Hiding Within The Betrayal

Chapter Twenty One: Trying to apologise

I left my office barely even a minute after Callaghan had stormed out. 

Given the dramatic exit, I would have been surprised if my members of staff weren't keen to see what was going off. I chose instead, to walk with ease as if nothing of the sort had happened. I couldn't let my guard down, not even for a minute. My eyes went straight to Brileigh as she was stood inline with my office door. I can only assume that's because she spoke to him when he charged out like a ragging bull and was now frozen to the spot.

Her doe like expression pinned on me, "Detective Callaghan just left."

I waved her off, "Don't you think I know that?"

About to walk past her, I considered if she would be useful. Her eyes plundered to the ground, uncertain of what to say back. Instead of heading off, I rested my hand on her shoulder, an absent minded smile across my face as I lowered my volume, "Be a good girl and tell me where he went."

She fluttered her eyelids, overwhelmed by the touch of my fingertips. She didn't dare meet my eye as she answered, "He mentioned going back to the Lawson's."

I let go off her shoulder and hastily headed towards the door. If I wasted anymore time it would mean a forty minute drive to the other side of town. Part of that could involve humiliating myself and I wasn't prepared for that.

How I didn't fall down the stairs is beyond me. I found myself out of breath before I reached the ground floor. Prying open the main door, I was thankful that there wasn't any of the paparazzi that had followed me to work after the Matteo case. No one there to capture action shots. They had already tried when I returned to work after finding Jessy but nothing like before.

Though, I can guarantee if Detective Callaghan did leave the Lawson's and join us it would most certainly be on the front page of the news. Now wasn't the time to think about it.

I looked up, wondering if I had been able to catch him up or if my effort was in vain. Thankfully for me, he hadn't gotten far, maybe ten meters ahead as the door shut behind me.

It caught his attention.

"Are you serious?" He questioned, rolling his eyes at me as he turned to see what I was there for.

I swept the hair from my face, "Look, I couldn't let you leave without explaining myself."

He clenched his fists and closed the space between us.

There was only a meter gap, I could see him clearly. The map of stars across his face even more noticeable in natural lighting, his blue eyes striking as he attempted to stare me down, given that he was of equal height, I couldn't help but find it amusing.

"Look Degarmo, if Tess told you to chase after me just so that you could apologise then-"

"Patrick seriously-"

"First name basis?" He smiled.

I laughed, "Well that certainly changed your tone."

Hearing me, he returned to his upturned expression, "What did you follow me for?"

I made sure that no one was around to overhear the conversation. I lowered my tone, trying to get out my words before he could interrupt and call me out on something, "As much as you might believe that you coming here today was because of Tess- I mean, you'd be completely right. It was her idea to have you- Fuck, um,"

He folded his arms, "Sorry, where you trying to prove a point or?"

"Shut up!" I grinned, "Look, it wasn't my idea. But what you said about me, meant a lot. The fact that I inspire you. No, we haven't really got on but that doesn't mean I should have reacted the way that I did."

He lowered his arms, in a taunting manner, "Is this you trying to apologise without just saying that you're sorry?"

"If you assumed that I meant it then why should I bother saying it?"

He laughed, "There's something about you Degarmo that I both like and absolutely hate. This cheek and attitude you have."

I nodded. "I have an amazing personality, I did say so before did I not? "So come on. What do you say?"

He was confused, "What do I say? You mean about joining your company? You've made it clear that it wasn't your idea."

I shook my head, "No, it wasn't but she's right. You're a liable asset. I could really use someone with your instinct, let's face it even a genius like me can't do everything alone."

He turned away from me, and looked back over his shoulder, "Don't need me then!" He joked.

I was baffled. No one had ever refused the opportunity to work with me!

"You're such a child!" I called to him, marching after him.

He turned back, almost falling over the path, "And yet- And yet you want me to work with you?"

I reached out to keep him from falling, "I can change my mind Patrick!"

He stood upright and turned to me, a gentle smile caress his lips, "Don't."

"Don't what?"

He paused. His voice returning to a serious note, "Please don't change your mind."

I could feel a tension in the air. One I hadn't put there. I refused to let it linger. I broke our gaze and stepped back. I took control of the situation, tugging the bobble of my hair tightening, having something to do with my hands, "So is that you admitting that you want to work with me?"

He waited until I had finished. "Until this week, I had always imagined what it would be like to work with you. I didn't expect quite what happened but I suppose that our fallout were because we are both so passionate about it. I know what happened with your sister. I didn't go through that kind of thing but-"

It didn't matter how many times someone mentioned it, I couldn't speak about my sister to anyone. The mention of it was enough to dampen my mood.

I wanted nothing more than to finish this conversation and return to my office, "Yes well, finding missing children is my job, not a hobby. If you are to have a career with us then I expect you to keep that up."

He could sense the change in my voice, "Did I say something wrong?"

Yes.

"No."

"Alright then."

I wasn't sure what to say. I couldn't let my mind think about the past. Instead, I focused on getting rid of him, "Right well, I'll sort things with Tess and have her contact you about a start date. You might want to write your letter of resignation."