Marbella Neat Read online

  Marbella Neat

  Book 4 Marbella Series

  By Camille Oster

  Copyright 2016 Camille Oster

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the work of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

  Camille Oster – Author

  www.camilleoster.com

  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Camille-Oster/489718877729579

  @Camille_Oster

  [email protected]

  Chapter 1

  Shania Tyler looked up at the building in front of where the taxi had just dropped her off. It was a large, squarish building with golden-brown glass, which in a way suited the mountains behind it. It had five stories, and strangely there was a salon, for some reason, situated in its own little structure in one corner of the property. Well, at least she had somewhere to get her hair done without having to go far.

  Taking a deep breath, she looked back up at the building. This was going to be her new office, the next step in her career, a move up the corporate ladder. For just over a year, she’d been working in the rustic office out in the middle of nowhere in Mexico, next to a mine. It hadn’t exactly been full of luxuries, but she hadn’t minded. The work had been interesting, but it had been a steep learning curve, and there had been a few points when she’d thought she didn’t have what it took, but she’d persevered through the challenges, the various comments and every set back.

  In the beginning, she’d had no idea what to do, but she’d learned, at times through the gritted patience of the people around her. Even now, she still didn't really know what she was doing, but she’d learned to ask the right questions, and that was the answer to everything.

  She had enjoyed the work, even if it had been out in the middle of nowhere. Now it was time to take the next step and here she was, back in Marbella. Admittedly, she was slightly nervous about it, having run into trouble last time she’d lived in this town, but she was unlikely to run in those circles now. She was here for one thing only, and that was to progress her career, to move things along and to get to the next level.

  Few were lucky enough to have the distant mentorship of the CEO of the company. He wasn’t actively involved with her development, but she knew he had oversight of her progression, for which she was totally grateful. Mr. Dunbury had taken a risk on her when few would have taken a look at her and decided she was worth anything. She didn’t have the education, the background, or knowledge to deserve this job, but she wanted it really badly, and he, apparently, appreciated her hunger. She didn't take that trust and belief for granted and did her very best, learning everything she could, asking questions, and performing every task asked of her.

  Sliding up the handle on her suitcase, she pulled it behind her as she walked across the driveway in her nicest heels. The mine had not been conducive to heels, so it was nice to wear something a bit more formal. She strode along next to the water feature and into the building itself. Everything looked new and sparkling. Marble, steel and glass everywhere. The Dunbury Industries branding was carved into a stone slab above the desk where a young receptionist greeted her with a bright smile. “Can I help you?” she asked. Everything about her looked sleek, down to her very sharp nose. Her hair was straight as nails, and Shania wondered if she had it done at the salon on the property.

  “I'm starting here today,” Shania said. “I'm not quite sure where to go.”

  “I’ll call HR,” the girl said.

  “Actually, I’ve been dealing with Fennie,” Shania said. “She's been sorting out the paperwork and helping me transfer.”

  “Alright,” the girl said just as brightly. “Perhaps it's best that you go see Fennie now. She's up on the fourth floor; her desk is in the far corner, to the back if you turn left when you get out of the lifts. I'll give you one of these swipe cards so you can get in and out of the building, and I’ll let her know you’re on your way up.”

  Pulling her bag with her, Shania walked to the lift and swiped, to then emerge on the fourth floor, where she followed the girl’s directions until she reached Fennie’s desk.

  “Ah, there you are,” the older woman said. Shania knew her voice, but had never met her. She looked nothing like the woman Shania had imagined—more average. She’d expected the super PA, but Fennie appeared unremarkable to look at. Maybe even a little like a teacher she’d had back in middle school. “I've been waiting for you. I wasn't quite sure whether you were coming today or if you’d be resting. It must've been a long flight.”

  “I just got in. I stayed a night in Madrid and flew in this morning,” Shania said. “But I'm eager to get started, so what would be the point of waiting another day. I’m hardly going to do anything difficult today, I’m guessing, so a bit of jetlag won’t hurt.”

  “Wonderful,” Fennie said with a smile, before standing up and walking over to her bookshelf, where she grabbed a few things. “This way. I have a desk ready for you.”

  Shania followed as Fennie led her across the floor to the other side of the building, the side looking onto the mountains at the back. A new desk sat waiting for her. It still had bubble wrap over parts of it. The whole office had a new smell to it, and all the furniture was spotless. Shania took a seat in the chair and started unpacking her laptop. Fennie handed over an envelope with confidential printed on it, another swipe card, and a set of keys. “I thought you might want to use the apartment while you settle in. It's a company apartment, so you're welcome to stay as long as you want.”

  “Thanks,” Shania said, gratefully accepting the keys and breathing a sigh of relief, glad she didn't have to go apartment hunting first thing. She would likely to be exhausted after work tonight, having slept badly and travelled for the last thirty odd hours.

  “So the kitchen is over there. The bathroom is on the other side of the lifts and there is, of course, a car parked downstairs if you should need it. I'm assuming you don't have a car yet.”

  “No, but I would love to get one.” She had to drive a pickup at the mines, but could probably get something more comfortable here.

  “One can be made available to you. I can sort something and let you know. So, park twenty-three is yours anytime you might need it. I will leave you to settle. Let me know if there's anything you need.”

  “I will. Thank you.” How many times had she said ‘thank you’ now? Forty? It felt like it.

  It was nice to be left on her own for a minute. She felt like she’d been in the company of a crowd for days, so it was lovely that everything was still and there was nothing she needed to run for, at least until the end of the day. Checking her watch, she tried to figure out what time zone it was showing, but gave up. She’d know it was time to go when it got dark, or when her eyes refused to stay open.

  Turning her attention to her desk, she turned on her computer and let it go through the boot-up procedures while she squatted down along the wall to find a socket. The company networks seemed to recognise her right away. It was such a relief when everything worked as it was supposed to, and Dunbury Industries didn’t do their systems on the cheap.

  Her email account opened right away, with a hundred emails waiting for her. Her old role would take some time to hand over completely. The new person wasn’t even in place yet.

  Storing her bag away along the wall, she walked to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee. She’d had one on the flight and again on arrival, but one more was needed to keep the exhaustion from claiming her mind. Leaning on the counter, she took a moment to consider how things had changed, and how quickly. Back in Marbella; back in Europe. When she’d left, she�
��d thought she’d seen the back of this place.

  Taking her cup, she decided to wander back to her desk, but stopped short as she saw three guys walking along the far end of a space full of cubicles. She could only see their heads and shoulders, but one of them definitely looked like Felix. In shock, she realised it was Felix. What the fucking hell was Felix doing here, and wearing a damn suit? Felix didn’t wear suits. What was going on?

  “Hey,” she said to the girl sitting in the nearest cubicle. “Do you know Felix Dunbury?”

  The girl looked up, her blond, highlighted hair up in a ponytail. “Yeah,” she said. “He works on this floor.” Clearly British.

  “He works here?” Shania said in utter disbelief.

  “Yeah, in trading. Hi, I'm Anna. And you are?”

  “He works here? How long has he worked here? Shania,” she said, holding her hand out to the girl, who eyed it suspiciously for a moment before shaking it. “Sorry. I really didn't know he was going to be here.”

  “You know him?”

  “No, not really,” Shania lied.

  “He's been here about eight months, I suppose. He’s the boss’ son; you know, the big boss. The Dunbury in Dunbury Industries. Hence him being a Dunbury also.”

  “Is that so?” Shania said non-commitally. This girl was actually quite snotty. “I better get back to my desk. It's my first day. Nice to meet you.”

  “Pleasure,” the girl said, turning her attention back to her screen. She looked like the typical office girl—black pants, white shirt, dark cardigan and neat blonde hair. Pretty, but nondescript. Being British, she might be an import from the previous headquarters in London, moved down here when the company had shifted.

  Shania returned to her desk and put her cup down. She took a seat and drew in a deep breath. Well, that made things more complicated. Felix working here was not something she’d factored into the equation. Another guy who hated her guts. Oh well, it wasn’t the end of the world, but Felix tended to make things complicated. This was all an annoyance more than anything; she wasn't going to let it get to her. She wasn’t here to deal with Felix; she didn’t give a fuck about Felix, and as long as he stayed out of her way, they’d be fine.

  Chapter 2

  Accepting her drink from Stavros, Aggie sat down in one of the large cane chairs, surveying the visitors who’d just arrived. Her aunt and uncle and their son, Inns, more formally named Innocent Whiting-Cross. He never went by his first name, hating it. As far as she could remember, he’d always been Inns—which she could understand. He’d never really been innocent; had been an utter shit of a child throughout his entire life. The name was probably what had cursed him to be anything but innocent.

  He sat on the chair opposite her, drumming lightly with his fingers on the armrest. His light brown hair was combed back, away from his sharp features. He wasn't ugly, but there was a sharpness to his features that had always been there.

  “It’s definitely warm and lovely, isn't it?” her aunt Fiona said. “I'm not sure I'll ever quite get used to it. Although, it was warmer than this when we were in Singapore, wasn’t it, Ruben?”

  “The heat in Singapore is quite oppressive, but you get used to it after a while. It takes a good year for your body to acclimatise to the humidity. The humidity makes it infinitely worse,” he said, crossing his legs and balancing his wine on the end of his knee.

  “Still, we are so pleased to see you,” Aggie’s mother, Cassandra, said. “And you as well, Inns. It feels like it's been ages since we've seen you—away at school all this time.”

  Inns had been at boarding schools for most of his life. Fiona had found him hard to deal with. Couldn’t blame her; he was difficult, always had been. He didn't have that gene that made people want to get along with others. He didn't seem to mind the people disliking him either. Surprisingly, Aggie had always gotten on okay with him whenever they’d visited—not that she'd seen him a great deal other than family events and holidays. He was a few years younger than her, and from what she estimated, he was finishing school now.

  “So what are your plans for the autumn?” Aggie’s father asked Inns.

  “That’s the thing,” Ruben said before Inns had a chance to answer. “He was such a troublemaker; he's had no chance to get into any of the good universities. There's too much focus on academic achievements these days. They don't necessarily invest in the old ways anymore, the old families, which is a great shame. Innocent has been one who’d suffered from this new policy. It’s outrageous but they won’t budge.”

  Aggie guessed the right name and connections didn’t guarantee a placement anymore. No doubt Inns’ grades were atrocious, and his behavioural record was probably worse. “Hence, he’s gone without a placing at either Cambridge or Oxford.” Fiona chortled as if it was the most outrageous thing she’d ever heard. Inns shifted uncomfortably in his chair. “Many of the more common universities have refused to accept him, as well. Can you imagine? We don’t quite know what to do.”

  “But he must come here,” Cassandra said. “The business school here is top-notch, and they accept any student living in the area. Many of the kids from around here choose to attend that school. They have excellent faculty. Entirely private, of course.”

  “We thought,” Ruben continued, “that if he proved himself for a year or two, the Cambridge admission committee would be a little bit more understanding.”

  “That's not bad thinking,” Aggie’s father said. “Some good marks here and a good academic reference will crack it, I'm sure.”

  Inns’ expression was drawn tight. Aggie could tell he hated being discussed this way, like the failure the family had to rescue, but it was effectively true. He was going to spend a year or two here with them, attending the business school, in an attempt to get his stocks up high enough that the universities back in England would make the necessary exception.

  Obviously, he needed to go to university, needed a degree, even if his future was a hundred percent assured. He was in line to be the next Earl of Bennington, after the passing of his father, of course. No doubt that was years in the future, but eventually, that fate would befall him.

  Bennington Hall had gone through a remarkable transformation in the last decade, from a decrepit, mouldering old house, to a thriving business. It was now an organic-farm-cum-event-venue for weddings and corporate functions. It was even a bit of a hotel for those willing to pay enough. The family only really had a small part of the house themselves these days; the rest of it had been converted to a going concern supporting the upkeep of the house, the estate, and the family. The Earl of Bennington nowadays was the CEO of an expansive organisation taking advantage of the land and its structures. It had over two hundred staff now. In a way, things had returned to the way things should always have been, but it wasn’t so much a private residence anymore. Their private use was what they’d have to give up.

  On some level, in spite of his stellar personality, Inns was going to be the CEO of Bennington Hall, so it was probably best he had some fundamental idea of what he was doing.

  Aggie crossed her legs and took a sip of her gin and tonic. It would be strange having a grumpy young man staying in their house day in and day out. But family was family and when one called in a favour, they had to respond. What choice did they have?

  “I think you'll adore it here,” Fiona said. “Aggie’s spent most of her life here and has never really had an interest in leaving. It's not a bad place, is it?”

  Fiona was turning her gaze to Aggie, hoping for reinforcement. Aggie swallowed the sip she’d taken. “It’s a great place,” she said. “An array of interesting people, and whatever entertainment one should want.”

  Inns looked unconvinced, practically rolling his eyes, or, at least, barely holding himself back from doing it.

  “Aggie can take you down to the school tomorrow,” Cassandra said. “Can’t you, darling?”

  “Of course,” Aggie responded with a tight smile. “We’ll get you enrolled righ
t away. I’m not sure if the new year has started yet, but they tend to be lenient with people arriving whenever. This is a place where people tend to.”

  “Fantastic,” Inns said, but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

  Aggie sighed and turned away. She was going to be saddled with showing him around, introducing him to everybody and their dog. Why was it up to her to be his guide? But he was family and that meant she had to do her best.

  “All sorted,” Fiona said, her smile beaming with relief. Guess his family managed to hand him off again, Aggie thought.

  Chapter 3

  The taxi pulled into Megan’s parents’ driveway and stopped. Sitting forward, Megan paid the fare and opened the door.

  “We're here,” she said excitedly. Ricky got out the other side and moved to the boot of the car, where the taxi driver came to help them with their bags.

  Her mum came out the door to greet them. The excitement on her face was unmistakable. “Darling, you're here.”

  “Hi, Mum,” Megan said, rushing into an embrace. “This is Ricky, my new boyfriend,” she continued as the embrace broke.

  “Hello, Ricky,” Megan's mum said. “I'm so pleased to meet you. Megan has told us all about you.” She walked forward to give him a hug as well, and he looked a bit uncomfortable at first.

  Megan smiled back at him as she led him into the house. It had been a while since she'd been back and she was glad to be here.

  “Would you like a drink?” her mum asked.

  “Would love one. How about you, Ricky?”

  “Sure,” he said and left their bags by the door.

  “This is Ricky's first time in Marbella,” she said, giving him a nudge. “He's a little bit nervous.” He didn’t look happy that she pointed it out, as if it was a shortcoming. “How is everyone, Mum?”

  “Good. As far as I know. It's been too long since you've been here. You’ve been working too much.”