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CHAPTER FOUR

My day was thrown off because of that stupid dream. At work, I stormed down the hallway, passing by the offices of some of my employees until I reached one of my marketing specialist’s office. I rapped my knuckles against the door and stepped inside.

Austin quickly straightened up in his office chair, abandoning his phone on the desk. He cleared his throat and offered me a sheepish smile. “Alison, can I help you?”

“You can help me by meeting your deadlines and staying off your phone. The website was supposed to be updated yesterday.”

Austin’s eyes widened, looking like a deer in headlights. He was young, but he had been working here for a few years already. He knew what my expectations were, and missed deadlines slowed the whole system down.

“I’m sorry. I ran into some issues and had to reach out to IT,” Austin explained as he gestured to his computer.

I breathed in sharply through my nose. He couldn’t help IT issues, but I doubted he was texting the IT guy on his phone. “I need the website updated ASAP.”

Austin immediately nodded and turned to his computer. “Yes, of course.”

I strode out of his office. Everything felt like it was slipping through my fingers, which was awful, because this was the one place I was supposed to have control.

On my way to my own office, I rounded the corner and nearly ran straight into Stacy, a content manager. I jerked to a stop, as my right heel wobbled. I grabbed at the nearby wall to steady myself, and it was like fuel had been thrown on a live fire.

“Oh! Sorry, Alison,” Stacy apologized, reaching out like she was going to straighten me up. The aggravated look on my face must have made her think twice. “I didn’t see you coming.”

“Neither did I,” I replied, ice seeping into my voice. “I was meaning to talk to you anyway. Where is next month’s content calendar?”

Stacy blinked in surprise. “Oh, I told you a few days ago that I would turn it in next Monday.”

I furrowed my brow, my mind working to remember this conversation that I seemed to have forgotten. “Not this Friday?”

Stacy nodded, her body tensing like she was bracing herself for an explosion. “I needed an exception this time because I have a doctor’s appointment.”

That rang a bell. Why was I forgetting these things? Probably because I was distracted.

“I’ll need it by end of day Monday,” I said before walking past her, making a beeline for my office before something else drove me crazy.

I shut my door behind me and sighed deeply, relieved to be away from everyone else. After gathering myself, I sat down at my desk and logged onto my computer, my fingers flying over the keys. I pulled up my email, my latest documents, my calendar, and anything else that shifted my focus to work and work only.

I wouldn’t think about the dream. I wouldn’t think about last night’s disastrous date. I wouldn’t think about the conversation I had with Cameron and his warm hand on my arm.

Eventually, all the overwhelming noise quieted down, and I lost myself in what I knew best. There was nothing more comforting than getting the job done and knowing that all this hard work was going to pay off.

Suddenly, Cameron slipped into my office, shattering my concentration. He was wearing his usual suit and tie, and looked good, the way he always did.

I tore my eyes away from him, focusing on the email I was drafting. “Yes?”

Cameron approached my desk. “You’re scaring everyone.”

“Telling people to do their jobs and stick to their deadlines is me scaring people?” I asked without looking away from my screen.

Cameron rested his palms on my desk and leaned forward, making me look at him. His presence easily filled the room, dominating the space with his height and breadth. He gave me a pointed look like he could see past my cold words.

It drove me crazy. He was my assistant . The employee who kept me up to date on things I needed to do and grabbed me coffee when my momentum was running out. He wasn’t supposed to look at me like…like he could see past my defenses. Like he was concerned about me.

“Did something happen last night after we spoke? Did that man upset you?” he asked.

My brows jumped up. “No, last night was… fine. Why are you bringing it up?”

“You didn’t leave with him.”

“Oh, so you were watching me?” I snapped. Despite my tone, the thought of him keeping an eye on my last night sent a thrill through me. “Shouldn’t you have been paying attention to your own date?”

“Did you see I was with someone?”

“Of course, I did,” I said. “It’s not like the restaurant was very large.”

“Her name is — ”

“I don’t care,” I interrupted.

That hung in the air, tense silence stretching out. I fought the urge to cringe. I shouldn’t have been so rude, but I would have rather stick my hand in a beehive than listen to Cameron tell me all about his perfect girlfriend.

“I’m not here to antagonise you, Alison,” he said eventually. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay. You seemed upset.”

“I’m not upset,” I said, then sighed. “I’m just stressed about work.”

He nodded with understanding. “Is there anything I can do to help you relax?”

The memory of my heated dream immediately filled my head, reminding me of how good he looked between my legs. Heat formed low in my stomach.

“W-what?” I asked, my voice coming out unsteady as my heart skipped.

Cameron smiled, and I half expected dirty words to spill from his mouth like they did in my dream. “I could book you a spa appointment. That’s one of your favorite ways to wind down, isn’t it?”

Of course. This wasn’t my dream, and thank god for that.

“No, I’m fine,” I said.

“Well, let me know if you change your mind. You know that I’m happy to help.”

Because it was his job. Nothing more .

“I’m fine,” I repeated.

There was a moment of silence after that. Tension hung in the air like we were waiting for something to happen, for someone to say something.

I couldn’t stand it anymore. “Was there anything else?” I asked.

He blinked, then straightened up. “Vantage Tech wants to negotiate some terms in the contract, Mr. Richards has agreed to meet you next Tuesday at 11 A.M, and Anderson has left for his annual leave. Oh, I almost forgot.” He pulled an envelope out of his back pocket. “The tickets for the charity auction tomorrow came in.” He handed the envelope to me, an electric surge traveling between our fingers as they brushed.

“Charity auction?” I asked.

“You ordered them months ago for you and a friend,” Cameron replied.

I opened the envelope and took a look at the tickets. 20th Annual Business Association Auction.

Right, of course. Months ago, Emilia and I had decided to go. These types of events were mostly for networking and showing off how much money someone had, but it was for a good cause and an excuse to dress to the nines. This year, the auction was donating money to cancer research.

I tucked the tickets back into the envelope and set it on my desk. “Is that all?” I asked, turning my attention back to Cameron.

“What are you going to wear?”

My brow furrowed. “To the auction?”

Cameron smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’ll run whatever you’re thinking of wearing to the dry cleaners.”

Right. He was simply being thoughtful, like always.

“I’m not sure yet,” I admitted. There were quite a few options in my closet that I used for other events, and I didn’t feel like shopping for something new in the limited time that I had.

“Wear the red dress,” Cameron told me.

The off-the-shoulder red dress with a fitted bodice that cascaded down to my ankles where I typically wore my best pair of heels. My favorite part was the thigh high slit at the front.

“It’s my favorite,” Cameron added.

My breath hitched as our eyes locked, warmth stirring low in my stomach as my thoughts took off. What ran through his mind when he saw me in that dress? Was it the thigh slit that he liked the most? Or the way the dress hugged my curves in all the right places?

Stop it, Alison.

I almost felt taunted, which made me that much more frustrated.

“I’ll think about it.” I told him dryly before turning back to my computer.

Cameron lingered. I thought he was going to break the silence, but eventually he left the office and shut the door behind him.

The following day, I was determined to make the most of it. Not only was it the weekend, but I would get to dress up with one of my best friends and donate to charity.

As my coffee maker rumbled and hummed, I grabbed a white mug from one of my kitchen cupboards, breathing in the bold, smooth smell of freshly brewed coffee. My head subtly nodded to an upbeat tune stuck in my mind, sunlight washing over my open kitchen.

My phone rang, and I picked it up off the marble kitchen island, seeing Emilia’s name on the screen. I tapped the answer button and pressed my phone against my ear. “Excited for tonight?”

Emilia let out a weak laugh, her voice hoarse.

I frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“I have the flu,” she sighed.

My eyes widened. “The flu?”

“I’m sorry. I — ” she was interrupted by a burst of coughing. “I have to bail.”

“Don’t apologise. Get lots of rest, okay?” I tried to sound positive despite my disappointment. I’d been looking forward to today, and I could admit that I could stand to spend more time with my friends outside of work. There was definitely an imbalance when it came to dividing up my time. “Do you need me to bring over soup or medicine?”

“No, no. I have everything I need, and you need to get ready for tonight,” she said. “See if Brooke will go with you to the auction. She loves a good party,” Emilia suggested.

She was right. Brooke might’ve been a lawyer, but she wasn’t overly serious or stiff. Her law school days were full of wild nights.

“I’ll call her now. Get better soon,” I said, bidding her goodbye before I hung up and immediately called Brooke. The phone rang a few times before there was a familiar crackle as Brooke picked up.

“Hello?” There were faint voices in the background.

“Hey, are you busy?” I asked as I leaned my back against the island, toying with the tie of my white robe.

“I’m about to go into my Pilates class. What’s up?” Brooke asked.

“Are you busy tonight? Emilia was going to attend this charity auction with me, but she has the flu,” I explained. “Do you want to go with me?”

“I wish I could, but I have a family dinner tonight. You know how my mom is. If I don’t show up, I’ll be hearing about it for weeks.”

“That’s okay. I’ll figure something out.” Today was already starting to fall apart, and I hadn’t even gotten to enjoy my coffee yet.

“You should ask Russell to go with you!” Brooke suggested.

I wrinkled my nose. I could already picture Russell boasting all night about how much money he made.

I still hadn’t told Emilia and Brooke about the disastrous date that I had with him. They had been so excited to throw me back into the dating game, so I didn’t want them to disappoint them.

“I doubt he’ll want to go. It’s too last minute anyway,” I said, grasping for any excuse that I could think of to shoot down her idea.

“How about Cameron, then?”

My heart stopped. “Cameron? No… I couldn't…”

“Why not? It’s kind of a work event, right?” Brooke pointed out. “You know that he would be good company.”

I parted my lips to argue, but I couldn’t think of anything to say.

“Are you going to ask him? I think you should,” Brooke added, already sounding victorious.

What other choice did I have? I didn’t want to go alone, Cameron knew about the event, and I had to admit, he was great company. He was kind and charming and confident and…

And deep down, I did want to go with him. I wanted him to compliment my dress, I wanted us to drink champagne together, I wanted us to exchange glances when the other guests were being ridiculous.

“I guess I could ask him,” I replied, trying to hide the flicker of excitement in my chest.

“That’s what I’m talking about! Alright, I gotta go — my class is starting soon. Have a good time!” Brooke said, before hanging up.

I lowered my phone, preparing for the third phone call of the day. My thumb hovered over the call button on Cameron’s contact, a nervous sensation filling my stomach. I felt like a teenager asking a crush out on a date.

I sucked in a deep breath before hitting the call button. Only two rings passed before Cameron picked up the phone, which was his typical response time whenever I reached out to him.

“Alison,” he answered. “How can I help?”

“Cameron,” I said, willing my voice to steady itself as the pressure of my question rose in my chest like a bubble. “Sorry to call you on a Saturday. Are you busy?”

“You never have to apologize for contacting me. I’m available 24/7,” Cameron replied.

“I need you to go with me to the charity auction tonight.”

“I’ll pick you up at six,” Cameron said after a moment.

My eyes widened in surprise. I knew that he was flexible, but he was good to go just like that? “It’s black tie.”

“I have a suit,” Cameron replied. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to embarrass you.”

I shook my head. “You couldn’t ever do that. ”

Oops. I hadn’t meant to let that slip.

“Then, I’ll see you tonight,” Cameron told me, letting his smile shine through his warm voice.

“See you then,” I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.

We ended the call, but his words echoed in my ears. I pushed them away. It was time to be productive.

I took my cup of coffee to my home office, where I worked on my desktop computer. I tried not to think too much about what my friends would say if they saw me. It’s Saturday, I imagined Emilia saying. You’ve worked hard all week — give yourself a break. You should be at a spa, getting ready for tonight, not working, Brooke would say. How much more money and success do you possibly need?

The truth was, there wasn’t a limit. I didn’t have a magical number I wanted to hit in my bank account balance, or a certain accolade I wanted Firth Marketing to achieve. All I knew was that I had to work. It was a habit, a compulsion. If I worked enough, maybe I wouldn’t notice how quiet my apartment was.

Suddenly, Anderon’s voice came to me. Your work is impressive, but there’s nothing more important than love.

With a groan, I shoved that sentimental nonsense out of my mind and put all of my attention on the campaign documents before me.

When evening approached, I finally got up from my desk and started to get ready. As I curled my hair, I wished Emilia was with me. It was always more fun to get ready with a friend, and we would consult each other on makeup looks or which accessories to wear.

After what felt like an eternity, I’d finished my hair and completed my makeup: cat eyeliner to accentuate my brown eyes, blush and bronzer on my cheekbones, my lips painted a bold red that would match my dress.

A quick check of my phone showed I only had ten minutes until Cameron was due to arrive. My lounge clothes formed a pile on the floor as I pulled them off, my stomach flip flopping as I grabbed my dress from my closet — the red dress. Secretly, it was also my favorite.

I zipped up the dress and slipped on a pair of heels. When I looked in the mirror, I looked…well, nice, but also…nervous. My mouth was twisted and there was a worry line between my brows.

Calm down. I went to more business events than I could count, but this felt like it bordered on… a date. It wasn’t by any means, but it had the pressure of one because Cameron was going with me.

We were dressing up. Attending as a pair. Spending hours together over expensive drinks and tasty hors d'oeuvres. How would I be able to bear tonight?

Suddenly, there was a knock on my front door.

The air left my lungs, leaving me breathless as I quickly took one more look into the mirror to make sure everything was perfect. I could’ve added a little more volume to the back of my hair, but I had no time for that. I had to go.

I took a deep breath and strode to the front door. When I opened it, Cameron stood on my doorstep, wearing a tuxedo with a matching black bow tie. His hair was combed, his jaw impeccably shaved, and he wore cologne that was bold with a hint of something sweet, taking over my senses and momentarily rendering me speechless.

He looked amazing.

Cameron flashed me a half-smile and gestured to me. “You look incredible.”

An uncontrollable blush rose to my cheeks.

“So do you,” I said as a small smile formed on my lips. “Thank you for coming with me on such short notice.”

“It’s my pleasure.” When he extended his arm out to me, I wrapped my fingers around his bicep, swallowing hard at the firmness of his muscles. I stepped out of my apartment, my side bumping against his as I moved too fast.

His free hand rested on top of mine, helping steady me as our eyes locked. “Ready?”

For a second, I forgot what he was asking that I was ready for. Heated electricity charged the air between us, making my heart race when I realized just how close we were. Mere inches separated our faces. Centimeters lingered between our bodies.

“Ready,” I said softly.