The Vine (5 page)

We were walking toward the lifts and I still hadn’t spoken to her, and it’d been so long, it felt awkward between us.
Oh, I hate doing this to her. I am so pissed with myself.
I was now frowning as the lift dinged and Elizabeth looked toward me. We entered the lift and she started to talk again, a nice, easy conversation of how busy they’d been, and finally my voice was back, but I was still all monosyllabic, only capable of yes and no answers.
Oh, dear lord, she must think I am the most arrogant, miserable bastard in the whole entire universe, and the truth is, I am most of the time, but I don’t want
her
to think that.

I had to put an end to this right then and there. I was just going to have to ask her outright, but as I opened my mouth to speak, nothing came out. All I could hear was this voice in my head saying, “As if she’s going to go out with you now. She probably thinks you’re a psychopath.” I was looking at her lovely, little, concerned face, and I think she was getting really worried about me, but she didn’t know what to do. She didn’t have the confidence to deal with this situation I created for her, and all I wanted to do was protect this innocent creature, but I was wounding her instead; I could tell by her face. At least my face has softened. I tried to speak again, and although I was bumbling and stuttering, I finally managed to ask Elizabeth out for dinner with me.

Oh no
, I thought as I saw the look of shock on her face,
this was a bad idea
. I was still bumbling along, trying to make good of the situation because I still wanted her to be my friend.
Why on earth did I think this was a good idea? I should have listened to
Cole
. Now there’s a statement I never thought I’d hear myself say, and I chuckled inwardly.

I was telling her all sorts of nonsense about my age, about working relationships…
Argh! This is a train wreck right here
. Elizabeth finally brought me to my senses as she called my name, and I shut my mouth immediately. I thought she was cross with me, so I looked at her, waiting for her to speak. It felt like an eternity before she said, “I would love to go to dinner with you.”
What?!
I thought to myself, and then I was grinning like a bloody Cheshire cat and I knew I looked like a prize idiot, but I couldn’t help myself.

Then she got serious again, telling me there was a condition if she was going to go out with me. I raised my eyebrows at her questioningly. I was serious and slightly frightened as to what she was going to say. When she said I had to call her Lizzy instead of Elizabeth and laughed, I went back to big-old-cheesy Lucas again, and inside I was dancing and saying, ‘
Yes, Yes, Yes!’
and I know I would’ve fist-pumped the air if I could’ve.

I was rushing to tell her that was fine, and confirming dates and times with her. For a moment, she looked slightly sad at whatever thoughts were running through her mind, and I hoped those sad thoughts were nothing to do with me. Lizzy came back from wherever her mind had taken her, and she seemed quite giddy as she agreed to our date. We both laughed as I was called into my meeting and we got all professional again, but this time it was in a light way; it was like the ice was finally broken.

I had managed to pull myself together by the time I got to the door of George’s office, and I had gotten my head in gear, ready for the meeting I was about to endure. So without further ado, I performed my ritual of straightening my tie and cuffs, and entered the lion’s den, only in this instance, I was one of the lions.

As I entered George’s office, we greeted each other with firm handshakes and had our usual banter before our meeting got underway. At the end of the meeting, I had decided I was going
to mention to George about my forthcoming date with Lizzy. I knew he had known her for years and got along extraordinarily well with her, and because of the business side of things too, I just thought it would be in my best interest to say something.

“George, before I go, can I have a quick word with you about something more personal?” I asked confidently. “Of course, Lucas, what’s on your mind?” he replied pleasantly.

I smiled at George and continued, “I am taking Lizzy out for dinner on Saturday evening, and I just wanted to assure you that it will have no effect on our business relationship whatsoever.” As I was speaking, I could see George’s face getting redder by the second and his lips getting thinner. In fact, I would go as far as to say that he looked M.A.D.

I thought he was going to bellow at me at any second, but George did something much worse; he whispered in the most threatening tone, “Listen here, Lucas Castle. You leave that girl alone. I have known you as a friend, as well as a business associate for many years, and as much as I like you, I wouldn’t trust you to go out with my worst enemy’s daughter, let alone a young girl I regard as much a part of my family as my own wife and children.”

Okay, so I wasn’t expecting that response from George in a million years, and his aggressive tone would frighten most people if they were standing in front of him, but in saying that, it would’ve taken a lot more than this old man to scare me.

What
did
scare me though was my conscience, and the thought that I had known George a long time and I did really respect him. But what scared me even more was the thought that I wouldn’t be able to spend an evening with Lizzy.

As I looked back at George, I was seriously worried about his blood pressure, as he was not a natural blushing shade of red, but a sort of purple-red. Was I really so bad I was
that much
of a worry for him? I thought about that for a second, and then realised,
of course I’m not
. I was a good guy, but a good guy that had been painted in a bad light by all the bad press I had received.

I could understand why George was worried; if I had a daughter, I wouldn’t want her dating the ‘me’ that’s plastered all over the society pages either.
I will have to relent here
, I thought. “George, calm down. I am not out to hurt her; it was just going to be dinner. I have known Lizzy for a while now, and believe me, George, I like her a lot. The last thing I would want to do is hurt her.”

“I don’t want you going out with her, and that is my final word. This subject is closed, Lucas,” George retorted.

“Okay, it was just an idea. That’s why I thought I’d run it by you, but seeing as though Lizzy agreed to have dinner with me, I am going to have to let her down, which could also hurt her. Have you thought about that, George?”

“I don’t care! Let her down gently if you have to, but it will be a small price to pay if she’s saved from a lifetime of hurt with you, Castle,” George spat.

“Okay, I’ll see to it. But seriously, George, you can’t save her from every man she’s going to be involved with.” But even as I said it, I felt a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach at the thought of Lizzy with any other man.

I whispered much more calmly than I felt, “Don’t believe everything you read, George. I’m a good guy.” And with that, I walked out and shut the door.

I’m confused; I don’t know what to do. I needed to be with her, but at what cost? I nodded some sort of farewell to Lizzy, as I was paranoid that George probably had his ear to the door. I press for the lift and thank God when the doors immediately opened, and as I pressed the button for the ground floor, they quickly closed. I was a coward, and I felt like a complete arsehole because I couldn’t even look up at her as I passed her. I knew if I did, and those big, beautiful brown eyes looked sad because of me, I would lose it completely.
When on earth did I grow a heart?

All the way down, I was thinking about her and what she must’ve been thinking about me at that moment. I was going to have to speak to her; I couldn’t have her hating me.
She must be
so confused; she probably thinks I’ve changed my mind, but I can’t go back up there because of George. I’ll have to ring her. Oh, God, I feel like such a bastard.

I walked out into reception, and then through the revolving doors into the street. I took a huge breath of fresh air, because quite frankly, I felt sick. And then I got my phone out of my pocket and called her.

When I heard her sweet-as-honey voice, I knew I was an absolute tosser because I could tell she was really trying to be upbeat, even though she clearly felt like shit…all because of me.

When she knew it was me and asked what the hell was going on, I decided to be completely honest with her, because for some reason, I really didn’t want to lie to this woman.

When I explained everything to her, I went quiet, not knowing what to expect. Would she hang up on me? Tell me that George’s opinion counts for everything in her life? Or would she just let me down gently?

Please, don’t tell me that all the trust we had built up for her to even agree to go out with me was fruitless.
I listened to what Lizzy had to say, my newly-formed heart thumping wildly, and then she made my day—no, not my day, she made my absolute
year
by completely surprising me by totally disregarding all of what George had said, and by the time I put the phone down, I still had my beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful, amazing date for Saturday night.

A date that I was so excited about, I probably wouldn’t sleep for the rest of the week.

The next couple of days dragged—just as I knew they would—and by the time Saturday evening came, my excitement had turned into sheer fright and panic. My mind was in overload, as I constantly questioned what I was doing.
And what was I thinking agreeing on a date?
I knew Lucas was the most gorgeous, intriguing man I had ever met, but
God
, I was so nervous! Was he worth all this?

Through the thoughts that were my demons today, I suddenly heard Katy talking to me.
I really should listen
, I think to myself,
this might be important
.

“For goodness sake, Lizzy, stop twisting your hair! You’re making tweaks in what would otherwise be perfectly straight hair, so please calm down, will you?” Katy scolded.
Nope, not important at all.
As if I’d be bothered about my hair when I feel like a full-on seizure is about to ensue. Katy had me go through the works at the salon today, having waxing, a facial, a manicure, a pedicure and finally, perfectly applied makeup, which looked extremely natural like I’d requested—just enhancing my best features. My hair had been immaculately blow-dried sleek and straight, and the shine just bounced off of it, creating natural, golden highlights.

The fact I was completely ready and waiting was a terrible thing, because up until now, I had been occupied. But now, I had too much time to think and question.

It was a warm evening, so I went for a Zara strapless, green, full-length, cotton dress. The green of the dress totally complemented my olive skin-tone. Katy made no qualms about telling me how lucky I was, as green just makes her look ill because of how pale her skin is.

I wore some beaded flat sandals, since Katy said I was tall and slim enough to not need heels, but my thinking was if I wore heels I would’ve felt too dressed up, whereas the flats kept it all a bit more real and relaxed for me. I kept my jewellery to a minimum, wearing a lovely Tiffany necklace and bracelet set my mum and dad had bought me for my twenty-first birthday. Seeing as though it was the last thing they had bought me, it was very precious to me, although tonight I was mainly wearing them as a lucky charm. Katy also insisted I wear a lightweight cardigan; I went with it, counting myself lucky she wasn’t making me wear a roll neck sweater.

I looked back at Katy, noticing her sudden quietness. “Are you okay?” I asked.

“I promised myself I wouldn’t do this,” she replied, fanning her eyes so the tears that were in them would not appear. “You just look so beautiful, and I feel like you’re going out on your first date and I have this intense motherly love for you. I just feel really proud and very emotional right now.” I should have been tearing up myself at that point, but although this was so unlike strong, couldn’t-give-a-crap Katy, she was being a little overdramatic… well, a lot actually.

So when I started to giggle, she immediately stopped fanning, looked seriously at me and then huffed off to the kitchen.

I was feeling marginally relaxed and was still giggling when the doorbell rang; my stomach flipped along with it, and before I could turn toward the door, Katy ran past me from the kitchen to answer it.

Oh, dear. This could be embarrassing
, I thought.

I heard her greeting, a man’s voice, and then some mumbling, which I couldn’t make out. I quickly grabbed my small clutch
bag containing my keys, lip gloss and purse, and headed slowly toward the door before Katy had Lucas running in the opposite direction. As I got there, Katy looked around; she had opened the front door completely, but then turned and stood right in front of me. “Have a good time.”

“I will. I’m sure.”

“No giggling or doe eyes while you’re out either, or that will be just asking for trouble,” she continued. I smiled at her. “And remember,” she went on, “I’m here if you need me.”

“You always are,” I said looking at her. Katy looked back at me, our eyes saying a thousand words before she said, “Oh, and by the way,” to catch my attention once again, and I raised my eyebrows at her, awaiting more unwanted advice, “he
is
gorgeous.” I laugh as Katy stalked past me to the kitchen.

At that point, I looked over to the front door.

Oh, my God!
Lucas was standing there, and he may be thirty-eight, but he was wearing the sexiest boyish look I think I’d ever seen. He was looking up through his lashes at me, and he looked cute and sexy as hell all at the same time. I smiled as I walked to him, and he grinned back at me and raised his eyebrows.

“Wow,” he mouthed at me as I reached the door, “you look amazing.”

“Thank you,” I replied shyly.

Lucas held out his hand for me and I took it without hesitating. It was very unlike me, but this smart, gorgeous, amazing man just made me feel so damn comfortable. His driver took us to a restaurant in Mayfair. As we arrived, he got out and walked around to my side to open my door. He took my hand to help me out of the car, and I knew we are only going out for dinner, but somehow he made me feel like Cinderella going to the ball. As I stepped out, he held his arm out to me, and I linked my hand in the crook of it.