27. Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Nila
“Welcome to the team.” The room bursts into applause at Garrett’s welcome.
I join in, taking in the new CEO of the start-up company. She’s gorgeous, her blonde hair pulled up in a tight bun on the top of her head. Cierra Compton is all business—and I admire her for it. However, I also see the way she’s eyeing Garrett, a twinkle in her eye.
Yeah, all women look at him that way.
It’s become more than apparent to me after just the first few days here.
But me? I can’t get into the charm.
It’s too charming.
Brittany suggested that I should use him as a means to get over Cameron, but—newsflash—it’s not working.
“I just want to say that I’m so happy to see you on the team, Nila.” Cierra extends her hand to me.
I take it, giving her a firm, businesslike shake.
“Thank you. I’m happy to be here.” I force a smile, trying to ignore the pang in my chest that reminds me I’m lying.
Ever since setting foot back in this city last week, everything has felt wrong.
I thought the feeling would wear off, but it hasn’t.
Cierra continues to make her rounds, her slender figure standing taller than most of the men in the room. She’s gorgeous and intelligent. It’s a bombshell combination.
“I think I made a good choice.” Garrett steps in beside me, nudging my arm. “She’s the best of the best. I think the two of you will work smoothly together.”
“Of course.” I can work smoothly with just about anyone. It’s just in my nature.
“And I was just wondering.” Garrett lets out a breath that catches my attention. “Are you free tonight?”
My stomach drops—and not in a good way. “Um...”
“I don’t mean it like that,” he says quickly and with a hearty laugh. “There’s a Gala tonight. I know it’s last minute, but I would love for you to join. There’s a lot of people that I can introduce you to. ”
“Perfect.” I force another smile. “Can I bring a plus-one?”
He cocks a brow at me. “A plus-one? Are you seeing someone?”
That’s a funny question for a client to ask.
“No,” I answer honestly. “But my best friend would be more than happy to come along.”
“The brunette in your most recent Instagram post?”
I don’t show any emotion at him snooping on my Instagram profile. “Yeah, that’s her. I’ll make sure she comes appropriately dressed.”
“Wonderful. I’d love to meet her.”
I’m sure she’d love to meet you, too.
“Perfect,” I say, instantly having the urge to text her and make sure she can make it. I don’t know what she has going on, but I have a good feeling she’ll cancel just about anything to go. We’ve talked every day since that first night out, and honestly, it’s been nice to have someone. I’ve been making a conscious effort to try to let people in more.
I think she’s the only person keeping me sane.
For the rest of the meeting, I stand in the corner of the room, taking a few shots with my camera to add to their social media channels. It’s nothing special, but the images will serve their purpose for content. I listen to Garrett drone on about the finances, and then Cierra takes over and discusses a game plan for our next steps .
I think the company will be successful, and I’ve got a great social media strategy in place for their launch, but honestly, I don’t register a single thing anyone says. I don’t care. I don’t care about business.
Right now, I’m craving connection.
And as much as I’m trying to block Cameron out of my mind…
I still miss him.
“Say cheese ,” Brittany chirps as she holds up her phone to take a selfie with me.
I force a smile.
I should feel incredible tonight. She scored a makeup artist friend to take care of our faces, and considering Brittany herself is a stylist, she ensured our hair was as flawless as our gowns. She’s wearing a fitted burgundy dress, while I’m wearing a shimmering gold one. We look great.
I just wish I felt that way.
“I’ll post this and tag you in it,” Brittany says as we step away from the lighting by the fountain. “I know we have the professional pictures they took at the front, but I still think it’s fun to have our own. ”
“Agreed,” I reply, my eyes scanning the crowd.
My mind conjures up this image of Cameron appearing, decked out in a tuxedo, his hair slicked back—or maybe not. Maybe it’s still slightly disheveled. It suits him. I don’t know why he’d be at an event like this...
But the thought hits, and it lingers as we make our way through the crowd.
There are a lot of faces that I recognize, but I have to admit that none of them truly ring a bell. I spot Cierra and Garrett on the far end, and it doesn’t take long to realize that Cierra is standing with another dark-haired, handsome man—and this one has his arm around her.
I take in the way he looks at her, his hazel eyes glimmering as they stay focused on her face while she speaks. He looks enamored as he admires her, his lips curled slightly upward. It’s cute.
And the pang of jealousy in my chest is as surprising as me noticing it.
“That’s William Kerjowski.”
“Oh?” I turn to Brittany, who appears proud of herself for name-dropping. “Is that someone important?”
“Apparently.” She shrugs. “I read something online that says he has ties to the royal family, so I would assume it’s a big deal. That’s his fiancée.” She points discreetly to Cierra.
“That’s the new CEO of the company I’m working with,” I tell her.
“Oh man, look at you.” She giggles. “So star-studded.”
“Hardly.” I eye one of the waiters and grab a couple of glasses of champagne, handing one to Brittany. “I think we’re going to need these tonight.”
“Oh yeah, most definitely,” she quips before taking a long sip. “I might’ve worked for some celebrities as a stylist, but this is on a whole new level for me.”
“Join the club.” Out of my peripheral, I notice Garrett looking our way. His eyes bounce from me to Brittany...
And they linger on her.
I can’t help but smile at the gesture. She has no idea he’s drinking her in like water in the desert. She’s been drooling over him since the day he announced we were working together on social media. At first, I thought that was the only reason she wanted to be my friend ... but as it turns out, she’s just genuinely a kind person.
And I appreciate our growing friendship.
“Oh my gosh, they’re coming toward us.” Brittany nearly chokes on her drink. “Help me not to act stupid, please .”
“I got you.” I giggle, reaching out and squeezing her arm. “Just play it cool.”
However, I feel my phone buzz in my pocket, and I pull it out of my purse.
Lately, every time it goes off, I immediately check it. And I’m always immediately disappointed when it’s not who I want it to be—not that I have an excuse .
I rejected him .
The notification is just the delayed tag of Brittany’s post, but I open the app anyway.
As soon as I do, I’m met with a smiling picture of Cameron and his friend, Kade. They’re at an Italian restaurant—the same one he took me to.
I click on the picture, accidentally opening his profile in the process.
And that’s when I notice it.
He doesn’t follow me anymore.
There should be a “follows you” after his name. But there’s nothing there. I suppose it could’ve been his new social media manager that did it … but my heart plummets in my chest nonetheless. My night is now ten times worse.
Has he forgotten me? Is he playing games with me?
I don’t know why Cameron would ever play games. He’s never struck me as the type to do something like that. However, I have to admit, I’d rather him be playing games to get me back rather than forget me completely—or maybe he chose not to follow me because I hurt him so badly.
I hate that I hurt him …
“You look incredible.” Cierra’s voice grabs my attention from my phone and I shove it back in my small clutch, forcing myself away from the screen. “I love gold on you.”
“Thank you,” I tell her before turning to Brittany. “This is my plus-one and my friend, Brittany. She’s a professional stylist. ”
Cierra shakes her hand, introducing her fiancé. Garrett takes his turn next, and the way he shakes Brittany’s hand should be illegal. It’s slow, and he lingers with her touch for a few moments longer.
And she eats it up, her face flushing red.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Brittany.”
“You, too,” she says coolly. In fact, she’s so at ease with it that I want to cheer for her. She’s exercising her feminine charm and I’m loving it.
“We should take a few pictures—the five of us,” Garrett says, though his eyes are still on Brittany.”
“Of course.”
Why not post more pictures Cameron’s never going to see?