It hurt to hear her sounding so downtrodden. ‘Hopefully after you’ve had some time and space away from him to reflect, you’ll realise I’m right.’ A thought occurred to him. ‘And when he’s had time away from you, I’m sure it’ll begin to dawn on him what a complete prat he looks to everyone and what an unnecessarily nasty thing he did to you today. No one will be surprised you’ve left him. Not even his manager, I imagine.’
He thought of Erin and wondered how Riley would explain his behaviour towards Tasha to his sister. Callum doubted Riley would get away with his sister not learning about the incident, especially as she’d be working on several actors throughout the day. Someone was bound to gossip about it. He knew Erin well enough to suspect she would not be impressed and would have a few things to say to Riley about his treatment of Tasha.
‘What are you thinking?’ Tasha asked quietly.
Callum told her his thoughts about his sister and how he imagined she would react. ‘If Riley thinks he’ll only have you to defend his actions to, then he’s sorely mistaken.’ The thought pleased Callum. ‘As painful as this will be for you right now, I have a feeling Riley is about to learn a big life lesson not to treat women badly,’ he added, feeling angrier. ‘Especially not people who have worked tirelessly to ensure his life runs as smoothly as you make sure it does.’
‘Made,’ she said. ‘As in, past tense. From now on, Riley can do what he likes as far as I’m concerned. I’m done with being his servant.’ She shrugged a shoulder. ‘Or I will be when I’ve collated all the information I promised to send him and Dale.’
He was glad to hear it. ‘Yes, well, it serves him right as far as I see it.’
‘I agree.’ Her voice sounded slightly stronger and more forceful and Callum was glad of it.
Turning into the entrance of his flat, Callum parked in his designated space. ‘Here we are.’ He took the luggage from the boot, locked the car and led Tasha up the two flights of stairs. ‘This is us.’
41
TASHA
Tasha wasn’t sure what to expect as Callum opened the front door to his flat. Her mood immediately lifted as she stepped into the pristine, minimalist, sunlit living room.
‘Welcome to my home,’ Callum said, his arms outstretched.
He led her past the good-sized galley kitchen down a short corridor to two large bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bathroom in between the rooms.
‘Oh, it’s lovely, Callum.’ She stood in the middle of the living room and enviably gazed at the huge bookshelves lining one of the walls. ‘Do you mind me asking if you designed this or were you lucky enough to take this on from someone else?’
‘It was in a bit of a state when I bought this place. I enjoyed turning it into something that suited me, although I admit it did take a bit longer than I had at first imagined it would.’ He laughed, his brow furrowing as if he had just thought of something. ‘I’m not sure why you sound so surprised though.’ He tilted his head to one side. ‘Don’t I look as if I’d live in a nice place?’
She saw the glint in his eyes and knew he was teasing. ‘It’s not that,’ she said, wanting to explain. ‘I suppose I hadn’t known what to expect but this is very impressive.’ She laughed. ‘That doesn’t really answer your question very well though, does it?’
‘It’ll do.’ He indicated the kettle.
‘Tea for me, please.’
Callum pressed the kettle on to boil. ‘I’m just glad you like it enough to be happy staying here.’
‘I’m very grateful to you for opening your home to me.’ Recalling her promise to Riley to send him information, she took her phone from her trouser pocket and checked the screen.
Fourteen missed calls and various messages ranging from insisting she return, to promises that if she did Riley would change his ways. Tasha knew him better than that and doubted he would be any different if she did agree to return to work for him.
She held up her phone.
‘Riley?’ Callum asked, taking two mugs from a cupboard and setting them down on the worktop.
‘How did you guess?’ She sighed.
‘Why don’t you tell me what happened?’
He listened while she spoke and Tasha could tell Callum was angry with Riley but trying hard not to show it.
‘You do know you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you’d like?’
She swallowed back tears. ‘Thank you, I appreciate that. I shouldn’t be here too long though. Maybe a week, or two, if that’s not pushing it? I’m not sure what my next steps will be and I would love to see more of this place now I’ll have the free time to do that.’
‘I think that’s a great idea. You’ve been working long hours for him and you’re probably in dire need of a break. It’ll do you good to take it easy and relax. Focus on yourself for once.’
She felt tears threatening to appear once more, and cleared her throat, aware that if she didn’t spend some time alone without Callum being so thoughtful she would have no choice but to give in to them and cry.
