I sat down at my desk after Callie left and tried to get a hold of myself. I was so fucking angry with myself, with the situation, with Sofia, but mostly with myself. How the hell had I got everything so wrong? I knew there was no point going over the past, but I couldn’t help it. Why hadn’t I just asked Callie about the photos, given her a chance to deny them, explain them, anything, instead of treating her like a criminal? If I’d asked her she would have denied them and she probably would have convinced me to have another look. Callie doesn’t lie. At that thought, I grimaced, she does now; I forced her to lie to Jon. When it came to Callie, I messed up more than not. It was time to listen to my heart, and not my anger, or fear.

I picked up my phone with a sigh, this was not a conversation I wanted to have at all, but it was for Callie’s safety and I’d do anything for her, Jon would too.

I dialled the number I had written down and waited.

“Hello.”

“Jon, it's Alex, we need to talk.”

“Is Callie ok?”

“Physically yes, but we need your help.”

He doesn’t even hesitate before answering. “Anything for her.”

“I knew you’d say that. I have a question first, how did you know about the blackmail?”

“I got an email while at your wedding, I don’t know who it’s off, but they ended it with - from one friend to another.”

“Can you forward it to me?”

“Sure. Want to tell me what’s going on?”

“Callie might be in danger.”

“Why didn’t you open with that, you fuck. I’ll be right over.”

“No!” I shouted before he could hang up. “You don’t need to come here, she’s safe. I need you to come to the charity night with us later.”

“Ms Clark’s?”

“Yes. I take it you have an invitation.”

“She is one of my customers, I see her nearly every week, so yes I have one.”

“That makes things easier.”

“Can you tell me why in the hell you’re parading Callie around when she’s in danger? She’s safer at your house where no one can get to her. Lock her up if you have to.”

“Callie would never agree to that, and besides we need her to be seen. I don’t want the person doing all this to know we’re on to them.”

Jon sighed loudly. “What the hell is going on?” he asked with impatience, and I can’t blame him because I was talking in riddles.

“It’s a long story; the bottom line is Sofia Cooper seems to be hell bent on keeping me and Callie apart. She’s been following Callie around for months trying to discredit her in my eyes so I’d turn to her or something. She’s bat shit crazy.”

“Fucking hell.”

“Sofia is behind the photos of Callie in another man’s arms I received the night I threw her out.”

“So, that’s the reason you treated her like shit? Callie would never do that to you. I don’t know how, but someone has faked those photos.”

“Yeah, I know believe me, I regret it.”

“I should hope so. You nearly destroyed her. She didn’t understand why you just turned on her.”

“I’m aware of that. We’ve talked about it and we’re going to try to put it behind us. I know I don’t deserve her.”

“You don’t, not at all. I’ll never forget the state she was in when she finally let me see her. Three days she locked herself away. I think the only reason she didn’t do it for longer was because she was scared she was pregnant.”

“What?” I whisper shocked.

“Shit. Look, she wasn’t pregnant it was just a scare. She said it was down to the stress that delayed her period. If she hasn’t told you it’s because she doesn’t want you to know, so don’t mention it unless she does.”

“I can’t believe she went through that alone.” I can’t believe how badly I treated her when she could have been pregnant with our child.

“She wasn’t alone, she had me. Don’t beat yourself up ok, she’s fine.”

“I seem to cause her more pain than happiness.”

“Well, change that then. Callie deserves to be happy.”

“She does. Before you start being too nice, you should know I made Callie lie to you. I was blackmailing her.”

The line went silence for a beat. “I know.”

“You know?” I ask astonished.

“Callie can’t lie for shit. I knew as soon as she opened her mouth.”

“She knows I’m telling you the truth, and she said you’d blow your top which is understandable, but you’re not. Why?”

“Because Callie loves you. If she didn’t want to marry you, she would have come to me and we’d have dealt with you together, but she didn’t. She chose you. I heard the pride in your voice when you called her your wife. I knew she was safe with you, I could see that you loved her even if you weren’t ready to admit it.”

“I do love her, I’ve never stopped.”

“And that’s why I didn’t punch you in the face, and I really fucking wanted to. You made her do the one thing she never does, you made her lie.”

“I’m sorry for that too, but I’ll make it up to her.”

“You’d better. Now enough girl talk. What time are you going tonight and I'll meet you there? Have you arranged security?”

“Seven, its early enough that we should arrive before Sofia. She likes to make an entrance so she’ll wait until she thinks everyone is there. I have security on Callie as a precaution, but I don’t plan on leaving her side.”

“Is she out to hurt Callie physically?”

“I’m not sure, but I’m not prepared to take the chance. She's a loose cannon and if she realises her plan isn’t working she could do just about anything. I got an email from an unknown address today containing a photo of you and Callie hugging three months ago. She was following her then.”

“But why? She’s implying me and Callie are more than friends?”

“I think so. I know there isn't and never has been anything between you two.”

“And there never will be, she’s like my sister.”

“I know. I don’t need convincing.”

“Good to know. Make sure you keep her safe and I’ll see you at seven.”

“I will. Bye.”

Turning off the phone I sighed in relief. That went a lot better than I’d thought it would. Now all I had to do was get through tonight. If Sofia turned up, which I was in no doubt she would, security would keep her in sight and alert me. If they didn’t, David would, because he’d be there. He hasn’t said so, but I would do the same for him.