‘Oh, God, I can’t believe I was so... That she just...’ She started to shake her head, then stopped abruptly when her vision swam.
‘Believe it. Some people tend to regress into childish behaviour when they feel slighted. Heidi has perfected the art.’
She wanted to ask then what he’d seen in the woman to make him date her, but the question was redundant. The blonde was a goddess. And, according to her, just the type of woman Gael favoured.
The car started to move, turned a corner. Goldie slapped a hand to her mouth as her stomach roiled. When he passed her a white paper bag she grasped it gratefully.
When the car had steadied, she risked a glance at his wavering figure. ‘I’m sure you think me...naive and gullible.’
She wasn’t sure whether he’d shrugged or not, but his voice held a distinct bite. ‘For someone who claims not to drink, I’m surprised you didn’t recognise the peculiar taste straight away.’
‘I wasn’t... I didn’t... I’ve never tasted vodka before. Or rum.’ She grimaced. ‘Does this mean I’ve lost my chance with you? I mean with the audition?’ she ventured, feeling her tongue slurring her speech.
God, how many times had she heard her mother sound like this? And how many times had Goldie’s spirits dropped with disappointment and pity?
Hard hazel eyes sliced into her. ‘Just as you claimed earlier, I too have to be elsewhere tomorrow. And since I can’t have a conversation with you now, in this state, I’ll have to see when my schedule opens up again.’
Her fingers curled around the lowered paper bag. ‘Just give it to me straight, Gael. Tell me whether I’ve blown it or not so we can say our goodbyes.’
‘What difference will it make?’
She licked her lips, desperation beginning to claw through her. ‘If I haven’t blown it completely I’d like the opportunity to fix it. I... I need this job. I need a job!’
His nostrils flared slightly. ‘And how would you propose to go about fixing it?’
She shook her head, then groaned. ‘I don’t know. Maybe you can tell me what I can do...how I can—?’
His pithy curse dried up her words.
Goldie knew then that she was digging herself deeper into the hole she’d unwittingly found herself in. It was too late. She’d messed up a shining opportunity. Through ignorance and gullibility.
She snorted, her insides shredding with disappointment and chagrin. How could she have fallen into the same trap she’d condemned her mother for for so many years?
‘What’s your address?’
‘My...address?’
‘My driver will deliver you home,’ he stated, his voice neither gentle nor harsh.
It was almost as if he’d become indifferent to her.
Goldie fought to dismiss the slight pang that thought brought and focused on a much more troubling problem.
‘I can’t go home,’ she muttered, the words filling her with even more distress.
‘Excuse me?’ His voice was filled with chilly cynicism.
She grimaced, her hand shaking as she lifted it to her numb cheek. ‘I can’t go home in this state.’
Gael’s gaze sharpened on her face. ‘Why not?’
Shame dredged deep inside her. ‘I... My mother is a recovering alcoholic. I can’t... She can’t see me like this.’
He regarded her for several charged seconds before his jaw clenched. ‘Dios mio.’
‘I know how this looks, okay?’ she pre-empted, before he could voice the condemnation bristling over his frame. ‘But I can’t do this to her! After everything she’s been through, I can’t—’
‘Calm yourself, Goldie. I was merely going to say I’m not blameless in all this. I should’ve suspected Heidi would try something like this. I shouldn’t have left you on your own for so long.’