Callum bit back a retort. For once, he knew something they didn’t. Finally, he was ahead of his brothers in the knowledge department, and he’d been saving this nugget for his own use. He wasn’t about to let Tori leave. But for now, he sat back and waited to see how she responded.
Tori glanced down at her hand and seemed surprised to see it ringless. Then she fumbled for her purse and slipped the meager gem on once more. “I took it off so my sister could look at it. She loves diamonds. I guess I forgot to put it back on.”
Yes, because the Queen of Bezakistan couldn’t tell a real diamond from that piece of shit fake. Callum held back his snort. He suspected that if he asked Piper, she probably had no idea her sister was “engaged.”
For months, it had bothered him that Tori talked about that ring as if James Fenway had spent his last dime on it. He’d assumed that she was either overcompensating because she knew it was synthetic or terribly naïve. If the latter, Callum had itched to beat the liar to a bloody pulp.
Except now he knew. She was the liar. Tori had bought that silly ring for seventy pounds, and according to his private investigator, no man by the name of James Fenway existed in her little Texas hometown.
Yes, he definitely intended to spank her for that, the little minx.
“You’re under contract,” Rory reminded her with a quiet bite.
“I can release her from that contract,” Oliver countered.
“Not without the support of the board.” Rory sat up straight, thrusting his chin out stubbornly, the way he used to just before he did something sure to land him in trouble. “I think we need her. Callum will vote with me.”
“Damn straight.” At least they were in accord on this.
“Claire will vote with me.” Oliver shot Rory a tight smile.
“I’m not so sure about that,” Callum said. “Claire likes Tori. She might vote to keep her around just so she’s got another female, but if not we go to our tie breaker, Uncle Walter.”
Uncle Walter loved one thing and one thing only these days. He’d been given stock in the company on the marriage of his only sister to Albert Thurston-Hughes, but he’d never had a head for business. He taught mathematics at university but he only worked so he could afford tickets to his favorite football team.
Manchester United.
“Yes,” Callum said with a satisfied sigh. “I think I should ring him up and assure him I can get him an executive box this year.”
“You’re a smug bastard.” Oliver clearly knew he’d been defeated. “Ms. Glen, we’ll be enforcing your contract, it seems.”
“I thought that contract was for my benefit, that it guaranteed me a year of work.” She swiveled her gaze at Rory, who had written the contract. “You said it protected me from being fired. Isn’t that what sacked means?”
“Contracts work both ways. Since you were coming here from America, I had you sign the same contract I would give any non-British national we host for a prolonged period. We have to deal with your work visa and a lot of paperwork. It only makes sense that you would agree to a time frame advantageous to us both.”
“I’m trying to do what’s best for y’all.” As she grew more agitated, her Texas accent became more pronounced. “You can’t force me to stay here.”
“No,” Oliver agreed. “We can’t force you to honor your contract but I believe there’s a clause that states you must repay us the expenses we incurred during your employment, should you resign early. Between the legal fees to get you into the country, the travel expenses, and your flat, I think we’re somewhere close to fifty thousand pounds.”
“We’ll need that in cash,” Rory added, looking smug.
Tori blinked, obviously stunned.
They were making a hash of this. Callum sighed. “No one wants you to go, love. What happened this afternoon was entirely my fault. Oliver and I were arguing over how to handle some of the advertisements for the fundraiser. I might have lost my temper a bit and called him some names. Mentioned he’s losing his hair and getting the slightest bit soft in the middle. He was trying to show me he wasn’t.”
Tori shook a finger at him. “You can’t talk to your brother that way. You know he’s sensitive about his hair.”
Oliver frowned. “I bloody well am not. I’ve got all my hair.”
She sent him an enthusiastic nod. “I know you do.” She turned back to Callum. “You need to be more professional. And sensitive.”
At least she was back to henpecking him. He could handle that. He couldn’t handle her leaving. “Yes. Of course. I’ll apologize to the reporter and explain everything.”
She stood and crossed the room to him. Callum rose to his feet, looking down at her as she straightened his tie. “Wash up first. There’s a speck of blood on your shirt.”
God, he loved being close to her.
“Where?” He pretended he didn’t see it.
“Here.” She pointed to a spot high on his chest, her finger brushing him.
Callum’s cock went rock hard again the instant she touched him. “I’ve got a clean one in my office. I’ll change straightaway. I’m sorry, Tori. I can’t tell you how much. My behavior was immature and ridiculous. It won’t happen again.”
She sniffled a little, looking up at him with bright blue eyes. “We all make mistakes. I’m glad I’m not leaving, though I’m kicking myself for not reading the contract more thoroughly. Please be polite to the reporter. He’s a huge fan. It might be good if you took him out for a beer. A pint, I mean.”