‘You’re right, Tasha,’ she said wearily. ‘It’s my own fault for taking him back after the last time he did something like this to me. Why I ever expected our relationship to be any different now after all our rows, I don’t know. It was silly of me.’
Tasha shook her head, feeling sorry for the woman who, despite being a diva herself, clearly had feelings for Riley. ‘I’m sorry it’s turned out this way, Brooke, I really am.’
‘Hellooo?’
She heard Callum’s voice coming from the front door and noticed Brooke immediately perk up.
‘Who’s that?’
Wishing she hadn’t responded so quickly to Callum’s message and given herself more time to persuade Brooke to leave, Tasha walked over to the doorway. ‘That’s a friend of mine. I’m afraid we have business to discuss, so?—’
Brooke shrugged. ‘It’s fine,’ she said, waving a hand in front of Tasha’s face to cut her off mid-sentence before crossing the room to the door. ‘I’ve got things I should be doing too.’
Tasha glowered at Brooke when she turned and raised an eyebrow in her direction as Callum walked in. ‘And why haven’t we met before now?’ Brooke said, her voice gentle and suggestive at the same time.
‘I’m not, um, sure.’
Tasha heard the confusion in his voice and went to join the pair of them. ‘You’re here for our meeting, I see.’ A moment’s confusion flashed across his face, vanishing almost instantly.
‘Have I, er, come too early?’ he asked, looking at his watch as if to check the time.
Tasha shook her head. ‘No, not at all. Brooke and I were chatting and forgot the time. Didn’t we, Brooke?’ she added when Brooke didn’t answer.
‘No need to worry,’ he said, cocking his head in the direction of the front door. ‘I can wait outside if you need more time?’
‘Well…’ Brooke began, but not wishing to give her any excuse to stay a moment longer and be here when Riley came back from wherever he had marched off to during their row, Tasha stepped forward.
‘There’s no need for that – Brooke was just leaving.’ Thinking she should not be quite so rude, Tasha turned to Brooke. ‘Unless you have more you wish to discuss?’
As Brooke considered her question, Tasha willed the woman to think better of staying and agree to leave.
Brooke eventually smiled. ‘Not at all. Nothing that can’t wait, for the time being anyhow.’ She walked up to Callum and reached out her hand. ‘I’m Brooke Farrow, by the way. Riley’s soon-to-be ex-girlfriend.’
Callum smiled politely and shook her perfectly manicured hand. ‘Nice to meet you, Brooke. I’m Callum Preston, a friend of Tasha’s.’
Tasha was grateful to him for adding that and wondered what Brooke’s reply might be.
Brooke smiled at him, then at Tasha briefly before responding. ‘Oh, by the way, when Riley does finally build up the courage to return, tell him from me to expect to hear from my lawyer.’
Tasha gasped. ‘Why?’ she asked, horrified.
‘Because I’ll be suing him, obviously.’
‘For what?’
Brooke flounced out of the door without answering, slamming it loudly behind her and leaving Tasha stunned into a silent shock.
‘You didn’t expect her to say that, did you?’ Callum asked, walking over to her.
She shook her head. ‘No. And it’s all we need, if I’m honest with you.’
‘Shall we go to the kitchen?’ Callum asked, causing her to look at him. ‘I think you could do with a drink of something.’
She realised he was right. ‘Yes, I think that’s a great idea.’
She led the way into the kitchen, realising she was thirsty after all the talking she had been doing over the past hour, trying to first pacify Riley and then reason with Brooke. The pair of them were well suited, Tasha decided. Both spoilt and impossible most of the time. Although, she had to admit, both could also be lovely people when the mood took them to act that way.
But suing him? That was a bit much even for Brooke.
