ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟟
????????????? ????
Cameron ignites the car to life. He turns the GPS on to the address for the party. The one thing I was dreading.
Polly's energy wore me down a lot, so I bet my face looked horrid. I flip the car mirror open, running my hands down my hair. My makeup still looks the same- it's just my expression ruining it. How could it not by the way Polly was belittling me?
Cameron places his hand on my thigh. "Are you okay?"
"No." I say. Honesty slips out easier around him lately- maybe because he never punishes me for it. I watch as his face softens immediately.
Without thinking, he reaches up and brushes a curl behind my ear. The gesture is so gentle it almost embarrasses me.
"You wanna leave after the party starts?" he asks quietly. "We can make an appearance then disappear."
"You say that like your father won't send a search team after us." I let out a dry laugh.
"He'll survive."
I chuckle slightly before looking out the window. Streetlight after streetlight.
"I mean it, Dix. If you're uncomfortable, we don't stay."
I stare at him for a second, biting the inside of my cheek before sighing. How was he simultaneously the calmest person I knew and also the person most capable of driving me clinically insane?
"You'd leave your dad's big company celebration for me?"
"I'd leave literally anything for you."
I blink, like maybe I misheard him through the hum of the engine and the soft blur of streetlights.
"You say things like that too easily," I murmur, trying for lightness, but it comes out quieter than I expect. I blink, like maybe I misheard him through the hum of the engine.
Cameron exhales. "How come you never believe what I say?"
I glance over. "What? You're making zero sense."
"I think I'm making perfect sense. You just don't want to understand."
"I don't want to talk about this," my eyebrows pull together. "Especially not right now."
He nods. "Right, sorry."
The GPS chirps, announcing we're close. My stomach tightens at the thought of polished smiles, loud music, people who already know how to perform in rooms like that.
That's basically what I was built for. Right?
Cameron signals, turning into a wide driveway where cars are already spilling out in glossy clusters. The closer we get, the more ridiculous the houses become.
There are stone gates, a horse sculpture, and a water fountain all in one. Seriously- the house wasn't even for you that you had to get all this?
I sink lower into the leather seat.
Cameron notices, his hand squeezing my thigh once. "Breathe."
"Hard to breathe when you're surrounded by literal gold." I sigh.
We pull up behind a black Bentley, and suddenly there are people everywhere.
"Oh my gosh," I mutter. I stare ahead.
"What?"
"There's so many rich people."
Cameron snorts quietly. "Baby, you're literally a corporate lawyer."
"I earned my suffering."
That makes him laugh. His head dips toward the steering wheel for a second. The sound warms something in my chest despite myself. The valet approaches the car.
Cameron hands him the keys before getting out first. I watch him walk around the front of the car. He looks taller from here- and wildly attractive under the soft lights outside the venue. Then he opens my door.
The moment I take his hand I step out, I immediately regret everything. From my hair, dress and heels, even down to my existence. I smooth my hands down the sides of the fabric nervously.
"Why wouldn't you tell me I am not on theme?" I ask, my hand loose around his.
"What are you talking about? You look good."
I scoff. "Cameron, look around."
"I did." His eyes travel across my face slowly. "I still haven't seen anybody prettier."
I roll my eyes hard, but heat creeps into my cheeks anyway. "You're a terrible liar."
The entrance looks like Ralph West thought he was hosting the Met Gala instead of a company celebration. There are red ropes leading instead, and beside the massive doors are security guards. Earpieces and black suits like the President himself is inside discussing murderous topics.
"You have got to be kidding me." I whisper.
Cameron glances over. "What?"
"Why does your father need security guards?"
He shrugs casually. "I don't know, and I'm his son."
"That's not really the answer I was looking for, Cameron."
"It's the only one I got."
One of the guards steps forward as we approach the entrance. He's tall and fully bald. His head catches the moonlight.
"Good evening."
Cameron nods politely. "Hey. Cameron West."
Recognition immediately flashes across the guard's face. "Mr. West. Of course. Your father mentioned you'd be arriving."
Cameron gestures lightly toward me. "And my wife. Dixie West."
The guard nods once before looking down at the tablet in his hands. Then his eyebrows pull together. What could it be now?
He keeps scrolling before stopping abruptly. Something about the pause quickly irritates me.
Cameron notices too. "Everything alright?"
The guard looks up slowly. "I have Cameron West approved for entry."
"But I don't have her name here." He looks directly at me.
"What?"
The guard remains professional. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but you're not listed for access."
For a moment I genuinely think he's joking. I even laugh a little, mostly for my sanity. "No, check again."
"I already did."
I smile tightly. "Check again carefully, this time."
"She's my wife." Cameron straightens slightly.
"I understand that, sir."
"Then why are we still having this conversation?"
The guard scrolls again anyway, probably to avoid Cameron's stare.
"No Dixie West on the guest approval list."
My chest immediately tightens. I already know exactly who took me off that darn list. Polly. Apparently, this lady's new hobby was humiliating me in front of crowds of people.
Cameron exhales sharply through his nose. "That's impossible."
"I'm just following the list I was given."
I step closer. "Can I see it?"
The guard hesitates. "I'd really rather not hand over security documents, ma'am."
"I'm not asking you to hand over national intelligence. Let me see the stupid list."
The guard finally angles the tablet slightly toward me.
There wasn't even an attempt at Dixie West. There were hundreds of executives, and investors, but no Dixie.
I stare at the screen for another second before laughing softly in disbelief. "That is unbelievable."
"She was invited." Cameron's jaw tightens.
"I understand, sir, but if she's not on the approved list, I can't allow entry."
"Oh my gosh," I mutter, rubbing my forehead. I can feel my anger beginning to boil under my skin.
I look up slowly. "What's your name?"
"Excuse me?" The guard blinks.
"I'm not speaking Japanese."
"Uh, Daniel."
"Daniel," I repeat calmly. "Do you know who I am?"
He doesn't reply, but that only fuels me to keep going.
I fold my arms. "Daniel, I am one of the top attorneys in this country. I have connections you probably cannot even pronounce."
I watch as he bites his cheek uncomfortably.
"You are standing here telling me I cannot enter a party hosted by my own husband's family because a certain somebody forgot to type my name into a tablet."
"Ma'am, I'm just doing my jo-"
"I know you're doing your job," I cut in sharply. "But right now your job is making me homicidal."
"Dixie," Cameron says, warning hidden in his voice.
I ignore him completely. "Do you understand how humiliating this is?"
"No, seriously," I continue. "I would love for you to explain to me why Ralph West's daughter-in-law is standing outside like a random trespasser."
"Sir," the guard says toward Cameron now, clearly hoping for rescue, "I really can't override the list."
"No, don't look at him for help." I cross my arms, standing in front of Cameron slightly. I trip over my words as he rubs my lower back slightly.
"Daniel, you better let me in this stupid venue right now." I say, closing my eyes briefly.
"I can't."
"But you can."
"I'd lose my job."
"And I can make you lose it faster." I say smoothly.
"Dixie." This time Cameron's voice is firmer.
I inhale sharply through my nose, trying to calm down before I actually lose my mind in front of a valet stand. The guard genuinely looks overwhelmed now. Poor guy.
I know this wasn't his fault, and that he never partook in creating this list. It clearly had Polly written all over it. Polly with her fake smiles and hidden cruelty.
I point toward the doors.
"Daniel, look at me carefully." My voice softens slightly. "Does it seem realistic to you at all that Cameron West would arrive at his father's event with a random woman in a red dress?"
The guard hesitates. "No, ma'am."
"Exactly."
Cameron coughs quietly beside me, clearly trying not to laugh at the phrase random woman in a red dress. I shoot him a glare, and of course he immediately looks away.
The guard looks back at me. Then finally, his shoulders sag slightly in defeat. "You can go in, ma'am."
Victory.
I stare at him for another second before my anger cools just enough for my humanity to return.
I sigh. "Thank you."
Now that the rage fog is clearing, I can tell he was genuinely just stuck in the middle. I step closer slightly, lowering my voice.
"For the record, I know this probably wasn't your fault."
"Thank you, ma'am." Relief flashes across his face so fast it almost makes me feel bad for terrorizing him.
I nod once before turning sharply toward the entrance, Cameron following after.
~
It's even more extravagant inside. Several chandeliers hang high, casting a warm golden glow over everyone, including me. Cameron guides me with his hand on my lower back. I let him.
The room is massive- glass walls, marble floors polished enough to see reflections. I suddenly understand why Ralph needed security guards- there had to be at least two hundred people here.