Page 58 of The Fool

“Please, take a seat,” I say to them both, gesturing to the couch behind me. “I’m so sorry, Cameron, Callie shouldn’t have called you, especially on your honeymoon. Really, there was no need to come back.”

“I disagree, Bea,” Cameron says with a serious expression.

“As do I, actually,” Ben chimes in, so I turn to glare at him. Cameron also glances his way, when I notice his smile slips a little, but he remains confident; he must have had to handle many difficult people like my brother over his career. “This has been going on for months and I’ve had to see my sister upset on numerous occasions. What the hell is going on at your place?”

“Ben, please…” I plead with him.

“No, you’re right, Ben, this should have been handled better and for that, I apologize,” Cameron expertly replies. “Bea, you are a valued employee and, after speaking to Nathaniel, we both agreed that it would be better all-round if you came and worked as my PA. I’ve already spoken to Jack and he’s happy to work with Nate again.”

“Oh, God, Cameron, you don’t have to do that. The last thing I want to do is mess people about,” I reply in a fluster.

“Beatrice, I don’t want to lose you and I have every faith that you will be as effective as Jack; this is not a bother to anyone but you. If you still want to leave, rest assured you will be given a glowing reference. However, if you want to stay, and I hope that you do, I believe this will be a good solution for everyone involved, especially for you, Bea.”

I look at all the awaiting, serious expressions on everyone’s faces, all the while I scream inside of my head. It does sound like a good solution, and I do want to stay, but the downtrodden girl inside of me is still whispering messages of self-doubt, self-loathing, and all the other ones that were ingrained into me. When Ben places his warm hand over my shoulder, it gives me the courage, if only for a moment, to accept what I want.

“Well,” I finally say, “I guess if it’s ok with everyone, maybe it’s for the best. I hope I can be as good as Jack for you.”

“Great,” Cameron says softly, looking me in the eye to show that he really means it. “I’m going to spend some time at home with Lily, so I’m also going to give you two weeks paid leave. I’ll see you when I return. Are you sure you are happy with this, Beatrice?”

“Positive,” I reply with a nod and a smile. “Thank you, Cameron.”

When Cameron finally leaves, Callie remains sitting on the couch, so I make her a coffee and settle myself in beside her. Ben takes up the chair opposite, watching the both of us chatting away over nothing. She pretends not to notice, but I can’t help staring at him when he fails to say even a single word.

“Spit it out,” I huff, folding my arms in question.

“I need to ask Callie a favor,” he says, surprising me completely.

“Sure!” Callie says excitedly, all the while I continue looking at him with suspicion.

“I’m on long haul from tomorrow and Leah is working nights,” he explains, “would you mind keeping an eye on Bea for me? It’s only until I fly back on Friday.”

“Happy to,” she replies with a shrug of her shoulders.

“So, now I need a babysitter? Ben, you need to give me a break,” I snap.

“For now, I need to know you’re safe. I have to get going,” he says, effectively dismissing me before leaving the living room.

“Have you spoken to Nathaniel?” I ask Callie as soon as he’s gone.

“Bea, don’t worry about Nate,” she says with a serious expression. “Cameron gave him a good talking to; that was after his father had a go.”

“Oh, God, this is all my fault,” I gasp, clutching hold of the bridge of my nose between my fingers.

“Not true, this is Nate all over,” she says with a reassuring smile. “But on a side note, he only gets like this over things he truly cares about. There’s something about you which is driving him crazy. Cameron did the exact same thing with Lily, just ask her. The Carter men can be a little dickish like that. He’ll get over it though. Course, it’s your choice if you want to forgive him or not.”

I choose not to say anything, for in truth, I don’t know what to think or feel. Most of all, I don’t want the emotions to consume me, I can’t let that ever happen again. Nathaniel could be something great, or he could be something I’ve been avoiding since I was eighteen. With all this whirring around my head, I realize Callie hasn’t said a word in response to my silence. When I turn to look at her, I find her smiling at me, her brow furrowed and with a knowing look in her eyes.

“So, you aren’t working under Nate anymore,” she says in a leading way. “That could be…convenient.”

“What are you talking about now, Callie?”

“Well, let’s say you and Nate decided to give it a shot…” she suggests.

“No, not happening,” I reply sternly. “Ben is right; I can’t fall for someone who makes me feel crap about myself. Nate made me feel bad all over again; he’s just not right for me.”

“Bea,” she says softly, “that’s not the real Nate, I promise you.”

“Oh, so the asshole Nathaniel is just for my benefit, is it? Great, sign me up!”

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