The Heat of the Moment

Chapter 1-1

Chapter 1

Sunshine. Bright, golden sunshine. Milo leaned back in his chair and craned his neck to look out of the bedroom window. It was the third day in a row that the sun was shining from a cloudless sky and again, Porter had left his chair pointing at the door. He grabbed the bell and rang it loudly. Nothing. He rang again and again, and eventually his valet came into the room, face impassive.

“You rang for me?”

Milo clenched his teeth. “I’ve been ringing for an age. Where have you been? Move my chair and put me by the window.”

Porter sighed. A muscle jumped in his jaw.

Milo tensed and grabbed at the blanket covering his useless legs when Porter dragged the chair, almost tipping it. “Watch out, you i***t,” he snapped.

Porter made a snarling sound in his throat that was the only warning Milo had of what was about to happen. Porter grabbed the handles of the chair, tipped it forward on its large wheels, and pushed hard until Milo was upended onto the floor.

“You are the most ungrateful, nasty tempered little bastard it has been my misfortune to encounter.” He dropped the chair back onto its wheels, leaving Milo stunned and helpless. “Move your own chair. I resign. Forthwith.”

Milo watched as he strode away, slamming the door behind him, and then curled into a ball as fury, frustration, and humiliation washed over him.