Notice Me Read online

  “Father, you can’t…” Megan was beginning to cry. The panic in her voice didn’t even affect her parents like it did me.

  “It’s alright, Megan. I will sort this out,” Charlie interrupted stroking the single tear away from her cheek before glaring at her father. “I understand the concern for your daughter, Sir. Your son has already had this conversation with me. I will tell you the same as I told him. I do not want your money. I am more than equipped to look after myself. I am just concerned you dislike me simply because of who my mother works for? You have a wonderful daughter. You should be proud of what she has achieved! I am not going to be drawn into this feud you have with the Downing’s and you need to realise Megan is a big girl and can lead her own life!” Megan’s parents appeared speechless. We all were. Megan just gazed at him in awe. Suddenly she was in his arms kissing him passionately.

  “Well, you have some nerve. I will give you that.” Megan’s father even had a slight smirk on his face.

  “Shannon, you are looking well,” I was sure Veronica was only talking to me to change the subject or the atmosphere.

  “Thank you Lady V… I mean Veronica,” I corrected remembering she asked me to call her Veronica on my last visit.

  “Will tells me you are excited about New York.”

  “Very.”

  “It’s an amazing opportunity do not waste it. I am still impressed you were offered the job. I was hoping you would work for one of my companies in your placement year. If you do change your mind I could arrange that for you. Will is very keen to work with you again.” Megan’s father darted his eyes at me.

  “Oh, I know Sir. I have no intention of wasting it. I am really excited about New York, but thank you for the offer.”

  “I see good things for you, Shannon. If you don’t get side-tracked like my daughter.” I couldn’t be sure if he had laughed slightly.

  “Is Will here yet and where is Maisy?” asked Megan.

  “Maisy has gone to Malan, did she not tell you?” asked Veronica.

  “No, how wonderful.”

  “Will is just finishing off an overseas telephone conference upstairs. He will be down shortly.” That sounded like Will. He really never stopped working.

  We retired into my favourite room of the house, the library. Wall to wall with books it was heaven. Some books were first editions, priceless. Charlie was talking quietly to Veronica while Megan I was sure was arguing with her father. The light beamed through the window as I wandered round gazing at all the titles.

  “So he survived then?” I had been so engrossed reading the titles I hadn’t noticed Will enter.

  “You made me jump,” I breathed.

  “Sorry, I forget how absorbed you get in here.”

  “I just can’t believe how many books you have.”

  “Well, it’s easy when they get passed down from generations.” I could feel Will’s eyes on my face, watching me as I ran my hands over my favourite book of poetry by Neruda. “I am quite impressed, that is one of your favourite books. It’s one of mine too.”

  “Really?” I asked surprised. I had never seen Will read poetry.

  “Do you want to go for a walk by the lake, leave them all to bond?” Will smirked. It was a good idea though.

  “Yeah, sure,” I hoped I didn’t sound too keen.

  It was refreshing to be outside. I would never tell Will or Megan for that matter, but their family home made me nervous. It reminded me of an orphanage I had lived in when I was younger. Not the size of course, but the smells, colours and ambience. The memories were not good ones from my childhood.

  White clouds were beginning to break with the help of the sun as we wandered towards the lake. The fountain was breathtaking as the crystal water rippled against the round silver stone and danced in the few beams of sunlight breaking through the clouds.

  “Shannon, I have to tell you something.” Will touched my arm pulling me to face him. I suddenly became very anxious as to what would happen next. “Megan told me something the other day, and well it gave me hope or should I say the courage to tell you that… well, I am developing feelings for you Shannon. Very strong and powerful feelings.” I was frozen completely. How had a stroll with Will suddenly turned into this?

  “Shannon, please say something.”

  “Will I… I.”

  “A full sentence would be helpful.” He smiled touching my face gently with the back of his hand. I felt a tingle in my stomach from his simple touch. He was striking in the summer sun. His light brown hair looked more blond from the gleam of the sun. His eyes were burning deep into mine as he waited for me to speak.

  “I am just shocked, sorry. I wasn’t expecting that. I mean what you just said… that was beautiful.”

  “Thank you, but I was rather hoping to hear if you feel the same about me, Shannon.”

  “Will, I… I do really like you.” I knew I did, but how far my feelings would go I wasn’t sure. “Did you write the letters?” I asked suddenly desperate to know was Will in love with me. It had to be him.

  “Would it make any difference if I had?” I didn’t understand the question.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Did you like the man in the letters?”

  “Yes, I liked the letters. I don’t know the man though. I want to know him.” Will smiled as I spoke pulling me gently towards him. His eyes were exquisite as he stared down at me. I began to tremble in his arms. I suddenly wanted this moment as much as he did.

  “Then yes, it was me who wrote the letters, Shannon. I am in love with you.” My heart leaped at the words. Could this be a dream? I needed to pinch myself just to be sure. “Shannon, what are you doing?” Will laughed.

  “I just needed this to be real,” I sighed becoming lost in his deep ocean blue eyes.

  “This is real,” Will whispered. I was pulled closer into the warmth of his arms. Will stroked my cheek softy as he looked deep into my eyes. “You are so beautiful,” he murmured leaning down to kiss me. My heart broke into a different rhyme of its own as I felt his soft lips against mine. I wrapped my arms tight around his neck wanting him closer. His hands glided down my back as my whole body quivered in pleasure.

  As we released each other my body felt light. Will still had his hand on my face.

  “Well…” I really had no idea what to say.

  “Yeah, that was something,” Will laughed, stroking my cheek again.

  “Yeah.”

  “Shannon, I know you need time. I am not going to rush you on anything. We don’t even have to tell Megan yet if you don’t want to. I just want to be with you, which is all I care about. I don’t care how long it will take for you to feel comfortable. I know how hard it is for you to let people in and trust them, but I want you to be able to trust me.”

  Will really did know me. His words took me by surprise. I didn’t realise I was crying until he wiped the tears from my face. I wasn’t sure what I could offer Will. I knew I wanted him, that was clear but my life had always been in disarray. I cared for him too much to let him enter that.

  “Will, I…”

  “Just say you will try Shannon. That is all I ask. Please don’t say you can’t.” Will dropped his hand from my face to take my hand in his. “I couldn’t bear it if we didn’t at least try.”

  “I can try,” I smiled at him. I could do that as long as no promises were made. I wanted to love him, deep down inside my bones I could sense that. “But I think you are right, let’s not tell Megan just yet.”

  “I think you might be right.” Will rested his head against my hair and sighed. “Maybe we should get back in case they start talking.” I didn’t really want to move, being here with the beautiful sunshine breaking through the clouds, the rippling sound of the fountain from the lake. I was having an Austen moment I was sure of it, but I knew Megan would start talking if we left it any longer.

  “Okay,” I sighed feeling his touch withdraw from my face. “Let’s get back. I am sure Charlie needs us.”r />
  “Unless my parents have already fed him to the hounds.”

  “We better run.” We both laughed as we made our way back to the house.

  The mood that evening was light. Everyone was trying hard to make a good impression. Charlie was trying the hardest of all.

  I was glad Megan distracted me from Will. I was sure everyone could sense us stealing looks at each other, or I was just paranoid?

  “Do you think it is going well?” Megan whispered in my ear as she came to sit by me in the large front room. It was the least formal room in the house, but still was luxurious with its six large brown leather sofas. Dark abstract pictures covered almost the entire room. The significant grey marble fireplace took centre stage with its warm inviting open fire.

  “I think he is doing really well. Your mother seems to like him,” I noticed as Veronica laughed at something Charlie had said in the corner of the room.

  “Yeah, I knew my mother would like him. She is female after all,” Megan replied with an acid tone to her voice. I knew what she meant. Veronica couldn’t keep her eyes or hands for that matter off Charlie. Her mother never changed. She always wanted what Megan had.

  “Will has been very quiet tonight, is he alright?”

  “He is fine. Why are you asking me?” My heart jumped beginning to race frantically. Had Megan already worked it out?

  “I was just asking. I know he is my brother, but to be honest, I think you know him better than me sometimes.” I breathed in relief Megan hadn’t noticed.

  “I doubt that Megan. Are your parents going to be here the whole weekend?” I asked trying to change the subject.

  “My mother is. I think my father has a few business meetings tomorrow. I really want to go home tomorrow though.” I just nodded. “I am so proud of him you know, Shan.” Megan nodded her head in Charlie’s direction.

  Charlie was deep in conversation with her father. Charlie was not a big business talker, but he held his own as Megan’s father talked his way through the national debt, tax laws and finally marketing budgets.

  “Did you know he has written me a love song?” Megan giggled.

  “Charlie wrote you a song?” I said surprised. I had no idea he was musical, but then maybe he wasn’t which explained Megan laughing.

  “He plays the guitar. Didn’t I ever tell you?”

  “No you didn’t.” I think that was the only fact Megan hadn’t told me about Charlie. It didn’t surprise me he played a musical instrument. Charlie was almost perfect after all. “Is the song any good?”

  “I’m not sure, he hasn’t finished it yet.”

  “Does it have a title?” I asked interested.

  “Every time I see your face. I think I heard him playing it the other day but he went mad at me because it wasn’t finished.” I just smiled back at her. Charlie was like a dream man. The way he loved Megan, sometimes it took my breath away not just Megan’s.

  By the end of the night I was relieved to be able to go to sleep. It had been a long day in so many ways.

  As I began to get ready for bed I heard a knock at my door. My stomach turned in excitement as I went to open the door. Hoping it would be Will wishing me good night.

  “Oh sorry, Shan. I thought this was Megan’s room. Which one is it again?” Charlie did look a little lost. I knew how he felt. The house had so many floors and doors. I had ended up in Maisy’s room last time I visited.

  “Wrong floor, Charlie. Megan’s room is above on the fourth floor.” I smiled at him. “Well done today by the way. Megan was really proud of you.”

  “Really?” Charlie seemed pleased.

  “Yes, I told you not to worry.”

  “Yeah, because everyone loves me.” Charlie laughed to himself.

  “Of course they do.” I smiled back. “What was all that about the Fields not liking who your mother works for?” I asked interested.

  “The Fields have been trying to merge with Downing International for years. Downing International are not interested. There is a lot of bad blood between the two companies.”

  “Oh, that might be why Sir Field was so set against me going to New York at first.” I never realised the hostility was that bad between the two companies.

  Just as he was about to speak again a voice came from behind him. “I believe you are on the wrong floor Mr Collins. Megan is the next floor. You were almost right though. I am impressed,” teased Will. “My parents are fast asleep. They won’t catch you.”

  My heart fluttered slightly as Will came closer. He was striking even in the dim night light.

  “I know Shannon just told me. I still cannot get over how many doors this place has. Well, good night, Shan, Will.” With one last glance at me Charlie disappeared upstairs.

  Will stood leaning on the edge of my bedroom door frame smiling at me. He took my breath away just thinking that someone like Will could be in love with me.

  “I thought I would come and say good night personally. Is that alright with you?” Will asked suddenly worried.

  “That’s fine,” I laughed. “Relax.”

  Will laughed with me as he placed his hand gently against my face, stroking my cheek tenderly as he brushed his lips against mine. I reacted quickly, wrapping my arms around his neck. He pulled me closer as we began to kiss more fervently. My stomach fluttered with pleasure that slowly filled my whole body. I couldn’t get close enough to him as my hands found his smooth broad chest. His hands slid down my back. I began to tingle all over. I knew in that moment what I wanted. Swiftly Will lifted me up in his strong arms while carrying me into the bedroom closing the door with his leg.

  Chapter 7

  Breakfast was even worse than last night. After our night together I was sure everyone could tell something was going on between Will and I.

  Will had snuck out of my room at first light unfortunately bumping into Charlie as I watched him leave. Luckily I managed to close my door before Charlie put two and two together. Will was clever enough to think of a good excuse. Charlie was too traumatised to listen. Will looked like his father from a distance. Charlie thought he had been caught too. I laughed to myself thinking of Mr and Mrs Field fast asleep upstairs on the top floor totally unaware of what their children were up to.

  “Would you like anymore eggs, Shannon?” Veronica asked.

  “No thank you. I could not eat another bite. It was wonderful, thank you.” I was sure I sounded too excited, or perhaps I was blushing. Will just smiled and winked at me, which really didn’t help.

  “So are you young ones going back to London today?” Veronica asked.

  “I think so mother. Megan and Shannon have early lectures tomorrow,” Will replied.

  “Such a shame. I never seem to see enough of you these days. Now Maisy is all grown up too. I get lonely.” Veronica pulled a sad face.

  “I’m sure you will get over it mother. You always found a distraction while I was living here perhaps you should find a new hobby?” Megan spat out.

  “Megan,” Charlie whispered touching her hand over the breakfast table.

  “No, it’s alright Charlie. This is the way Megan and I are. She hates me. I love her,” Veronica smiled.

  “You love me? What a joke.” Megan was slowly becoming angrier.

  “I am not having this again Megan. Your father and I are sick of this. We gave you everything. I am sorry Charlie, but even you must have seen what a spoilt little bitch Megan can be. I am sorry about that, we tried, but some children you just cannot help.” Veronica was glaring at her daughter with the hatred filled eyes I was used to.

  “Mother,” Will looked at his mother disgusted.

  “Can we please just have a family breakfast? I have a business meeting in three hours.” Sir Philip Field was a voice that had to be obeyed, everything went quite. All that could be heard was the gentle sob coming from Megan. I touched her hand nearest to me squeezing it softly to reassure her. I noticed that Charlie had her other hand. Megan turned her head to both of us one at a ti
me then smiled. She knew we would both always be there for her no matter what.

  I wasn’t surprised that Megan wanted to leave straight after breakfast. Her parents were not affected by her quick exit in the slightest.

  I sensed Megan’s relief as Will’s car cleared the estate gates. She was free again.

  “Well, mother was on top form don’t you think?” Megan laughed towards Will.

  “You shouldn’t let her get to you like that Megan. You know that is why she does it,” Will replied.