More than Anyone

He had lied. He had actually grown up between Inverness and Edinburgh, the ride lasting almost seven hours, but he claimed that saying he grew up NEAR Edinburgh was just easier to explain then saying he grew up in Kingussie. All comprehensible thoughts however left Olivia’s head as soon as she laid eyes upon the Norfolk home for the first time the next afternoon. No. Home seemed definitely too loose of a term, considering it was the biggest house she had ever seen in person. She gaped at it through the front windshield as Ben steered the car up the long winding gravel driveway. It was a medieval castle, fully restored of course but it still was a castle nonetheless. Olivia gulped as Ben stopped the car in front of a four-car garage and looked up at his childhood home. He put his hand on the door handle to get out but upon seeing her immobile, he stopped and looked at her, his brow slightly furrowed.



“You okay?” He asked. He admitted that he had taken some of the country roads a bit too fast and since most of them curved and twisted up and down throughout the moors he wouldn’t be surprised if a wave of her motion sickness had hit her.



Her eyes never moved away from the windshield. “You live in a castle.”



He almost smiled at her shocked tone. He probably should have warned her but he had wanted to see her unfiltered first reaction. “It’s just a small keep. There’s much larger castles than this one,” he replied nonchalantly.



“Ben, but... I mean...” she stuttered before giving up entirely and returned back to staring. She didn’t notice as he got out of the car then went around to her side and opened the door for her. He grabbed her hand and practically yanked her to her feet. She still couldn’t look away though.



“My mom fell in love with this place the first time she saw it and my dad wanted nothing more than to give it to her,” Ben explained. “He also had no choice but to fully restore it considering how unlivable it was at the time. You’ll like it. It’s a bit drafty but...” He trailed off when the front door open and an older man dressed in an all black suit and a head of fire-red hair stepped onto the porch. Ben held up a hand to him, smiling widely. He began leading Olivia up the driveway towards the door. “That’s Ensley, my mom’s butler.”



Olivia stopped suddenly. “Butler?” She echoed. Ben turned and looked at her questionably. She shook her head slightly. “Ben, what kind of business was your dad in?”



Ben’s body grew completely rigid at the question. “What does that have to do with anything?”



“You live in a castle in Scotland!” She exclaimed. “You have a butler and horses and...”



“So?” He shrugged. “Really Olivia. What does it matter what kind of business my dad was in?” He stared at her and his look was so cold, it sent a bout of shivers down her spine. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Does it matter to you how much money my family actually has? Are you that kind of person?”



His question, and the accusation behind it, stunned her for a moment. He couldn’t be implying what she thought he was but staring at his hard expression, she couldn’t doubt it. She stared up at him. “Yes, it does matter since I’m just a shallow money grubbing bitch!” He opened his mouth to snap something back but she wouldn’t give him a chance. “At least, that’s what you obviously think of me.” His silence was the only answer she needed and she felt her knees almost buckle beneath her. So, that was what he truly thought of her. She couldn’t believe such a thing. She thought that perhaps things were changing between them. They weren’t exactly friends but at least they were on their way to becoming something and now, now she had his honest opinion. He thought nothing more of her than he would a leech attached to his back, sucking him until there was nothing left for her to take. She didn’t understand why what he thought of her hurt her. She shouldn’t have even cared. But she did and not only did she hate it, it scared her, too.



Normally, she would have just shrugged off the insinuation, that or insulted him back joined with a punch in the face but for some reason, his words had managed to actually sting her. She stared at him. He honestly thought that all she cared about was money. He had no idea what actually mattered to her. He was just assuming that because she was shocked by the seemingly infinite amount of money his family had at their disposal, she automatically was after it. She could have cared less about the money or what his dad had done to acquire it. She had just been curious. She had never had money like Ben obviously did. She got her first job when she was twelve years old because she wanted to buy a pair of rollerblades and instead of asking her parents for a pair, she wanted to be able to buy them herself. There was something so satisfying being able to pay for things on her own. She never felt comfortable taking money from her parents, unlike Sophia who didn’t understand that when she charged something on her Nordstrom’s card that she would have to eventually pay for it. Olivia had always worked hard for what she had and the only reason she thought about money at all was because she never seemed to have enough of it.



Ben stared down at her, his jaw muscle twitching to show that the way she was looking at him was having an affect on him. He opened his mouth to speak, to tell her that he didn’t think that about her. He just had a horrible habit of thinking that about every girl in his life. Surely, if he just told her who he was, she would understand. But he couldn’t take that chance. What if he told her and she turned into every other girl he had ever told? She’d latch onto him and demand things of him, things that turned him into an instant ATM. He was just starting to truly get to know Olivia but he couldn’t convince himself that perhaps she was indeed different from everyone. She had already proved that several times, what with being reluctant to accept his help and all. She had almost missed England entirely because her pride had been strangling her and keeping hold of her. Ben couldn’t help but admire her determination to refuse help. But he also couldn’t help reacting the way he had to her question about his dad’s business. There had been no reason for her to ask that question. He had been open with her and told her that his dad had been in business, which wasn’t a lie. He said that his dad left him everything and that he wasn’t exactly on the verge of walking down to the welfare office. Olivia already knew more than most girls. And yet, that question had set his alarms off and he had treated her as he would have any other girl who had asked about the business and money. He had snapped at her and turned into an instant cold stone. He had never anticipated the look of hurt in her eyes.



Continuing to look at her, he finally dropped his resistance and uncrossing his arms, he sighed heavily. “Come on,” he said. “Ensley can get our bags.” He put his hand on her arm but she instantly ripped it from his grip. So she was still a little bit angry with him. Not trying again, he simply turned and walked towards the house. “Ensley!” He exclaimed, managing a happy smile and trying to ward off the anger and tension rolling off of Olivia’s body behind him in waves. “It’s good to see you.” He embraced the older man in a tight hug. “Is my mother inside?”



Ensley nodded his head, pretending to be unaffected by Ben’s hug. He was not a man that took displays of affection well. They left him quite flustered. “She’s in the kitchen overseeing dinner preparations.” He looked over Ben’s shoulder at Olivia with raised eyebrows. “Mrs. Norfolk was not expecting you to bring company with you, Benjamin.”



Ben shrugged then turned to look at Olivia. “This is Olivia Grange. We have a mutual friend and I agreed to show her a bit of Scotland since she’s never visited.” Even as he made the introduction, he knew he was being an asshole. But two could play that game. If she wanted to be a cold bitch towards him at the moment, he sure as hell could be an equally cold bastard to her. “Can one of the ladies show her to a room?”



“Of course, but I’m sure your mother will want to meet her first,” Ensley reminded him.



Ben nodded his head then grabbing Olivia’s arm, tightening his grip so she couldn’t push him away again, and practically dragged her into the house. “Ma!” He called out, his voice echoing throughout the great entrance hall. He felt Olivia stop struggling and he saw her stare about the house just as she had the outside. He kept his hand around her arm. “Mom!”



“Don’t shout, Benjamin. I raised you better than that.” Madelyn Norfolk stepped out into the hall from the direction of the kitchen, her voice stern but her face soft upon looking at her only child. She was a petite woman with black hair, normally long but constantly pulled back into an up-do that kept it from her face. Olivia looked at Ben’s mother. She was beautiful.



“Hey ma,” Ben greeted, finally releasing his grasp on Olivia to go and hug his mother.



Madelyn smiled warmly. “What time did you leave the hotel this morning? Surely not before nine.”



He grinned. She knew him too well. “No. We left around eleven. I made great time.”



“We?” She questioned with raised eyebrows. She then saw Olivia for the first time. A knowing smile crept across her lips slowly. “Oh, I see. Ben, I wish you would have told me that we’d be having company these few days.”



“It’s not like that, mom,” Ben said with a shake of his head. “This is just Olivia Grange.” Second place for worst introduction he announced in his head. Olivia visibly tensed up again at his words and Madelyn gave him a stern look that made him shift uncomfortably.



She approached Olivia then took hold of her hands. “It is so nice to meet you, Ms. Grange,” Madelyn smiled.



“Olivia, please. And I’m sorry for imposing on you, Mrs. Norfolk,” Olivia said apologetically. “Ben assured me that it would have been alright but if it’s not...”



“Don’t be silly, dear,” Madelyn cut her off with a wave of her hand. “You are more than welcome to stay as long as you wish. I am just thankful that you are not a blonde.”



“Mom!” Ben exclaimed.



“Excuse me?” Olivia subconsciously touched her chestnut brown locks.



“My Ben only seems to have eyes for girls with blonde hair. And the worst girls I have ever met.” Madelyn paused, looking her over. “You are most different though. I can’t wait until I know you better. But in the mean time...” she trailed off and clapped her hands. A woman in her mid-twenties magically appeared in the hall. “This is Jessie. She will show you to a room. You must be exhausted from your journey and after you rest, Ben will show you the grounds before dinner.”



There was no room left for objections or questions and Olivia found herself following Jessie up the stone circular staircase that were always associated with medieval castles. As they disappeared up to the second floor, Ben sighed in relief, scratching his head. Madelyn seemed to be greatly amused by something and her smile revealed it.



“What?” Ben practically growled out of frustration. Maybe bringing Olivia to meet his mother wasn’t the most brilliant of all ideas he had ever had. He had wanted to show her Scotland, not subject her to an interrogation and give her an opportunity to discover that he had done nothing but lie to her.



Madelyn did naught but shake her head. “Nothing at all, dear.”



“That is a look of something much more than nothing, mom,” Ben said, folding his arms across his chest and standing in what he hoped was his most fearsome stance.



She barely batted an eyelash. “You’re quite fond of her,” she said simply and Ben almost laughed but decided against it. If Olivia was eavesdropping, all she needed to do was hear him laugh at his mother’s words and she would probably never speak to him again. She made have acted as tough as a bull but Ben witnessed firsthand how she was capable of having her feelings hurt.



“For once, mom, you are mistaken,” Ben said carefully.



Madelyn clucked her tongue at him. “I am rarely mistaken and never about matters concerning this.” She approached him. “You seem nervous though. What is bothering you? Is it Olivia?”



He shrugged. “Sort of,” he answered truthfully. He never had the stomach for lying to her. “I’ve been lying to her. About everything.”



She sighed softly with a sad shake of her head. “Oh, Ben. I thought you would have stopped doing such things.” She paused. “What exactly have you told her instead?”



“Nothing about any of this.”



“Don’t you think that she will come to the correct conclusions herself eventually?” She questioned. “Olivia did not seem to be a stupid girl.”



“She isn’t,” Ben found himself saying.



“Then why bother lying? Takes far too much effort and leaves such repercussions. You must tell her who you are and what you are meant to be,” Madelyn said, squeezing his arm gently.



Ben shook her off then sighed heavily. “I can’t. I tell her who I am, who I really am, and that’s it. Not only will she kill me for lying to her but... I’m not sure I can trust her yet.”



Madelyn nodded her head. “I understand, Ben. You have been hurt in the past but it is far past the time that you need to move on. And somehow, just by looking at her, I don’t think Olivia will try to take you for all that you’re worth.”



A throat cleared behind them and Ben’s heart paused momentarily in beating at the prospect of the intruder being Olivia. But it was Jessie and he sighed heavily with relief. Madelyn patted his arm again.



“Yes, Jessie?”



“Beg your pardon, Madame, but Ms. Grange wishes to speak with Mr. Norfolk in her chambers,” Jessie announced. “I have placed her within the Rochester room. Would this be sufficed or shall I move her?”



“No, Jessie,” Madelyn said kindly. “The Rochester room is exactly the room I would have chosen for Olivia myself.” She turned back to her son. “Go and speak to her. And stop with these preposterous lies of yours. They will only hurt you more than anyone.”



Ben sighed heavily. “Easier said then done, mom.” He kissed her cheek lightly then brushing past the two women, made his way up the circular, slightly claustrophobic, staircase and made his way down the long hallway towards the room she was occupying. The Rochester room was one of the nicest bedrooms in all of the house and he wished that he had seen Olivia’s reaction upon seeing it. He knocked on the closed door and when no one answer came, he took the liberty of entering.



The room was larger than his apartment back in Chicago and he had to admit that the sheer size of the room could be slightly intimidating to one not accustomed to such things. The wall of windows faced out towards the moors north of the Norfolk land and at dawn, had the best view for the sunrises. As a boy, Ben would always go out on the balcony connected to the Rochester room and watch the sun come up over the land and the mists disappear. He missed watching the sunrise while in Chicago. A large four-poster canopy bed complete with bed curtains was untouched which surprised him. Most guests immediately tested out the mattress. The bathroom door opened and Olivia stepped out, jumping slightly in surprise at Ben’s presence. Her face was flushed and he hoped that she had just washed her face instead of what he thought second. He didn’t want her to cry, especially over words he had chosen most unwisely.



He cleared his throat. “You wanted to see me? Does the room meet your satisfaction?”



“Does the room meet my satisfaction?” Olivia echoed. “Ben, look at this room!” She exclaimed and he couldn’t help the chuckle from within his throat. “This is too much.”



“No,” he immediately refuted. “My mother already loves you and she gives this room to her favorite people. You should be honored.”



Olivia was silent for a moment and Ben almost began to grow nervous. Surely, she wasn’t that angry with him. He had seen her positively furious and the appropriate look of fire was not in her eyes at the moment. He looked at her. She still wore her yellow raincoat along with a white mini-ruffled prairie skirt that barely hit her mid-thighs and a plain pale yellow long-sleeved tee shirt. He had thought the skirt was too short that morning and had frowned upon seeing her in it. He had to bite his tongue to keep from ordering her back into her room to change. He could only imagine how that would have gone over. The skirt showed off her legs nicely but too much of her legs in his opinion. He was not comfortable with the thought of others being able to look upon so much of her but then the thought of not being comfortable with others ogling her had only made him more uncomfortable for showing such a flash of protectiveness directed towards her. She had kicked off her shoes by the chair and now walked silently barefoot. He had been thankful that she had packed running shoes for she would need to wear those instead of her flip-flops when they went riding. She could ride in a skirt though he doubted she would be taught to do so side-saddled.



“I have to give you something,” she spoke suddenly then moved towards the trunk at the foot of the bed that she had rested her smaller bag on top of. Someone had yet to bring her suitcase up from the car. She unzipped it and pulled out her composition notebook. Blowing a loose strand of hair out of her eyes, she sat down hesitantly in one of the straight back chairs as if she was afraid of settling back into the furniture. She chewed on her lower lip and scribbled something down fiercely. Ben stood where he was, not sure if he should move into the room a bit further. It didn’t matter if it was technically his house. For the next two days, it was her room.



She finished then capped the pen again. She ripped the page from her notebook then stood up again, holding the piece of paper out to him and walking towards him. Ben locked eyes with her and for a moment, stared at her. Perhaps his mother was right. Maybe he should tell her the truth of who he was and just what his life actually was like. Maybe she wouldn’t be like every other girl. Maybe she would even understand the need for his lies once he explained it all. He was shocked to discover that he was beginning to hope that she was not like every other girl he had had the displeasure of meeting before her.



He took the paper from her and glancing at it only once, his eyes snapped back to look at her again. Her chin was stubborn and her eyes were firm. She was serious. Apparently, his harsh implications in the driveway had wounded her more than he had thought.



“Is it not enough?” Olivia asked. “Just tell me how much and I’ll figure it out. I WILL pay you back for everything. I don’t need your charity.”



Ben almost laughed. He wanted to tell her so many things. She did not see his kindness or lucrative ways with money because he looked upon her as if she was a charity case. She saw these sides of him because he realized that he wanted her to see. Never breaking eye contact with her, he tore the paper in half then continued ripping it until the pieces were no larger than those of confetti. She gasped as he let the shreds of her expense figures and how much she owed him flitter to the floor and without a word, he turned and stalked from the room, slamming the door behind him. He was trying to be kind. He wanted to show her everything she had dreamed about. Apparently though, Olivia Grange was not used to such generosity. Well, after a few more days, she would not soon forget just how generous he could be.



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Since the site is still going crazy, I'm not sure if this chapter will update but if it does, please read and review! I don't know what I'll be able to post a new chapter.