Page 58 of Perfect Night

There was something frosty in her demeanour. Sebastian had spoken fondly of his sister, so perhaps she just took time to warm up to new people. Charlie smiled and nodded, before heading over to the coffee machine and asking what she wanted.

“Flat white. I see you’ve already made yourself at home.”

Charlie ignored the barb and just smiled again. He wanted to make a good impression, so thought it best to get a read onher before he responded. Thankfully, the coffee machine roared into life, negating the possibility of conversation for a couple of minutes.

Bex was sitting at the breakfast bar, so Charlie joined her with their coffees. There was an awkward silence before Bex broke the tension.

“What do you do for work, Charlie?”

“I work in marketing, although I’m between jobs at the moment.”

“Why’s that?”

Charlie wasn’t sure how to answer. Her questions didn’t seem inquisitory, they were more accusatory in tone. He was honest.

“I didn’t get along with my boss, but I’m speaking to Candice later about some of her contacts who might help me.”

“She told me you’d turned down the job she offered you. Why did you do that?”

Charlie didn’t like her tone. The whole encounter felt uncomfortable, and this wasn’t how he’d envisaged meeting Bex. He’d expected to have Sebastian with him as a protective buffer.

“I mean, it was a substantial offer. Four times your current salary. That certainly would have solved your money problems, wouldn’t it? Although you’ve got a nice little side hustle for that, don’t you?”

Charlie felt himself go bright red with shame. How much did Bex know about him? Did Sebastian know she felt this way? Why hadn’t he warned Charlie? He had to say something.

“Sebastian understands my reasons, and I don’t do that anymore.”

“Sebastian is blinded by his infatuation with you. He enjoys having people to protect, and you look like the type who needs it. But I know a gold-digger when I see one.”

“I’m not interested in his money.”

“Paid for your own first class ticket here, then, did you?”

Charlie didn’t know what to say.

“I thought as much. Why don’t you just pack up your stuff, and I’ll arrange your flight home for you? My treat. I’ll even pay for first class. Then you can just forget about my brother.”

Charlie was stunned and wanted to burst into tears, but then a new emotion came along – anger. How dare she accuse him of being something he wasn’t? She didn’t know him.

“Does Sebastian know you’re here speaking to me?”

“Sebastian doesn’t know what’s best for him. He’s a soft touch. I won’t have him taken for a ride by some whore.”

“Excuse me?”

“Charlie, let’s be real. You’re a whore. I’m still not convinced you conveniently met in a bar.”

“Believe what you want, but I’m not going anywhere until Sebastian asks me to. And you better leave unless you want me to tell him about this conversation.”

That shut her up, and he saw a flash of fear in her eyes before she quickly regained her composure.

“I’m not done with you. If you think you can take my brother away from his family to move to London, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“I haven’t asked him to move to London.”

“Don’t lie to me. I know he’s looking at property there. That’s all your doing.”

Charlie was flabbergasted. Was she telling the truth? No. Sebastian would have spoken to him before making such a big decision, and they had only started officially dating this weekend. How could he be looking at property already? It had to be related to something else, but he didn’t want to admit to Bex he didn’t know about something so important.

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