I throw my lunch into a bag and look around for my keys. “I’m leaving,” I

call to Rebecca.

Beck pops her head around the bathroom door; she’s wrapped in a white

towel with another around her head. “Make sure you’re not home late

tonight. I don’t want it to seem awkward and weird when he gets here.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

“I mean it, I want him to feel welcome, and you know, it would be nice

for us both to be here to settle Daniel in.”

I roll my eyes as I look for my keys. Where are they? “What makes you

think that he wants us to settle him in?”

“I just think it would be nice to give a good first impression.”

“Okay, I get it.” I spot my keys in the small basket on the coffee table.

“I’m picking up our netball uniforms today in my lunch break,” she

calls.“Do you fancy him or something?” I widen my eyes. “I didn’t see you

going to all these lengths for our last flatmate.”

“Yeah, because she was a pain in my ass, and besides, Daniel is new in

town, just arriving today, and he knows nobody. I feel sorry for him.”

“He’s a personal stylist, I’m pretty sure he has his own wanky friends to

hang out with,” I mutter dryly.

“Correction, he’s a fashion graduate who has moved to London because

he wants to be a stylist, there’s a big difference.”

I roll my eyes. “Whatever, see you tonight.”

I take the stairs and three flights later I’m in the street and walking

toward the train station. It’s only three stops until the Central line but still,

too far to walk.

I wait on the platform, and right on schedule along comes my train. I

climb on and take a seat.

I’ve come to the realization that this is the weirdest twenty minutes of

my day. It’s like a time tunnel; I take a seat, I look around, and the next

minute I’m miraculously there. I must fall into this catatonic state—I don’t

know what I think about, I don’t know where the time goes. I just know that

somehow, every day I lose twenty minutes thinking about subjects that I can’t

remember.

I get off the train and make my way to the office. I work in central

London, and there’s a small coffee shop diagonally across from the Miles

Media building; it’s busy and bustling as people rush in and out on their way

to work.

“Hey, beautiful girl,” says Mike.

“Hi.” I smile happily. Mike is the barista who works here; also he’s had

a low-key crush on me for a few years. He’s sweet and cute and unfortunately

I feel absolutely nothing every time he speaks to me.

It sucks, because he’s a really great guy. If ever there was someone that

I knew would be good for me, it would be Mike. I wish I could pick who I

was attracted to; it definitely would make things a lot easier in my life.

“The usual?” Mike asks.

I take a seat by the window. “Yes please.” I look around.

Mike makes my coffee and comes over and sits it down in front of me.

“What’s new?” he asks.

“Not much.” I pick up my coffee, steam floats to the ceiling, and I blow

on it. “I’m thinking of joining the gym at work.”

I smirk; God help us, we’re starting to play indoor netball this week. My

first competitive sporting activity since high school. “I can’t wait,” I call

back. “Hopefully they come standard with defibrillators. I’m so unfit I might

have a heart attack.”

Rebecca laughs as she unwraps the towel from her head. “You have a

gym in your building at work, why don’t you use it?”

I make my way toward the door. “I know, I really should stop being so

lazy.”

“Do you think I should cook Daniel dinner tonight?” she asks.

I screw up my face. “Why are you breaking your neck to be so nice to

this guy?”

“I’m not.” “Yeah?” Mike’s gaze looks over to the building across the street. “You

have a gym in there?”

“A huge one, on level fourteen.”

“Ha, who knew? Do you have to pay?”

“No, it’s free for employees.” I take a sip of my coffee.

Mike chuckles as he pretends to wipe down the table next to where I’m

sitting.

“I can come with you,” he offers with a cute wink.

“Sorry, it’s for employees only and I can’t afford to go to another gym.”

Mike rolls his eyes.

Mike and I watch on as a black Bentley pulls up in front of the Miles

Media building. The driver gets out of the car and opens the back door, and

Elliot Miles climbs out. Like some kind of morning spectacle that I go

through every day, my eyes roam up and down the man I despise. Today he’s

wearing a navy-blue pinstripe suit with a white shirt, his dark hair curled to

just-fucked perfection. I watch him do up his jacket with one hand, his

briefcase in his other. His back is ramrod-straight, his stance dominant.

Arrogance personified.

I sip my coffee as I watch him; it infuriates me that he’s gorgeous.

It infuriates me that every woman stops dead in her tracks, and stares

when he walks into a room. And more than anything, it infuriates me that he

knows it.

Although I’d never admit it, I read the tabloids and gossip magazines, I

see all the exotic parties he goes to and the beautiful women he dates.

I know more about Elliot Miles than I care to admit.

I mean, I should—I’ve hated the man for the whole seven years that

I’ve worked for him.

I watch as he says something to his driver with a smile, then he walks

into the Miles Media building as people turn their heads to watch him, and I

feel the hackles on the back of my neck rise.

Elliot Miles, the epitome of a rich bastard . . . pisses me off.

It’s just three in the afternoon and my email pings.

I open it.

Elliot Miles. CEO Miles Media UK.

Kathryn,

Have you finalized the tracking report?

Asshole.

I clench my jaw and type my reply.

Dear Mr. Miles,

Good afternoon, always a pleasure to receive

correspondence from you.

Your manners are as impeccable as ever.

The report isn’t due until Tuesday next week, you

will receive it then.

Perhaps if I had the adequate number of staff

members, I could work to your unrealistic work

schedule.

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Sincerely,

Kathryn.

I smirk and hit send; being a sarcastic bitch to Elliot Miles is my

favorite hobby. A reply bounces straight back in.

Good afternoon Kathryn, As always, your dramatics are unappreciated.

I didn’t ask when I would receive the report, I asked

if you had finished it.

Please pay attention to detail, I don’t want to

constantly repeat myself.

Have you finished the report or not?

I inhale sharply, this damn man drives me fucking crazy. I type my

reply, hitting my keyboard so hard I’m surprised I don’t break a finger.

Mr. Miles,

Of course the report is finalized. I am, as always,

prepared for your inconsistencies in dates and

timelines.

Thankfully, one of us is a professional.

Please find the attached report.

If you have trouble understanding it, I’m happy to

take time out of my busy schedule to explain it

before you meet the board.

I smirk as I keep typing, imagining the smoke coming out of his ears as he

reads it.

Have a lovely afternoon, always a pleasure.

Kathryn Landon. I sip my tea, feeling happy with myself—take that.

My email pings again and I open it.

Miss Landon.

Thank you.

Have a safe trip home this afternoon, don’t walk in

front of a bus or anything.

I smile to myself. Stupid twat . . . you wish.

I stand and watch Rebecca run around the apartment like a chicken—Daniel

is arriving at any moment. And boy oh boy, is Rebecca in overdrive.

“Don’t just stand there,” she snaps.

“What do you want me to do?” I look around the spotless apartment.

“There is literally nothing left to clean. What is it with you and this guy?” I

ask. “You’re hell-bent on impressing him. The fact that he’s gorgeous

wouldn’t have anything to do with it, would it?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” she snaps again. “I have a boyfriend,

remember?”

“Oh, I remember, but do you?”

“Shut up,” she huffs.

The doorbell sounds and our eyes meet. “He’s here,” she whispers.

“Well.” I gesture to the front door. “Go and let him in.”

Rebecca nearly runs to the front door and opens it in a rush. “Hi.” She

smiles.

It’s really hard not to roll my eyes.

“Hi.” He smiles as he looks between us. He’s got two big suitcases with

him, he’s tall and blond, and I have to admit, he really is quite handsome. I

don’t remember him being this good-looking when he came around to meet

us before. No wonder Beck is breaking her back to impress him. “Here, let

me help you with those,” I offer.

Beck looks out onto the street. “Do you have any more things you want

help with bringing in?”

“Thanks, I’ve just got another two suitcases in my car. I can get them “You remember Kate?” She gestures to me.

Daniel’s eyes come to me. “Yes, of course I do. Nice to see you again,

Kate.”

I give an awkward smile—I’m always so weird in social situations.

Until I get to know someone I’m really not friendly at all. Not by choice of

course, shyness is a curse.

“This is your bedroom through here.” Rebecca plays tour guide, leads

him through and shows him his room. “And this is my bedroom. Come

upstairs and I’ll show you Kate’s bedroom,” she offers.

I follow them as she shows him around the apartment. My eyes roam up

and down Daniel: he’s wearing black trousers, a black knitted sweater, pointy

shoes, and a bomber jacket in camo green. His clothes are expensive and

trendy; he really does look the part of the personal stylist.

“When do you start work?” I ask as I try and make conversation.

“I have four clients next week, and I have to find about fifty more as

soon as possible,” he says.

I smile.

“But seriously, I start with Harrods next week, I’m going to be one of

their in-house shoppers.”

Oh, what a hellish job—shopping is my living nightmare. Unsure what

to say and feeling awkward, I hunch my shoulders. “I’ve never met a

personal shopper before.”

Daniel smiles. “There aren’t too many of us.”

I take a suitcase from him and glance down at it: Louis Vuitton. Jeez . . .

I think the suitcase is worth more than my car. He disappears down the front

steps to the street and I peer out after him: he has a black new-model Audi.

Why the hell is he sharing an apartment with two other people if he has all

this expensive stuff?

Surely he would want to live alone?

I know I would.

He grabs another two suitcases from his car and once again they are

beautiful black leather; I eye them suspiciously as he walks back up the steps.

I wish I had good taste like this. I wouldn’t know what to buy even if I did

have the money.

Daniel wheels his suitcases into his bedroom and looks between us as

he puts his hands on his hips. “Please tell me that you girls are taking me out

tonight. There’s no better way to get to know each other than over a few