Liar

33

I have never been so confused in a family setting before. Mark had mentioned his kids dozens of times. Them chasing their arts, college, universities, he had their pictures dotted everywhere but they were all a little too young to be coming into the office so I'd never met them. Asher was, obviously, the oldest. Then there was Briar, 5 years younger than Ash rolling in at 23. She was an art teacher in a local primary school and that was definitely her vibe. Then there was Eden, 18 and still very much in the 'hates her family stage' of teenagerhood. The youngest was Mila. Barely over 11 and fresh into high school, her being embarrassed by her family was still very new but she still ran to Ash when we got here, standing back when she saw me and sizing me up.

Ash introduced me and she tilted her head, saying she thought I quit working for her dad and was very confused as to why I was there with Ash. So apparently, I wasn't a stranger to this family and my name caused a very familiar voice to shout out through the house for me. Mark and Angela appeared in the doorway a few feet away, Ash's hand on my hip, Mark smiling bigger than I think I have ever seen him smile.

Ash had wondered off after dinner, something Mila had dragged him to help her with that her dad had been avoiding apparently. So, I was stood washing up and being useful, catching up with Mark. He'd demanded I sat down and after 5 minutes of me bickering with him Ash shouted down that I wouldn't give up and to just let me do it. Mark surrendered, handing me the sponge and I smiled. If it was anyone else I wouldn't have fought but I felt like I already owed Mark a lot and if this one thing was going to do him a favour in the slightest way then I'd wash the damn pots.

"So, how's work? Enjoying the promotion?" I raised my eyebrows at the bubbles, pressing my lips tightly together.

"Funny story actually. I um- I quit." Mark chuckled, the slight clattering of plates behind me as he dried and put them away. "Dad just pushed me too far and I walked out on Thursday."

"Recent."

"Very. Emmett was at the door this morning and proceeded to beg me to come back."

"Are you going to?"

"I don't know. It's just constant with them both. I told you about it right? Them just giving me the crap stuff? It just keeps going and going. I dunno. Not a clue what I'm going to do. Emmett mentioned about dad buying the house too and honestly I wouldn't put it past him telling me to hand it back to him."

"Would he really kick you out?"

"At this rate it wouldn't surprise me him completely disowning me."

"That bad huh?"

"Oh, you don't know the half of it Mark. Honestly."

"I know about you turning down a proposal." I snorted. "St. James' kid?"

"Leon." I finished washing up, grabbing a towel from the side and drying my hands. "That's one of the other things. I won't bore you with the details but it was a justified refusal."

"Any reason for you to say no is a justified reason Tori."

"What we talking about?"

"Your girlfriends father." Mark smirked. Neither of us had used that title. I guess Ash keeping his arm around me most of the night, no matter how subtle it was, was a little obvious.

"Oh, you told dad he was dragging my name through the mud?"

"No." I looked at Mark, his face twisting slightly. "I didn't mention that Ash."

"I don't like your parents Tor. I try to. I swear, but they're just-"

"No. It's okay, I get it. I'm not their biggest fans right now." Ash pulled me into a hug, helping me stay relaxed. I was a little worried about what happens next if I'm honest. I was trying not to but I couldn't help it. It was the uncertainty of everything right now.

"We should go. We've still got the drive home and it's starting to get a little late." He cupped my face, squeezing my cheeks until I crinkled my nose at him.

"Get a room you two."

"We have one dad." Major cringe. I could feel my cheeks heat up, Ash chuckling as he let me go. "I'll get your stuff."

"So, what are you going to do then Victoria? What's your next big plan?" Mark queried, making sure there wasn't an awkward silence after his son had just admitted to us having sex. I knew it was kind of obvious, being in a relationship and everything. But openly admitting it was just weird to me.

"I do not have a clue. I mentioned to Emmett about starting out by myself but my reputation is a little shot right now so I don't know if it's worth the risk. I'm still weighing it all up. I think immediately I'm just going to look into adding a few more side jobs onto my list until I can figure out what's next." He nodded slowly.

"Well, if you're free, I need a financial advisor. Personal and business. Someone to just over see everything and do a full health check for me. I'd pay you, obviously."

"I don't know Mark. I don't want to drag you guys down with me." He rolled his eyes.

"Come in tomorrow, we can talk about it more. I'm sure Ash will-"

"Ash will what?"

"Bring Tori in tomorrow so I can convince her to come back to work with us." I cannot describe the smirk on Ash's face right now. Like he hadn't told me his dad would offer me a job when he found out I needed one. I knew he would. I just, I don't know. I was sleeping with Ash. How did that look?

"I'll bring her." Ash nodded quickly. "I've got a meeting over at Tate Modern though. Will you be okay?"

"Will I be okay at the place I worked for 6 months before you ruined it, where your dad is gonna have me fixing everything you broke since I left? No. I think I'll have a heart attack and die." Mark laughed.

"I haven't broken anything."

"Not true Tori."

"See! I knew you would have!"

"I HAVEN'T!"

"If you broke my spreadsheets Ace, I'll break your face." He rolled his eyes at me, ushering me back through the house.

"I haven't broken them."

"Not what you said on Thursday morning. In fact, you were asking the front desk girls if they had any idea how to fix it." I glared at him, Mark very clearly taking my stance. He pulled the car door open but I didn't move, just staring at him with crossed arms. Mark stood in the doorway, watching me lecture his son without saying a single word.

"Okay I may have broken them a little bit."

"3 months. I can't even leave you with it for 3 months and your undoing shit that took me weeks to sort. It's not even that easy to break? What did you do?"

"I'll show you tomorrow morning after you take the job my dad's offering you."

"Working under you?"

"Barely. Sounds like it's an external employment. Like you report to him as a client rather than he's your boss."

"So, I'd be sleeping with a client. What a great way to start my own place." Ash looked over my shoulder quickly, lowering his voice.

"Keep the attitude up Tori and you'll be working on your knees." I crinkled my forehead. "Let's go."