Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Camille
It was official. She wanted Freddy next to her every morning when she woke up. It felt like their relationship was moving fast, but that’s because her emotions were moving fast. Lying on her back in the bed alone, wishing he was there, she had to face the fact that she wasn’t falling… she’d fallen.
Just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Which was in two days.
They’d known each other for a little over a month.
Yeah, but what a month.
Maybe the old saying was true—when you knew, you knew.
Didn’t matter how long it had been. That’s why she’d taken him to meet her mom yesterday.
She wasn’t sure if he realized what a big deal that was, although he’d seemed like he understood at least a little.
He’d also been sensitive enough to know she still wanted a little time alone with her mom.
They should probably talk about it, but it felt like it was too soon. It was too soon, right? She shook her head.
Today, she would be handing in her resignation to Donaldson, so she needed to get her head in the game. She could figure out relationship stuff later. Unlike her job, which was much more pressing.
She wished she felt nothing but relief at handing in her resignation, and she was absolutely thrilled to be moving to a new firm, but there was still a part of her that almost didn’t believe it.
That worried someone at Donaldson might ruin everything, even though she’d already signed on with Murdoch and had the official offer letter and everything.
Even though Emily Murdoch had reassured her they weren’t going to listen to anything anyone at Donaldson had to say about her.
It all felt almost too good to be true. First, Julie reaching out to her and rekindling that friendship, as well as finding new friends. Then meeting Freddy, and him actually wanting to stick around through the Alexander’s case, and how amazing he was. Now, the new job she’d been wanting?
It was hard not to be fearful that something terrible was going to happen, as if the universe might balance the scales because too many good things were happening to her.
She didn’t like to think of herself as superstitious, but it was harder to accept good things happening to her than it was bad.
She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Her phone buzzed as she was putting on her coat, indicating an incoming text message. It was from Freddy, of course.
Freddy: Have a great day and let me know how it goes.
She smiled.
Their celebration dinner last night had been perfect.
Just the two of them, out to dinner, enjoying each other’s company.
He’d insisted on paying. Despite whatever drama was going on at Stronghold, he’d focused entirely on her for the whole evening.
Granted, they’d talked in the car on the way there about what Lexie, Kate, Gina, and Amy had said about the situation because Camille had been curious, but he’d let it go once they got to dinner and only talked about enjoyable topics.
She was still going to check in with Julie and Olivia.
She wanted to help and make sure Freddy didn’t overload himself.
People in the club were going to have to get used to her being a part of things when they asked him for help—and to her occasionally putting her foot down so Freddy wasn’t prioritizing everyone else over himself.
Right now, it was looking like nothing was actually going on other than a few people not getting along, and she wasn’t going to let him run himself ragged trying to navigate someone else’s drama.
Camille: Thank you, I’ll talk to you later. Have a good day!
Freddy: Have a GREAT day.
Smiling, feeling a little lighter, the exchange lifting some of her anxiety, she headed out the door. Some of that anxiety returned when she reached the office and Rachel looked up from her computer at the front desk, her expression freezing when she saw it was Camille.
“Good morning,” Camille said, pretending to ignore Rachel’s reaction. She had no idea what the woman had heard, but Junior must have said something either to her or within her hearing.
“Morning. Um, you’re wanted in Conference Room 3 as soon as you arrive.” The sympathy in Rachel’s eyes would have made Camille quake in her boots on any other day. Now, her resignation letter was burning a hole in her purse.
“Thank you, Rachel,” she said calmly, turning to head down the hall to the conference room rather than her office. Behind her, she could hear Rachel picking up the phone and murmuring something, probably a heads up that Camille was on her way.
She was pretty sure the unexpected summons was meant to intimidate her, make her worry about what Junior had told the other partners.
When she walked into Conference Room 3 and found herself facing the partners who were in the office, with Junior smirking in the middle of them, she went from pretty sure to completely sure.
It was a room full of old, white men, most looking at her with varying degrees of disapproval. Junior’s Uncle Steve was doing something on his phone, and he barely glanced up when she walked in, appearing more indifferent than disapproving.
“Camille, thank you for coming to meet with us. Please sit down.” Donaldson Senior sat with his hands folded in front of him, his expression less disapproving than it was serious, but the disapproval was still there.
Deciding to take a seat, Camille sat straight, settling her purse at her side. She wasn’t sure whether to be amused or angered at the attempted ambush. What did they actually hope to accomplish?
“Jared came to us with some unsettling news about an encounter he had with you this weekend. Is it true you have been dating the lawyer representing Mrs. Alexander?”
“Yes and no,” she replied. “We were not dating while we were representing the Alexanders. As you know, the Alexanders’ divorce has been finalized, so there is nothing wrong with us having dinner together this past weekend.”
“Can you prove that you weren’t dating him while you were representing Mr. Alexander?” Junior asked with a smug expression. He was clearly enjoying himself.
Camille’s anger started to stir.
While she could appreciate that the partners wanted to make sure nothing unethical had happened, this was going too far. Not one of them reprimanded him but actually looked at her expectantly.
“Can I prove that something didn’t happen?” she asked coolly, raising one eyebrow. “No, I cannot. Not anymore than I can prove Santa Claus doesn’t exist or that aliens aren’t out there.”
Steve chuckled, which caused a few heads to turn toward him, but he was still engrossed in his phone.
Whether he was laughing at her response or at whatever he was looking at on his phone was debatable.
Since he didn’t look up or say anything else, everyone turned away from him after a moment.
Camille pressed her lips together to keep from laughing, some of the tension sliding away in favor of relief that she wasn’t going to have to put up with this any longer.
She should really put them all out of their misery.
“I hate to break up this interrogation into my personal life, which is none of your business, but it’s all a moot point.
” Several of the partners’ jaws dropped, including Donaldson Senior, which was incredibly satisfying.
She reached into her purse and pulled out the resignation letter from the side pocket.
“Here’s my resignation from the firm. I’ll work with you to move any of my clients over to new partners during my remaining weeks. ”
“You’re leaving us for him?” Junior sounded outraged, sitting straight up and banging one fist on the table, startling her.
She hadn’t thought he would care or if he did, he would be glad to see her go, but instead, he seemed pissed. Then again, he was probably like Mr. Alexander with his desire to be the one to leave any relationship, taking being left as a personal affront.
“No, I’m leaving this job for another one…
as people often do. I am very grateful for everything I’ve learned working here, but it’s time for me to move on.
” Despite the desire to throw a grenade on the bridge and watch it burn, she was going to be a professional.
She still had to work here for another month.
Silently, Donaldson Senior reached over to slide the letter closer to him and gave it a quick read through. As he was doing so, Steve Donaldson finally looked up from his phone.
“Where are you going?”
“Murdoch,” she said. They’d find out soon enough.
“Ah, good choice.” She blinked in surprise, but he was already getting to his feet. “Well, if that’s everything, I have actual work to do today. I don’t need to be here while Junior has a tantrum about his crush finding a real boyfriend.”
Now it was Camille’s turn for a jaw drop, and she wasn’t the only one. Junior turned bright red and started yelling at his uncle, who ignored him as he made his way out of the room. Deciding no one was going to stop her, Camille followed him, leaving Junior shouting in the room behind her.
A crush? Ew. Ew. Ew.
She didn’t bother to try to catch up with Steve, not wanting to know if he’d said it to be a jerk or because he truly believed it. If he truly believed it, she was going to be really grossed out.
She would probably laugh about this later—once she stopped being mortified.
Freddy
Camille: Wow, do I have a story to tell you later. But my resignation is officially turned in.
Freddy: Wait, you’re just going to tease me like that?
Camille: Yup.
Freddy: Rude.
Camille: It’s too much to type out. And watch your tone.
Freddy: Rude, ma’am.
The laughing emoji she sent back reassured him his text was received in the manner it had been intended.
Camille: Dinner tonight so I can tell you all about it?
Freddy: It’s a date.
Grinning, he put his phone down on his desk. They still hadn’t talked about Valentine’s Day and if they were doing anything, but he took that she wanted to spend another meal with him as a good sign. They’d spent almost the entire weekend together, though he had slept in his own bed last night.
He’d bring up Valentine’s Day tonight and see if she wanted to do anything. Maybe he should get a card asking if she wanted to be his Valentine. That would be cute, right?
Humming happily under his breath, he got to work, staying focused until it was time for him to meet Morgan for lunch.
The weather was cold, but not too terrible, so he decided to walk to the restaurant.
He was walking up to the entrance when a car pulled up and Morgan got out of the back, waving at the driver. She brightened when she saw him.
“Hey!”
“Hey, let’s get you inside where it’s warm,” he said, frowning at her attire. She was dressed in jeans and a sweater but no coat.
“Oh, I’m fine, I knew I was just going from the car to the restaurant.” She let him hustle her inside despite her reassurance, and they nearly ran into the backs of three women who were standing in front of the host desk. Three very familiar women.
Mistress Julie and Mistress Camille turned around to see who had just come in behind them in such a rush, but Mistress Olivia was talking to the host. Freddy’s heart rate kicked up in surprised delight, his gaze meeting Camille’s.
“Well, hello there,” Camille said, eyes brightening with happiness when she saw him. “What are you two doing here?”
“Getting lunch,” Morgan replied, smiling at the other three women. She was standing straight and at attention from the moment the three Dominants had noticed her. She wasn’t being bratty, just answering the question literally as she often did.
“Is it a special meeting, or would you like to join us?” Olivia asked, looking over her shoulder at them. There was no demand in her voice or anything to push either way. Morgan looked at Freddy. He tilted his head questioningly at her. Her tiny nod and bright eyes were enough for him to answer.
“We’d love to join you,” he said. He hadn’t noticed any hesitation in Morgan.
If anything, she looked excited to be having lunch with the Dommes.
Hopefully, she didn’t say anything insulting during lunch, even though they’d understand.
She’d come a long way from when she’d first come to Stronghold, when she’d had some very odd ideas about Dominants and submissives—especially about Dommes—including what they should ‘look’ like.
None of which was her fault, but it had definitely made for some awkwardness.
It didn’t take them long to be shown to a table.
Freddy sat with Morgan on one side and Camille on the other.
Morgan was practically bouncing in her seat, looking pleased as punch.
He might need to encourage the Dommes to spend more time with her.
She tended to gravitate towards spending time with men, but obviously, she found something exciting about being around several female Dominants.
Besides, seeing how powerful, confident women acted could only be good for her.
Once they’d ordered their food, Camille told the story of turning in her resignation. Freddy hadn’t wanted to ask in case she didn’t want to share in front of everyone, but he was thrilled he didn’t have to wait until dinner tonight. Though, he was also incensed on her behalf.
“I’m so glad you’re not going to be working there anymore,” he said, reaching over to take her hand. She squeezed his fingers.
“Me, too. I just have to get through this last month and make sure all my clients are taken care of, but I already feel so much better knowing I have an end date.” She sighed with relief and shook her head. “I feel like I’ve just lost a huge weight from around my neck.”
“You did,” Olivia said. “They were dragging you down and have been for a while.”
“It’s true. I don’t really want to talk about that, though.” Camille laughed. “I’m feeling too good. What else can we talk about that’s not a downer or reminiscing on negativity?”
“Lexie wants me to be Master Asad’s fake girlfriend, but I’m not sure if I should,” Morgan blurted out.
Freddy nearly choked on the water he’d just taken a sip of.