Page 79 of The Retreat
Imogen shuffled in, dropping another handful of envelopes onto the pile without even glancing at them. ‘More bills, no doubt,’ she said lightly.
Talia frowned. ‘I wish you hadn’t given me that money back.’
‘I told you, I don’t want it,’ Imogen said flatly.
And Talia could see it was not a tone to argue with. She didn’t want to ruin this moment. Though she was a little worried for Imogen. She wished there was some way she could help her. But it couldn’t be with money. Talia understood Imogen’s reasoning on that. They were starting something, and Imogen didn’t want to taint it. That gave Talia hope that Imogen wanted this—wantedthem—just as much as Talia did. Which was so fucking much.
There was so much they needed to learn about each other, so much time to pour into this to make it solid and true. But Talia was all in. She could feel Imogen’s commitment too. Itmeant the world. Talia was ready to love someone. She was ready to love Imogen.
Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket. One glance at the screen and her good mood had a bite taken out of it. Her brow furrowed. The world she’d just stepped out of was already reaching for her, trying to pull her back.
‘It’s Celeste,’ she said, her voice edged with hesitation.
Imogen pulled a face. ‘You gonna take it?’
Talia didn’t answer right away. The thought of hearing Celeste’s voice again made her stomach drop. She’d been happy a minute ago. She didn’t want to spoil that.
‘I don’t know.’
Imogen shrugged, calm. ‘Go on. I’m here. It’ll be OK.’
Talia managed a shaky smile and answered, pressing speaker before she could change her mind. She wanted Imogen in this.
‘Talia?’ Celeste’s voice crackled through, taut and brittle. ‘I’m sorry to call like this, but we’ve been on a conference call since leaving the lodge. The partners, Rebecca, everyone. We’ve been trying to figure out what happens next.’
Talia’s hand tightened around the phone. ‘I see.’
‘We think… we’ve decided to leave things as they are.’
She frowned, bewildered. ‘What do you mean?’
‘We’re not going to take any action concerning your position.’
‘Are you trying to tell me I’mnotfired?’ Talia asked.
The confusion in her voice didn’t even begin to cover the whiplash she felt. Celeste wasn’t exactly being direct.
‘We are not releasing you from your contract. That’s correct,’ Celeste replied.
Talia blinked. ‘Oh. OK.’
‘We’re going to send you some paperwork in the next few days, if you could sign it?’ Rebecca’s voice jumped in suddenly.
Talia raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, Rebecca, I didn’t realise this was a conference call.’
‘Yep. Hi. So, it’s crucial you get that paperwork back to—’
‘What paperwork?’ Talia cut in. ‘If I’m not fired, what do you need me to sign?’
Rebecca gave a short laugh. ‘Oh, you know. It’s just a thing to say you won’t sue us because Rhona said all that stuff about Monroe employees being overworked and pressured into maintaining a perfect image, that’s all—’
‘Rebecca,’ Celeste snapped.
Talia rolled her eyes. ‘Oh, I see. That’s why I’m not fired. You’re worried about a constructive dismissal claim. Well, I wouldn’t bother. I’m not suing you.’
A pause. Then Celeste asked cautiously, ‘No?’
Talia gave a small laugh, surprising even herself. ‘You honestly think I want what happened at the retreat on public record?’
