Chapter 40
CALLUM
Callum watched Riley get out of a taxi and march inside the lobby, the glass doors closing behind him.
He looked unhappy. Callum hoped Tasha was all right and debated whether he should go upstairs to check.
He knew she’d asked him to wait in the car for her but wondered if maybe it would be OK if he went up anyway and waited outside the apartment in the hall for her, just in case he heard any disturbance going on inside.
Then, he remembered Tasha saying she would call down for him from the balcony if she needed him. Callum reasoned that she would want him to do as she had said.
A few minutes after seeing Riley go up in the lift, Callum noticed the lift doors open once again. He waited, relieved to see Tasha leaving the lift and carrying her suitcase and a couple of bags. Callum quickly got out of the car and went to help.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked, taking the luggage from her grasp and putting them into the boot of the car. ‘I saw Riley go inside and wasn’t sure whether you’d want me to come up.’
She smiled. ‘I’m fine. I’d like to go now though before he has a chance to register that I really have gone and comes down here to try and persuade me once again to stay.’
Tasha got into the car, and Callum quickly closed the boot and joined her.
‘I’ll have you at mine in a few minutes,’ he said, hoping to reassure her.
They drove to his flat in silence. He could tell she was lost in thought and wanted to give her time to come to terms with what had happened, so didn’t speak.
‘I’ll be OK after a good night’s sleep, if you’re worried about me,’ she said eventually.
‘I’m glad.’ Unsure whether to broach the subject of Riley, Callum decided he needed to ask what had happened to know whether to worry about Riley tracking Tasha down and confronting her sometime over the next few days.
After all, she could tell him to mind his own business if she wasn’t in the mood to share anything with him.
He glanced at her as they stopped at traffic lights. ‘How was he when he saw that you were leaving?’
She shrugged. ‘As you’d expect, I guess.
He was shocked, although I can only presume that was because he was so certain I would never have the gumption to leave.
Then he asked me to stay, but I told him I had no intention of doing so and would contact him later with all he needed to know for the next few weeks. ’
Callum rested a hand on hers, hoping to comfort her. The lights changed and he immediately removed it to drive on. ‘I think what you need is a few days to rest and recover from all the stress you’ve been under recently, working for him.’
‘You know what? I think you could be right. I can’t really think straight at the moment and I think a lot of that is hurt that someone I’ve worked so hard to look after could show me up like he did today.’
Hating to hear her sounding humiliated, Callum shook his head. ‘The only person Riley showed up today was himself.’
He sensed she was looking at him and quickly gave her a sideways glance, followed by a gentle smile.
‘I wish it felt that way.’
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.’