The front door swung open to reveal a very pixie-like woman with wild red hair. “Oh hello!” she beamed. “You must be my new neighbor. I saw the men moving your things in but I was stuck on a call for work. Nice to meet you. I’m Miriam.”
Three facts about my new neighbor: Her name was Miriam. She loved her power singers (Lizzo came on just as she opened the door). She talked a mile a minute.
“Hi. I’m so sorry to disturb you, but your music is really loud and I sort of have a big day today. It’s my first day at a new job, and I really need the extra thirty minutes of sleep.”
Her face fell. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry! I don’t have anyone on the other side of me, and Michael, who used to live in your flat, sweet dear that he was, was deaf in his left ear. Combat vet, you see. So I got used to playing it as loud as I wanted. I’m sorry.” She turned the music down with the small remote in her hands. “Please allow me to make this up to you. Do you fancy a cuppa?”
While I had missed the British obsession with tea, I shook my head. I could get another solid fifteen minutes before I had to get up. “How about we make it a drink tonight instead?”
“I like how you think...” Her voice trailed off as she waited for me to fill in the blank.
“Rian. I’m Rian Beaumont.” The first of my many tiny lies in my new home.
“Good to meet you. I saw you moved into one of the corporate flats. I heard those are nice.”
“Tell you what. It’s my first day, and I’ll be home by 7:00. You can bring the drinks and see my place. Even though it’s pretty much just a pile of boxes right now.”
Her brow lifted. “Why do I get the impression I’ll be unpacking a little?”
I grinned. “Because you seem to be very intuitive.”
With a laugh, she nodded. “You're on.”
Look at you making friends.
I would be lying if I said I hadn't worried about moving halfway around the world and leaving everything behind. But I needed the fresh start because the past kept pulling at me.
My phone was buzzing when I walked back into my flat. The alarm was going off, the one I hadn’t really needed for the last several months while I tried to decide what to do with my life.
But instead of climbing back into bed or going directly to the shower, I dialed the familiar number on autopilot.
This is a bad idea.
I knew it was. But I still couldn't help it.
When my father answered, his voice was gruff. “What?”
“H-hi Dad.”
There was a moment of silence before he answered, and the sharpness of his voice hit me like a barb. “What do you want, Rian?”
Suddenly, my voice was too dry to express all the words I’d been holding in for months but wanted to say then. “I’m just calling to tell you I’m here. I arrived safe and sound last night, but it was too late to call.”
“I’m very busy Rian, is there a purpose to this call?”
I wrapped my hands around my knees and rocked back and forth. The years of pain and rejection and barbs from my father had left me hollow. There had been a point when he’d loved me so much. Been proud of me. But then everything had fallen apart.
“Just to say I love you, Dad. And I’m here. I start work today.”
“Hopefully this endeavor of yours will turn out better than the first time.” And then he was gone. He’d hung up.
I stared at the phone, my stomach churning and my heart on fire.
That went well.
I had to keep trying. He had to forgive me some time.
Or he’s the one who needs forgiveness.
I had a choice. I could either dwell on the old man or I could start my new life.
The choice was easy. I’d been dreaming of this new life for ages. And no one, not even my father, was going to ruin it for me.
An hour later, I stared up at the London Lords building in the middle of Soho. Holy hell. I was actually back. I'd come back to London, a place I never thought I'd see again but was desperate to get back to. Every part of this had felt like a dream. Every single part. From the moment I'd gotten the call from Livy Covington, to the moment that I'd packed my bags, to now. I was outside the doors and desperate to make this work.
I loved London. Everything about it. The vibe, the life, the people, the food. I loved it all. From English fry-ups to take-out curries, everything was accessible at any time of the night. And this was my do-over in London.
The last time I'd been here, I'd made mistakes. So many mistakes. But I was ready. This time I was doing it right. No more fuck-ups.
When I stepped in and inquired at the security desk about my name and badge and whatnot, I was handed those things along with a mountain of paperwork. Thirty minutes later, my paperwork was filled out, and a bubbly redhead named Gemma was smiling as she walked toward me. "Rian, right?"
I gave her my best and not at all-terrified smile. "Yep, Rian Beaumont."
Her smile was warm, and I couldn't help but notice how gorgeous she was. She had perfect porcelain skin with not even a blemish on it. It looked like she was walking around with a permanent beauty filter on.
"So you're ready? You are so lucky. This Operations Assistant position just opened up two weeks ago."
"I know. It feels like a dream. I did sneak in from the back door because I applied through London Lords New York office." And then I realized what I said. "No, I don't mean back door, as in, you know," I whispered, "anal."
Gemma's face went bright red as her eyes widened and her mouth hung open. And then she burst out laughing. "Oh my God, you are excellent. I need to introduce you to my friends immediately."
My face flamed. "That's not what I meant, oh my God. I'm just really nervous."
"Yeah, I can tell. You'll be fine. No one expects you to be particularly useful for at least a few weeks. You're just starting. You have to remember that. It's fine."
"I just... I have a lot riding on this."
"Honestly, don't get too caught up. And Mr. Edgerton, he's um, nice."
I narrowed my gaze. I could tell when I wasn't being told the whole truth. "Nice?"
"Yeah, you know, um…—Well, you're going to be working a lot with Livy. She's lovely."
See, that one I believed. But with the way she hesitated when she said Mr. Edgerton's name made me more than a bit nervous. I narrowed my gaze. "What's wrong with Mr. Edgerton?"
It was only the two of us in the elevator, and she leaned in conspiratorially. "Um, okay, you didn't hear this from me, but he and his fiancée are having problems. Well, ex-fiancée, I guess, because they broke up. But maybe they're still trying to work it out, or she's still trying, I don't know. It's awful. So, it makes him a, you know, edgy Edgerton."
I swallowed hard. "Excellent. And I'm working in his division?"
She winced. "Yeah. Sorry. But luckily, you'll report straight to Livy. She carries all three divisions, and she's the primary Operations Manager with Princess Jessa."
"Jessa. Jessa. Why do I remember that name from my paperwork?"
"Yep. She's the head of your division. Jessa Ainsley, the princess."