“I wouldn’t know about that,” Sandra replied, sounding compromised more than uncomfortable now.
“No, of course you wouldn’t, sorry. Amanda will though, so I’ll call her. Bye.”
She hung up before immediately dialling his office.
“Good morning, Mr Maybury’s office, how may I help you?” Amanda shrilled down the phone.
“Good morning, Amanda, it’s Tasha Winters. Is Jim available?”
“Oh hi Tasha. He’s not in yet. I’m not expecting him until lunchtime.”
“Of course, he did say, but I’d forgotten, sorry. I’ll try him at home, but before I go could you email me the details of Jim’s flight and hotel booking? He was supposed to ask you this morning, but obviously he’s not there.” She laughed, attempting to sound natural, but was unsure why she was even asking for his flight details, keeping up the pretence to herself that he wasn’t avoiding her.
“Of course. I can do it while you’re on the line. He is very excited about his trip to London.”
Tasha was unsure what she should say so simply laughed and asked, “How are his moods?”
Amanda laughed with her. “Swinging. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I have known him a long time and I have never seen him like this before. You have really got under his skin, Tasha.”
“Is that a good thing though?” Tasha was unsure who she was asking.
“Yes, I think so. He can be a very difficult man, but when you’re around he is calmer.”
Amanda’s words could be construed as being indiscreet, but then maybe this was Amanda, the ex-wife talking to her rather than the P.A. Although she was clueless as to what the difference was.
Tasha laughed again. “Then I apologise in advance because he is likely to be in a bitch of a mood today.”
“Oh dear. I will be sure to keep my head down this afternoon and have the Kleenex ready for his afternoon meetings.”
Tasha actually thought she could like Amanda, and if she was going to be in Jim’s life she might need to maintain this type of relationship with her, but the jury was out on whether Tasha still had a place in Jim’s life.
“I have emailed the flight and hotel reservation to you and I have included you on the reservation,” she added.
“Thank you.”
“Will we see you at the studio when you come back to L.A.?
“I don’t know, maybe.” She simply hoped she’d be coming back.
“I hope so. If you need anything else, just let me know.”
“I will. Maybe we could meet up for lunch when I come out?” suggested Tasha for no reason she knew.
“I would love to. If it’s okay with Mr Maybury.”
“I can’t think why he would object. Anyway, thank you Amanda, bye.”
Jim was avoiding her. She knew that for sure now, but at least she knew when he was due, unless he cancelled. Shit, maybe that was it for him now. Had she gone too far? Fuck, no, she didn’t mean she wouldn’t be his lucky seven. That someone else should be. That was the last thing she wanted. She picked her phone up and selected ‘J home’ again.
Sandra answered once more.
“Sandra, it’s Tasha again. I don’t want to say anything to make you uncomfortable so please just put me on speaker.”
“Speaker?” she asked, making it rather obvious she was letting Jim know what she’d asked meaning he was at home.
“Yes, Sandra, speaker.”
The sound of her voice over the phone line changed and she knew the other woman had done as she’d asked.
