Pisces

  Chapter Eleven

  ‘Your brothers and sisters think that Antony is your twin flame but you think it’s this man?’ My father waved the business card that Daniel had given me.

  He always made me feel like a little girl. He berated me for going out clubbing in the first place, although his anger had only lasted a moment before he got back to business. After all he did want us to have more freedom, unlike Mother.

  ‘I need to meet this man,’ he said.

  ‘I’ve only just met him,’ I replied, knowing full well I wasn’t going to introduce him to them anytime soon.

  ‘That’s the thing. Expectations are dangerous. We expect something to be a certain way or someone to look and act how we want them to. When that doesn’t happen, we’re disappointed. This isn’t a time for analysing, my dear. I know how fond you are of that.’

  I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. The smile that split his face was worth it. His business was the leading company in green energy. His passion for the planet and those that lived on it surpassed anyone. He was a man with a big heart and a hard exterior but I knew how to soften him up.

  ‘I can’t help the way I am, Father. If Antony was my twin flame, I would know. He kissed me once but…’

  ‘He did…?’

  Nervous energy made me twiddle my hair. How would he react? I had chatted away, not thinking about what I said. Would he sack Antony?

  ‘Don’t worry. I heard him talking to Aries and he said he wasn’t into me like that. He was also on a date the other night and then…’

  ‘Pisces,’ my father interrupted.

  When I couldn’t avoid his gaze any longer, I huffed at the amused expression on his face. He was good at hiding his own feelings but he always showed me that he knew what I was going through. He didn’t have to say, or do anything. One look would tell me that he understood.

  ‘I’m sorry. I know I over analyse everything.’

  The hem of my dress became the focus of my attention as I fiddled with it. The style was stripy with long sleeves. I wore tights to combat the cold on my legs but a chill crept up my spine. It was time to text Daniel. I didn’t have the guts to do it the night before but I was ready now.

  ‘Can you tell me who it is?’ I whispered.

  Father sat back in his chair and linked his fingers over his slim stomach. ‘No.’

  He didn’t take any notice when I stuck out my bottom lip. I reached forward to grab the business card but he snatched it away before I could get it.

  ‘Why can’t I have it?’

  ‘Read the book again. Pay attention to the chapter on surrender. If you still feel like you want to speak to this Daniel, I’ll give you the number.’

  ‘But, Father…’ I went to grab the card again but he tucked it in his pocket.

  ‘Do as you’re told…please.’ He winked at me.

  Father had my best interest at heart. Defeated, I left to find my book. It was still too cold to sit outside for long but I wanted to be outdoors. It was my favourite place.

  ‘You’ll get cold,’ Derek said as I turned the outdoor heater on and sat under it.

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ I replied, smiling at him as he came and took a seat next to me.

  ‘What have you done to my brother, woman?’

  The book was balanced in my hand. I was about to open it when I stopped and looked at him. He was an idiot, there was no denying it, but he did care about us. I could tell by the way he fidgeted next to me. Something bothered him and he felt comfortable enough to speak to me about it.

  ‘What do you mean?’ I tried to stop my hands from trembling by clasping them in my lap. It was because I was cold that my insides started to shiver. That’s what I told myself anyway.

  ‘He’s sulky and irritated. He talks about you. One minute it’s good stuff, but then the next, he’s pretty mean.’

  I laughed. I shouldn’t have but the way Derek expressed himself was tactless and it tickled me. There was no need for me to be offended about Antony being mean. I had done exactly the same thing when speaking to Father about him.

  ‘I’m a complex person. It’s not that easy to get along with me. Antony’s probably annoyed that he has to babysit me, that’s all.’

  The title of the chapter I was about to read screamed at me when I glanced down. ‘Surrender What Is To Allow What Will Be’.

  It hit a nerve and my breath sucked into my lungs. That’s exactly what I needed to do.

  ‘Seems more than that,’ he muttered before getting up and wandering away.

  Words immersed me as I became lost in the pages of the book. It wasn’t until I heard the doorbell ring that I stopped reading. I had been at it for hours. My fingers were frozen and my whole body ached. Going inside, I stopped in the hallway when I saw a man enter Father’s library.

  It couldn’t be him, could it? I sneaked to the closed door and tried to listen. The muffled voices were low. I couldn’t make out what they were saying. Sitting on the stairs, I was determined to wait to see if my eyes had deceived me.

  ‘What are you doing?’ Antony said as he came into the hallway and sat next to me.

  ‘Waiting for Father’s meeting to finish.’

  There was no need to elaborate and he didn’t ask. It was something I often did.

  ‘I’m sorry for what you heard when I was talking to Aries.’

  The dark circles under his eyes made me wonder if his night had been as restless as mine. I had spent all night tossing and turning. Thoughts had played over and over in my mind.

  ‘It’s okay. I completely understand,’ I said, patting his hand.

  He caught me and squeezed my fingers. ‘Do you?’

  The temptation to pull away was strong but it would only make things worse. ‘Yes. This is weird for me and I’ve been preparing for it my whole life. Don’t worry. I don’t think you’re my twin flame.’

  No warmth radiated from the small smile he gave me. ‘So, we can go back to being friends? I promise not to kiss you again.’

  The memory of his lips on mine sent heat to my cheeks. My skin tingled where we touched and he suddenly let go. He must’ve felt the energy between us. I didn’t know what to say. A part of me was glad but a part of me was sad too.

  ‘We were always friends.’ I hit him on the leg playfully.

  We laughed together but the sound was forced. The door to Father’s library opened and Daniel stepped out. It was him!

  ‘Pisces!’ he exclaimed when I jumped up from the stairs.

  ‘What are you doing here?’ I said at the same time.

  I looked at my father, who now stood behind him. He shook his head once and gestured for Antony to follow him into the library.

  ‘I’m doing some business for…’

  ‘My father…?’

  Antony eyed the newcomer as he walked around him.

  ‘Your father…?’

  He looked bewildered as a chuckle escaped me.

  ‘You didn’t text me,’ he said, stepping forward.

  My neck bent back as his close proximity forced me to look up at him. A whiff of strong aftershave found its way down my throat. I tried not to let the overpowering smell affect my facial expression.

  My senses were easily overwhelmed so I never wore perfume. If one of the others sprayed themselves too much, I would have to go out of the room. Antony didn’t wear a lot of aftershave. A hint of something tickled my nose when he was close but it wasn’t overpowering.

  ‘I didn’t get round to it. I was going to text you tonight.’

  My hand landed on his chest as he snaked an arm around my waist. A man had never taken hold of me like he did. I quite liked it. My fingers rested right where his heartbeat was. It was steady, unlike my own.

  ‘Well, how about we go out tonight and exchange numbers that way? I didn’t realise you lived so far away from London.’ He looked around the hallway.

  I stood still in his arms, unsure of what I should do. He wasn’t looking at me. He studied our surrou
ndings. Why did he hold me?

  ‘I have a home in London, too,’ I replied, tempted to push him away. I wasn’t sure what made me feel uncomfortable but it took all of my willpower not to shove him off me.

  A smile crossed his face. I was certain it wasn’t because of me. Did he like the idea of hooking up with someone that had a rich father?

  ‘It’s getting late. Shall we go to dinner?’ His arm dropped and he stepped back.

  ‘Yes, I suppose,’ I said, looking down at my outfit.

  ‘You look great.’ His eyes traced me.

  I tried to curb the stupid smile that spread over my face. It felt good to be wanted.

  Sticking my head around the library door, I announced that I was going out with Daniel. Antony jumped up from his seat but Father waved him down.

  ‘It’s okay, Antony, I trust Pisces with this one.’

  Blowing a kiss to my father, I grabbed hold of Daniel’s hand. He laughed as I pulled him out to his swanky car and told him to take me away.