Starr Fated (13 page)

“That’s not
fair…” I tried to protest, but Liam was on a roll.

“And yet
despite your lack of funds, it seems you somehow managed to find
enough money to buy tickets for this ball you’re taking her to,
including a hotel room for the night, because it would seem that
the chance to get your end away is far more important to you than
her personal welfare. And you don't seem to be at all worried about
her safety, letting her walk home from work alone in the early
hours of the morning, despite the fact that you have your own car
sitting outside.”

“It’s not like
that at all, Liam. You’re being so unfair. Sera is a very
independent person, she does her own thing, and wouldn’t want me
fussing over her like that. And she told me she wasn’t bothered
about the heating, that she doesn't like her room too warm because
it makes her sleepy.”

“And you
conveniently chose to believe her, while you, of course, have the
heating turned up full blast so you are nice and toasty warm, while
she is worrying herself about how big the bill is going to be.”

“We’ve covered
her share of the bills between us actually, because we know how
tight money is for her. I told you she had things pretty hard, but
as always you wouldn’t listen to me. You’re only concerned about
her now because it seems she can get you out of a hole. If you
remember, I told you she was talented, but of course you didn't
believe me. So don't talk to me about being selfish. You wouldn’t
be here right now if there wasn’t something in it for you. I tried
to tell you how Sera struggled to make ends meet, but you didn't
want to know. ‘My heart bleeds’ were your exact words, as I recall,
Liam,” I hit back at him.

“If you
thought I was being so unfair, you should have tried harder to
convince me. You gave up so easily I didn't take you seriously. You
should have had the courage of your convictions and stood up to
me,” he insisted.

“Oh come on,
Liam. You wouldn’t have listened to me whatever I’d have said. No
one ever bothers to try and stand up to you because it’s so fucking
pointless.”

“Seraphina
stood up to me today at work. She had the guts to tell me I was
wrong and forced me to consider other options. As I said earlier,
maybe you should take a leaf out of her book. Maybe you should try
working even half as hard as she does.”

“What’s this?
You’ve changed your bloody tune. As I recollect, you called her a
‘high maintenance difficult bitch’, but now you almost sound as if
you approve of her. Not changing your mind about her are you? Is it
because she’s really pretty and attractive? It’s a good job she’s
not your type, or I’d almost be worried you were lining her up for
your next fuck buddy.” I knew I was being totally ridiculous, but I
was just lashing out at him. I didn't like what he was saying
because he was making me feel guilty.

“Now you’re
being totally absurd. And as you’ve told me she’s a frigid virgin
slash lesbian I still think you’re wasting your time with her. She
didn't exactly seem enthusiastic about the prospect of spending the
night with you, did she? If it turns out she is gay, you’re just
going to have to cut your losses and move on aren’t you?”

“I know. I’ve
tried to be patient with her, knowing we’ve got this weekend
together planned. I really don't think she’s gay, so I’ve just got
to convince her of that, haven’t I?”

My brother
gave me a rather odd look – almost one of pity I think.

“Look, I
really have to get back to the office. Just to keep you in the
picture, as Seraphina will be working for me from here for the next
week or two, I expect I’ll be popping in to see how she’s getting
on from time to time. And for what’s it’s worth, Jamie, I accept
that I was wrong about the type of person your girlfriend is, and
for that I apologise.”

With that, The
Big Guy turned on his heel and walked out.

I just sat
there gaping. Liam had just admitted he was wrong. Liam had just
apologised. I couldn’t remember that happening before - ever.

We were fully
booked and frantically busy at Cafe La
Divina that evening, but even so I found it hard to switch my mind
off from all my dealings with Liam this afternoon. I called him
Sir, or Mr. Starr to his face, but in my head I thought of him as
Liam – he’d started calling me Seraphina after all, much to my
surprise.

This time
yesterday, who would possibly have predicted that I would have
spent the afternoon with The Big Guy himself, going through all my
designs to pick out his new corporate image? The miracle was that
he actually liked my ideas, even though they incorporated the
dreaded star element.

Although he
made an entirely unnecessary song and dance about my room being
cold and insisted on a heater being brought in, I found Liam
surprisingly easy to work with. He knew what he wanted. He was
decisive. And once he realised that I did actually know what I was
talking about, he listened to what I had to say and accepted my
opinion. It made such a refreshing change from a lot of the people
I’ve had to work in groups with at uni, who faff and dither and
prevaricate and never actually get anything sorted or decided.

But Liam just
looked so out of place in my room as he could barely squeeze his
large frame into the available space. I saw him looking round in
horror at my room, but although at first sight it may have appeared
untidy and disorganised, it really wasn’t, as I proved to him when
I could instantly put my hand on each piece of work I needed to
show him.

But what I
kept thinking about while I dashed about from table to table that
evening, was the fact that for some reason working in such close
proximity with Liam had literally made my skin tingle, my heart
beat faster, and all sorts of shocking images run through my head
in a most alarming way. I'd never experienced anything like it
before. It was as if his presence had somehow switched on my sexual
awareness. I was shocked, because part of me just wanted him to
throw me on the bed, rip my clothes off and ravish me that
afternoon in my room. I’d never felt this way about a guy before,
and I found it very disturbing.

But the rest
of me, the sane part of me, totally rejected these thoughts. I
didn't even really know the man, and the part of him that I did
know, I strongly disliked. He was a user, a bad boy man-whore. He
just liked to fuck a woman, nothing more. He had no interest
whatsoever in romance, or love. He just used women to scratch his
itch whenever he felt like it. Fine if you were the kind of female
who was also into that kind of sex, but that certainly wasn’t me. I
much preferred the kind, sensitive type, rather than big muscly
alpha males who had to control and dominate everything and
everyone.

Jamie was so
much more my type. Jamie. He’d been so great and patient with me
while I was trying to sort out my doubts about my sexuality hadn’t
he? Even so, I couldn’t deny the upcoming night away with him was
playing on my mind, but I pushed my doubts away. It was time. I was
ready. We got on together so well, after all. So surely I was
finally ready to push all thoughts of being gay out of my head, to
relax and enjoy a night of great sex with him.

As usual, I
spent most of the first part of my shift at the restaurant rushing
round while ignoring the wandering hands and drunken offers from
our male customers. Then at about nine thirty, Paolo the restaurant
manager, called me over to take a phone call.

“Don't be
long, Sera. We’re far too busy for personal phone calls from
boyfriends,” he lectured, as he handed me the phone. I frowned as I
wondered why on earth Jamie would be calling here.

“Hello?”

“Seraphina.
Liam Starr. I'm just calling to let you know that when the driver
arrives to take you home at the end of your shift, it’s perfectly
safe for you to accept a lift from him,” he said.

“What driver?
What are you talking about?”

“His name is
Greg Charles, of Churchill Chauffeur Services. I always ask for him
whenever I need a driver. He’s completely trustworthy, and he’ll
ensure you get home safely.”

“But…I don't
need a lift…I’ll walk or get the bus,” I protested.

“No, you
won't. I need you back safe and sound, ready to start working on my
image relaunch first thing tomorrow morning. I’m putting a lot of
faith in you, so I can't afford to run the risk of you getting
mugged on your way home. You’re of no use to me if you’re lying
unconscious in a hospital bed.”

“This really
isn’t necessary, Mr. Starr. I can look after myself…”

“Greg will be
there at the restaurant at ten thirty sharp, just in case you
finish early. He’ll make himself known to you, and then he’ll wait
until whatever time your shift finishes, ready to take you back.
Oh, and I’ll be calling in sometime tomorrow morning to see how the
designs are progressing. Goodnight, Seraphina.” Then he was gone,
before I had the chance to argue any further.

I stared in
disbelief at the phone.

“Sera! Come
on, we’ve got orders ready to take out,” Paolo yelled at me, so I
had to go. It seemed I’d just got my first taste of exactly how
much of a control freak Liam was. In his eyes, I was his latest
business acquisition that needed to be safeguarded, whether I liked
it or not.

Sure enough,
at ten thirty on the dot, a big black guy wearing a very smart dark
grey suit, complete with a cap, came into the restaurant and asked
for me. Luckily things had calmed down by then, so Paolo didn't
give me grief about having a visitor while I was working, he just
made do with a black look instead.

“Miss Jones?
I’m Greg Charles, your driver and I’ll be waiting outside to take
you home when you’re ready, as I think Mr. Starr explained to
you?”

“Look, there
really is no need – I don't need a lift. I feel terrible keeping
you hanging about, because I'm not sure what time we’ll be
finishing up tonight. So you can just go, I won’t say
anything.”

Gregg stared
at me solemnly with his deep brown eyes.

“Are you
trying to get me the sack, Miss Jones?”

“What? No, of
course not!”

“Then I’ll be
waiting outside.” He handed me a card. “Just call this number, and
I’ll meet you at the door.”

“Wouldn’t it
be easier if you just waited here inside? It’s pretty chilly out
there tonight,” I offered.

“In this
locality? I’d rather stay with my car, make sure it doesn't get
vandalised, thank you all the same, Miss Jones,” He shook his head
slightly in apparent disgust, then made his way out. I imagined he
was more used to making pickups in far more salubrious areas than
this part of London.

However,
despite my protests, I couldn’t deny that it was total bliss to be
chauffeured home in luxury after such a busy day and hectic
evening, as I was really tired when I finally left work just after
midnight. And Greg was such a perfect gentleman, insisting on
seeing me safely right into the house before he left.

I set my alarm
for six in the morning, before falling into bed exhausted,
surrounded by images of Starr Capital Ventures.

Maybe that
explained why I had incredibly vivid dreams about Liam Starr that
night. Erotic, explicit, hot, steamy dreams about having all kinds
of wonderful sex with him. In my dreams, he totally dominated me. I
could feel him possessing me, filling me, making me scream out his
name as wave after wave of pleasure flooded through me. I woke up
in a hot sweat, blaming the heater that Liam had insisted be left
on to maintain the temperature, rather than dare to admit the
sordid truth to myself. Liam Starr was surely the last man on earth
that I should be lusting after. I wanted someone who would make
sweet gentle love to me, not some bastard who liked kinky sex with
big busty blondes. And as I was about the opposite of busty and
blonde as you could find, it meant he certainly wouldn’t be
interested in me in a million years. It was Jamie I should be
dreaming about, not his big brother, I reminded myself.

I never sleep
very much when I have a project on the go, because my mind is
always hyper active, filled with all sorts of ideas that have to be
got down. So despite my late night and disturbed sleep, I was still
up early to go for a run the next morning, before starting work
again on my Starr Capital Ventures project.

I finally felt
myself relax when I got the call from
Greg to say he’d returned Seraphina back home safely, and that he’d
followed my instructions to the letter to escort her door to door.
Good, although I wasn’t happy at the late hour she’d got in from
work. That was something I’d have to address with her. I was
placing a lot of trust in this young girl to deliver the goods for
the SCV revamp, which if she didn't get enough sleep could be a
problem.

I’d been
tempted to cancel my plans for the evening and head on over to this
Cafe La Divina where Seraphina worked to have a meal, and then
escort her safely home myself. But in the end I’d organised Greg to
collect her, safe in the knowledge that he was completely
trustworthy from all the previous occasions I’d booked him from
Churchill chauffeurs. So that meant I had the evening free to
attend to more pressing needs.

I really
needed sex. My lack of a suitable partner had to be the logical
explanation of why I’d found myself constantly thinking about
Seraphina since I’d met her this morning. I’d imagined taking her
the whole time we were working together. This was not customary
behaviour for me. I don't normally suffer from constant erotic
fantasies in the manner of a horny young teenager. I always manage
my needs effectively to keep them firmly under control, so that I
don't get distracted. While I'm working is not the appropriate time
or place to be obsessively contemplating sex, other than the usual
fleeting thoughts every normal male has.