Tasha reminded herself that despite Riley’s behaviour she liked her job, most of the time. She would have loved to find work with a more likeable actor. Unfortunately, Tasha knew that those celebrities tended to keep their assistants for years, so she hadn’t heard of any vacancies that suited her.
Maybe if working as Riley’s PA hadn’t been her first role in show business after leaving banking wanting a more varied lifestyle, she might have had more confidence to stand up to him or leave sooner, but she loved her job, or at least the part of it that didn’t include Riley’s tantrums. She couldn’t forget her gratitude to Riley for giving her the chance to work for him, and she was certain that not many other people in his position would have taken on someone with no experience in show business like he had done.
Then there was the niggling doubt that even though she had proved she could cope with Riley’s demands, other more established actors would still choose an employee with much more experience than her if she did apply for another job.
‘This is the detective series you’re currently filming here in Jersey,’ Callum said, bringing her back to the moment. ‘Can you tell us how everything is going?’
Tasha wondered how the public would react if they knew. She braced herself for the nonsense Riley was about to spout.
‘Extremely well,’ Riley answered proudly. ‘The production team are delighted with the scenes they’ve already captured and looking forward to wrapping up the final ones in the next two weeks.’
Liar, Tasha thought, biting her lower lip to calm her irritation as well as keep herself from blurting out the truth. Despite Riley’s and his manager Dale’s assurances to the director, Riley’s behaviour on set had been the cause of delays. How could someone she believed to be over-rated as an actor fake being so likeable?
She listened anxiously as Callum asked the questions and Riley answered them. He was charm personified and as much as it irked her to know people were unaware of his true personality, she was grateful he was doing something to rectify the damage he had seemed intent on doing for the past two months.
She suspected the film Riley was initially cast in and should have been working on next, but which had been recast the previous week, probably had a lot to do with him agreeing to do this interview. It might also be why he was suddenly taking the TV series a lot more seriously. If other offers for work weren’t forthcoming soon, Riley would be mortified. He needed a second series to be commissioned as soon as possible, as did Tasha, if she wanted to have her salary paid.
Catching movement from the corner of her eye, Tasha turned to see a younger man in the next room giving Callum the thumbs up before seeming to take a call. Tasha had accompanied Riley to enough radio stations to know that the person in the next room was usually a sound assistant. Maybe not though. She focused her attention back to the interview and Riley’s next answer. So far, so good.
Dale would be as relieved as her that this was going better than either of them had dared hope it would.
5
CALLUM
Callum arrived home to his flat after his show ended. It had been a long day, and he opened a bottle of lager and went to sit outside on his small balcony to make the most of what was left of the day. The show had gone better than he expected and he was relieved. Getting Riley Sharp on the show had been a huge coup, which he hoped hadn’t gone unnoticed by his bosses at the studio, especially as his contract was up for renewal in the next couple of months.
‘You in?’ his sister Erin bellowed from inside the flat.
Hearing her voice, Callum wondered what excuse she would make for her arrival, suspecting she had either heard him chatting to Riley Sharp on his show, or that someone at her hair salon might have mentioned it. There was no way Erin would admit it was because she wanted to know more about the actor.
‘If the front door is unlocked then you can assume I am,’ he teased. ‘Grab yourself a drink and come out here to join me.’
He closed his eyes and thought back to seeing Riley and Tasha again at the studio. He felt more tired than he usually did after a show. Then again, this one had been more important than most, with such a prominent actor coming in to be interviewed, but both of them had seemed happy enough with how things had gone.
‘Well?’ Erin sat on the chair next to him and took a sip of the white wine she had poured for herself. ‘How did you manage to land someone as massive as Riley Sharp on your show?’
‘Lettie invited me over to watch the filming for a bit at Hollyhock Farm and introduced me to him and his assistant. I then asked her whether she thought he might agree to come on.’
‘I couldn’t believe it when one of my clients sent me a text telling me you were talking to him, so I immediately tuned in. How do you think it went?’
‘Well, I think…’ Callum thought a bit more about the reaction of his audience. ‘I think the listeners will be happy,’ he said, unable to miss the look of amazement on his sister’s face.
‘I’m glad.’ She slapped his arm. ‘Well done you. Anyway, that’s enough about Riley Sharp.’
‘I thought you were a fan of his,’ he asked, surprised.
She shrugged. ‘Right now I’ve got more pressing things to worry about.’
‘Like what?’
She glared at him. ‘I know you’re mixing with celebs now, but have you forgotten Grandpa’s party?’
Of course he hadn’t and he was aware his sister knew that only too well. ‘What, because I’ve given it so little thought, you mean?’ She could be really irritating sometimes, he decided. ‘I’ve only had all the invitations printed and sent them out; arranged, thanks to Lettie’s contacts, where Grandpa and most of the family, including you, I might add, will be staying for one glorious week; and booked the band to play for the evening at the manor.’
‘All right, don’t make an issue out of it,’ she grumbled, getting up to leave. ‘I only asked. I do have other places I can be instead of here listening to you showing off.’
‘I’m sure you do.’ Callum reached out to take his sister’s forearm, pulling her back down onto her seat. ‘Sorry, I’m tired. I didn’t sleep much last night, preparing for the interview today.’
