At your service

Chapter 1

"What?" He asked in a slightly annoyed tone.

"That's no way to answer the phone to your Mother Joseph, don't be so rude" he rolled his eyes at his mother's scorn, what was he 6?

"What do you want Mum ?" He asked a little impatiently. It was the third call that day and he was in the middle of something.

"Your Father and I are coming back home today, we thought we'd stop by and have a little talk with you"

"Crap..." He muttered already knowing this wasn't going to be a conversation where his parents showed their latest holiday snaps. "What time will you be here ?"

"At 12:30, are you in the club ?" she could hear a mixture of voices and music in the background and hoped she hadn't interrupted her son.

Joey looked at his watch and saw it was already 12 "12:30 it is then, and yes I'm at the club, I'm in the office doing some paperwork, the DJ's doing a sound check ready for tonight."

"Right then" she mused, Joey wasn't sure she believed him, he briefly heard his father say something in the background "Your father says to tell you that Alison's coming home tomorrow too."

Alison or Alice as Joey called her, was his older sister, she was the perfect child had got Married at 22 had a child at 23 and was a very successful lawyer by 25. There was only four years between them so now at 22 his parents were very much expecting him to be following in her glowing footsteps, in their eyes he should have been to university got a degree (preferably in law) and be married to a nice wholesome girl, suggested name Isabella, right about now. But that wasn't the way joey's life had worked, he knew his parents were a little disappointed in him; especially his mother, but not because he didn't do anything, it was quite the opposite actually. Joey owned a very successful chain of bars across London as well as other little businesses on the side and was already turning over triple the profit his first bar made. His parents were disappointed because he hadn't, in their words 'settled down'. By no means was he a player, he liked girls yes, but he didn't want to settle down, his business was his love.

"I guess we'll be going out for lunch then ?" his mother told him the time and place and warned him he was to show up. "Understood loud and clear mum. I'll see you in half an hour… yes… Love you too, bye."

He ended the call pushing his mobile back into his pocket with a sigh. As much as he loved his parents, they really did irritate him. Pushing himself up from the chair he walked across the office and pulled a bottle of scotch of the shelf, pouring himself a glass and drinking it down in one. He needed if he was to survive even 10 minutes with his Mother and Father.

*JL*JL*JL*

There was knock on the door a few minutes later "Come in …" one of Joey's employees stood there looking rather flustered . "Kieran ?"

"There's a woman in reception claiming to have been injured in here last night, something about a wet floor?"

Joey groaned, throwing his hands to his face, letting them rub at his forehead, this was all he needed. "Right, can you tell her to leave her contact details and we'll get back to her. If she refuses, call my uncle Jack and ask him to sort it, my Mum and Dad are on the way in"

"Ouch" Kieran laughed, knowing how Joey's mum could be. They'd been friends for years and Joey had been kind enough to offer him a job when he was in a bit of a situation, the two were close friends again now. "I'll tell her… good luck with your Mum and Dad. Tell Derek I've got that Whisky from Russia he wanted."

"ye cheers, will do…"

*JL*JL*JL*

Joey sat staring at the clock, religiously watching as the hands ticked around and he waited for his parents to arrive. He'd freshened up a little, knowing his mother would have something to say about his unkempt look, he was currently sporting a rustic beard, purely because he hadn't found the time to get it trimmed properly at the barbers or he hadn't been bothered to shave properly, Joey quite liked the look though.

He tried several times to distract himself with the accounts but it failed miserably. He was just anticipating the next few days. At exactly 12:30, Joey heard the exchange of greetings between his parents and Kieran, his Mother questioning the poor boy about Joey's antics, there wasn't much to tell mind. Getting up to open the door, he smiled as his Mum walked straight over to him and dragged him into a constricting hug, his father hanging back slightly. "Hello Mum…"

She gave him a tight squeeze and then held him at arm's length "You need a good shave my boy… your looking terribly scruffy" she scolded him "You'll never find yourself a nice girl looking like that." Joey watched as she moved around him and began to circle the office, running her finger along the desk and checking for dust.

His Dad gave him a hug too and rolled his eyes "Your mother knows nothing, I think the beard looks rather fetching…I think it makes a man look more distinguished" he said smiling, his chin lifting a little to indicate his own beard that was far more untamed than Joey's.

"Thanks Dad… would you like a drink?" Joey asked, walking over to the table and chairs in the corner and pulling a chair out for his Mum as she stood near it.

"I'm fine thanks son… we aren't stooping anyway, it was a fleeing visit right Susan?" he questioned his wife, seeing she was making herself pretty comfortable.

"Oh no, not staying unfortunately"

"I thought you wanted to talk?" Joey frowned, was that not the entire reason they were there?

Susan smiled at her husband who shook his head "You're telling him…"

"Telling me what?"

"Your father and I think it's about time you took yourself a little more seriously." She paused to gaze her sons reaction "We have decided to hire you a little help, haven't we Derek?" Derek nodded quickly.

"What exactly do you mean by help?" Joey didn't like the sound of that at all, he hated other people controlling his life, it was one of the reasons he had limited contact with his parents. They were very well to do, his father and Uncle had worked hard to get to where they were and had made good lives for themselves.

"Your mother has employed a maid for you…"

"A maid?" Joey smirked

"Take that image out of your head right now Joseph! This a very respectable agency, they have years of experience organising people's lives, this girl is more like a PA than a maid ,they do everything for you. Clean, cook, iron, organise files, make appointments… to barbershops" she hinted.

Joey walked away from her and perched on the edge of the desk "What if I don't want a 'PA' I'm more than capable of looking after myself Mother." His tone was firmer now "Just because precious Alison got a degree and married and gave you a grandchild, doesn't mean I have to do the same. Why should I follow the rules of this family ay?"

"Because, you are who you are because of that way of life Joseph. You are part of this family, like it or not. Derek come on…" Susan stood and marched to the door, pausing for her husband to catch up with her. "And anyway it's too late now… the girl starts tomorrow."

Joey stared angrily at the empty spot his parents had just vacated, he really hated how much control they had over his life, but what could he do? Like his Mum said, they were the reason he'd got where he had. The Branning name meant something to people, and it was most certainly not to be tarnished.

Hello everyone! So as you can see I'm back... with the story that's almost killed me to write! I hope you all liked this first chapter, what do think so far ? Back tomorrow xxx