“I can’t ask Luke; he won’t tell me anything. This is something I’m going to have to figure out for myself.”
“And how exactly are you going to do that?”
“I have no idea,” I answer honestly. It all looks and sounds so fucking hopeless, and I hate that Luke won’t be honest with me.
“Are you still going to go ahead with the wedding?” Tori asks tentatively. I let out a loud sigh.
“I want to, but how can I marry someone who is clearly lying to me?” It devastates me to say those words. “Do I live in blissful ignorance?”
“Only you can answer that one. I will say one thing though,” she continues. “You’ve never been to Luke’s offices, have you?”
“No, I’ve never had a reason to.”
“Well, now you do.”
“You mean, go and spy on him?”
“Not spy exactly. It would be more for research purposes,” she says with a wicked glint in her eye. “But there may be something there that helps you piece all of this together.”
“Maybe.” I toy with the idea, and I realise how strange it is that––in all the time we have been together––I have never seen where he actually works.
“I can look after Oliver for you. Any excuse to spend time with my godson.”
“You really think that I should do this?” I ask her, needing more persuasion.
“What other choice do you have?”
Chapter Thirty-Six
After thinking it over and talking to Tori yesterday, I am now making my way to Luke’s workplace, and nerves are flowing through me. I can’t believe that I am having to do this. Luke left for work at eight this morning, and he told me that he would be at the office all day. He had no plans to go out to look at any construction sites as he said that he has a ton of paperwork to get through.
He still hasn’t mentioned the fact that he was speaking to Deana yesterday, and I am still as clueless as ever as to why he wouldn’t just tell me. Maybe he doesn’t want to upset me because it was him that helped me get the job as Deana’s PA? Or maybe he didn’t know anything about it, and it was actually all down to Andi? But then that poses the question of why? Why would Andi give a shit about my career path? Why would she care about intervening to get me further up the career ladder? So many questions and no answers.
I can’t quite believe that I am going through with this crazy plan of turning up at Luke’s work, unannounced. Although, is it crazy? I mean, most couples have been to each other’s workplace. How strange is it that I have never been to Luke’s before? And why have I never thought it strange until now? Because you have always trusted him, Charlie.
I look at the piece of paper in my hands with the address of Luke’s work written on it. I had to search about for it this morning, but I found it on top of a letter that was in one of his desk drawers. I feel bad about snooping around his stuff again, but he hasn’t left me much choice. I decided to walk rather than drive. I am far too nervous to be behind the wheel of a car right now.
As I turn onto the road for his workplace, I come to a halt. I was expecting to see office buildings of some sort, but all I see before me are a couple of red-bricked town houses. I double check the piece of paper just in case I have read it wrong, but I know that I haven’t. I stare at the houses which look homely. There are plants lining the driveways and cars parked on the drive. Cars. Luke’s car. It’s there, in front of the property on the left. I stare at his car for a few moments, trying to figure out what to do. Do I knock on the door? Do I hide somewhere so that I can spy on him? I roll my eyes at that thought. Don’t be bloody stupid, Charlie, you’re not in a sodding spy film. Just go and knock on the fucking door.
I fold the piece of paper in my hands and put it into the back pocket of my jeans. On shaky legs, I move forward. Why am I so nervous about this? I’m just visiting my fiancé.
I make my way up the driveway, the sound of my boots clicking on the concrete seeming to echo all around me. I try to see any movement through the windows, but they look as if they have been tinted, therefore stopping me from being able to see in. Anyone could be watching me from inside.
I get to the front door, and before I lose my nerve, I ring the doorbell that is located to the right of the door. I fidget on the spot. Time seems to slow as I stand there feeling anything but relaxed. Seconds tick by, and I am sure that the pounding of my heart can be heard from a mile away. I am about to ring the doorbell again when I hear someone unlocking it from the other side. I hold my breath as the door slowly opens, but the sight that greets me is not a welcome one.
“Hello, Charlie,” Andi says, a sickly-sweet smile on her face. “To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Um, I was looking for Luke.”
“I’m afraid he’s not here right now.”
“Really?” I say as my eyes dart to his car parked out the front.
“I’m afraid that he got called out on an emergency. Something has gone wrong with one of our projects.”
“Oh.” The disappointment in my voice is evident.
“Can I give him a message?”
