Chapter Four

Callum

Two days had passed since my sad encounter with the beautiful Pasha Sinclaire. I couldn't seem to get her out of my head. I'd never been so affected by what someone else had going on. It wasn't my business, but yet, I'd somehow found myself involved. She was so helpless, and the fixer in me just wanted to do something to help her. Paying for her hotel stay wasn't a second thought.

What I did think about was going back to check on her. That might have been a bit much, though. I just wanted to know how she was coming along. What was her mental state? Was she eating? Was she taking care of herself? Had she reached out to anybody for comfort? Surely, she didn't think she could do this alone. There had to be someone out there that loved her... someone that cared.

"Hello! Earth to Callum!"

Perfectly manicured fingers snapped in my face. I playfully slapped her hands away.

"Don't do that."

"I've been talking to you for like five minutes, and you haven't said a word. Have you even been listening?"

"My bad, Bella." I rose from my slouched position in the restaurant's chair, where we had lunch. "What's up?"

She kissed her teeth. "I was just telling you that I got a promotion at work. I made a partner!"

"What! That's dope. I'm hella proud of you, sis."

Bella was my younger sister by five years. When our parents died in a boating accident when I was eighteen, it left me as her sole caregiver. I'd just started my freshman year of college and was thrown into being a full-time parent. I ended up leaving school to get a nine-to-five to make sure we were taken care of. Sure, we had insurance money, but after paying off my parents' house, putting money aside for a rainy day, and for Bella to go to school, there wasn't much left.

I got a job at a power plant and worked there until she went off college. With Bella away at school, I took the time to go back and get my IT degree and my master's in business. Things had been on the up and up for us the last couple of years.

Bella was married and had a four-year-old daughter. With her promotion, she was now the youngest partner at her accounting firm. Not only that, but she was also my accountant for business and personal needs. Even though she made great money on her own, I promised to always take care of her. My business was doing excellent numbers, so if I ate, she would eat too.

"We have to celebrate," I said.

"Martin is taking Precious and me out of town to celebrate this weekend. You're welcome to come."

"Nah, that sounds like a family thing."

"What do you mean? You're my brother. You are family."

"I know. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant it's intimate. When you get back, I'll treat you to lunch and maybe some shopping—"

Her eyes were bright. "Shopping!"

"Don't break my pockets, Bella."

"Oh, please! You've got it, and I'm gonna spend it. You know you love spending your money on me, Callum."

I grinned as I shook my head. "I knew it was a mistake to spoil you."

"You created a monster, and Martin feeds the beast. You're both at fault."

"Whatever."

"So, are you gonna tell me what had you in a daze earlier?"

"Oh, that..." I glanced down, rubbing my hands against my thighs. "Just thinking."

"About someone or something?"

"I guess you could say it was someone."

"Am I finally gonna get a sister-in-law? Will Precious get the cousins she's been asking for?"

"Martin has six nieces and nephews. She has cousins."

"Not from her favorite uncle! Stop deflecting too. Answer the question."

"The question is absurd."

"Callum!"

I sighed. "It's not like that, Bella. Honestly, I had a customer that left a mark on me. She was just—"

"She? A woman has you in your feelings?"

I gave her a brief rundown of my encounter with Mrs. Sinclair. Anger filled her beautiful face as I told her about that bastard of a husband and how shit went down before we left. Talking about it had my blood boiling all over again.

"Oh, he needs his ass beat," Bella said, shaking her head. "You should have fucked him up."

"Everything in me wanted to do more than I did, sis. If it weren't for the neighborhood and the fact that he looked like he'd call the police, I would have."

"I take it you're feeling her? That's gonna be messy, Callum."

"I wouldn't say I'm feeling her, but I am concerned."

"You can't fix everybody."

"I don't wanna fix her. I just... I don't know, Bella. Something about her just resonated with my soul. She doesn't have anybody. We know what it's like to feel alone in this world."

She hung her head. Our father grew up in foster care and never knew his family. Mom, on the other hand, had quite a bit of family. She wasn't particularly close to some of them, but there was a handful she dealt with regularly. We assumed somebody would step up to help us when they passed, but that wasn't the case.

After our parents died, nobody in our family wanted to take us in. If a check wasn't involved, most of them said they couldn't afford it. A few even thought I would sign the insurance check over to them, but that wasn't happening. My parents worked hard, and I refused for Bella and me to be left with absolutely nothing. I sacrificed for us, and if I had to, I would do it all again.

"I know," Bella said, reaching for my hand. "But we've always had each other. You were grown, and you could have thrown me to the wolves to go live your life. You never left me behind. I know it wasn't easy. I know you gave up a lot to make sure we could still be a family, and I will always appreciate you, Callum. Your heart is one of the reasons I love you so much."

She came around the table to hug me. Her embrace was warm and loving. Anytime we had these conversations, it made me emotional. I wished that our parents were here to see what we'd become. I wished they'd had a chance to witness every defining moment in our lives. I wished they'd gotten to love on Precious because she was such an amazing, smart, and loving little girl.

I didn't know Pasha's full story, but I could see that she was dealing with years of hurt. My mother always said that the eyes were the windows to the soul. When I looked into her eyes, I saw nothing but pain. That was what resonated with me. I didn't know how to stay away from her, but the urge to pull up was real.

After getting out of our feelings, Bella and I had a great lunch.

Even though we spoke almost daily, it was always good to see her. I climbed in my car and headed toward the car dealership when we parted ways. Since business had been picking up around here, I was set to purchase five additional vehicles to transport clients. I already had interviews set up for next week to hire a few new drivers.

As I drove, I noticed I was coming to the hotel where I had dropped Pasha off. While my mind was telling me to keep moving, I found myself turning into the parking lot. My feet carried me inside to the receptionist's desk, where a woman with a bubbly personality greeted me.

"Good afternoon. Welcome to Hugo Towers. I'm Avyn. How can I help you?"

"Good afternoon. I, um... I was hoping you could tell me if one of your guests is still here."

"I apologize, sir, but I can't give out information like that. I wouldn't want to put any of our guests in danger."

"I understand. The reservation is under my name. Would that be a problem to look up?"

She hesitated for a moment. "What's your name?"

"Callum Ellis."

Her eyes widened. "You're Callum?"

"Uh... yes. Do I know you?"

"No." She called over one of the other women behind the desk and asked her to take over. "Mr. Ellis, can I have a moment of your time?"

"Um... sure."

"Follow me."

She came from behind the desk and led me through the lobby to one of the back rooms I assumed were used for conferences. Once inside, she turned to me with her arms crossed.

"How do you know Pasha?"

"How do you know her?" I countered.

"She's my best friend. I went to her room when I saw her name on the reservation with your credit card. What's going on? She won't tell me. I haven't seen or talked to her in months. She shut everybody out, and that son of a bitch she's married to wouldn't tell us anything other than she didn't want to be bothered. I need to know what's going on with my best friend. Pasha wouldn't just pack up and leave her home. For reasons beyond me, she loves that man. I just know he did something to her. Please... I'm begging you. Tell me what you know."

I could see the desperation in her eyes, along with the tears threatening to spill. It was clear that she loved Pasha even if Pasha believed she didn't have anyone. I didn't want to be the one to tell her what happened. It wasn't my place, and honestly, it really wasn't my business.

"I think you should try to talk to her again—"

"She won't tell me, okay? Pasha... She's delicate. She's always been a good person. She's always tried to see the good in everybody, even when they don't deserve it. Raymond isn't who he pretended to be. I've watched that man turn on her when she couldn't be her best self because of grief. I've had to be the one to hold her when she cried. I've had to pick up the pieces he left scattered, and he's her fucking husband. The fact that you had to pay for her hotel stay tells me something is very wrong here. I'm begging you. I just want to help my friend."

The sincerity in her voice was evident. She wasn't asking because she wanted to get into Pasha's business or gossip. She genuinely wanted to help her. Just from the short amount of time I spent with her, I could tell Pasha would never ask for what she needed. That was the only reason I finally decided to offer up the information.

"He put her out."

"What!"

"She booked a ride. When I pulled up, she was sitting on the curb with all her stuff. He came outside, raising hell about her still being there, and shit just went left. She threw bricks through windows, and I had to put my hands on him for grabbing me." I sighed as I revealed the next part. "There's another woman. She's pregnant."

Avyn's hands went to her mouth, and her eyes widened. "Are you serious?"

"Hand to God."

"I'm gonna kill him."

She began pacing and mumbling to herself. I could tell the news had her livid, and rightfully so. Finally, she stopped and took a deep breath before turning to me.

"Thank you for helping her."

"It was nothing."

"No. God sent you there that night. You were a blessing she didn't know she needed. Thank you for making sure she had a place to lay her head. Why did you come back?"

I shrugged. "She was weighing heavy on my heart. I needed to make sure she was okay."

She nodded. "She's not doing well. She won't open the door for me, and when I use my key, she's just been lying in bed. She won't talk. I don't think she's eaten. I've been sending food to her room, which always comes back untouched. She suffers from depression and anxiety. It started after her parents died in a car accident. Then she had a few miscarriages, and when she lost her son, it just spiraled. Being in that house with that man... He just wasn't good for her mental health."

My heart went out to her. So many major losses, one right after the other, and now to be hit with a cheating husband and his pregnant mistress... I could see why she wouldn't get out of bed. Part of me wanted to go to her room to comfort her, but that wouldn't be wise. I didn't know her, and she didn't know me. The exchange might have been awkward, and I knew I couldn't stay away from her if I took it that far.

"She's in my prayers," I said. "Can I leave you with my number? She has it, but I know she won't contact me. If she needs anything, please let me know."

"You can leave your number, but why would you go through so much trouble for a stranger?"

"Because I know what it's like to feel helpless. Maybe not in the sense that she does, but I get it. Everybody needs somebody."

She smiled. "I can tell you were raised on love." She grabbed my hands. "Thank you for being a good person."

She pulled me into a hug, and for a moment, I stood frozen. There was the touching thing again. Luckily, it was brief. She handed me her phone, and I programmed my number in. We then headed back up front and said our goodbyes before I left the hotel, praying that Pasha would be receptive to the help her friend would give her.