Forcing a smile, she shook her head. "No, I'm an only child, my father lives in New York."
"Your mother?" This was unkind, Thomas knew her mother was dead but he wanted to see how she handled it.
Lauren looked down at her lap. "She passed away from cancer five years ago."
"I'm sorry," he reflexively murmured, not sorry at all and pleased to have one less obstacle. "Have you made new friends here in London?"
"I haven't been here long," she confessed, "but everyone at LSO has been very nice, and I was lucky that one of my closest friends at Juilliard was also hired by the Orchestra. She was the violinist from last night?"
"Hmmm..."
Oddly, he didn't seem pleased by that and Lauren brushed the confusing thought away. "We're still a couple of months away from beginning practice for the new season, so I'm happy to devote as much time as you need to set out your events calendar for the year."
Thomas was looking her over, a slow visual circuit that made Lauren vaguely uneasy. Then, he nodded as if his mind was made up. Rising, he held out his hand again. "I believe we'll work very well together Miss Marsh. I'll be in touch." She gave him a huge smile that made a wave of heat run through his cock, and he irritably willed it down again.
"Wonderful- I mean, that's really great Mr. Williams, I'm really-"
Laughing he shook his head, "Call me Thomas."
"Thank you, Mr. Williams. I mean, Thomas. I mean, thanks, that's great and I'm Lauren and I'm... just going to shut up now. Talk to you soon." Flashing him another happy grin, she turned and left his office.
Pulling out his phone, he texted one of his burlier assistants.
Pick up Frank Marsh and bring him to my office tonight at 6pm.
She ignored her phone for three days. It was a record. Three days of endless, persistent calls from her father, the Darth Vader theme from 'Star Wars' blaring ominously every time he tried to reach her.
"It can't be anything but bad news," she reminded herself.
Ring, ring, ring...
"Every time he finally gets to me, it's bad." Lauren recited as she looked at the lit screen at 2am and tossed it back on her bedside table.
Ring, ring, ring...
"He makes you feel like nothing, every time. Every time, Lauren!"
Ring, ring, ring...
"Hello?"
She deliberately chose a coffee house far away from where she lived, not wanting to give her father any hints on how to follow her home. And Lauren was surprised to see he was already seated as she walked in. Frank was never on time. He always kept her waiting, just to remind her that she was the least important thing on his "to-do" list that day. He stood, relief evident on his still-handsome face as he walked over to kiss her on the cheek, not seeming to notice how his daughter flinched back when he leaned in.
"Thank you for meeting me, sweetheart. It's been a long time."
Frank Marsh looked every inch the wealthy CEO- expensive suit, an expensive haircut and expensive Botox designed to keep him looking formidable. But Lauren knew better. The slight inconvenience of his wife dying of cancer hadn't slowed down his drinking and gambling in the slightest. In her most bitter moments, Lauren wondered if he'd ever placed a bet on the time of death. He was disappointed that his only child was a girl. He was disappointed that Lauren was like her mother, loving music and dance and literature. Frank Marsh was most particularly and specifically disappointed when Lauren grew a spine and refused to give up her place at Juilliard when he found her acceptance letter, furiously drunk and shouting at her. She was sure he'd come to his senses when he sobered up the next day, but he'd had her clothing packed up while she was at freshman orientation. When Lauren came home, Frank calmly told her that it was either accept her admission to business school or leave home. She'd chosen the latter.
"Yes. Around four years, to be precise." Lauren looked calm, but her hands were gripping her thighs.
When his eyes turned back to hers, they were suspiciously shiny. "Your beautiful eyes. Just like your mother's, I'd forgotten." Frank chuckled, "Do you remember that Elizabeth Taylor movie she used to make us watch, over and over?Gone With The Wind-"
"It wasNational Velvet,"Lauren interrupted. "Vivian Leigh was inGone With The Wind."
Frank looked at her blankly. "What?" he shook his head, "Never mind. But your violet eyes... you look so much like her."
Lauren took a painful sip of her hot coffee, then soldiered on. "So, what are you doing in London? How did you know I was here?"
He chuckled, leaning back and smiling at her fondly, "I was surprised, sweetie, to be honest. I thought you were still in school back in Manhattan. But I'm here for a board meeting with our parent corporation-"
