The Research Project

Chapter Twenty-Two

She was curled up in a ball on his bed when he finally did get home. She hadn't been crying, but her eyes were wide and worried. He shrugged off his suit jacket and joined her on the bed. Wordlessly, he took her into his arms and pulled her against his body. She went to him easily, a good sign. At least she wasn't pushing against him, and she didn't seem angry, maybe just in shock over what he'd told her.

"Sweetheart," he whispered. The endearment seemed to rouse her from her stare. Her eyes focused on him as he continued to hold her.

"Tell me everything," she said.

He took a breath. "Let me start by telling you about your grandparents. Your mother's parents were once in business with your father's parents. But things turned sour, your mum's parents were sent into financial ruin and they've never recovered from what your dad's parents did to them. It's why your mum was disowned and abandoned when she fell pregnant with you. Of all the people she could've had a child with, it was her family's mortal enemy."

"Wow, that makes so much sense." She processed it all for a moment. "What about my dad? Why did he abandon my mum?"

"Your father seems like the flighty type. He moves around a lot, has a lot of girlfriends, doesn't want to settle down. He is currently living in Perth, he flits between jobs, never holding one down for a few months at a time. Most of the money he earns gets pissed up against the wall. He's basically a spoilt little rich boy who never amounted to much," he said, reciting the facts like he was in court.

He gave Lainey a moment to process this next bit of information. "Did he ever have any other children?" she asked.

"No. He lives alone and currently has no significant other, however..."

"What?"

"He frequents the brothels around where he lives."

"Oh. Wow, you found out everything."

"Matt Power is very thorough," Byron said.

"Matt Power. That's what your phone call was about the other day."

"Yes," he admitted. She fell silent again, thinking, but Byron still wasn't done talking to her. "I don't think he'll ever come looking for you, Lainey, but I want to put a will together for you. You need to start protecting yourself."

"I know," she agreed easily. "I was thinking about it while I waited for you. I started thinking about my mum, too and what could happen to her."

"Good, I'll start preparing one for you tomorrow." He pulled her in a little tighter, the movement not sexual in any way, but protective. "Are you okay?"

"I will be," she sighed sadly, looking up at him. "Once I get over this constant need to be looking over my shoulder, waiting for him to make an appearance."

"I have him under surveillance, I'll know well in advance if he makes a move."

"You'd do that? For me?"

"Of course, Lainey. I care about you."

"I care about you, too, Byron," Lainey said.

"I hate seeing you sad," he said.

"I'm sorry."

"Hey, don't be sorry," he whispered and kissed her softly. "I know something that will cheer you up. You start as my personal assistant on Monday."

She laughed quietly. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Me too."

She smiled now and he was relieved to see that smile back on her face. He liked making her smile. He pulled her on top of him, her beautiful body moulding into his perfectly, two halves to a whole and he wondered about that, whether this was turning into something more. He realised how much he'd guarded himself over the years after his break up with Eloise, not just to protect himself, but the other party, too. But he had to remember why they were here.