‘Of course.’ Bill instantly recognised her cry for help.
‘Sir Charles—Mr Carrington,’ she nodded distantly to both of them, a coolly composed figure—on the outside at least—as she left the office and walked out to the lift.
She knew she looked very businesslike in her black suit and tan coloured blouse, a tan clutch-bag in her hand. And yet it was all a pose, below the knee-length skirt her legs were knocking together.
‘Callie?’
Logan caught up with her as she stepped into the lift, pressing the button for the ground floor.
Callie was very conscious of him in the close proximity of the small lift, the way the dark grey suit was tailored on him, the cufflinks she had bought him in the cuffs of the white shirt he wore, his dark hair resting low down on his collar.
He turned to look at her. ‘Why?’
She shrugged, making no effort to look as if she didn’t know what he was talking about. ‘It wouldn’t have been in the company’s best interests,’ she said stiltedly, wondering if the lift was ever going to reach the ground floor.
‘Very commendable,’ he drawled. ‘Now the real reason? I would have bet everything I have that you would side with Charles, just to spite me.’
‘To spite you, yes.’ Her eyes flashed, the moment of revelation upon her; this game had gone on long enough. ‘But it wasn’t what my stepfather wanted.’ She looked at him with unwavering eyes as she saw him pale. ‘No, Jeff wouldn’t have approved of expanding Spencer Plastics. You told me that yourself, and for once I believe you.’ She stepped out into the reception area and hurried towards the double glass doors, feeling as if her legs were made of stone, each step an effort.
CHAPTER NINE
LOGAN kept up with her step for step. ‘Callie!’ His hand was on her arm as they stepped out on to the pavement. ‘For God’s sake explain that last remark,’ he demanded tautly.
She looked up at him with defiant eyes. ‘It’s quite simple, Logan. Contrary to what everyone thinks, Jeff was my stepfather, not my lover.’
He shook his head dazedly. ‘I don’t understand.’
‘My mother was married to your uncle.’ Another thought occurred to her. ‘That makes me your step-cousin,’ she said bitterly.
‘But Charles was convinced Jeffrey was living with a woman called Caroline Day!’
‘He was—my mother. And she wasn’t Caroline Day when they lived together,’ she hailed a passing taxi, hardly able to believe her luck when it actually stopped, ‘she was Caroline Spencer,’ she told Logan as she climbed into the back of the taxi.
‘You can’t go like this,’ he frowned. ‘I haven’t finished talking to you.’
‘There’s nothing left to say.’
‘Callie—’
‘Where to, love?’ the driver turned to ask.
‘I—’
‘Callie, I want to talk to you,’ Logan said harshly.
‘I have nothing else to say,’ she told him distantly.
‘But—’
‘I can’t wait here for ever, love,’ the driver interrupted a second time. ‘I’m on a double yellow line.’
‘Would you kindly stay out of this?’ Logan snapped viciously.
‘Pardon me for living,’ the man mumbled as he turned back in his seat.
Logan shot him another impatient glance. ‘Callie, get out of there and we can go somewhere and talk.’
‘I told you, there’s nothing to talk about.’ She leant forward and gave the driver her address. ‘Goodbye, Logan.’ She gave him a cold look, and slammed the door in his face.