Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Twelve

Callie turned around upon hearing wheels crunching on the driveway and went to greet Charles and George, retrieving packages for carrying inside. "Who was that man?" Charles asked as he handed over bags of groceries.

"My past, hopefully, gone for good. Riyad sent him on his way."

"Really? I would like to have seen that," his brown eyes twinkled.

"It was confronting," she chewed her bottom lip. She wasn't a fan of scenes, but Daniel was never one to take the subtle hint. One needed to use a sledgehammer to get through his thick skull.

"Explained why he looked ready to throttle someone, ripping something in half." Her eyes widened. Surely not, she could only hope and pray that he left the UK. 

She had broken his number one rule, yet had nothing to do with her. She would never tell anyone where she was, so how did he find her, unless her aunt had. Would she do that? Callie had no idea. But who in their right mind would betray someone like Riyad. Loyalty meant everything to him.

On tenterhooks, Callie went about her chores, kept her head down, and what she dreaded happened two days later, called to Riyad's office. At first, she had thought that had been a good thing, yet he had become distant again. Something she hated.

With a tentative knock, Callie entered, when he called her to do so. She stood in front of his desk. His head down as he read over documents. He reached across for a chequebook, he opened it, tearing off the cheque that he held it out towards Callie, who stepped towards it, frowned, and removed the cheque, gasping at the amount.

Her heart sunk. He was buying her out. "Why? I don't understand. What have I done wrong?" she asked shell shocked, letting the cheque fall from her trembling fingers, drifting down between them onto the desk that was like a giant wedge.

"You broke the cardinal rule, Callie, and that is unforgivable."

"What rule?" she asked exasperated. "I don't remember anything about rules," she huffed crossing her arms. "You have been looking for an excuse from the first day to get rid of me. I'm surprised you just didn't dump me on the other side of the gate, it would have saved you that," she waved at the offending cheque that was glaring up at her from the desk. The insult clear. "I'm not leaving until you tell me," she threatened when he wasn't moved by her outrage, leaning back in his leather armchair, placing steeple fingers against his lips that fell away.

"This behaviour is most unbecoming, Callie. Take your severance pay and go, your services are no longer needed."

"Why?" she leaned forward, placing her hands on the desk. "Just tell me why!"

"Because you brought trouble into my life in the name of Daniel Mitchell." She paled. "Seems your friend is very reluctant to leave, being digging around, and causing unnecessary problems by his outrageous behaviour, exposing me to the world."

"Exposed you to the world? How?" she asked with dread, her mouth suddenly going dry. He was throwing her out with a hefty payout that she wouldn't take. Her eyes began to glisten that she fought back. He would not see her cry. The fact was she didn't want to leave, not like this, under a cloud and one not of her making.

"By exposing my whereabouts. You did sign a non-disclosure contract, Callie."

"No, I didn't, we never got around to it. I guess you thought I wouldn't be staying."

"You took your Aunt's place so you took over her non-disclosure as well."

She was about to argue that but couldn't because she had read the contract. "I haven't spoken to anyone, so didn't break any contract rules."