Tasha could feel tears brimming her eyes. As the first one fell she brushed it away and sniffed the others back as best she could. “I really, really love you.”
“I know, honey, but that’s not to say you don’t still need to show more self-restraint.”
“As we are date enabled we could always make full use of it,” she said coyly.
“Oh no, honey. You are hurt so it would be wrong, and I meant in relation to your own safety, so not now.”
She pouted at his image on screen.
“Still so eager, Natasha. Stop pouting or I will add it to my list.”
“Your list?” she asked intrigued.
“Oh, yes. I have my own list, baby and we will discuss it next week. I have to go to work, but I look forward to seeing you later.”
Chapter 30
Nervousness filled Tasha’s very being as she entered the huge office block that housed Wakeman, Stewart and Styler. She was flanked by Dan and Pippa as the smiling receptionist hung up her phone and directed them to the twelfth floor.
Stepping out onto their floor, they found another receptionist who phoned through to Mr Stewart who in turn appeared quickly. He looked mid-forties and probably stood a couple of inches short of six feet. He was stocky with greying hair and wore a very expensive looking, well cut, dark grey suit.
“You must be Miss Winters, and Dan and Pippa?” His greeting was warm yet professional as he extended a hand to each of them in turn.
“Yes, but Tasha please, Miss Winters is awfully formal.”
He led them through to the conference room where her grandparents were already seated with six other people, including Angie and a tablet on a stand. Tasha giggled at the tablet, placed in front of a seat, at the head of the table no less. Celia and Paul stood up and hugged each of their grandchildren.
Everyone took their seats as Jerome Stewart spoke. “We are just waiting on Mr Maybury and then we can begin with introductions.”
The phone behind him rang. “Thank you. I will do it now.” He moved to the opposite end of the table where the tablet was and suddenly Jim’s face appeared, making her smile.
“Shall we go around the table and introduce ourselves?”
Tasha smiled at Dan as they heard their grandfather huff and mutter something aboutbloody liberals.
“Or, Mr Stewart, you could earn the huge amount of money your firm are charging me and as you know who we all are and do the introductions for us,” said Jim, obviously agitated already and still only eight in the morning for him.
Smiling, Tasha thought it could be a long day for Marc and Amanda if Jim was in this mood so early. She felt slightly guilty, as usual she was responsible for his mood, but he was currently running on worry alone.
Jerome smiled at Jim’s image as Paul chuckled to himself.
“Right then, I am Jerome Stewart one of the senior partners in this firm and a specialist in family law. I’ll be heading up the team representing Miss Winters, Tasha,” he corrected and smiled at her broadly.
A smile she reciprocated until Jim interrupted, “I like professionalism, so that would be Miss Winters, Mr Stewart.”
Her grandfather smiled again and mouthed,I like him.His words made her laugh. Jim, unaware of the cause of her amusement frowned but said nothing.
Mr Stewart continued his introductions. “My team, Sasha Reid, John Porter and Adrian Prosser.” They all smiled as he moved on, “P.R. team of Lily Garcia from L.A. and her London counterpart, Bradley Myers.”
No wonder Lily looked knackered, the poor woman had been flown in from L.A.
“Miss Winters’ agent, Angie Carter, her brother Daniel Bailey, her sister Philippa Bailey, her grandparents Mr and Mrs Winters. Of course, we have Miss Winters herself and from L.A. Miss Winter’s partner, Mr James Maybury.”
Jim frowned again as Jerome called him James.
“If I bring you up to speed with where we are legally; I have now obtained restraining orders against Liam Pickering and Samuel Bailey. The order prevents either of these people from contacting Miss Winters, Miss Bailey or Mr Bailey via any means, including: phone, writing, text, email, in person or via a third party. The minimum distance that should be between the subjects of the order is five hundred metres. I was advised about an hour ago that Samuel Bailey has been freed on police bail pending further enquiries, including your statements,” he said, waving a finger across the space where Dan, Pippa and Tasha sat. “My feeling is that with previous arrests for affray and public order offences he is probably looking at a police caution—”
“A police caution? You are joking?” shouted Jim.
