Page 52 of Hard Deal
“What did he say?”
“That it was complicated. He overheard her telling someone that she was only after him for his connections. He dumped her via text and she claims she never got the message.”
“Let me guess, he then went out, got drunk and decided to screw his way through his problems.”
“Got it in one.”
Penny laughed. “Sounds like both parties were to blame. Although, if it’s true what he overheard then I question how much of a relationship they had to begin with. Daniel dated a woman like that, before me. I think it hurts them a lot more than they let on. He didn’t tell me about it until we’d been together for over a year.”
She suspected Caleb held a lot of his pain in—pain about the way his father treated him, pain about being second to his brother. Maybe there was even more beneath the surface.
Imogen ran her fingertips over the smooth wooden planks, her fingers catching on the imperfections. “It would be easier if everything was black and white.”
Penny laughed. “Tell me about it. But then I guess we’d all be bored if we knew exactly how everything would turn out. Thing is, you might get hurt again one day. There’s no way to prevent it unless you never have another relationship.”
The finality of her sister’s statement echoed through her. It made her feel heavy and...sad. She’d put herself out into the dating world because she missed having someone in her life. She wanted the companionship and fun and affection that Caleb had shown her.
She wanted him.
And in a perfect world he’d sign a contract to say he’d never do anything wrong. But that wasn’t life.
“I guess if no one ever did anything wrong then we’d never learn how to trust,” Imogen mused.
“That’s deep, baby sis.” Penny chuckled. “Who knew Little Miss Practicality could get all philosophical like that.”
“Shut up,” she mumbled. “It’s the sunset. It makes me all mushy.”
She was only half joking. Red, gold and yellow streaked the horizon like a painter had dragged their brush along the water’s edge. Two children stood where the bay lapped at the sand, kites sailing above them, one yellow and one purple. Both had rainbow streamers flickering in the breeze.
This place was so...colourful. Imogen looked down at her work clothes. Grey pencil skirt, black-and-white blouse, white pearls. Silver watch. Monochrome. Like always.
Perhaps along with losing her ability to trust—both others and herself—she’d also forgotten what it was like to live with colour. Going to the masquerade ball and putting on that sexy dress, the pink and rose gold mask, and the dark, vampy lipstick had been thrilling. It had been like unlocking the old Imogen and letting her out to play. The old version of her who liked to take risks, and be daring, and make decisions without overthinking everything.
She missed that Imogen.
“Immie?” Penny waved from the screen. “I have to go. Daniel’s back from golf and we’re going to grab a drink. It’s tiki night!”
She waved at her sister. “Have fun. I want to talk more when you get back, and I’ll apologise to Daniel like I promised.”
“Pinkie swear?” Penny held up her little finger and Imogen copied the gesture.
“Pinkie swear.”
She ended the call, pushed up from the boardwalk and headed back to the car. The blue-and-yellow parcel was still sitting on the seat, with Caleb’s name in her neat handwriting printed across a gift tag. What would the old Imogen do in this situation?
She slid into the driver’s seat, her hands wrapping around the steering wheel as her brain whirred. The old Imogen wouldn’t sit around worrying about what to do next, that was for smurfing sure. She’d act.
Imogen glanced at the parcel again. It was time to pay Caleb a visit. But first, she had to make a quick detour.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CALEB STOOD OVER his bed and looked at the clothing he’d picked out for his interview tomorrow. Charcoal suit, white shirt, red-and-blue-striped tie, black socks. It was a bit more conservative than what he normally favoured—okay, a lot more conservative—but he wanted to make a good impression. The Wentworth Group was a predominantly retail company and a household name across Australia. Their department stores were in every major city and a lot of minor ones, too. The role would allow him to mix creativity with business, and they were keen.
Tomorrow was an important moment. He was meeting with Parker Wentworth, the CEO, and his siblings, who sat on the board. The three-person panel would likely be the most intense interview of Caleb’s career, and in the last week he’d had a few. Jase had helped him prep—firing questions and scenarios at him like bullets. And Gerald had mercifully stayed silent. No critiques, no advice, no criticisms. Perhaps it was sad that the best thing his father could do was to keep his distance from the whole thing, but Caleb knew it was a small step in the right direction. He’d gone over for dinner even more than usual lately and while he and Gerald hadn’t said much to one another yet, the animosity had eased. Even his mother had commented on it.
Caleb picked up the tie and flipped it over in his hands. It wasn’t his—he’d borrowed it from his brother for a formal event where Gerald had determined Caleb’s usual wardrobe to be too outlandish. It seemed right for an interview, but God it was boring. Sighing, he threw it back down onto the bed and headed into the living room.
The intercom buzzer sounded and he raised a brow. He wasn’t expecting anyone tonight, but the small black-and-white screen revealed a woman in a floaty dress standing by the front door on ground level. Did she have the wrong apartment? He picked up the receiver.