‘Why?’
Was he serious? ‘Because you’re rude and obnoxious. What’s more, nothing you can pay me is worth putting up with your nonsense,’ she added, aware his next response would be to offer to throw money at her. ‘Not everything is about money, Riley. At least not with me.’
His expression softened and once again she saw the charming side of Riley appearing. ‘Tasha,’ he said calmly as he reached out to take her case and bag from her grasp. ‘Let’s calm down and talk about this. There’s no need to act hastily, now, is there?’
‘If I was acting hastily, Riley, I would have left your employ months ago.’ She stepped back, still holding tightly on to the handles of her baggage. ‘Please open the door.’
‘You’re seriously leaving? Now?’
‘The door.’
He glared at her and for once she saw a hint of fear in his eyes. ‘But Tasha, what will I do without you?’
‘Dale will help you with all you need,’ she said, certain he would, albeit reluctantly. ‘I’ll email you both a bit later with all the information you need.’
He stared at her in disbelief. When she didn’t speak, Riley opened the door. ‘Do you even know where you’re going?’
She had no intention of telling him that Callum had offered her a room in his flat and was relieved Riley hadn’t noticed Callum waiting for her in his car.
‘I’ll be fine.’ She walked out of the apartment without looking back. ‘As I said, I’ll email you with everything you need.’
40
CALLUM
Callum watched Riley get out of a taxi and march inside the lobby, the glass doors closing behind him. He looked unhappy. Callum hoped Tasha was all right and debated whether he should go upstairs to check. He knew she’d asked him to wait in the car for her but wondered if maybe it would be OK if he went up anyway and waited outside the apartment in the hall for her, just in case he heard any disturbance going on inside.
Then, he remembered Tasha saying she would call down for him from the balcony if she needed him. Callum reasoned that she would want him to do as she had said.
A few minutes after seeing Riley go up in the lift, Callum noticed the lift doors open once again. He waited, relieved to see Tasha leaving the lift and carrying her suitcase and a couple of bags. Callum quickly got out of the car and went to help.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked, taking the luggage from her grasp and putting them into the boot of the car. ‘I saw Riley go inside and wasn’t sure whether you’d want me to come up.’
She smiled. ‘I’m fine. I’d like to go now though before he has a chance to register that I really have gone and comes down here to try and persuade me once again to stay.’
Tasha got into the car, and Callum quickly closed the boot and joined her.
‘I’ll have you at mine in a few minutes,’ he said, hoping to reassure her.
They drove to his flat in silence. He could tell she was lost in thought and wanted to give her time to come to terms with what had happened, so didn’t speak.
‘I’ll be OK after a good night’s sleep, if you’re worried about me,’ she said eventually.
‘I’m glad.’ Unsure whether to broach the subject of Riley, Callum decided he needed to ask what had happened to know whether to worry about Riley tracking Tasha down and confronting her sometime over the next few days. After all, she could tell him to mind his own business if she wasn’t in the mood to share anything with him.
He glanced at her as they stopped at traffic lights. ‘How was he when he saw that you were leaving?’
She shrugged. ‘As you’d expect, I guess. He was shocked, although I can only presume that was because he was so certain I would never have the gumption to leave. Then he asked me to stay, but I told him I had no intention of doing so and would contact him later with all he needed to know for the next few weeks.’
Callum rested a hand on hers, hoping to comfort her. The lights changed and he immediately removed it to drive on. ‘I think what you need is a few days to rest and recover from all the stress you’ve been under recently, working for him.’
‘You know what? I think you could be right. I can’t really think straight at the moment and I think a lot of that is hurt that someone I’ve worked so hard to look after could show me up like he did today.’
Hating to hear her sounding humiliated, Callum shook his head. ‘The only person Riley showed up today was himself.’
He sensed she was looking at him and quickly gave her a sideways glance, followed by a gentle smile.
‘I wish it felt that way.’
