Reid - Maddie Wade Page 0,17
a little heads up that she was Calista Lundholm would’ve been nice.”
“Yeah, I forgot to mention that. My bad.”
“Yeah, like ever. How come you never told me she’s done so well for herself?”
“Callie doesn’t like me making anything of it and to be honest, it never came up.”
“Well, I’m here with Mitch and Liam. We’re going over her security, who I fired this morning by the way. The little prick didn’t give a shit about her, only her money. I’ll find someone new. I have some contacts.”
“Fuck. Thanks, Reid.”
“Don’t thank me yet, it gets worse. Callie has a stalker, and he’s escalating. I don’t know if it’s quick or if it’s been going on for a while. I think it’s been a while.”
“Shit, what did Callie say?”
“She has no idea; she’s had a few things happen but nothing that was a red flag to her.”
“Things like what?”
“Notes, flowers, things going missing or misplaced on set. Nothing at home though, thank God. I have Liam and Mitch going over the CCTV for a lead and I’m going through her list of contacts but so far there’s nothing obvious. I need to look into a few people, though.”
“Okay, keep me posted. Is your boss good with this?”
“He will be, I’m sure. He’s my next call.”
“Thanks, Reid. Give Callie a hug for me but keep it PG so I don’t have to castrate you.”
Reid snorted to hide the choking feeling of guilt. “Good copy.” He signed off and ran his fingers through his hair.
“Coffee?” Sophia asked and handed Reid a cup which he took.
“Thanks.” The coffee was excellent and black, just how he liked it.
“Is she going to be able to honour her commitments?”
He eyed the woman next to him. She looked like she was worried, but he could see that underneath the concern was a cutthroat businesswoman wanting money and prestige. “Maybe.”
“Maybe isn’t an answer. Callie needs to honour these bookings, or they’ll find someone new. There’s always someone ready to step in and fill the shoes of the older models.”
“Older models? Callie is what? Twenty-five?”
“Twenty-six and that’s getting old for a catwalk model.”
“Fuck me,” he said, shaking his head.
The woman was in her prime, barely legal in the US to drink, and she was already considered over the hill.
“I’ll do what I can to make sure she honours her commitments, but,” he said when Sophia smiled, “I won’t compromise her safety. If anything else happens then all bets are off, and I won’t argue with you on that. You and Melvin will just have to fucking deal with it.”
“Fair enough.” Sophia walked away, already digging her phone from her pocket.
It was time to check in with Jack and update him, then he needed to speak with Mitch and Liam. He was just finishing up with Jack when Callie walked off the set, her robe covering her again.
“Hey,” she said with a blush, but she didn’t duck her head like he expected.
“Hey. You done?”
“Yes. Just need to get changed and take this make-up off, then I am. Why?”
“Because I’m fucking starved. Want to grab a burger before we go home?”
“Sshh, you can’t say burger around here. Sophia will have a fit if she catches me eating something like that.”
Reid smiled at her easy laugh. “I won’t tell if you don’t.”
“Well, in that case, give me ten minutes.”
Reid watched her walk to the trailer and couldn’t fight the feeling that it didn’t matter what he did, this woman was going to be trouble. It didn’t stop him from watching her the entire way there with a smile on his face, which instantly made him frown when he realised.
He was so fucked.
Chapter Six
The Fox and Crown pub was crowded with lunchtime regulars when Reid pulled the car into the parking lot. After nearly three years of living here, she still hadn’t got over her love of the family pubs that were around every corner.
This one was a little out of their way, but as she stepped inside, she smiled. The dark oak beams, uneven, tile floor and shining brass optics were gorgeous, and the dried hops that decorated the top of the bar above her head made her feel as if it she was in another world.
Reid ordered a beer for himself, and she went wild with a diet coke, knowing she’d consume enough calories to keep her in the gym for an extra hour as it was. They took a seat in the corner, close to a window and away from too many