Page 1 of Since I First Laid Eyes On You

Prologue

Grayson

I hear my son enter the house from my place in the kitchen where I'm preparing dinner.

"Dad? You home?" He calls.

"In the kitchen," I answer. "I'm cooking tacos."

"Great," he responds as he enters the kitchen, dropping his bag by the stool he occupies.

I look at him, he knows how much I hate that, there is a cupboard by the front door for shoes and bags, yet every time he enters the house, he brings his bag downstairs and leaves it in the kitchen.

"I'll take it up in a minute. Christ, Dad, it's hardly the worst thing in the world.

I've just graduated from uni; maybe lighten up a bit. "

He's right, he has just graduated and I'm incredibly proud of him. Watching him from the crowd was one of the best moments of my life. He spent a couple more days in Oxford after his graduation from Oxford Brookes, he wanted to unwind with friends and pack up the rest of his apartment.

"How do you feel now you're done?"

"Good, a lot of my friends are stressed about finding jobs.

At least I haven't got that to worry about.

Working with you is going to make my life a lot easier.

" I freeze at his words. Not this again.

How many times do we have to go over this?

His degree is not in finance, or anything related to it, and he cannot just walk into my company - one of the top hedge funds - and think he's going to coast along.

"Edward, we've spoken about this. You need to find yourself a job, a job in something you're passionate about. You're not working for me."

"What? I thought you were joking. Why have I got to find a job when I can just come and work for you?" His voice rises with his irritation. That attitude is exactly why he won't be working for my company.

"Look, you've got the summer to enjoy yourself and have a think about what it is you want to do. Get your C.V ready and I'll help you when it comes to applying for places. But we both know you wouldn't be happy working for me." I reason with him.

"Fucking ridiculous," he mutters under his breath, taking his phone out and fiddling with something on his screen. I let his attitude slide this time; not willing to engage in a battle with him this evening, it's his first night back.

"You seeing anyone?" I ask. He's not had a steady girlfriend whilst at university, but I know he's dated on and off.

"Yeah, I am actually. Met her my last week, she's just graduated as well.

She's hot as fuck, Dad." He smirks and I raise my eyebrows at him, silently reminding him to show more respect.

"What? She is," he shrugs, "take a look for yourself.

" He clicks something on his phone and turns his screen towards me.

I step closer to him and take in the picture; Edward has his arm thrown around a girl.

She's dressed in a cap and gown, obviously at her own graduation and they're both grinning at the camera.

Everything around me fades, my sole focus is on the absolute beauty in the picture.

Fucking hell. I've never seen anyone more stunning in my life.

She looks so young, fresh, innocent; she's exquisite.

Mine. The unbidden thought enters my mind, taking over every part of my body.

Get a grip, Gray, this is your son's girl.

It doesn't matter though, everything is screaming inside me that she belongs to me, that this girl is mine, not my sons, not anyone's. Mine.