Starr Fated Read Online Free PDF Page B

brother. Something was going on, something must have
happened that Jamie hadn’t told me about while I’d been away on
business. I fucking hate not being kept in the picture, and I
fucking hate surprises being sprung on me.
    “Why, what’s
going on?” I asked suspiciously.
    “Well, you
know how ever since Ollie dropped out of uni, and his room’s been
empty and not bringing in any kind of rent, you’ve been nagging me
to do something about it?”
    “Yes…?” I had
the distinct feeling I wasn’t going to like what I was going to
hear next.
    “I’ve got a
new tenant in now.”
    “I see. And
would you mind filling me in about exactly who this new tenant
is?”
    “It’s
Seraphina. The girl that I like. And she’s a really good tenant, no
trouble at all. But now you see why I can't really avoid seeing
her.”
    I could feel
my temper rising. Perhaps I’d spoilt my younger brother, because
I’d been determined that he shouldn’t miss out on his youth in the
way that I’d had to. Since both our parents were dead, I’d stepped
up to become the parent figure.
    I made sure
Jamie did a decent degree at a decent university, here in London
where I could keep a close eye on him. I bought a reasonable house
rather than let him live in disgusting student accommodation, and
given him a healthy allowance to enable him to have a reasonable
standard of living without having to compromise his studies by
working. I provided him with a car once he’d finally passed his
driving test at the third attempt– not the sporty model he wanted
maybe, but still a brand new VW Golf. I’d lectured him extensively
about the perils of being a boy racer, even as I’d paid the
extortionate insurance cover and all the maintenance costs of his
car. I’d also promised that as long as he got at least a decent 2:1
for his degree, I would fund a year off for him to go travelling,
before expecting him to settle down in a position in the family
business. But it seemed that Jamie was turning out to be a soft
touch, sadly lacking in any kind of hardnosed business sense.
    “So what
checks did you run on this girl, to make sure she’s solvent, before
her name was linked to your address? You could end up with all
sorts of debt collection agencies pouncing on you otherwise. Did
you get her deposit and three months’ rent in advance as security?
Did you take up any references for her? Did it even occur to you
that having a female in the house would upset the status quo? Why
do you think I insisted on interviewing potential tenants in the
first place to make sure they were compatible, even though you were
all studying for the same degree?”
    “Jeez, Liam,
lighten up a bit will you? I know how you like to micro manage
everything, but isn’t the fact that I believe she’s a decent person
good enough? The poor girl’s got it really hard , she’s all on her
own, no family to support her at all. And some rent money coming in
is better than none at all, as has been the case since Ollie left.
That room is really hard to let out to guys because it’s such an
awkward shape with the low ceiling as well, but she loves it. So I
didn't insist on the deposit and rent up front, especially as Sera
has to support herself through uni; she’s working all hours God
sends to get enough money to live on, as well as studying.”
    “My heart
bleeds. The bitch has really done a number on you, hasn’t she?
She’s got you thinking with your dick, not your brain. You're not a
fucking charity, last time I checked.” Trying to keep my temper in
check meant that the tone of my voice was icy cold.
    “It’s not like
that at all. Why do you have to be so cynical?” Jamie bleated.
    “Because
that’s the way of the world, little brother, as you will find out
soon enough. I take it you met her at uni, that she’s a student at
LSE like you?”
    “No, she’s an
Art’s student actually, and I met her by chance on the tube, as it
happens.”
    “Give me
strength.” I