Married by Midnight (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series, #12) (6 page)

Reed almost laughed.  He’d expected Sharon to play the mother role to the girl but not like this.  “Come on, Sharon.  There’s nothing you or I can do about this except make sure she’s gainfully employed at this firm.  Whatever goes on at her home is her personal business, not ours.

Sharon grimaced then she sighed.  “I know.  I just hate it when someone’s being taken advantage of.  And she’s such a sweetie.  That’s why he feels he can bully her and get away with it.”

“As I said, Sharon, her problem, not ours.  If she doesn’t bring this up again just leave it alone, all right?”

She nodded, looking far from pleased.

“So how’s she doing so far?”  Reed asked, steering the subject toward safer waters.  “Trainable?”

“Oh, she’s very knowledgeable.  In fact, she surprised me.”  Sharon’s eyes were glowing. “I thought she would be totally green but she’s had some experience working in the administrative office of a nursing home.  She obviously paid attention while she was there because it wasn’t just me training her.  She ended up teaching me a couple of things, too.  The filing system they use at the nursing home is pretty good, I must say.”  She gripped the arms of her chair.  “Well, I’ve taken up more of your time than I’d planned so I’d better head back now.  Got to check up on my charge.”  At the door she stopped and looked back at him.  “After lunch I’ll send her in so you can bring her up to speed on the U.S. and France operations.”

“Fine,” he said, his tone nonchalant as he turned his attention back to the file he’d been reviewing when Sharon walked in.  He was playing it cool but he was actually looking forward to talking with Golden.  There was just something that drew him to her.  Maybe it was his protective instinct.  She was like a fragile China doll to be handled with care.  And as much as he’d told Sharon they needed to mind their own business he planned to do the exact opposite.  There was a lot more to this girl than what they could see on the surface and he planned to get to the bottom of the mystery that was Golden Browne. 

***

I
t was with a huge sense of relief that Golden walked out of the office of Davidoff Fashions that Friday evening having completed her first week as a member of staff.  She’d made it.

She’d been extremely nervous that first day wondering if she would fit in, if she would be able to manage the work or if she would end up making a fool of herself.  She was sure the people at Davidoff Fashions would all be snobs.  And then she’d met the delightful Sharon Crow and others like David Pearson from marketing and Lisa and Sienna from accounting.  They’d all been unbelievably friendly, putting her so much at ease that she began to gain confidence, even venturing to go out with them one evening to have drinks.

Later she’d paid the price for that adventure.  Dunstan Manchester was waiting up for her and as soon as she walked in the door he began to bombard her with questions.  Why was she in so late?  Where had she been?  Had she been asked to work late?

None of which was any of his business, of course, but Golden knew exactly what was behind his questions.  It was fear.  The fear that somehow, despite his efforts to keep her isolated, she’d developed an interest in someone of the opposite sex.

And, as far as her stepfather was concerned, that was the worst thing that could ever happen.

She’d always been a shy girl, never going out with boys, always staying close to home.  That had suited him just fine.  She’d even told her mother she had no intention of ever getting married.  Knowing Eugenia, she’d probably shared that tidbit with her husband and he must have been happy as a lark to hear that.

Because if he could keep her like that, under his control and unmarried until the age of twenty-one, then the world would be his oyster.

Golden shook her head.  She didn’t even want to think about it.  She had a major decision to make but for now, just for this weekend, she would forget about it and take one day at a time.  One hour, even.

She glanced at the clock.  Almost eight.  She would read for an hour or so and then turn in early.  Tomorrow was going to be a busy day.

When Saturday came, instead of lounging in bed Golden got up early, did the laundry and prepared her work clothes for the coming week.  As she hung the freshly laundered skirts and blouses in her closet she grimaced.  Although her co-workers had been nice about it, treating her like they did everyone else, she couldn’t deny that she stood out like a lowly daffodil in a garden of elegant lilies.  She needed new clothes for work.  These demure skirts and tops were just not cutting it.  There wasn’t much she could do, though, until she got her first paycheck and that wouldn’t be until the end of the month.

And she wouldn’t even bother asking her mother for a small loan until she got paid.  Manchester held such a tight hold on Eugenia’s finances that she couldn’t touch her own money without him questioning her about it.  Golden did not want to go there.

With savings of just a couple of hundred pounds there was no way she could venture into any fashionable store.  Harrods and Burberry were just a dream.  Even Debenhams and BHS Oxford Street were out.  With a limited budget like hers, her best bet was to visit the nearest thrift shop and riffle through the racks until she’d found some nice suits.  She’d found some treasures there before and now would be a good time to go browsing again.

But first she had a very important stop to make.  She’d been late to Claire’s last time and she was not going to do a repeat today, not because she was afraid of the old lady’s reprimand but simply because she liked to keep her promise.  And besides, she was looking forward to seeing Claire.  With her mother so hesitant to share in her joy, who else could she tell about her first full week as an employed person?

Golden walked into the nursing home, a bright smile on her face.  Eager to tell her good news she called out to Claire as soon as she turned into the room.  “Guess what?  I’m a new woman.”

The words had barely left her lips when she realized that something was wrong.  Claire was sitting in her armchair by the window, looking out onto the garden below, her unguarded face a study in sorrow.

As soon as she heard Golden she blinked as if bringing herself back to the present then her hand went up to flick something from her cheek, something that, to Golden, looked suspiciously like a tear. 

“Claire, are you all right?”  A frisson of fear coursed through her and she hurried over to where her friend sat clutching the quilt that covered her knees.

As long as Golden had known her, Claire had seemed healthy and strong but had something happened during the past week?  Could she have fallen ill?  Golden’s heart began to pound.  No matter that she was no blood relation to Claire she’d grown so close to her over the past year that the old lady was like a grandmother to her.  And now that she’d found her was she to lose her?  Her chest tight, Golden reached Claire and laid a hand on her arm, praying that she was fine.  “What is it?” she asked, her voice gentle.  “Tell me.”

Claire looked up, her face stern.  “What are you babbling about, child?  Give me a hug and stop this foolishness.”

Golden pulled back, her eyes narrowing as she regarded her friend.  “Don’t give me that, Claire.  I know something’s wrong.  Tell me what’s upsetting you.”

Claire’s frown deepened into a scowl and she buttoned her lips, looking so sulky and determined that Golden could just imagine what she’d been like as a two-year-old.

But Golden was not about to be intimidated by this show of stubbornness.  She had to find out what was going on.

“Tell me, Claire,” she said again.  “I’m not going to stop hounding you until you tell me what’s troubling you.”

“And how do you know something is troubling me?”  Claire spat.

Golden rolled her eyes.  “I may be young but I’m not stupid.”  She folded her arms across her chest.  “You need to tell me.”  She stared down at the woman but after a solemn silence that stretched on and on she sighed and decided to try another tactic.  Obviously, Claire was not one to yield to bullying.  “Please, Claire.”

More silence and then it was Claire’s turn to sigh.  “It’s my daughter.  She’s the one dragging me down in the dumps.”

Golden’s eyes widened.  “Your daughter?  I didn’t know you have a daughter.  You never mentioned her before.”  Confused, she stooped down beside Claire’s chair so she could look her in the eyes.  “Is she ill?”

“Please,” Claire said with a snort, “she’s as strong as an ox.”  Then she shrugged.  “At least she was last time I saw her.”

It was those words that made Golden realize there was a lot more going on than she’d imagined.  Obviously, whatever was upsetting Claire hadn’t just transpired.  Quickly she got up, rested her handbag on the nightstand and pulled up a chair next to Claire.  Reaching out, she took the withered hand in hers.  “Do you want to talk about it?”

Claire began to shake her head but when Golden gave her hand a gentle squeeze she bit her lip and looked away.  Obviously, the subject was a painful one.

Golden stroked her hand.  “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.  I don’t want to hurt you.” 

Claire’s response was an impatient grunt.  “It won’t hurt me.  I got over that six years ago.”

“Six years?  Was that the last time you saw your daughter?”  As she watched the emotions flit across Claire’s face Golden’s thoughts went to Eugenia.  She could not imagine not seeing her mother for six whole years.  It would tear her up and she knew Eugenia would be devastated.  How did Claire and her daughter do it?  How had they even ended up in that situation?

Claire nodded and this time she could not fake the stiff upper lip that was her trademark.  Her face sagged and she looked like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders.  “The last time,” she whispered, her voice forlorn.  “The day she walked out of my life.”

“But...why?  What happened?”  Golden didn’t want to press.  She hated the idea of breaking open old wounds but how could she help her friend if she had no idea what she was going through?

Claire heaved a sigh.  “We had a quarrel and I...said some nasty things to her.  I was so hurt that I lashed out.”  She shook her head then her gaze moved from Golden to the open window.  “I told her she should leave me and never come back.”  Her grip on Golden’s hand tightened.  “I told her she was no daughter of mine.  I haven’t seen her since.”  Her speech ended on a hiccup and she dropped her chin, her lips trembling as she fought to regain her composure.

“Oh, Claire.”  Tears sprang up in Golden’s eyes.  She couldn’t help it.  She had no idea what would make a mother say such hurtful words to her own child but she could only imagine the pain Claire was going through.  And what about her daughter?

“I’m sorry,” she whispered and leaned over to pull Claire close.  “I’m sorry.”

There was not a whole lot more she could say, not when she had no idea what had caused this rift, but she wasn’t going to ask.  Not right now when Claire was so vulnerable.  Claire would tell her story when she was ready.  Right now what she needed most was a shoulder to cry on and Golden would give her just that.

But as Claire leaned against her Golden found her thoughts wandering off to her home in North Ockendon where her mother would be in the kitchen right at that moment, spoiling her husband with his favorite Saturday morning meal.

She would have to make a decision soon, a decision that would affect her mother, but what would Eugenia’s reaction be if she chose a direction which was contrary to her view?

Like Claire’s daughter, would she end up being banished from the mother she loved so much?

The more she thought about it the more her heart sank.  Such a weighty decision and so little time...

T
his was not good.  The girl was growing on him too much, too fast.

Here he was in office preparing for a meeting with the VP of purchasing of one of the largest department store chains in Europe and all he could think about were glistening amber eyes and soft pink lips just waiting to be woken with a kiss.

Whenever she crossed his mind, which was often, Reed could not help thinking that Golden was like the fairytale princess, Sleeping Beauty, just waiting for the right man to come along, the one who would draw her out of her slumber of innocence and into the world of awareness.  For her it would be a sweet, sensual awakening and for him, the ultimate pleasure.

Reed could only shake his head and chuckle as the thoughts floated around in his head. A girl like Golden needed a prince to teach her the ways of the world.  Would he be the one?

At the thought he snorted.  Hardly likely.  Not when he had secrets and regrets, a past that would send the girl running in the opposite direction.

And all because, back in college, he’d been a major jerk and a certified idiot.

Eyes narrowed, Reed stared at the wall, his gaze resting on the black and white portrait of Audrey Hepburn as his mind went back to his final year at Vassar College.  Before senior year he’d been a pretty staid student – boring, he’d been told – and then he ‘found himself’, or so he thought.

If his big brothers, Max and Duke, had the story to tell they’d say he’d fallen in with the wrong crowd.  His downfall came when he decided to be adventurous and join a rock band.  “Death’s Door” they called themselves and as ghoulish as they looked and as hideous as they sounded anybody would think they were from the deep, dark depths.  But despite this, or maybe because of it, they had a huge following both on and off campus.

In the end that was what messed Reed up.  He’d never been short of attention from the opposite sex but never before had he had them rushing at him like this.  And he took full advantage of the plentiful supply of admirers, so much so that within weeks of joining the band he’d become the group’s most popular member and had developed a reputation as a ‘lady killer’.  And that was when it all started - the crazy parties, the heavy drinking and the wild sex...always with protection, of course.  That was one thing he never compromised on. 

But in the end it was that insanely wild lifestyle that made him commit one of the most irresponsible acts of his life, one that he still regretted so many years later.