'Do you want to talk?' Christian asks as he drives us to Escala.

'Yes, I overheard part of mom and dad's conversation. Mom said that dad is much tougher on me than you, Elliot and Mia. Do you know why? I ask him.

'I have an idea but he's never really said much about it. You'll have to ask him but I think it might be something to do with your daddy. They were great friends, they bonded immediately the first time they met and were like brothers. They spent a lot of time with each other, even when your mommy and daddy lived in London for a while they still met a few times a year for vacations. Remember they were friends even before Elliot came on the scene. They were even best man for each other at their weddings. We always think that mom lost her best friend but dad lost his too. With the three of us no matter what life mom and dad gave us it was better than the one that we would have had, but with you there's a huge responsibility to bring up your best friends child hoping that you're doing a good enough job for them.'

There are tears in my eyes and I gulp trying hard to not let them spill out.

'Talk to dad about it, he'll probably be calm now and regretting getting angry with you. Even though it seems he is tougher on you it always makes him feel guilty afterwards. Mia and I always knew that and would make a point of asking for things he would normally have said no to.'

Christian turns and smiles at me 'We're here now; I've got a couple of calls to make seeing as I've missed work today. Can you entertain yourself for an hour or so?'

'Yes I'll cook dinner seeing as you can't.' I reply with a cheeky smile. That is one thing I can do that Christian can't – cook!

Christian is still in his study and dinner is almost ready, my phone vibrates and its Hannah calling.

'Hi' I say

'Hi, have you had a good day?'

'Very good thanks. I'm friends with Christian again; in fact I'm at his apartment now. He knows we're together and is happy for us. How was your day at the florists? I missed you'

'OK, mom took my phone off me so I couldn't text whilst I was working. I'm glad Christian is happy for us but my mom is furious, that's another reason why she took the phone so I couldn't contact you.'

My heart almost stops but I manage to stammer 'Why?'

'Because when we were at school the amount of trouble we were always in together, she thinks you're a bad influence on me. She wants me to stop seeing you.' She adds.

Shit, breathe deeply and think what to reply. 'Hannah, is that what you want as well. All the trouble at school was usually harmless mischief because we were bored and I think the last time we were really in trouble we were about twelve.'

'Matt if I didn't see you it would break my heart. I love you and even after our few kisses I can't imagine being with anyone else.' She whispers.

Relief washes over me 'Oh Hannah I feel the same. Can I still see you tomorrow, what time do you finish work at?'

'Yes you can and I finish at 3pm'

'OK, I'll come and collect you from work instead of waiting until the evening if that's ok, I better come and introduce myself to your mom, she might feel happier when she sees me and that I'm more mature than I was six years ago!'

'That would be good, I'll see you at three tomorrow, love you, bye.'

'Love you too, laters baby!'

Christian is on his way out of the study when I finish the call. 'Hannah?' he asks.

'Yes, her mom's furious that's she's going out with me. Apparently I'm a bad influence.' I reply.

Christian bursts out laughing. I add 'Well I'm glad you find it funny!'

'It is, you might have had the mischief in you when you were younger but you've changed so much, you couldn't be a bad influence on anyone no matter how hard you tried. Is dinner ready? I'm hungry.'

As we sit and eat Christian tells me that he phoned mom, dad has calmed down and is as predicted feeling guilty now. They want to come and see us; Christian has suggested breakfast tomorrow as he can't skip another full day at work because of some meeting he needs to attend.

'You have to be happy to see them though Matt otherwise they can come another time, they both start work at lunchtime so you'll be here on your own with them for a couple of hours because I have to leave at 9, but dad wants to talk to you. It won't be a telling off kind of talk, I think it's a serious type, about your future and some things he should have spoken about a long time ago. Even though I'm at work I will come back if you need me, remember I'll always be there for you, OK.'

''OK.' I reply, I might as well get it over with sooner rather than later.

With dinner finished we go to the balls room with a beer, Christian is back on form and I can't win.

'You need to sleep, I've got a few things to sort out so will see you in the morning. I'll tell mom and dad to be here about 7.30'

I go to bed but just before I switch off the light I text Hannah 'Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow, hopefully I can convince your mom I'm good for you. Sleep well baby, Love Mx'

She replies instantly 'Can't wait, Love you Hx'

I smile as I drift off to sleep.

The next morning Christian and I are up early, sat at the breakfast bar drinking juice as mom and dad arrive. Mom hugs me whilst dad stands back, as mom hugs Christian dad moves towards me, apologising for getting so angry with me yesterday. I just smile at him not sure how to reply. I'm quite nervous about having to chat with him after we've eaten.

Mrs Jones has prepared the food so we all move to sit at the table to eat. Dad and Christian talk business which I only half listen to whilst I talk to mom, I find myself telling her about Hannah's mom but she tells me not to worry about her as she's sure I'll win her round. Apparently Hannah's parents will be at the ball on Saturday so they'll see how much I've changed then.

When we have finished eating dad asks if I want to go and talk now. I nod. As we approach Christian's study door I hesitate, Christian must see as he says

'Actually dad you might be better with Matt in the TV den, he's more relaxed in there and I find it's easier for him to listen and speak rather than sat on opposite sides of a desk. You'll get more out of him that way'

Dad looks at me, an eye brow raised as if to question me, I nod. He changes direction and we head towards the comfy sofa in the TV room. As dad starts to talk I can hear Christian playing relaxing music on the piano.

'Matthew I have spoken to Christian and he tells me you've been asking quite a few questions about your mommy and daddy and why I appear to be tougher on you, is that correct.'

I look at him and nod, so he continues.

'Your daddy was like a brother to me, we did so much together. Days out, holidays, relaxing at each other's homes. We even did a lot of business together; we helped each other out a lot. There wasn't a day went by when we didn't speak to each other. When he died I felt like part of me had died to, but I had to think of you and how best I could bring you up to be a credit to him, which you are, he would have been so proud of you. I don't mean to be tougher on you than the others when I'm handing out a punishment or getting angrier with you than I would them but when I see you standing on the other side of my desk it's as if I'm getting angry for him as well. All I can see is your daddy stood there, you are so like him, and I just get angrier because it hurts that he's not still here'

I gulp, I hadn't really considered dad's feelings before and didn't realise that he was hurting still.

'There's a lot more I need to tell you but I need to ask you some questions first, ok' he waits for my nod before continuing ' What do you plan to do when you finish school next year?

'I'm not sure yet, Christian has said I can work for him wherever I want, even building boats if that will make me happy' dad looks at me questionably 'I thought I might want to build houses like Elliot but Christian said he would be jealous so suggested I should build boats instead, you know how controlling he is.'

Dad smiles and asks 'Have you thought about whether you might like to go to university.'

'Sort of, though I'm not sure what I'd want to study, Harvard has already offered me a place in business law and economics.' Dad looks shocked 'they wanted me to start this September but I didn't feel like I was ready so that's why I opted to do another year at school. I'd quite like to do something with music, though I'm not sure what yet.'

Dad is still smiling at me and then says 'And your relationship with Hannah is that serious?'

'I'd like it to be, I just feel so happy and relaxed with her, she feels the same but we are just taking things slow and seeing how it develops at the moment, we don't want to ruin the good friendship that we already have.'

'That sounds like you're being sensible. Right I'm ready to tell you the rest of the news that I have for you, some of it might shock you. It's sooner than I expected because I wanted you to have more of an idea about what you wanted to do rather than be pushed in a certain direction just because you thought that was expected of you. Christian has a bit of an idea of what I'm about to tell you but not all the details and that's only because of his business and how he deals with taking others over. Are you ready to hear this?' I nod.

'Your parents were very wealthy; they had properties all over the world, here obviously, which was your family home. A house in London, apartments in Paris, New York, Sydney, a villa in Spain and a vacation home in Hawaii. That's seven in total and they all belong to you. 'I look at him gobsmacked as he pauses for breath and then continues. 'The music company with its headquarters in Seattle that is the biggest in the world, that's yours as well.'

'The one Christian couldn't invest in?' I question

'The very same.' Dad replies and smiles.' Nobody can do anything with that at the moment, the executives there were in place when your daddy was alive, he trusted them and they would do anything for him, they won't have anyone come in and take over. They consult with me a few times a year so that I know where the company is heading. Christian found out that I had overall control so questioned me about it but I only gave the bare details.'

Dad looks at me 'Shall I continue?' he asks

'I'm shocked already but there's more?' I question.

'Yes, the private jet, boat as big as Christians, helicopter, I think that's where Christian got his love for all those things from as he was close to your daddy. They were all sold though but the money was put in a trust fund for you to purchase more up to date models. They also invested money wisely and you probably have as much business in Seattle as Christian does. You also have a serious mount of money in a bank account. I was acting as a lawyer for your daddy when the will was drawn up and we agreed that you could do nothing with any of it until you were at least 21 but I have to right to extend that to 25 if I think it's necessary. But Matthew you will be seriously rich when you reach 21. This is why your mom and I and later Christian have been so over-protective of you, do you understand?'

'Yes, but I don't have to even take it in and think about it for at least another three years and we don't have to tell anyone about it all. I can just carry on as normal.'

'That's one way of putting it I suppose.' He says. 'I'm here to talk to you about any aspects of it all whenever you want, and I can show you anything to do with the business or investments should you want to look over the figures, Christian says you're good with them. Your mom is the one that knows more about the properties, she has all the details and photos if you want to see. Again with those they become yours when you are 21 to do with as you wish but you can use to live in or have vacations in until then.'

'What about you and mom, did you get anything?'

'We got to see our best friends little boy grow up and it has been an absolute pleasure, we couldn't be more proud of you.' He says with tears in his eyes.

I hug him, 'Thanks dad, I love you.'

We go and find mom, she's on her own in the kitchen as Christian has gone to work. After more hugs she asks if I am ok with everything. I nod before replying

'Well I'm OK for the next three years but after then it might be a different story, thank you for everything you and dad have done, I love you both so much''