Tainted Love Series Boxed Set

by Lily Zante

  When the beeping stopped he stared at the screen. Thirty-eight text messages.

  It beeped afresh as another one came through. He thumbed a button; they were all from her.

  Fucking Margaux fucking Scott.

  He had half a mind to turn up on her door and threaten her. But it would be futile—nothing he said seemed to be getting through to her. She acted as if this were all a game to her.

  Maybe he should go to the police. But what would a restraining order do?

  When another text message came through, he grabbed the cell and flung it against the kitchen wall. It smacked and fell to pieces as it smashed against the floor. He left it there and rushed out, desperate to get out and get some fresh air. He was starting to feel as though he couldn’t breathe.

  Today, for the first time, he wasn’t met by the usual sense of dread he normally felt when he approached the designer shop. Today instead of finding the interior claustrophobic, he welcomed its coziness.

  But these comforting thoughts vanished the minute he remembered that Margaux had been here also. Damn it. He should have paid more attention and asked Zoe what the two women had talked about—he’d been gone for almost three quarters of an hour. He shuddered to think what information Zoe might have given away unsuspectingly. But Zoe had been busy working flat out on an assignment all weekend. She’d barely said a word to him.

  He’d left her in peace, and gone to the gym on both days and then he had wandered around different parts of the city taking more shots. One of the magazine editors had contacted him looking for interesting images of San Francisco for an upcoming feature they planned to run.

  “What’s wrong with your cell?” Bailey’s honeyed voice made him turn and he felt relief at seeing her.

  He was surprised to see her here. “I didn’t know you were coming in today.” She hardly ever came to the shop. He guessed that one of the many perks of being a rich owner of so many shops was that she could delegate everything and not have to do anything for the day-to-day running of it.

  “I thought I might surprise you. What is wrong with your cell?”

  He hesitated before answering. “It’s broken.” He placed his hand on her elbow and led her toward the corner of the shop. “She turned up at my apartment yesterday—Margaux Scott,” he said in hushed tones.

  Bailey let out a whistle. “And you let her in?”

  “My flat mate did. I walked into my apartment to see Margaux Fucking Scott sitting in my kitchen drinking a cup of coffee that Zoe had made for her.”

  “Zoe?”

  “My new flat mate.”

  “Is she pretty?”

  Tyler let out a sharp breath. “What does that have to do with anything? I’m telling you this crazy woman came to my apartment—she turned up here last week too.”

  “Here?” Bailey looked surprised. “You should just sleep with her; let her get you out of her system.”

  Tyler rubbed his forehead in mild irritation.

  “I’m sorry,” said Bailey, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “That was uncalled for. It sounds worrying, Tyler. I mean, this woman lied and cost you your job; then you say she’s been calling you. I can’t believe she turned up here.” Bailey stopped as if registering this news for the first time.

  “She bought a suit. Asked me to try it on for her?”

  “Did you?”

  “Only the jacket; otherwise she threatened to come back the next day.”

  “Did you give her your address? I mean, even I don’t know where you live.”

  “Of course I didn’t. Why would I? She’s found out somehow. Like I told you, she’s been calling me, texting me. I ignored her. But when she turned up at my apartment and with me not there—I have to admit, it creeped me out. I can’t sleep at night wondering where she’ll show up next.”

  Bailey winked at him, “I’m sure Margaux Scott has plenty of sleepless nights about you.”

  Tyler frowned. “Bailey—this isn’t a laughing matter. This is serious.”

  Bailey wiped the smile off her face. “I’m sorry, but I just can’t see Margaux as doing anything like that. She really is the sweetest thing. Wouldn’t surprise me if she was still a virgin. I think she’s become besotted with you. It’s nothing more than that.”

  Tyler crossed his arms.

  “Do you want me to speak to Chrissie?”

  “Chrissie? What the hell’s she going to do?”

  “As least she’ll know you weren’t in the wrong. That you didn’t sleep with her.”

  Tyler placed his arm on the clothes railing. His brow furrowed. “This isn’t about me wanting to be vindicated. It’s not like I want my job back or anything. Chrissie’s going to do jack.”

  “Want me to speak to Margaux?”

  Tyler ran his hand across his cheek and looked at Bailey as though she had just landed from Mars. “And say what? This woman can’t be reasoned with. She was talking to me as if she was my girlfriend—you should have heard the things she was coming out with. She wanted to go out for a meal; she thought I was torn; she said she understood my confusion.”

  “Maybe you need to go to the police.”

  Tyler nodded. “I’ve thought about it.” The only thing stopping him from doing that was he didn’t want to aggravate the situation further. In a way, he was hoping it would all die down, that Margaux might find another object to fixate on. “Maybe it’ll come to that.”

  “What’s she like? This Zoe?” Bailey’s voice turned into an excited whisper.

  “Why?”

  “Curious, that’s all. Just wondering what it’d be like to be your flat mate. Quite an ordeal, I bet.”

  “Ordeal? Why?”

  “You’d probably have a new woman each week. It would be hard to take.”

  “Zoe doesn’t feel anything for me.”

  “Is she a lesbian?” Bailey said it as though it was a real affliction.

  Tyler laughed. “No, definitely not. What are you doing at work anyway?”

  “I own this place. It isn’t work for me. How’s it going here anyway? You seem to be doing a good job—apart from that suit that was stolen from right under your nose. Don’t worry; I’m not going to dock any money from your commission. I already feel bad for messing up your life. I’ve heard the customers like you.”

  They do? Tyler couldn’t see how. Most of the time he looked as though he couldn’t give a toss. Now was not the time to tell her he was having second thoughts about working here.

  How bad could it be working in the family business?

  Chapter 30

  “You’re doing great, Zoe. You really are. But we’re two weeks in and that was the easy stuff. I just want to give you a heads up. This course is intense. I want to know you’ll keep up with it.” Hugh looked extra nerdy today, in his brown sweater and jeans. But trendy nerdy, Zoe decided.

  The class had long finished, but she had stayed behind when Hugh asked to speak to her. Her doubts, prior to starting classes, about seeing him as a tutor were instantly dispelled once he started teaching. The guy knew his stuff. And as she’d just found out, he also worked for one of the hottest new startups in San Francisco on a consulting basis.

  She sat on the desk at the front, her legs swinging gently, and felt like teenager again in high school. Hugh walked away from his desk and came over, his hands in his pockets.

  “It’s just that—” He paused and her insides hardened as if preparing to be punched. Did he already think she couldn’t hack it?

  She swallowed nervously. Then stopped swinging her legs.

  “—you’re tired in the mornings. And you rush off right after class. I know you catch up; you get all your work done, but you might not be able to burn the candle at both ends all the time.”

  “So you don’t think I can cope? Are you asking me to pick one or the other? My job or the course?”

  “No! No!” He shook his head quickly. “No, Zoe.” He smiled at her, but she couldn’t breathe. “I want to make sure you und
erstand what’s at stake here. You’re sharp and quick to pick up, and that last basic routine I set you all—yours was the cleanest. I feel this course is perfect for you and I want you to know that it’s going to get intense. I don’t want you to lose your groove.”

  She slowly released her clenched insides.

  “Thanks. There is a lot to learn and I’m enjoying it more than I thought I would. And I am keeping up. Don’t worry. I can handle the pace. I will keep up.” She had to.

  Hugh propped himself up on the desk next to hers and faced her. “Most of the students coming here see this as a hobby. More than half won’t even use what they learn. I see you’ve come for a different reason altogether; a complete career change. For you, this can’t be a wasted opportunity. Just be prepared; after April it gets much more harder.”

  Zoe made a mental note to remember this fact.

  “How’re you coping at work?”

  “It’s busy, but manageable. It could be worse—I could be full time.”

  He looked at her with something that bordered on admiration. “Okay. Keep up the good work.” He looked at his watch. “I’ve got to go.”

  She looked at hers and jumped off the desk. Shit. She’d been so lost in conversation she’d forgotten. She’d be late for work.

  “I’m late. I gotta run.” And she literally had to.

  “So—” he paused “—what time does your shift usually end?”

  “At nine.”

  “I might come over one day, for a coffee or something.”

  She looked at him. “Sure, why not?” And wondered if she’d be serving him coffee or if he was asking her to a coffee.

  Zoe raced down the sidewalk, moving her legs as fast as she could, but it was hopeless. She was still twelve minutes late.

  She spilled into the Pancake House, breathless and red-faced. Mr. Campbell frowned at her from across the counter and she knew there would be hell to pay.

  The guy had never liked her, and as the weeks wore on, his dislike of her was blatantly obvious. She rushed towards the back, to go and change into her pathetic outfit.

  “Follow me.” He barely looked at her as he marched into his office; he slammed the door once she was in. He didn’t sit down, nor did he offer her a seat.

  “I don’t think this is working out for you.”

  “I’m sorry. It won’t happen—”

  “No, this has happened far too many times.”

  “This is only the second time—”

  “That’s two times too many. We run a tight ship here, Zoe. It’s a very busy place. I don’t think you’re cut out for this. I have to let you go.”

  Deflated, shoulders drooping, she summoned up a last minute fight. “It won’t happen again. I promise.” Her voice warbled. She needed this job.

  “You arranged an earlier shift last week, you’ve been late twice.”

  “And that’s all. But I’ve been on the ball when I’m here. I’m sorry, Mr. Campbell—please give me another chance.” She hated to beg, but she couldn’t afford to lose her job. It would ruin all her chances.

  He glared at her, but said nothing, as if reconsidering her plea. “I don’t think you’ll be able to manage the new hours, if you can barely keep up with the few hours you do have.”

  New hours? What was he talking about? This was the first she’d heard of new hours.

  She looked up, waiting for him to drop the guillotine. “What new hours?”

  “We need an extra two hours.” He waited for her response.

  Two hours? Every day?

  “Every day?” she asked weakly.

  “You work every day, don’t you?” And when she nodded, he said, “Of course an extra two hours a day.”

  She had no choice. She’d say yes to anything to keep her job. “Yes.” She accepted.

  She tried to think of the extra money it would bring her and wiped away the thoughts of how much less time she’d have to spend on her work.

  “It would be great if you could start tonight. We’re very short-staffed as it is.”

  Zoe gulped. She had a test due tomorrow. “Tonight? Sure, I can start tonight.”

  As if she had a choice.

  Chapter 31

  “You’re back so late—how come?” The relief he felt in seeing her again masked the turmoil he’d been in these past few hours. Tyler had rushed to the hallway as soon as she rang the doorbell.

  “Sorry,” she apologized, rushing into the hallway and taking off her coat. “I rushed out and forgot my key.”

  “It was in the cutlery drawer,” he said, as though it was normal for her to leave it there. “Why’re you so late and why didn’t you answer your cell?”

  “Why’re you pissed off with me?” she asked, not without a touch of irritation in her voice. He watched her take off her scarf and hang it up on the coat stand by the door. Relief had calmed him down a little. He’d been frantic with worry when she hadn’t returned at her usual time. He’d been starting to go out of his mind, especially when she hadn’t answered her cell.

  It was now a quarter to midnight.

  “Sorry,” he said in a softer tone. She was fine and that was all that mattered. He moved out of the way as she went into the kitchen, looking more than a little exhausted.

  She washed her hands and started to make a sandwich.

  “Want me to do that for you?” he offered. His days were not as long as hers; maybe it was time he started to make something that both of them could share in the evenings.

  She shook her head and carried on making her cheese and cucumber sandwich.

  “I got a little worried, that’s all. You’re usually back a lot sooner.”

  “Worried about what?” She gave him a dismissive look and sat down at the table to eat. He joined her. Apparently she’d forgotten all about Margaux’s visit. Not that she’d been particularly worried about Margaux even the next day.

  “Margaux.”

  She rolled her eyes and hungrily wolfed down her sandwich. “I’ve been told to do an extra two hours a day—starting from today,” she explained.

  He shook his head. “At the pancake place? Your boss can’t just do that.”

  “He just did. He said I could leave if I couldn’t work the new hours. I don’t think I have a choice.”

  Tyler looked worried. “How’s that going to work for you?”

  She shrugged, finishing off the sandwich. She munched away in silence and he sat there. Things between them had reverted back to their former degree of coolness. It seemed to have all gone downhill right after the speed dating event, and Margaux turning up hadn’t helped.

  He didn’t like that it was this way and he wished things could go back to how they were before.

  “I’m going to have to make it work. Before he increased my hours, he almost fired me.”

  Tyler moved forward in his chair. “No way. I thought they loved you there.”

  She finished off her sandwich, wiped her mouth, then got up to get a glass of water. “The customers love me. The manager hates me. I was twelve minutes late for my shift and he tells me it’s two times too many and he doesn’t think I’ve got what it takes.” She laughed to herself. “Got what it takes,” she mimicked him and slammed down her glass. “It’s a goddamn pancake diner, for Chrissake. You don’t need a science degree to work there.”

  “You’re too smart for that place.” It amazed him how she was managing to keep it all together.

  She stopped laughing and looked at him. “He sounds like an idiot,” said Tyler.

  She nodded. “He’s a total douche bag.”

  “You should have told him to stick his job where the sun doesn’t shine.”

  Zoe moved back over to the table and sat down. “I wish I could have.”

  “But you didn’t.”

  She shook her head. “I begged him to keep me.”

  Tyler looked at her with surprise. “You begged him?”

  “I need the job. How else am I going to live? Pay rent and
stuff? I have no savings now that I’ve paid for my course. And that’s why I was late—I got talking to Hugh after class.”

  Tyler felt a twinge of jealousy. “Yeah?” He tried to keep his voice steady.

  “He says the course gets much harder, especially after April. It’s already getting harder, and he didn’t want to see me fall back.” She pulled out a hair grip from her wrist and put her hair up in a ponytail.

  Tyler remained silent, watching her as she tied her hair back. He’d never noticed how oval her face was before. The perfect oval, now that her hair was out of the way. Usually it fell forward over her face and shoulders.

  “Why’s he so concerned about you?”

  “He thinks I’m doing really well. Says he wants me to keep up. He said my last assignment was impressive.”

  “I bet he did,” Tyler muttered.

  She gave him a cool stare, and they kept their eyes locked. What did she see in that guy? He was a freaking nerd for Chrissakes.

  “How’s it going at the designer store?”

  “I think I’m ready to quit. I’m seriously considering taking my dad up on his offer—only I’m waiting for the courage to build up before I make that monumental mistake, I mean leap.”

  “You can’t want it that badly.”

  He looked at her puzzled.

  She continued. “Otherwise, you’d have leapt at the chance. Still, it could be your backup plan. Maybe it’s time you took a risk.”

  “What’s Hugh? Your backup plan—or a risk?”

  She pursed her lips, reminding him of a pit-bull getting ready for attack. “He’s neither.” She got up, hesitated, then turned to him again. “You can be a real asshole sometimes.”

  Chapter 32

  Hugh had been right. The course picked up pace and soon it became overwhelming for her. To make matters worse, even with her doing the extra hours daily, Mr. Campbell didn’t seem to be any nicer to her. What had she been expecting? She wasn’t the only one with extra hours; they all had to do it. A couple of people had left, but the others stayed on.

  It didn’t make that much difference to them, she guessed, as much as it impacted her.