Page 37 of Arrogant Heir

‘Are you okay?’ he says. ‘You sounded upset on the phone.’

I stand there staring at him, struggling to find a suitable excuse for looking devastated.

‘Have you been crying?’ he asks. ‘Because of those fucking reporters? I could kill them. It’s easy for me to forget how intrusive it must be for you.’

I shake my head. A chilly wind whistles past him and I stand aside to let him enter. ‘Sorry, I don’t know what I’m thinking, leaving you standing out there. I’m fine, really, but come in a minute.’

He’s ditched his suit jacket and his shirt skims his wide shoulders. His sleeves are rolled up to reveal his powerful forearms, and I feel the now familiar ache to touch him. But I know I mustn’t touch him. That would besowrong.

‘I’m sorry you had to see that before I could warn you,’ he says. His green eyes are full of remorse.

Does he not think it’s weird that I’m this visibly upset about his sexual escapades when really, it’s none of my business and he owes me nothing? My heart’s drumming so hard it’s ringing in my ears and vibrating through my whole body. I don’t know what to say, so I stay silent and hope he will explain. What am I missing?

‘You’d think me owning one of the biggest media companies in the world would give me more influence with the media, wouldn’t you?’ His laugh is a swift hollow bark, and he rolls his eyes. ‘I was hoping they wouldn’t publish the photos of us together, but they’re out for blood and my privacy, even here at Greystone, is the last thing they care about.’

Now I feel the shock rushing through my body and my ears ring as his words sink in. ‘I’m in the paper too?’

He eyes me curiously. ‘Yes, isn’t that why you’re upset?’

I avoid his question. ‘Show me,’ I say, my breath catching. ‘I don’t think I’ve ever had my photo in the newspaper before.’

‘Your photo isn’t in the paper—although I imagine it probably will be by tomorrow. It’s on an online news site. My people have stopped it wherever they can, but they can’t control sites that don’t belong to us, so I’m afraid your pretty face is all over the internet.’

I gulp. ‘What are they saying about us?’

‘Here, look,’ He passes me his phone. ‘Be prepared for the worst because the people who write this type of stuff typically have their minds in the gutter. All they care about is clickbait.’

“Rochester Heir and Billionaire Playboy Caught Red-Headed!”

The piece goes on to say he was spotted smuggling a new mystery girlfriend into Greystone, the Rochester Hampshire estate.

I see a photo of me staring out of the car window, looking surprised. It’s not that clear a picture, but you can see it’s me.

‘Why did they want a photo of me?’ I ask, passing his phone back to him. Our fingers brush and I feel the heat shoot up my arm and flex my hand as if it’s hurt.

‘You’re my new mystery girlfriend,’ he says, raising one eyebrow.

I try to suppress the blush, but I feel my face heating up as he looks at me.

He asks, ‘Was it not that that upset you then?’

I look downwards and avoid his probing eyes.

I shake my head. ‘No, it was something else,’ I mutter. ‘But I appreciate you giving me a heads up, so I don’t hear it from someone else.’

We’re standing awkwardly inside the door.

‘Would you like to talk about it?’ he asks.

I hold my breath. This is the last thing I would expect him to say. I raise my head and look at him as I try to control my emotions. ‘No, I don’t think so. But thank you.’

Our eyes meet and I don’t think he wants to leave, and I don’t want him to, but there’s no reason for him to stay.

We mutter goodbye, and I watch him disappear down the path, feeling like I’ve lost a limb.

What the hell is going on with us?

CHAPTER25