events provided everything you needed, whereas others, especially charity events, didn’t. So I’d started to take things I might need from pins and hairspray, to minuscule underwear in case the outfit was tight fitting.
I pulled out my phone and opened the Uber app to order a taxi. I released a relieved breath when it showed that it would be with me in two minutes. Hopefully, I’d only be a few minutes late. I hated being tardy but sometimes it was inevitable considering how many things I needed to juggle in everyday life.
My mum and dad had taken me at my word when I’d said I would look after Nanna and they’d gone away for a much-needed, long weekend break. Over the last week, I’d come to realise just how much pressure they were under to keep Nanna safe, as well as work full-time to pay for the few hours care they could afford.
Guilt churned my guts at the thought of the small pot of money I’d been saving to start my business once I finished uni. When I’d suggested giving them some of my savings, though, there’d been a blunt refusal to take a penny. No matter how many times I’d mentioned it, my mum had shut me down until my dad had stepped in and told me in no uncertain terms that they’d manage, that securing my own future was something they wanted for me. We’d agreed to disagree, but my guilt wouldn’t abate.
As the car pulled up to the curb to pick me up, I dismissed the worry and tried to remember the information I’d been sent about this afternoon’s event. As the taxi pulled away, I recalled that the charity was for homeless children across Scotland. The high-price ticketed event included a fancy meal and I chewed on my lip wondering if I’d be able to snag some food seeing as I hadn’t eaten anything in my rush to get Nanna settled for the afternoon.
My stomach gurgled, as if in agreement, and I hoped that the late breakfast I’d had would sustain me if I wasn’t able to grab something. Without any traffic jams, we made it to Edinburgh in forty minutes, making me only ten minutes late.
I walked into The Voodoo Room and stopped at reception. “Hey pal, can you tell me where I need to go for the charity event? I’m one of the models.” I kept my face neutral as the guy looked me up and down with a look of disbelief on his face.
There’d been no point in getting dressed up so I’d just pulled on an old pair of joggers, scruffy trainers and a jumper that had seen better days. My new glasses had somehow grown legs and walked off so I’d had to find an old pair, which I’d discovered weren’t in the least bit flattering. Who knew I wouldn’t suit blue leopard print specs?
“The event is being held in the ballroom. But you’ll need to go up the backstairs over there”—his arm waved in the direction of a corridor as he continued to talk—“as the meal is being served at the moment.”
The mere mention of food caused my stomach to growl, forcing the guy to raise his voice to be heard over it.
“There’s a door to your right when you hit the top that should be signposted for the models to change in.” With that, he looked back down at whatever was sitting in front of him, dismissing me.
“Thank you for your help,” I muttered to the top of his head before going down the corridor and up the stairs he’d indicated I should take. Reaching the top, my eyes grew as wide as saucers, the breath I’d just taken sticking in my throat.
Had I conjured him up? Because what the fuck is he doing here?
Stood face to face with the man I’d spent all my free time thinking about, I found my feet rooted to the spot while I struggled to take in oxygen. Wondering whether I looked as shocked as him, I recovered quicker and used his stunned immobility to look my fill.
Today’s suit was black and clearly expensive. I was reminded again of an untamed beast which had been trapped, though not in chains, but in an overpriced suit. His dark hair gleamed in the overhead lights, showing the silver streaks that were sprinkled through it. My hands itched to see if it felt as silky as it looked. The icy eyes regarded me as if I was a bug under a microscope, his unsmiling mouth firming into a tight line.
“Oh, there you are Charlie. You’re late as usual. I’m not sure how the bosses will feel about your tardiness. I’ve tried to make excuses for you, but you’re your own worst enemy,” came a churlish voice from behind me that made me cringe.
Why hadn’t I checked to see who was working today?
I swung around to face my nemesis, Blake Masters. There was no way he’d make up any excuses for me, not when he was so competitive. He hated that I got more work than he did and that people actually liked me. Well, as much as anyone could in this cutthroat business.
I’d once tried to explain to him that if he was more agreeable and less of a rude git then maybe he’d be offered more work. But he came from a well-to-do family who funded his every whim, and he saw no reason why he should be nice to us “poorer folk” as he’d put it. I’d learned the hard way that he was a viper who’d strike at anyone in his way. So I worked hard to keep well out of his way, only it seemed my luck had run out today.
I could only imagine what he’d been saying about me.
“I don’t think the boss will be too bothered,” Mr. Hudson said, as he stepped past me to put himself into Blake’s view.
A shiver raced down my spine at the sexy rasp in his voice, as well as the scent of his masculine aftershave. The heat from his body seemed to pulsate from him and surround me as I stood with my hands clutching the strap of the bag I had slung across my body.