Liar

11

8:34am
Morning Tori,
I know you're not normally over with us
on a Monday, but, I have my son in
today. It'd be great if you could pop
in to meet him at some point? Even if
it's just for a few minutes? No worries
if you're busy. I'll tempt him in again.

8:58am
Morning Mark!
I have to be in Cannon St this afternoon
Could drop in on lunch if that's any good?
In a big meeting this afternoon so need to
sort that this morning otherwise I'd jump
back on the tube for you :)

Okay so maybe I was avoiding dad and Emmett a little bit. They'd just pissed me off this past week and I needed some space. Working with them both could be challenging to say the least. Business didn't stay at home and constantly being second best, half the staff hating you and then having all the usual family shit just made it awkward and exhausting.

That's what I was.

Exhausted.

Not even physically. Just mentally. I was ready to pack it all in, take my savings and live in a beach house living off coconuts and crabs I catch in the middle of the night. That sounded like bliss right now. Compared to the crappy salad I'd bought on my way out of Blackfriars, heading to Caswell's for a lunch time drop in. The meeting this afternoon wasn't until 2 so I had a little while. No rush on it. I hadn't given Mark how long I could stay just in case his son is as much of a douche as I was expecting. I mean, you're taking over your dad's business in like what? 15 years or something stupid. But you're not going to at least try and learn it before hand? I didn't have much hope of him being able to manage the place if he didn't start learning it soon.

"Afternoon ladies." I smiled at 2 worried faces, narrowing in on them slightly. "What's with your faces?"

"Mark's son's here."

"I know. He asked me to come down. Is he that bad?" They shrugged. "What does that mean?"

"He's in a foul mood. Normally he's great but today just seems off."

"Oh, wonderful. Does he come in often? Mark never really mentions him when I'm here. Just the odd mention of a son."

"A few times a week yeah. Short visits normally like an hour or so. Never long but almost every day."

"Weird that I've not seen him."

"You've only been here a few months though Tori."

"I should head up. I've got meetings this afternoon with my father." I rolled my eyes, smiling at them as I pushed off the front desk. Something tells me I'd be needing a bottle or two of wine tonight whilst I edit for Kenz. The elevator music always seemed to be very on brand for whatever I was going through. Like it was telepathically connected to my brain. Walking in to Lonely by Noah Cyrus, however, was a little on the nose and I couldn't get out fast enough. I swiped my card and instantly, I could feel the difference in the atmosphere.

This guy had brought down the whole office in one morning. Every time I came here it was a breath of fresh air. Like a hot July weekend with no plans. Today it felt cold. Stale even. No buzz, no chatter about the weekend. No one laughing. Bizarre. I knocked on his door gently, waiting for the acknowledgement to push it open slowly.

"Hey Tori."

"Hey Mark. Nice weekend?"

"Aye not too bad. Yours?"

"A weekends a weekend right?" He chuckled lightly as I sat down in my spot, taking off my jacket and opening my lunch. I wasn't going to change how comfortable I was here for him. "Where is he then? I heard he's in a foul mood."

"He is. Unusual for him actually. Makes me think that's why he wanted to come in for the full day. Normally just drops by like you do through the week. I'm surprised you haven't bumped into each other but I was talking about you doing that report for me last week and he had no idea I had a Tori here. He's wanting to be here more now too."

"I mean technically speaking, you have a Victoria. Probably why he didn't pick up on the nickname? Good for him wanting to be around more though. About time he stepped up." He chuckled as I finished the salad, standing up and walking across the room to dispose of the rubbish. "How's the accounting stuff going?"

"We had a few quotes back. You were right, they did drop their prices." I nodded. "Want to look at them?"

"Need me to?"

"I will never turn down Victoria Kennedy's opinion on finances. I think I'd be stupid to turn down the free consultations."

"It's not free, you pay me."

"I pay you to answer my emails and sort my calendar once a week. I should be paying you a lot more for what you do Tori."

"Yeah but then my dad would get jealous." I took the paper from his hands, flicking through them slowly. Some of these offers aren't that bad. I've seen people take worse that I've personally offered them. I didn't lift my head at the door being pulled open, flicking the page to our biggest competitors and snickering at the offer. This was ridiculous. No wonder we were beating their ass this is such a shit deal for both of them.

"They didn't have any cara- shit. Sorry dad. Didn't know you had someone in."

"Oh no, it's fine Ash. This is Tori. Tori?" I lifted my head, barely hearing their mumbles as I tried to see who had offered that to them.

"Hm?" Mark chuckled and I leaned over grabbing his pen. He nodded back at the door as I scribbled on the paper. "This is the worst deal. Any of the others I'd be more than happy watching you take; Harper and Stone tend to have the best customer service when we get their customers that's normally the one thing that holds them back but you won't beat the Smith's deal. It's a bargain." He nodded slowly and I turned around to greet his son. Uh-oh. Kill me. Right now. Let the lord harvest my soul and drag me to hell where I belong.

"Tori, this is-" Don't say it Mark. Don't say it. "Asher, my son. Ash, this is Victoria Kennedy from Kennedy Finances." He was white as a ghost. I got it. Rule 4, Never let them know you're real name. Thanks for that Mark. Rule 6, Leave them with your dignity intact. GOODBYE DIGNITY Rule 7, Never sleep with someone you work with. Yeah. That counts. And then rule 9 we broke on Friday when I used his name in bed. Fuck. Let's keep this sane Tori. I wiped my hand on my dress, walking over with my hand out.

"Nice to meet you Asher." His eyes searched my face before shaking my hand weakly. I was shaking. Fuck waiting around. I need out of here. Right now. I cleared my throat, walking over to my bag and pulling my jacket on quickly. "Okay Mark. Anything else? I've got that meeting across town."

"Nope. That's it. You guys should be seeing each other more now with Ash coming onboard more." Seriously. Why haven't I been taken down yet? There has to be a sniper or poison arrow. Damn it at this point hand me the knife I'll do it myself. I turned to him slightly as I pulled my hair out of my coat, pulling my bag onto my shoulder and fighting the Deja vu.

"Awesome. I'll see you Friday then Mark." I gave them both a quick smile, ducking out of the room as smoothly as I could, trying to maintain at least a slither of that dignity but I am almost completely sure it just jumped out the fucking window to a messy end.