Chapter 37
TASHA
Tasha took the moments following Callum’s comment to brace herself for Riley’s onslaught. He looked stunned and didn’t react. Then, shooting her an accusatory look, as if she could do anything to stop this, he glared at Mike.
‘This was your idea, I presume?’ Mike went to answer, but Riley raised a finger in front of the man’s face and shook his head angrily. ‘No. You do not get to do this to me.’
‘Riley, wait—’ Mike began but Riley was having none of it.
‘No. I won’t have this.’ Without looking in Callum’s direction, Riley jerked his thumb towards him. ‘He is a stand-in. For another bit-part actor.’ He forced a laugh. ‘Why would fans of the show want to see him? Tell me that.’
Tasha saw Mike’s face redden and the muscles in his jaw working furiously. He was angrier than she had ever seen him.
‘Firstly, Riley,’ Mike said through clenched teeth, ‘regardless of how you seem to see yourself, this is about enticing as big an audience to the series as possible.’ He shot a glance at Callum who, Tasha could tell, was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with his part in the unfolding drama.
‘Callum Preston, whether you like it or not, has the looks, and—’ he nodded, seeming satisfied with himself for choosing him ‘—the presence on screen to appeal to much of our audience.’
Riley’s expression darkened. ‘Are you trying to insinuate that you are using him as some sort of competition?’ He laughed. ‘For me?’
Tasha was surprised to see that was exactly what Mike had been doing. The realisation shocked her too. ‘But Mike, Callum isn’t an actor. He’s a DJ.’ She looked at Callum, hoping he would back her up by agreeing.
‘She’s right,’ Callum said after a brief pause.
Mike scanned the area around them. ‘I think we should take this into my trailer and discuss it further in private.’ Without waiting for any of them to agree, he told the crew to prepare for the next scene while he took a short break.
Tasha knew that their voices had been loud enough for everyone nearby to hear what had been said and was concerned about how this might pan out.
Riley didn’t move, but stood where he was and scowled.
‘Come along,’ Tasha said in a gentle voice. ‘We should go and hear what Mike has to say.’
Riley’s eyes flashed at her, as if he was surprised to see her standing there. ‘What do you mean “we”? This has nothing whatsoever to do with you.’
It was typical of Riley to take his fury out on his staff and this wasn’t the first or even the twentieth time he had turned on her in this way. She might be used to him acting this way but it didn’t hurt any less.
‘I only thought—’
Riley spun to face her. ‘Well, save yourself the bother. You’re my assistant and don’t forget it. You do as I ask you. What Mike wants is nothing to do with you working for me.’
Embarrassed, Tasha concentrated on not showing that she was upset about him speaking to her in such a rude, condescending way.
‘That’s enough,’ Callum snapped, his voice low as he stepped in front of Riley. ‘You do not get to disrespect Tasha in that way.’
Riley stabbed Callum in the chest with his pointed finger. ‘And you don’t interfere with me and my assistant.’ He sneered before adding, ‘You might be sleeping with my assistant, but I’m her boss and I’ll speak to her as I like.’
Tasha had had enough. She gave Callum a grateful smile, thankful he wasn’t rising to Riley’s bait and giving in to the urge – which she could see clearly in Callum’s eyes – to hit him.
‘Thanks for standing up for me, Callum,’ she said, taking a steadying breath in an attempt to stop her voice quivering. ‘But I can speak for myself.’
‘Of course.’
She waited for Callum to walk away and follow Mile to his trailer.
Smarting to have been put in this situation by Riley, Tasha clenched her teeth, willing herself to remain calm.
She hated to think she was about to prove her parents right when they had argued that she was being foolish expecting to find a satisfying, long-term job working as a PA to an actor, but she had insisted that following her dream was what she wanted and assured them working for Riley would be her dream job.
There was nothing for it now though. She had struggled to justify her reasons for continuing to work for Riley as his behaviour deteriorated.
She had her limits though and losing her self-respect was not something she could accept, regardless of how smug her parents’ reaction to her doing exactly as they had predicted might be.
She turned to Riley. ‘I’ve had enough of your nastiness. Your complete lack of respect for me is appalling. Actually it’s embarrassing, especially after all my hard work and dedication to looking after you for the past three years.’
His mouth dropped open. ‘Now look here, Tasha, I only meant to—’
She shook her head dismissively. ‘You know what, Riley? I simply don’t care.’
‘About what?’
‘About you, about what you think, but most of all, about your stinking job. Today has been the final straw. I’ve had enough of you treating me badly. You can take this as my resignation. I’ll put it in writing as soon as I get back to the apartment.’
‘Now hang on a second, Tasha.’ He glared at her indignantly. ‘You can’t do this.’
Tasha was shocked to see that Riley really believed what he was saying.
‘That’s where you’re wrong. I can do exactly as I wish.
And right now, that is to end my employment working for the rudest man I’ve ever met.
’ He went to argue, but she shook her head.
‘Don’t bother. Now, I think you should hurry and get to Mike’s office before he’s had enough of you too and fires you from the series. ’
Spotting several members of the crew trying not to seem as if they were listening to every word, Tasha just wanted to get away from the farm. The humiliation of being spoken to like that in front of everyone was mortifying and she couldn’t wait to escape.
The magnitude of what was happening seemed to slowly dawn on Riley. He looked from her to Mike’s trailer, then back at Tasha again. ‘Wait for me to speak to him, then we’ll discuss you leaving again. I have more to say on the matter.’