Chapter 15

Wren's Pov

ONE WEEK LATER

“So how is it going?” Anna’s voice echoed through the phone. It's been three days since I last heard from her. I knew life was getting busy for everyone, but it felt like I had seen more of her when I was dating Josh than now.

“Nothing daunting. Just work and barely any time to relax.” I muttered, pressing the coffee machine as I waited to get my early dose of coffee. Things weren’t as horrible as I thought they would be; everyone had their mind on the jobs. Well, mostly everyone. Blake had made it a point of duty always to point out things that I may have missed, no matter how tiny they are.

“How is the man? I saw his picture; he is something, don’t you think so?” she whispered. I rolled my eyes; of course she would think that; she wasn’t the one working under him. “Maybe you can try to...”

“Anna, I am here to work, nothing more than that. Elizabeth needs everything that she can get from me.”

She let out a huff. “I know, I didn’t mean anything by it.” She was quiet for a minute. “You know, I could come visit you. I mean, the only thing that you can do is try and introduce me to your boss.”

My fist clenched around the mug; I could feel the anger boiling in my chest. There was something about the way she talked about Callum that made me want to literally scream at her.

“I am sure he is his runway of models,” I said, fighting back the snarky comment that threatened to come through.

She laughed. “Only been there a week, and you are already protective of...” Her voice was drowned out by the sound of someone calling out to her. I knew that voice; it sounded like Josh. I shook my head; it couldn’t be. Anna was home; there was no need for Josh to be in her house. Besides, when I was dating Josh, they hated each other.

“Who was that?” I asked.

She cleared her throat. “The mailman. I have to go.” The call ended before I could say anything.

“That wasn’t weird at all.” I shook my head. My phone dinged. “My office now!” Did I mention that Callum has made it his mission to have me on his beck and call at every freaking hour?

I grabbed the mugs, trying to settle both cups in my hand, and as I turned, my body came into contact with a wall. No, not a wall, a body, structured like a brick. I let out a hiss, feeling the coffee burn my fingers. But that wasn’t the only thing that caught my attention; it was the fact that the contents had poured over the person that I had bumped into.

“fuck!” a dark voice growled.

My eyes widened. I quickly dropped the cup on the counter, my hands darting out to pat the spot that had been stained. “I am so sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.... I was distracted and I...” Tears lined the walls of my eyes. I was getting fired; nothing was changing it.

But when the hand grabbed mine, causing my head to lift, meeting his gaze, I was struck silent by the beauty of the man that I was seeing in front of me. “Are your fingers okay? I believe the hot coffee had more effect on you than on me.” his voice was smooth, the deep baritone reverberating through me.

“I...” For some reason, I couldn’t find the right words to say. My brain seemed to have short-circuited the minute his cold hands touched mine, his thumb rubbing over the back of my hand. “Fine. I am fine,” I cleared my throat.

He smiled. “I am sorry I startled you. I thought you had heard me coming in behind you.” he didn’t let go, even when I tried to pull my hand from his grip. “Taryn Jack,” he smiled.

“Wren...”

“What the fuck is going on here?” Callum’s dark tone echoed through the room. The sound startled me, causing me to jerk backwards, my back slamming against the counter edge.

Taryn grinned with a smile on his face. “Callum, just the man I was looking for.” he straightened his suit.

Callum's brows drew up. “Looking for me here?” he hissed.

Taryn smiled. “What can I say? I always find a way to gravitate towards the pretty ones, don’t you think so?”

What was going on here? Why was he making it sound like it was something that wasn’t?

Callum looked at me. “I believe I asked for coffee; I don’t see it?”

“I...”

“It is all my fault. I startled her, and now there is coffee all over me.” he winked at me. “Us,” he said with a laugh. He pulled out his card. “Here, you should give me a call. I would like you to replace everything that I have ruined.”

I didn’t grab the card, not that I didn’t want to, but Callum had been faster, reaching between us and snatching the card from Taryn’s hand. “I am sure I can compensate for what you have done.” his tone was low, a growl laced in it.

Taryn didn’t seem to take the warning. “I don’t mind; I caused the mess, I believe it is only right that I try to fix it.”

“Don’t.” Callum turned towards me. “Miss Wren, you have to go to the finance department; there is a document they are yet to send. Make sure they have it done.”

I nodded. “What document?” I asked.

He stared at me. “I am sure you will figure it out.” I knew that tone, that was the get the fuck out of here tone.

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mr. Taryn,” I said, slipping out of the room.

I tried to shake off what had just happened. How did Callum know that he was there? Why did he look like he was about to freaking rip his head off?