5. Callie

The door slamming in my face caused a complete silence in my mind, and a rush of complicated emotions cascaded through me.

Did he really just do that? Usher me out like I was at fault for being there and then slam the door in my face?

Anger pulsed through my chest, hot and vibrant for a few seconds and then the muffled yelling started inside the office. That noise immediately quenched my anger and replaced it with sympathy. The presence of Marcus always brought out a sharper side to Sawyer, a side that was constantly on the defense, so I couldn’t blame him for not wanting to argue with an audience.

I returned to my computer, sent out a quick email to Sawyer relaying him the details of the call with Liam, then headed out for the day.

While sympathy became the primary sensation within my chest as I recounted the story to my best friend Bianca an hour later while we walked some of the dogs from her clinic, anger simmered around the edges.

“It’s so dumb!” I tightened my grip on the four leads in my hands. “He turns up here like he owns the place and starts throwing around insults. How can you lecture someone on how to run a company when you’re acting like some kind of petulant child, mad that you’re not getting your own way?”

Bianca hummed in agreement, knowing better than to interrupt me mid-rant.

“And the way he just threw me out. He could have asked, you know? I mean it would take like five words and I would have left, but instead, he had to drag me out. I know having Marcius there is unpleasant and I can’t fathom what it’s like to grow up with a man like that as your father. Or to lose your mother so suddenly but damn.”

“Are you sure you’re not mad at him?” Bianca chuckled, walking next to me. “You sound mad.”

“I’m not mad,” I insisted. “It’s just… infuriating.”

“Because you two had alone time and were sitting all close and nice,” Bianca teased, nudging me with a wide smile. “And he ruined it.”

“It’s not like that!” Even as I glanced at her, I knew that wasn’t true. “Okay, maybe it’s a little like that but that’s not the point. It did feel like we were having a moment. A nice moment. Just the two of us. He cared about what I was saying and then…”

Breaking off, I sighed deeply and turned my face toward the last beam of sun dancing across the sky.

“And then you wanted him to throw you on the desk and ravish you, but his father turned up and cock blocked?” Bianca broke into soft laughter and the sound was musical enough to pull warmth to my own lips.

“I guess so. I think… I’m not really mad at him; I’m just mad at the situation and how I can’t help.”

“You can’t fix things for everyone, even if you want to.”

“Sure. I know. But how do you comfort someone you’re not even close to and it would be wildly inappropriate?”

Bianca shrugged and reached down to ruffle her hands through some of the dog”s fur as we waited to cross the road.

“Honestly? You can’t. So focus on what you can control.”

“Work. Because he’s my boss,” I groaned.

“Exactly. Comfort him in your fantasies. In all seriousness though, he’s probably used to being torn apart by his father. It’s not the first time and won’t be the last. Sawyer sounds like a hard ass, so maybe he just appreciates the simple stuff like a full schedule and reports done on time.”

I snorted with amusement and we resumed our walk. I could understand why people thought Sawyer was a hard ass. They didn’t see the nice things he did for people, and those he did it for would often assume it was to meet some quota. I knew differently. I saw everything he chose to do for people without ever asking for thanks.

“I don’t know,” I mused, fumbling all the leads into one hand when my phone buzzed in my pocket. “It just felt sad— oh!”

“What is it?”

Studying my phone, Sawyer had finally replied to my email about Liam.

“He’s telling me to have the weekend off. Paid.”

“Don’t you usually have the weekend free?” Bianca asked.

“Sure. But this time it’s paid as a thank you for helping with Kane.” This has to be an apology too, right?

“Or he’s got a guilty conscience,” she remarked, following the same wavelength to a different result.

“I don’t know. I think it might be an apology for throwing me out of his office,” I said, quickly typing out my thanks.

“Men like him don’t know how to apologize or be decent.”

“I don’t know. I think you just have to see them at the right moment, y’know?” It was hard to word exactly why without sounding like I was justifying things with my crush.

“Callie.” Bianca shot me a look. “Nice people don’t hide that they’re nice.”

“Men do,” I countered. Plus, each time Marcus was around it was painfully evident what kind of tough upbringing Sawyer had. It was easy to understand that growing up with a father that angry resulted in a cold outer shell. Acts of kindness were definitely hidden.

“You’re blinded,” Bianca chuckled. “You want his dick so bad that you can’t see him properly.”

“Fuck off,” I laughed gently, nudging into her. “I’m the only one that sees him properly.”

Bianca rolled her eyes so hard that she almost overbalanced and we continued our walk together, laughing and joking.

It was refreshing to spend time in Bianca’s world, where dogs were the biggest stars. Sometimes I was envious that while I was dealing with business reports, invoices, and accounts, Bianca was here caring for dogs that either needed treatment or care while their owners were busy.

It”s not that I wanted to give up my job, but it had to be nice. Then again, Bianca often spoke of how she was envious of my job security, so I penciled it down as regular job envy. I definitely wasn’t keen on having to wash all these dogs.

“Let me get these babies back into their kennels and then we can go to dinner?” Bianca suggested as we made it back to her clinic.

“Sounds good,” I smiled, moving to lean against the reception counter then I called to the vet in the back. “Hey Fred!”

“Callie!” He poked his head around the door and flashed me a smile, tilting his head to see me clearer through his crooked glasses. “Good walk?”

“The best, thanks.”

“You know, if you’re ever looking for extra work we always run out of willing dog walkers.”

“I’m sorry, Fred. I’m only here for Bianca.”

Fred’s face fell in faux disappointment. “Kids these days.” With a wink, he vanished back through the door.

“Well, isn’t that disappointing,” said a voice that pulled my heart into my stomach.

I knew that voice.

Turning around slowly as Bianca wrestled the last dog through the doors to the back of the clinic, I found myself face-to-face with Eli Talbot.

Out of all the places in the world where I could run into him, a family-run veterinary clinic didn’t even make the list.

“Eli.”

His long, narrow face pulled into a wide smile that stretched from ear to ear, and his thin, dark brows lifted to his thinning hairline.

“You remember me.”

“You’re a hard man to forget.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“Take it however you like.” Disgust nestled into the base of my throat and it took all my effort to keep my face as impassive as possible. Everything about Eli, from his slimy voice to his pinned shirt and waistcoat, just screamed desperate. He wanted people to know he was rich, to know that his cufflinks and watch cost more than anyone could make in a lifetime.

“What are you doing here?” Did he follow me here? Was he after something to do with Sawyer?

“I too am here for Bianca.”

“What?” My voice pitched slightly in alarm. Bianca hadn’t mentioned that she was seeing anyone but surely she had better taste than this?

“My dog,” Eli said, moving to lean against the counter next to me.

My lungs clogged immediately with the stink of his aftershave, a heavy floral smell with an acidic undertone, and this time I didn’t hide my cough.

“You keep your dog here?”

“Mr. Talbot!” Bianca appeared suddenly with a form in her hand.

“Bianca, my dear. How is Filly?”

“She’s doing much better. Fred has her on some medication and we’re keeping a close eye on her, but it seems that whatever caused her sickness has passed. You’re welcome to take her home today if you like?” Bianca held out the form in her hand, but Eli shook his head.

“I appreciate all you’ve done for her, but actually, I’d like to keep her here a while longer. I’ve had an… unexpected surge at work, so knowing she’s being cared for gives me peace of mind. Is that alright?”

“Of course,” Bianca beamed, retracting the form. “I’ll let Fred know.”

Seeing Bianca all smiles to Eli’s pleasantness was oddly sickening and I made a mental note to remind Bianca who he is. I wouldn’t be surprised if he poisoned his own dog to get her into a shelter.

“All your bragging,” I remarked as Eli returned to the counter next to me. “I never would have seen you in a place like this.”

“Why not?” Eli’s smile turned into a smirk. “I like the intimacy of the place.” As he spoke, he leaned closer and his eyes began to drift slowly down to my chest. “You’re Sawyer Crane’s little assistant, aren’t you? I remember you.”

“Yes,” I replied. “And?”

Eli slowly licked his thin lips, then his eyes darted up to lock onto my own. “I guess we’ll be seeing more of each other, hm?”

I wanted to know what he meant by that but before I could ask, he set a check down on the counter and left the building far too quickly. Knowing he was here and that he would return made my skin crawl and I shuddered.

“Ready?” Bianca appeared beside me a few minutes later all smiles. “I’m starving.”

“Absolutely. I can’t believe you let Eli Talbot keep his dog here.”

“Am I supposed to know who that is?” she asked after calling bye to Fred.

“The sleazeball from the business dinner?” I reminded her as we headed outside.

Bianca shook her head and frowned. “You’ll have to fill me in again over dinner,” she mused. “But first, promise me something.”

“Sure?”

“Pamper yourself this weekend. Don’t think about Sawyer, don’t worry about your mother, just focus on yourself. Pamper yourself to all heaven and then when you go back to work on Monday, Sawyer might feel bad when he sees how sexy you look.”

“I’ll think about it,” I chuckled, linking arms with her as we walked. “But first. Eli.

Monday morning was easier to face after a weekend of hot oil massages, my favorite food, and a hot bath that left me feeling like a completely new person. Taking Bianca’s advice to pamper myself had been a good call and I was ready to tackle whatever mood Sawyer would be in after a surely stressful weekend with his father.

Arriving at the office early, my plan to have his coffee ready for him, along with some nice pastries for breakfast, immediately derailed when I reached my desk and paused.

Sitting in my chair, spinning round and around was a young girl with brown hair and massive green eyes. A large smile graced her apple face and she kicked her legs, willing herself to go faster until I caught the back of my chair and stopped her.

“Hello?”