"Thank you very much Savannah." Mr Elidees grins and I smile in response. "I don't have another case for you yet, so feel free to take the afternoon off. Paid of course!" He finishes and my smile gets wider.
"Thank you Sir!" I exclaim before leaving the office and starting down the corridor.
"I hear you just got the Welshire report in two weeks early!" Lydia hisses, a smile on her face as she begins walking with me.
"I did!" I grin and she reaches her hand up to high five me.
"Good going girl!" She exclaims, "Us girls will take over this company yet." She whispers and I laugh, grabbing hold of my black bag from under my desk.
"He said I could go early."
"Lucky!" She declares, "I wish I could enjoy the Summer sun." She scowls before grinning at me, "Enjoy your week!"
"See you next Thursday!" I smile at her before turning and walk towards the elevator, bag slung over my shoulder.
I quickly get in, and as soon as the doors shut behind me I pull my flat slip on shoes out my bag and get out of the black heels, chucking them where the flats used to be. Absolute Heaven.
The elevator dings and I swiftly get out and walk towards the glass doors at the front of the building, pushing them open and walking out into the Summer air.
I'd kept my dorm room for as long as I possibly could so that I could stay up here Wednesday nights and not rush into the city for my internship each Thursday, but three weeks ago I'd been told to get out so they could get it ready for the new students, Elena and I opting to rent a house with Polly and Louise in our second year. I wonder if they'll clean the footprint off the ceiling? Becky and I decided to add our own right next to it when we were drunk, a nice line of three different sized footprints, mine almost child size in comparison.
Since then Brett has given me a lift on the Thursdays we're in Edgewater Valley, with him spending four days a week working for his Father in the city. He stays in his college house some of the week, being able to keep it through Summer, and Edgewater the other half, both of us making sure we have time to see each other at the weekends.
Last night we'd stayed in his college house, ordered in a Chinese takeaway and watched movies from his bed. I'd picked Grease and whilst I'd like to say we watched the entire film, we got distracted halfway through, instead turning to each other for entertainment.
Being given the day off is great, but my ride back to Edgewater Valley still has four hours of work left and no-one I know is in the city during the Summer. Making an executive decision I turn right, heading downtown towards the Winters Atlantic building.
*~*~*
I'm exhausted from the heat of the sun by the time I push the door to the building open half hour later and make my way to the elevator, the building so busy that security don't even have a chance to spot me. I should warn Brett about that.
Sliding into the elevator I carefully push passed a few people to press the top floor, remembering Brett boasting about how his office has the best view. The ride up is slow, numerous people moving in and out of the elevator on every level and I find myself biting my lip, wondering whether it's a good idea to have come to his office and surprise him. He's probably busy.
Finally stepping out of the elevator on the top floor I glance around the large office and grimace. Just great.
"Excuse me?" I say to the smartly dressed guy walking passed me. "Please could you direct me to Brett Winters' office?"
"Straight down the corridor, turn left at the end."
"Thank you!" I reply gratefully as he nods before walking around me. I make my way down the corridor, grateful when I see his name printed on the wall. Taking a step closer I see the door is ajar and take a peek in, smiling as I see him at his desk, head down and eyebrows furrowed. I gently knock on the door and he looks up.
"Savannah!" He exclaims, standing up as I push the door open.
"Sorry!" I say, walking in. "I should have called."
"No!" He grins, walking towards me. "This is a lovely surprise." He smiles, reaching around me to shut the door. "You okay?"
"Yeah. I completed another case so they let me go early."
"That's amazing!" He exclaims, grabbing hold of my waist. "I'm so proud of you."
"How's your day going?" I ask, grinning as I take a step forward, gently pushing him back against his desk. He perches against it, pulling me closer towards him.
"It's better now." He grins before reaching up and grabbing hold of my hair clip, pulling it out to let my hair flow freely down my back. "That's better." He breathes out before he moves me even closer, clutching me to him as we begin to kiss.
I move my lips urgently against his, eliciting a moan from him as he wraps his arms around my waist, one hand lower than the other to push my lower body into his.
Suddenly the door slams open and I spring back, turning with a start to face the intruder. How dare they! I mean it's Brett's office, shouldn't people knock... Oh.
"Mr Winters!" I blurt out, eyes wide as I take a step away from Brett who stands up, brushing himself down.
"Savannah." Mr Winters replies through gritted teeth. Oops.
"Dad I..."
"No need to explain son." His Dad cuts him off before shooting me a glare, "I can see where your priorities are."
"Dad..."
"Why do I even bother trying to train you up for this if you're going to be throwing it all away for some girl?"
"I am not throwing anything away." Brett argues, taking a step forward, "And she's not some girl!"
"Oh really? How long until you're on to the next one?" Mr Winters snorts. Ouch.
"Uh... I'm gonna go..." I manage to blurt out, grabbing hold of my bag which had fallen to the floor during our passionate kissing.
"I think that's best!" His Dad snaps.
"Sav..."
"It's okay." I assure Brett, shooting him a small smile before making my way to the door.
"I'll text you." He replies to my back and I make no effort to look around, my cheeks reddening more and more every second. "How dare you!" I hear Brett explode as I leave the room, "This is my office and she is my girlfriend..."
"How dare I? How dare you disrespect me! This is my business and I will tell you exactly what you can and can't..." I hurry away quickly, Mr Winters' voice disappearing as I practically run back towards the elevator, numerous people shooting me odd looks.
I guess I'll try and get the train back to Edgewater and ask Alex to pick me up.
*~*~*
"Honestly it was a nightmare!" I grimace, holding my phone in front of me and looking at my two friends on the screen, the camera capturing my double chin as I lay across my bed.
"Sounds it!" Zara giggles.
"I don't know why that man has such an issue with you." Becky huffs and I roll my eyes.
"You're stopping Brett from focusing his entire life on their business." Zara scoffs. "That's the problem."
"True." Becky admits and I watch as she picks up a cookie, stuffing it into her mouth.
"You okay Bec?" I ask and she nods.
"Grace bought me these cookies and they're so good." She holds the packet up so we can see them. "She's an angel honestly..." She trails off. "Sorry Sav!" She exclaims, a horrified look suddenly dominating her features.
"Bec, it's fine!" I assure her, "I'm glad Haydon is happy." I continue and she shoots me a small smile, clearly feeling bad. "Zara, how is Sam?"
"He's good." She nods, "Any boys in your life Bec?" She asks and I don't miss how quickly she wanted to change the topic.
"What do you think?" Becky snorts through a mouthful of cookie.
"A new one every week?" Zara asks, giggling as Becky nods. Suddenly a new phone call comes up on my phone and I furrow my eyebrows, immediately sitting up.
"Guys? Ellis is calling me!"
"Ignore it." Becky scoffs.
"He never calls me." I retort, "I'm gonna take it."
"Talk soon!" Zara exclaims and I blow her a kiss before hanging up on them both and accepting Ellis' call.
"Ellis?"
"Sav!" He exclaims, "Brett's here and he's drunk, blathering on about something to do with his Dad."
"What?"
"He has a black eye."
"I'll be right there!" I exclaim, swiftly getting off the couch, not caring that my purple hoodie and pink trousers don't go, my hair piled up on top of my head unattractively. "Brett said your apartment is in the center of town?"
"Sweetons Street. Number 11." He replies and I hang up, grabbing hold of my keys and running out of the apartment, down to my little beat up car. Throwing myself in I start the engine and immediately fly down the street.
What the hell is wrong with Brett? Did he fight his Father? Why didn't he call me? Why did he go to Ellis' house instead of mine? My mind is absolutely frazzled as I turn onto the main street, pulling into a space quickly and getting out, hammering on the black door.
"Sav!" Ellis greets as he pulls the door open, "He's upstairs, he isn't telling me anything. I'm going to step out for an hour, give you some space to try and knock some sense into him." He shakes his head, stepping out into the street and holding the door open for me.
"Thanks Ellis." I smile.
"No worries." He smiles sadly at me, "He needs you Diner Girl." If I wasn't so worried I'd slap him for using that nickname. Instead I roll my eyes and enter the apartment, shutting the door behind me. Making my way up the stairs I cautiously enter the living room and immediately spot Brett sitting on the couch, his eyes closed, a half empty liquor bottle in his hand.
"Brett?" I say softly.
"Sav?" He asks, his head shooting up as he glances over at me. I feel my breath suck in at the sight of his black eye and force myself to move forward, carefully taking the bottle from his hand and placing it on the table in front of him. "What are you doin' 'ere?"
"What happened?" I ask and he grimaces, shutting his eyes and laying his head back once more.
"My fucken' Dad." He slurs out and I take a seat beside him, attempting to assess the bruising around his eye.
"Did you fight?"
"Wha' do you think?" He retorts and I grimace, standing up and walking over to the kitchen. Quickly spotting the freezer I pull it open to look for an ice pack, coming up short. Of course Ellis only has frozen pizzas in here.
Grabbing hold of a knife and a T Shirt that has been left on the kitchen side - I don't even want to know why - I carefully break some of the ice in the freezer away, wrapping it in the loose fabric. I pour a glass of water and walk back over to Brett, placing the water down in front of him before lightly placing the fabric over his eye, grimacing as he hisses.
"Did you fight about me?" I ask timidly as he opens his eyes slightly.
"Don' worry." He shakes his head and I shake my head.
"I don't want to come between you and your family..."
"There's no family to come between." He scoffs and I keep hold of the ice over his eye, "You know tha'."
"Why did he hit you?"
"I hit him first."
"Why?" I exclaim.
"He insulted you." Brett snaps at the thought and I shut my eyes, angry at his Dad. What have I ever done? "Nay one is ever gonna insult my girl." Brett grins, grabbing hold of my waist and pulling me down onto his lap as I squeal, the ice flying onto the floor.
"Brett..."
"He also said I couldn't do football." He scoffs. "It's a waste of my time apparently."
"Don't listen to him." I reply, grabbing hold of his chin with my hands, forcing him to look up at me. "You're an amazing player." I assure and he smiles, his grip around me tightening.
"What did I do to deserve ya?" He smirks and I shrug, reaching down and handing him the glass of water.
"Drink!" I order and he smirks.
"Yes Ma'am." He replies, saluting me before downing some of the drink.
"Not so fast!" I squeal, pulling it away. "You'll be sick!"
"Me? Never." He grins and I roll my eyes, handing it back to him.
"He wants me to do college part time." He continues, shaking his head. "So I can help more with the business and travel with them."
"Do you want to?"
"Nah." He shakes his head, "I gotta stay in college to see my girl." He grins, pulling my head down and kissing me on the lips. It's an alcohol infused kiss, and I've never been a great lover of the taste of whiskey but on Brett's lips it's bearable.
"Brett." I mutter as I pull away slightly, "You can't not do something just because of me."
"I don't even want to work for him." Brett snaps and I relent, nodding as he grimaces. "How did I end up here Sav?"
"By taking up a job that would help me." I retort, glancing off into the distance as I remember him giving me the reference for my internship. I'm the reason he's working for his Father.
"Hey!" He exclaims, lightly grabbing hold of my chin and turning me to face him. "Don't you ever think that! I decided to work for him, with my own free will." He lectures, "This is on me." He declares before taking another drink of water. "You got that?"
I can only nod in response because what else can I do?
The real Devil Winters isn't in this room.
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