Chapter Seven
Camille
Walking into the office the next day, I had a newfound sense of confidence. I felt happier than I had in a long while, and even better, I felt completely satisfied sexually. The night before with Preston had been nothing short of amazing, and it made me feel like I could conquer the world.
So, in that spirit, I decided that today was going to be the day. I was going to meet with Stephen and discuss the future of our company – with the intent of buying him out.
My assistant, Rosa, was already at her desk when I showed up. When I came through the door, she looked up at me, giving me a quick double take.
“Glad to see you're looking chipper again, Ms. O'Hare.”
“Thank you, Rosa,” I said, stopping by her desk for a second.
It had been awhile since I'd mingled among the employees – which wasn't intentional. I'd just been trying to avoid running into Stephen, and either staying in my office or working from home seemed to be the easiest way to do that.
Now, however, I felt like I had no reason to hide. Preston's visit the night before had put me in a positive mood for the first time in a long time. I finally felt like maybe things would be alright.
Rose's smile faltered as she stared behind me, and I turned to see what caused her distress. Stephen was walking toward us. Even though I'd tried to keep the drama between us private, part of me wondered if it had spilled out onto the others anyway. Rosa did not look pleased to see him.
Stephen wasn't there to talk to Rosa, however, and he ignored her completely. He turned his made-for-tv smile toward me and spoke to me casually.
“Camille, dear, can we chat?”
I wanted to tell him to go to hell, mainly so he wouldn't ruin my good mood, but I wanted to get the drama over with quickly. Maybe this was a blessing in disguise.
“Fine, let's go into my office, Stephen,” I said through gritted teeth.
I still managed a polite smile, so kudos to me.
We stepped into my office and I closed the door behind us. I took a seat at my desk, crossing my legs at the ankle and resting my hands on my lap. No matter what, Stephen was not going to get me down again.
“I actually wanted to speak with you too,” I said.
He sat down across from me, a smirk on his handsome face. A roguish little smirk that used to melt my insides – not to mention get my panties good and moist. However, even though I still found him attractive, I noticed things about him that I hadn't before. Like how his smile always looked fake or plastered on, not genuine. It never reached the eyes with him – even when he should be genuinely happy. Maybe I was imagining things, maybe not, but Stephen seemed to be a far more miserable man than I ever realized.
Funny how a breakup will make you see the true nature of a person. All of his flaws were open and on display – like the coffee stain on his white shirt, or how his suit jackets weren't pressed. All little things I used to take care for him. I guess without me, he wasn't sure how to do his own laundry. Jessica wasn't as domestic, I guess? Call me petty, but I had to stifle a laugh once I noticed just how disheveled my ex was looking these days.
“So you've thought about my proposal, yes?”
It took me a second to remember what proposal he was talking about. I wrongly assumed it was something to do with the business, but then it hit me – he still thought I'd marry him and let him sleep around with other women to give him the children he so badly wanted. Children he thought I was too broken to give him.
“There's nothing to think about,” I scoffed. “We're through, and there's no way I'd ever get back together with you. That you would even think otherwise, after what you did, is nuts.”
His smile fell, just a bit, but he continued staring at me with hope in his eyes. I wasn't about to argue about this – again – so I quickly changed the subject. I wanted us to focus on work, since all we were anymore was business partners. Though, hopefully that was a situation with an end date as well.
“No, what I wanted to discuss has nothing to do with our relationship,” I said. “It's the company I'm worried about.”
“We're doing great, Camille,” he said, leaning back in his chair with a cocky grin on his face as he ran a hand over the stubble on his chin and shrugged. “There's absolutely nothing to worry about business-wise. The company is performing better than we'd ever imagined. You were at the presentation the other day, you saw the numbers.”
“That's not what I meant,” I said. “What I mean is – I don't think it's practical for us to both control the company. Not since we're no longer involved with each other. I think it might make the situation a little too uncomfortable.”
He cocked his head to the side like a confused dog. “I don't understand, Camille. We make a great team – both here at Zesta and at home.”
My hands were balled up, and my fingernails dug into the palms of my hands as I fought to remain calm. He was right, we'd always seemed to make a great team, which was why I'd brought him on there in the first place. But, that was the past. Things had changed and there was no way I was interested in continuing to work with a man who'd cheated on me.
He wasn't getting it. Either because he wasn't very bright, or because he was being deliberately obtuse. So, rather than just beating around the bush any longer, I just spat it out.
“I want to buy your portion of the company, and work on transitioning you out of the role as CFO,” I said bluntly. “I'd offer you a comprehensive package, positive recommendations, and I'd even work with you until you could find another job.”
“No way,” Stephen scoffed as he shook his head vigorously. “You're not kicking me out of our company.”
“To be fair, Stephen, Zesta had always been my company. You didn't come in until much later.”
He stood up and paced the room, his fists clenched at his sides. His jaw was clenched tight and his face darkened with anger. I feared he might punch something, but I remained seated. I wasn't about to run over and attempt to comfort him. He needed to grow the fuck up and realize the world didn't revolve around him.
Stephen stopped in front of my desk, hovering over me. He glared down at me, and I caught a glimpse of the temper I'd lived in fear of for so long, building up behind his eyes. It was like watching a particularly nasty and violent storm rolling in from the horizon. I shuddered as he stared at me, but I didn't move or apologize. I was done being the doormat for him.
“I'm not going to sell,” he said, his voice low and full of rage. “You're not getting rid of me that easily. I put a lot of time and energy into building this company into what it is today, and –”
“You haven't even heard my offer,” I said, speaking slowly so my voice didn't crack.
“I don't need to. No amount of money in the world would make me leave,” he said.
His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, and I was half-convinced that they'd be glowing red if they could.
“Because let's face it, Camille,” he hissed. “You and I are a great team, and sooner or later, you'll realize that you need me – both here at Zesta and in your life. And my offer to marry you still stands.”
“Like I said last time, Stephen – go to hell,” I said. “You fucked my friend. You broke a trust that can never be repaired. We're done. Period.”
“You'll regret this, Camille. You'll come crawling back to me once you realize the truth,” he said.
His voice was calmer now, a knowing look on his face. There was the condescending tone Liv had mentioned the last time we'd talked. The air of smug superiority that hung over him as thick as the LA smog. God, how had I not realized it before now?
Stephen left, slamming the door behind him so hard, it made me jump. I'd somehow managed to keep it together in front of him, but, I nearly lost it as soon as I was alone. I felt the rage boiling up inside of me, and I wasn't sure I could keep myself cool while sitting there at the office. I needed to get out of there – if only for a little bit.
I figured that maybe, I could just go for a drive for a little while. Clear my head and get my emotions back under control. A little fresh air and sunshine could work wonders. I grabbed my bag and headed toward the door, walking swiftly out of the building, not bothering to talk to anyone as I passed. By the time I got to my car and pulled out of the lot, I was on total autopilot, driving along without really paying attention.
The Los Angeles streets eventually turned to curvier, hilly roads as I drove through the glamorous Hollywood Hills. The home Stephen and I had been looking at had been nearby where I was, and I tried to kid myself into thinking that's why I'd driven all the way up there.
However, without conscious thought, I turned right instead of left, turning away from the home we'd put an offer in on. Thankfully, I'd been able to retract the offer, and a higher one had come in shortly thereafter, so we weren't stuck with a house fit for a family.
Still, it would have been nice to start a family there. Tears welled up in my eyes as I was, once again, reminded that I likely would never have children of my own. I'd never get to go through pregnancy, of carrying the child of the man I loved.
There were other options, sure. Adoption was the most likely scenario. I would have been happy to adopt one day, but I felt broken. As if me not being able to have children meant that I was of than a woman and could never be a good mother.
Obviously though, Preston didn't think so.
Preston lived in Hollywood Hills, didn't he? Just like his parents had, back in the day. I wasn't sure where he lived now, but the temptation to stop by his home was too much for me to overcome and ignore. Then again, he was probably at work now anyway, so I wasn't going to look like a total stalker if I cruised down his street. I turned toward the clinic without even thinking about it and found myself sitting in the parking lot.
Damn you, Camille. You're pathetic, I thought to myself. I bit my lip and tried to resist the urge to text him. The clinic didn't open until nine, it was only eight-thirty, and I was the only car in the parking lot. Maybe, we could grab coffee before he started the day?
No, stop being clingy. It's way too early for you to follow him around like a lost little puppy. To run to him every time you're feeling down.
After my little demotivational speech to myself, I started the car and began to back out when his car pulled in beside me. I stopped my car and tried to duck down a bit. Too late though – he saw me.
I put the car back in park and took a deep breath as Preston stepped out of his BMW, a confused look on his face. He walked over to the driver's side of my car and knocked on the window. Feeling the heat flaring in my cheeks, I rolled the window down, but couldn't meet his gaze. Not at first.
Slowly though, I forced myself to look up at him and meet his eyes.
“Yes, officer?” I teased. “Was I speeding?”
He laughed, but it was guarded and sounded a little forced “Camille, I didn't know you were coming in today. Is everything okay?”
“Oh, yeah, everything is fine health wise. I mean, I still haven't gotten those tests, but you know –”
“I see,” he said.
He looked distracted, as if he was lost in thought and not entirely focused on me. He looked at the clinic and then back at me, and I could see the confusion – and a little bit of concern – in his face.
“So, why are you here?” he asked.
I tried to think of a logical explanation for my presence there. I got lost on my way to work? I just happened to be in the neighborhood? Sure, except that sounded cliché as hell and rang false even in my own mind. So, instead, I settled for the truth. Not that I had any real choice in the matter.
“I just wanted to see you,” I said, a smile on my lips. “Is that so bad?”
His face softened as he leaned into the car window. For a moment, I thought he might kiss me, but instead, he just whispered.
“Not at all,” he said. “I'm always happy to see you too. I was just surprised, that's all.”
My insides turned to mush, and my pulse picked it up a couple of beats. All my problems with Stephen were miles away by now.
“But,” he said, his voice harder than I expected, “I can't have you showing up randomly, especially at work, Camille. I can't let them know that you and I – well, that you and I are anything but doctor and patient. You know what I mean, I hope. It could be very bad for me.”
A lump formed in my throat. “Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to be like that.”
“I know you didn't mean any harm,” he said, looking around the parking lot as if he expected there to be witnesses lurking in the bushes, binoculars and tape recorders in hand, spying on us. “I just have to keep my personal life separate from work.”
“I get it,” I said, my cheeks flushing red. “I should have thought about that I'm sorry, I'll be more careful from now on.”
Preston reached out and stroked my cheek, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. Just then, a car pulled into the parking lot and he stepped back as if I'd shocked him. He stared at me for a long time before giving me an unsure little smile.
“We'll talk later, alright?”
“Oh yeah, sure,” I said.
As he hurried toward the building, he received a phone call. He pulled out his phone and answered it as he walked toward the entrance, talking to someone named Melody. I heard his voice drifting back to me on the cool morning air.
“Yeah, I won't forget,” he said. “Soccer game tomorrow night. I'll be there.”
He stepped inside the building and the rest of the conversation was lost to me. The snippet I'd heard confused me though. My heart thundered in my chest at the realization that I knew so little about this man.
Sure, he was Preston Winters, my friend from high school. The popular kid who'd excelled in everything he touched. The popular kid who'd happened to see me when so many others hadn't. We might have enjoyed geeking out to science fiction movies and Van Gogh, but that was so long ago that it almost didn't even bear mentioning. It was a different life. A different world.
Who was he now? That's what I really wanted to know.
Most importantly though – who in the hell was Melody?