The months seemed to fly by for me. I did as I was told and when I was told so I stayed out of trouble. There wasn't a second which passed by when I didn't long to escape the big mansion. In April I had reached my seventeenth birthday which as per usual was not celebrated. Father bought me another necklace like he did every year. Edward didn't forget- unfortunately. He bought me a bracelet and then kissed me. And it was a proper kiss which made me want to vomit afterwards. However the one person who had surprised me the most was Tom. He had bought me a Jane Austen book. He noticed that the library didn't own a copy of 'Mansfield Park' and so he took it on himself to buy me a copy which I read in a few days. One morning in May I asked Tom if we could go and sit on the private bit of beach which the mansion owned and he accepted. It was cloudy and windy and the sea was extremely choppy. I plonked myself down on the sand and began to throw pebbles into the sea. Tom sat next to me and gazed into the ocean.
"What business has been going on recently?" I asked him. We had become quite close during the months which had passed by and sometimes I could have sworn I had feelings for him which went deeper than friendship but I had to tell myself not to be silly. I was engaged, and besides, if anything did happen it would get him in trouble and that was never good.
"Your father has told Edward that he doesn't wish to do another job for a few years. He has 30 million from when he robbed the Nakatomi Plaza and Theo said he will do another job even though he still has 30 million left. Oh. And you're uncle has joined them now." He told me. I had nothing to do with my uncle. Simon Gruber was as bad as father and I had no wish to get to know him and it seemed he didn't long for a relationship with me.
"I imagine Edward has a job lined up" I said, hoping that I did not sound bitter.
"Yes...next week. He plans to go to England and rob the Bank of England. Once again posing as terrorists."
I nodded, hoping that he may get caught but deep down I knew that would never happen. Unfortunately he wasn't that dumb. We continued to sit there and stare into the ocean until I heard a voice come from behind us.
"And may I ask what you two are doing out here?" father asked. Like normal he was dressed in his suit and had a coat on to protect him from the breeze.
"I just felt like some fresh air" I told him and he nodded. Tom and I stood up and faced father who looked angry. I hadn't done anything I shouldn't have recently...I didn't think I had anyway.
"Tom...please go back inside. I shall deliver Katherine back" he told Tom who gave a wary look at me and then turned to go back into the mansion.
"Yes father?" I asked him, wrapping my open coat around me.
"I know what is going on between you two" father said and I raised a brow at him. Nothing was going on between us, regardless of me wishing something was.
"Nothing is happening father" I told him and I began to walk past him but he was fast and grabbed my arm before I could go any further.
"I've seen how you look at him Katherine. If you don't stop this dreaming than Edward will soon notice and that is the last thing you want" father warned me and I looked into his eyes.
"It doesn't matter because nothing is happening with us" I said honestly and he seemed to believe me.
"As long as it stays that way. I don't want you in trouble with him Katherine" he said and I rolled my eyes.
"Don't. It almost sounds like you care" I told him, not wanting him to start caring now.
"Katherine" he said threateningly and I sighed.
"Sorry father" I apologised and he nodded with satisfaction.
"I'll take you back to Tom" he said and released my arm and we walked back in silence towards the house. Tom was stood in the conservatory which we had left from and he nodded when he saw me. Father left the two of us and then I began to make my way up to my room with Tom on my trail.
"What did he want?" he asked me and I put a finger over my mouth to silence him. You never knew who was listening in this house. Anyone could listen into a conversation which you didn't want to be made public. Once we were back in my room I sat in the armchair and looked at his questioning face.
"He thinks that we're in love" I told him and he ran a hand through his hair.
"Well that's ridiculous" he laughed nervously and I did the same.
"Yes...that's what I thought. Ridiculous" I lied and he nodded as he ran his hand through his hair.
"Why would they think that? I mean, I only spend every day with a beautiful intelligent girl" he said and I gasped. He couldn't have just said that. This must be a dream.
"Yes, I only spend every day with a rather handsome and kind boy" I replied and he laughed again.
"Exactly. No chemistry at all" he said and I nodded and then he walked over to me and placed his hands on either sides of my arms and looked down at me. And then he kissed me.