“James Maybury has got my bank account and credit card details and paid off my credit card and has put £50,000 into my bank account.”
“Fuck,” cried Lucy.
Tasha nodded and in spite of her annoyance at his interference smiled when her phone rang to the sound of Viva Las Vegas.
“What is that about?” Lucy asked with a smirk when she watched Tasha answering her phone.
“Good afternoon, Mr Maybury.”
“Hey, baby. I believe you’ve heard from Lizzie.”
“Yeah, she text earlier. She liked my photos.”
“So much so she’s put them on Facebook in the album, ‘look at my beautiful step-mommy’ and so far it has one hundred and forty three likes and lots of comments from horny, adolescent boys.”
“Oh dear.” She laughed, mainly at Jim’s lack of amusement.
“It’s not funny. I have told her she needs to remove them, and you will send her some clothed ones if she needs to put some on Facebook,” he said seriously.
“She was asking about modelling and whether I would help her with it.” There was a delay of a few seconds, making Tasha even more nervous of Jim’s response.
“And what did you say?”
“I said I would speak to you first.”
“Thank you. What sort of help does she want?” he asked, adding, “remembering she is only fifteen.”
“I don’t know. Maybe just some advice about how to get into it, but she thinks Lenny will disapprove.”
“He will, but she is not his daughter so he doesn’t really have the authority to call the shots.”
“You sound angry.”
“No, not really. I got mad at Lizzie for putting your pictures on Facebook and I keep thinking about last night, then I miss you, but I’m not angry even if I have been a little shouty this morning.”
She resisted the temptation to ask if he’d made anyone cry, but did ask, “When do you want to check out my possibly inappropriate clothes?”
“I could text you when I get in from work and do it then, although it will be almost bedtime for you.”
“I’ll be here.”
“Maybe you could show me some of the ones you’ve already decided are inappropriate.”
“Why?”
“So, I can get a little pissed at the idea of you ever being seen out in them and then if you kept a couple I could take you to task over them when I see you,” he suggested.
“Oh, James.”
“You know what you have to do with that James, don’t you?” He laughed, knowing they both knew exactly where her deliberate James would get her.
“It’s on the list.” She laughed with him. “But maybe you should start your own list of crazy ass control freakishness,” she said with a little annoyance as she remembered what she’d been doing when he called.
“What are you talking about?” he asked equally annoyed with her, presumably for her tone.
“The fact you have paid off my credit card and put £50,000 into my bank account. Why would you do that?”
“Because I can, and I want to take care of you and if there is an emergency I need to know you have money and credit available.”
