LAD: A British Bad Boy Romance Novel (Bad Boys of London Book 1) Read Online Free
Author: Emilia Holland
this room each night. And I’m not green on these matters— I know they’re not coming up for tea.” He communicated gravity through his stare.
I rubbed at my stubble in pent up frustration. “I lost a bloody suitcase and this is the shit I get for it?” I said and slammed my tumbler onto the table. “I’m never gonna please you lot. Dad wanted me to graduate University, so I did. Mum wanted me to get a well-paying job, I did. You wanted support from me when Mum and Dad died so I gave up a life in Spain and was there for you guys…” I got up casually and went to the bar to pour another few shots of whiskey. “So, at what point, Uncle Eddie, can I quit trying to please everyone else and just get on with my own fuckin’ life and live it how I want?”
“Is that not what you’re doing with the debauchery— the drinking and the girls and the severe lack of regard for anyone but yourself?”
Unbelievable. I laughed to myself. “None of this is what I want.” My arms gestured widely at both the room and my uncle.
“You ingrate,” he scoffed quietly. “I can see there’s no getting through to you.” I pursed my lips and flared my nostrils. My knuckles went white. “If you’ll excuse me I have actual guests to attend to who appreciate and deserve my caring services.”
“Yeah, you’re excused.”
He walked to the door as I lit another cigarette. Before Edward left, he turned back to me with a changed tone— The contrived, warm one he reserved for patrons of the hotel. “Do be sure to come down for high tea this afternoon at five o’clock. Aunt Margaret would love to catch up with you. She keeps pestering me about it.”
“I’ll try.” My cigarette sizzled at the long drag I took of it. At least, I’d have enough time to get a few drinks in me first.
“Oh, one last thing, Felix.” Uncle Edward stood in the doorway. “You’ve got one month.”
“To what?
“To find a job of substance…Or consider yourself out of this hotel.”
I paused, taking my time to study my uncle’s face. It had sternness written all over it. “You’re actually serious? Why you’d save that until…” He slammed the door. “Now to tell me. Prick.” I thought of the cocaine — the precious cocaine — that would be making that bombshell easier to deal with. But it was lost somewhere in this godforsaken city and my dealer had just left on a flight to Istanbul for the week. “Gargghh!” I yelled and lobbed my glass at the wall, shattering it into a rain of shards.
As the ring of it dissipated, my phone buzzed.
Still good to meet at 4?
Claire. I’d forgotten all about my afternoon rendezvous with a model I’d met at a shoot the other weekend. Perfect timing for a perfect distraction from my current woes. I could finish this drink, give sweet Claire a good bang, take a shower, and still make it to my aunt at five.
— 4 —
Claire came and left my bedsheets like a sweet waft of perfume, albeit a forgettable one. To say she lacked charisma would be giving her too much credit. Her personality matched that of a loaf of white bread. However, what she lacked in good banter, she made up for in being an above average fuck. She got me off, I forgot about the bullshit of my life for a few seconds, and she left. Precisely what I’d needed.
Five-thirty rolled around and, after a quick shower, I made my way downstairs. The grandness of the Chateau’s lobby no longer impressed me. In fact, it bored me nowadays. I remained unimpressed by the dramatic mirrored walls, gilded trellis ceiling, and birdcage chandeliers with their ornate metal flowers that surrounded me. Call me ungrateful and bratty, but I also didn’t ask to live here. I stayed here out of necessity to support my aunt and uncle. But it had become clear to me now that they no longer needed my presence and support. Being the privileged perma-guest of the hotel, I felt at liberty to forgo the customary dress code and wear my
I rubbed at my stubble in pent up frustration. “I lost a bloody suitcase and this is the shit I get for it?” I said and slammed my tumbler onto the table. “I’m never gonna please you lot. Dad wanted me to graduate University, so I did. Mum wanted me to get a well-paying job, I did. You wanted support from me when Mum and Dad died so I gave up a life in Spain and was there for you guys…” I got up casually and went to the bar to pour another few shots of whiskey. “So, at what point, Uncle Eddie, can I quit trying to please everyone else and just get on with my own fuckin’ life and live it how I want?”
“Is that not what you’re doing with the debauchery— the drinking and the girls and the severe lack of regard for anyone but yourself?”
Unbelievable. I laughed to myself. “None of this is what I want.” My arms gestured widely at both the room and my uncle.
“You ingrate,” he scoffed quietly. “I can see there’s no getting through to you.” I pursed my lips and flared my nostrils. My knuckles went white. “If you’ll excuse me I have actual guests to attend to who appreciate and deserve my caring services.”
“Yeah, you’re excused.”
He walked to the door as I lit another cigarette. Before Edward left, he turned back to me with a changed tone— The contrived, warm one he reserved for patrons of the hotel. “Do be sure to come down for high tea this afternoon at five o’clock. Aunt Margaret would love to catch up with you. She keeps pestering me about it.”
“I’ll try.” My cigarette sizzled at the long drag I took of it. At least, I’d have enough time to get a few drinks in me first.
“Oh, one last thing, Felix.” Uncle Edward stood in the doorway. “You’ve got one month.”
“To what?
“To find a job of substance…Or consider yourself out of this hotel.”
I paused, taking my time to study my uncle’s face. It had sternness written all over it. “You’re actually serious? Why you’d save that until…” He slammed the door. “Now to tell me. Prick.” I thought of the cocaine — the precious cocaine — that would be making that bombshell easier to deal with. But it was lost somewhere in this godforsaken city and my dealer had just left on a flight to Istanbul for the week. “Gargghh!” I yelled and lobbed my glass at the wall, shattering it into a rain of shards.
As the ring of it dissipated, my phone buzzed.
Still good to meet at 4?
Claire. I’d forgotten all about my afternoon rendezvous with a model I’d met at a shoot the other weekend. Perfect timing for a perfect distraction from my current woes. I could finish this drink, give sweet Claire a good bang, take a shower, and still make it to my aunt at five.
— 4 —
Claire came and left my bedsheets like a sweet waft of perfume, albeit a forgettable one. To say she lacked charisma would be giving her too much credit. Her personality matched that of a loaf of white bread. However, what she lacked in good banter, she made up for in being an above average fuck. She got me off, I forgot about the bullshit of my life for a few seconds, and she left. Precisely what I’d needed.
Five-thirty rolled around and, after a quick shower, I made my way downstairs. The grandness of the Chateau’s lobby no longer impressed me. In fact, it bored me nowadays. I remained unimpressed by the dramatic mirrored walls, gilded trellis ceiling, and birdcage chandeliers with their ornate metal flowers that surrounded me. Call me ungrateful and bratty, but I also didn’t ask to live here. I stayed here out of necessity to support my aunt and uncle. But it had become clear to me now that they no longer needed my presence and support. Being the privileged perma-guest of the hotel, I felt at liberty to forgo the customary dress code and wear my
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