Chapter 49 - Intruding

"I can't believe Carl saw you two together in the restaurant!" My sister exclaimed digging the tablespoon in the ice cream and taking a mouthful.

She let it melt in her mouth and then swallowed down, she gestured with the spoon.

"Moreover he was even with that girl! And he dared to be the one mad?" Evelyn complained.

I nodded.

I couldn't believe it either.

"However it's time for me to focus on my career and leave men behind so that I find the time to fully move on with my life," I confessed, even if it wasn't completely the truth since I just accepted Cameron's proposal to start seeing him more seriously. But I wasn't sure whether I could tell Evelyn the truth or not, I had to ask Cameron first.

"Focus on your career had always been your specialty." She said smiling and I nodded.

"Mom told me you want to move to a new house?" I asked while I walked to get a spot so I could have some of the ice creams.

She nodded as she continue to eat, "yes, I want to get a bigger house in case Julien ever moved here from France."

A smile grew on my lips, I couldn't imagine how hard a long-distance relationship could be, but I was still happy to hear she had projects for them in the future.

"Mom will be happy to hear the reason behind your moving," I said with a sigh of resentment, remembering how excited I was at the idea of moving with Carl and how lovely and sweet was to visit every house in the city in the search of a good one which would satisfy both our tastes.

"Yes, she will surely be happy." She said in a murmur but I deciphered there was something wrong in her voice, like if she was hiding something or if she wasn't so happy as she was supposed to be.

Maybe it was only because of the distance or because of a wrong impression I was having but she didn't even sound excited at all.

"Are you fine?" I asked.

"Yes, I am." She went to wash the spoon and then changed the subject of our conversation making me doubt the truthfulness of her answer.

"If you want to talk about it, I am here," I said, spotting the hint of a smile on her face.

Surely enough there was something off about their relationship with Julien, maybe they were arguing or she just was sad because she missed him.

However, I didn't want to pressure her too much about that matter so I decided to let it go and talk about something else.

"If you want I can accompany you to see the houses," I suggested and her smile grew bigger.

"I would appreciate it, thanks. I need some company."

"Then call me when you find a potential house and I will find time to come with you."

"I am happy you find time for me, I don't know what happens to you but you're prioritizing me more and I couldn't be happier. I need my sister now."

I hugged her from behind, "I promise I will prioritize you from now on."

She wrapped her hands around my hands and tugged her head on my shoulders.

About one hour later she went back to her house to fix the last things in the boxes while I spent the rest of the Sunday reading and watching some shows on tv.

I fell asleep very early so the next day I had rested enough to wake even earlier than usual.

I took some time to have breakfast and then choose a good outfit and do my hair, curling it slightly.

My heart speeded in my chest thinking of Cameron and just the thought of seeing him again was making me so happy.

Since I was way too early I drove to the coffee shop and bought two coffee, then I brought them to work.

Cameron wasn't already there but I put the coffee on the desk waiting for him while I smiled like a teenager at the thought of her first crush.

He walked in ten minutes later looking even more charming than usual.

I saw him walking in with Simon's assistant, that girl didn't seem willing to let him go.

However, I knew that Cameron didn't want her, also because one of his rules was to be fully honest with the other and not share the parter with anyone else besides the person you fully commit to.

When Cameron walked in the girl was still following him, so I heard her talk and ask him out. "Simon told me that I may help you and join in your work since he is away those days."

Cameron looked at me begging me to come to his aid.

But before I could even intervene or make up an excuse to refuse her help, she already sat on the chair next to Cameron and set her elbow on my desk.

She rested her chin on the palm of her hand waiting for me to start.

She was Simon's assistant so it wasn't my business to ask her to leave and even if I did I knew she wouldn't obey me.

Cameron looked at me with an apologizing gaze, his facial expression was tensed and I assumed he was just as annoyed as me for her intrusion.

"Alright, then we can start," I said, sounding slightly nervous. I wasn't used to having someone watch me working.

"I can make a few calls to rent a place for the event," I browsed through some addressed and wrote down the numbers I had to call.

"I will take care of the other clients and see if I can find something useful." He turned on his laptop while Patricia pushed the chair closer to him.

"I can help you if you need." She whispered but due to our closeness, I managed to hear it and also see her hand placing on his leg.

I breathed inwardly and swallowed down the urge to call her out, not because I was jealous but because her behavior was so ridiculous.

Cameron shook his leg to depart from her touch and drifted his gaze to meet her for some instants, "please. I like to work in silence."

His mandible tensed, he was irritated.

He darted back his gaze on his laptop and silence fell in.

When I found the first number I called so my voice broke the cold atmosphere. Despite Cameron's refusal and palpable disinterest, Patricia wasn't willing to give up.

When the call was over, she offered me a bright smile, "Lily, you look glowing today." I unconsciously wrinkled my nose, she wasn't supposed to notice nor to expose it, now Cameron would think I dressed up for him and I'd look embarrassing ridiculous to his eyes.

"Thank you," I smiled at her by curving my lips slightly but the smile didn't touch my impassible eyes.

"You always looked good, I wonder why your husband had to cheat on you."

Touche, If I didn't dislike her enough already after that touchless sentence my despise raised.

Was she doing it purposely because she found out there was something between Cameron and me?

"Yes, sometimes people do mistakes but I am glad I found out so that I can move on," I said not even looking at her straight in her eyes as my gaze was glued on the paper to fill to rent the place.

"Are you moving on? Is there someone who is filling his place?" She inquired with an amused yet curious tone of voice.

She was setting the ground to see if there was something between Cameron and me.

That's when I looked up to her and tilted my head to the side, I massaged my neck to release some tension.

I smiled, "why are you all of a sudden so interested in my personal life?" I tried to sound amused even if I doubted anything was funny in that scene.

Cameron's forehead creased, he was even more bothered by our interaction and he probably figured out I was in difficulty.

"I am just curious and making sure you're fine."

"Thank you for caring, I am fine," I said nodding and taking a few sips of my coffee.

"What about you?" She darted her gaze to Cameron, "are you currently taken?"

My heart doubled over and shivers ran through my veins, for some seconds my gaze blankly stared at him waiting for him to reply.

That was her true purpose, to ask if he was single and if he was then maybe attempt a move.

"You two kinda look close as if you'd worked together for a long time.." She continued, the tension in the room was even more palpable. I barely talked to her in all those years and now she felt confident enough to dig in my personal life and make assumptions about the people I work with?