Page 74 of Anything but Easy
“What do you mean?”
“Ah,” Dad broke off and his lips twisted to the side. “Hmm . . . damn, bit of a balls-up that. Wasn’t going to tell you actually, but–”
“What did you do, Dad?”
“Ihadto say thank you,” he explained, and I closed my eyes slowly. “And you wouldn’t give me her damn number. Nige and I go way back, so I just . . . sort of . . . pulled a few strings and –”
“Did you disturb her at work?” I snapped. Dad’s brows furrowed.
“Well,” he drew out the word. “Not disturb as such. Just approach.”
“Dad!”
“I had to say something! She saved my life!”
“She did not–”
“Anyway, she was too busy saving someone else’s life to really acknowledge me anyway. My God, Barclay, you should have seen her. She was born to do that. Some people are born to that work.”
I took a deep breath in through my mouth and out through my nose. The thought of Dad badgering Kira at work, somewhere that surely has enough stress as it is, was making me feel murderous. Hadn’t the Lucas family imposed on her enough already?
“You need to look into that though,” Dad said, confusing me. “There was a chap there, didn’t know his arse from his elbow, but seemed to be her boss. About as much use as a chocolate teapot. Dr Talbot or Tabard or something? Anyway, he was not happy for Kira to show him up.Reallynot happy. The look he gave her could have melted steel. I wouldn’t be comfortable with your mother working with someone like that. I’d want to look into it.”
I filled my glass up again and again downed the lot. I was beyond responding to Dad. His complete u-turn about Kira was making my head spin. Plus, the fact he now considered that I should be taking the same level of interest in her work as he would with Mum. As if Kira was any of my business anymore.
Which she wasn’t.
Shewasn’t.
An image of the Dr Tabard I’d spoken to at the hospital when I went looking for Kira swum into my mind. He’d been openly critical of her and I’d just accepted it. Maybe even doubted her. Because . . . I was an idiot.
Was he causing problems for her now?
Was it any of my business?
Probably not, but as I slammed back my fourth glass of champagne, the thought of making it my business made me feel more alive than anything else I’d done over the last two weeks.
Chapter31
Force of nature
Barclay
Camilla Martakis opened the door a crack and blocked the entrance.
“What do you want?” she asked. It was as close to rude as I had ever heard her be, and from the slight tremor of her hands it was obviously causing her anxiety.
I tried to look around her but she stood her ground.
“Is she here?” I asked, impatience making my words clipped.
Camilla bit her lip and looked to the side.
“Y–you need to leave,” she managed to get out.
“Camilla, please . . . I –”
“Mynameis Millie,” she snapped and my eyes widened in shock. “I told you only my parents ever call me Camilla. And you must know better than most how I don’t need that reminder. Ihadthought you were different: the good kind of politician. But I guess I was wrong.” That blow found its target. I was not a fan of Millie’s father and definitely did not want to be compared to him.
