It was a quiet Saturday afternoon.
Cameron was at home, tutoring Xander as usual, while Elijah sat nearby, reading.
Elijah had officially moved into the unit next door earlier that week.
They''d gone from school roommates to neighbors in just a few days.
Austin was the only one missing from their usual group today.
Bradley, meanwhile, had been swamped with work and hadn''t shown up at all.
Xander and Elijah, like they''d nned it, showed up right after breakfast and parked themselves in Cameron''s living room without so much as an invitation.
Cameron sighed but still let them in politely.
Halfway through the session, Cameron''s phone rang. It was a call from the building''s security gate. Apparently, a "Mr. Young" was at the entrance asking
to see her.
Mark had introduced himself as Skyler''s father.
Cameron didn''t hesitate. “I''m busy,” she said bluntly, not wanting to talk about the post thing at all.
Mark, however, had already taken over the call. "Cameron, I''m sorry to bother you," he said in a calm, almost apologetic tone.
"I''m Skyler''s father. I know my daughter made some big mistakes, and I''d really like to apologize to you in person. Just a few minutes of your time- would that be alright?"
"I said I''m busy," Cameron replied, her voice cold.
"I just want to apologize face-to-face," Mark pressed. "That''s all. No agenda."
"Not necessary."
Cameron hung up without another word.
"Who was that?" Xander asked, his curiosity piqued.
"No one," Cameron replied tly.
Xander rolled his eyes. "So secretive."
Elijah, setting down his pen, chimed in, "You''ve been studying long enough. How about a break?"
"Mind your own business," Xander shot back.
Elijah raised a brow but didn''t take the bait.
Cameron checked the time and said, "That''s enough for today."
"Two hours," she reminded Xander.
"I''ll transfer it now," he replied immediately, sending over 70 thousand without hesitation.
Cameron nced at the bnce on her ount. Her lips curved into a subtle smile.
Over a million now. One step closer tounching my pharmaceuticalpany.
"You really light up when money''s involved," Xander teased.
Cameron deadpanned, "If it bothers you, you''re free to leave."
"I am leaving," Xander huffed, standing up dramatically.
Two hours of tutoring had definitely worn him out.
He needed to go blow off steam with a round of gaming.
He stomped out without another word.
Elijah closed his book slowly and looked at Cameron. "Dinner?"
Cameron nodded. "Sure. I did say I''d treat you. Any preferences?"
Elijah thought for a moment. "How about fondue?"
He''d been meaning to try it properlyst time, Bradley had distracted him the entire meal.
"Sounds good," Cameron said.
Just as they were getting ready to head out, her phone buzzed. Xander: [What are you eating tonight?]
Cameron: [Whatever you eat is your business.]
Xander: [You seriously can''t tell I''m trying to ask you out to dinner?]
Cameron: [I''ve already got ns.]
Xander: [With who?]
Cameron: [Not your concern.]
Xander: [Ugh. Seriously?]
Cameron didn''t bother replying.
Tonight, Xander wasn''t invited.
He''d be too loud anyway.
Dinner with Elijah was always calm, easy, and unbothered.
They hopped into a cab and headed for the restaurant./
What they didn''t see was a ck SUV pulling out behind them and quietly trailing all the way there.
By the time Cameron and Elijah were seated and flipping through the menu, Mark strolled in, smiling, and behind him were Tessa and Skyler.
Cameron''s eyes narrowed.
They actually followed her here.
But this was a public ce. She couldn''t very well Kick them out, especially with Elijah sitting right beside her.
They clearly weren''t here just for her anyway-Mark probably had his sights set on Elijah.
The Young family took the table directly across the aisle from them, close enough to talk. Too close
AD
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