by Mills, L. C.
After half an hour we drove into One Hyde Park's underground parking space and Jones parked up. “I'll travel up with you in the lift, you look very pale have you eaten today?!”
I sighed. “Well, uh no, not really! I mean I was meant to be having pizza with Damon, but that never happened!”
He nodded. “I'll make you food when we get in, when you have a shock like that your body drops its sugar levels.”
I grabbed my bags and climbed out of the SUV, allowing Jones to guide me off in the direction of the lift.
“I had a cereal bar at lunch cause I was in a hurry after the hairdressers, I probably won't tell Cameron that, he hates them!” I sighed, I really was going to have to sort out my eating schedule.
He called the lift and raised a brow. “Yes, I think we can leave that out! He really does care a lot for you! I know he's very demanding and sometimes border lines on obsessive, but he's like that because he cares!” The lift doors rolled open and he indicated for me to step in.
I nodded as I stepped in as he followed me. “Yeah, I'm working that much out!” I smiled at him. I felt safe with him, he had authority in the way he held himself.
“Can I ask you something Jones?!” I glanced at him.
He nodded. “You can, I might not answer it though!”
I grinned. “I was wondering are you like ex-army?! Cameron said something like special ops!”
He grinned. “I am yes and he is quite right! I retired due to a gun wound in my shoulder, I came to work for Cameron shortly after!”
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that, but glad Cameron has someone like you looking out for him.” The motion of the lift was making me feel sick.
As the lift stopped I started to feel dizzy. “Oh wow head spin!” I felt my legs start to give out from under me.
“Okay, I got you Miss Watson!”
Jones caught me around the middle and led me out of the lift.
“Think I'm okay now! It's just lack of food! I'm sorry!” I was actually embarrassed.
“It's fine! It's also probably delayed shock! Let's get you into the lounge area, then I'll go get you some food!”
“I'm so sorry, this is so embarrassing! I'll be okay to walk now!” My face burned with a blush.
“Really, it's fine! It's my job!” He let me go and let me walk.
“What rescuing your boss's girlfriend from situations?! I don't think it is but thank you for being kind to me!”
We made our way into the lounge and I sat myself down. I was so glad to see his apartment, to be safe from Damon that I let myself relax.
“It is my job Miss Watson, and even if it wasn't I would still have come to fetch you! What would you like for food?!”
I smiled. “Could I have a bowl of cereal cause I guess Cameron is gonna insist on feeding me when comes in!”
He nodded. “Sure, I'll bring you some water too!”
He left the room and I kicked off my shoes and pulled my legs up onto the sofa getting comfortable. After a while Jones came back in with the biggest bowl of cereal I had ever seen and a bottle of water.
“I've put almond milk on the cereal as it’s naturally sweet, so should sort your shock out! I'm gonna be in my office working, but if you want me for anything just come knock!” He handed me the bowl and put the water down on the coffee table.
“Thank you and I will!” I smiled and looked at the contents of the bowl. It was different to what I'd had for breakfast this had curls of chocolate in it and the almond milk was a light brown color, it kinda looked like chocolate milk. I spooned some of the milk over the flakes and then got up and walked over to the entertainment center and turned it on, Cameron's iPod was still in the dock so I scrolled through his music. He had a very eclectic taste in music and I settled on shuffle and let it play whatever it wanted and adjusted the volume so it wasn't too loud. The first song, it shuffled to play was Words As Weapons by Birdy. It was beautifully haunting, it summed up my feelings pretty well.
I sat myself back down and shovelled a huge spoon full of the cereal into my mouth. It tasted great. The music switched to some kinda string music without any singing, I found it relaxing. I looked at the bowl and found I'd actually eat the whole lot. “Oh wow, I was hungry!” My stomach was happy now I had fed it. After a while I got up, bowl in hand and wandered through to the kitchen to wash the bowl up.
“Miss Watson how are you feeling now?!”
I glanced down the hall and saw Jones walking towards me.
I smiled. “Way better, thank you! Just gonna wash this up!” I lifted the bowl up showing him I had eaten it all.
He smiled. “I am glad you’re feeling better I am now going to pick Cameron up, I won't be long!”
“Oh, okay, will you tell him I am feeling loads better and that I eat cause I don't want him freaking out about it all!” I was worried he'd focus on the food aspect because that would be in his control.
He nodded as he headed for the service lifts. “I will do that!”
“Thank you!” I slipped into the kitchen and walked over to the dishwasher pulling it open and adding my bowl and spoon to it. I chewed my lip as I glanced at the cupboard that Jones had opened the other day to fetch the first aid box, I was still curious about what the other entries where. Not wanting him to find me snooping, I decided to go back out to check he was in the lift, so I tiptoed out to the lift area and pushed open the door, the lift was definitely going down so I backed away from the door letting it shut then walked away and made my way back to the kitchen. I knelt down in front of the open cupboard and pulled the first aid kit out and unclipped it. My heart beat a little quicker as my fingers brushed the notebook, it was hard bound.
2015 Medicines dispensed & accidents report diary.
I flipped open the cover and flicked through it, it was fairly basic, minor accidents and medicines like pain killers, but the trend that ran through each month up until a week ago was sleeping pills given to Cameron most nights.
“Why's he taking them so regularly?!” I asked myself out loud. I studied the dates for June, he hadn't taken any since I started sleeping over. I thought back to when I first stayed on Thursday evening the next day, he said he slept like a log! I hoped if he needed them he would take them regardless of if I was here or not. I was also prone to bouts of insomnia so I totally understood why he might have to take them, but what I did find odd was that it was Jones's signature against each thing given! Even painkillers! Why on earth would they want a record of that?! I put the book back and then did the clips up putting it back where I had gotten it from then stood up. I had never been in his apartment alone before, but it didn't feel weird, it had taken me ages to get used to being alone in my own when I had first moved in but not here. I felt at home here. I guess in part due to his presence in every room. It was his and he had left his mark all over it. I grinned as I looked at the stalls where we had sat only this morning.
I walked back into the lounge, picking up my bags and took them to his room. I found the light switch and hit it. They all popped into life as I walked in, I placed them down at the foot of his bed and dug around for the tie clip box, it was while I was doing that I noticed the bedding had been changed, it was now a dark honey color, still silk though. My hair almost matched it. I assumed Mrs Jones had been in, I walked back out of his room clutching the small box in my hand, I was only a few steps out of his room when he appeared walking out from the entrance hall, he turned his head towards me. For a moment, he was business Cameron, his face was unreadable but as his body turned towards me, his eyes locked with mine and I stopped walking & slipped the box into my jeans pocket.
“Evan.” He spoke my name like velvet and his whole body just gravitated towards me, his steps perfectly spaced as he walked in my direction.
“Cameron.” I wasn't sure what I was meant to say I just stood there staring at him. He had such presence, his body just moved in perfect sync.
As he reached me his
arms wrapped around me, pulling me to him, holding me against his chest, he held me like he was scared I was going to disappear.
“Evan, I am so sorry, it's okay, I am here now, you’re safe. I am sorry.” His hands stroked gently up and down my back.
I threw my arms around his middle, needing to hold him just as badly as he needed me. “I know, it’s okay, it's not your fault.” I nestled my head into his chest, the sound of his heart beating in my ear was reassuring. This was where I always wanted to be.
“I should have stayed or taken you with me! By not being here I let it happen! I knew he wasn't on the level, yet I still let you go into that situation!” He released me from the embrace and stepped back to study me, like I was going to fall apart any second. The fact was, it wasn't anyone's fault aside from Damon's.
“It's not your fault, it's not mine either, the fact is Damon shouldn't have done what he did! How could you have known what he was going to do?! No one did!” I smiled up at him. “I am, however glad you’re here!”
He studied me for a while, just looking at me, like he was trying to work out what he should say or maybe he thought I was just putting a brave face on it.
“Jones said you almost fainted when you got back, but that you eat a giant bowl of cereal after! Why don't you eat during the day?!” He looked exasperated as he ran his hand through his magnificent hair.
I sighed. “I was getting my hair done! Which is fabulous, thanks for noticing!” I grinned up at him. “Also, I was meant to have pizza, but it all went crazy! I do admit that I do need a regular food schedule though, because I am dreadful at remembering.” I knew he'd probably end up drawing me one up, but if it made him feel better I didn't mind.
“Yes you do and I had noticed I just didn't prioritize complimenting your hair considering you'd been assaulted! Let's go sit in the lounge for a bit, I've been worried about you!” He linked his fingers through mine and started off in the direction of the lounge.
“I'm okay, I'm angry as hell at him, but I won't let him mess with my mind!”
We passed into the lounge and he indicated for me to sit down.
I didn't let go of his hand as I sat myself down, he sat close to me. The music was still playing.
“I see you made yourself at home.” He smirked at me.
I grinned. “I did! You have interesting taste in music!” I was avoiding him talking about the lift situation because I didn't know where to start.
He grinned, running his thumb over my knuckles. “I have interesting tastes in lots of elements of my life, my darling!”
I caught an undertone in his voice, but his eyes were still alight.
“Now I know you told Jones a censored version of what happened because I know what you're like with excusing others behaviour but would you tell me what actually happened?! I won't force the issue if you really don't want to tell me, but I figured maybe you were buying time for when I got in! Am I right?!” His face was deadly serious.
I turned in my seat so I could face him, wrapping my left arm around my knee.
“It's not that I don't want to talk about it, it's more that I know you'll be cross!”
He studied me, his eyes narrowing. “I won't be cross at you and that's what matters, just try to explain what happened!”
I nodded, I knew he wouldn't rest until I had explained so I took a deep breath and then let it go.
“I met him as planned outside the pizza place, and he was acting odd, then, he hugged me too long and sniffed my neck, said I smelt nice, it made me feel uncomfortable!”
He nodded. “It's okay, keep going!”
I tried to read his face, but it was blank, unreadable, so I just pushed on.
“When we got into the pizza place he made some comments about what I had bought, he saw the Agent Provocateur bag and wanted to know what was in it, obviously I told him it wasn't his business and he got really offended and said...” I chewed my lip wondering if I should say what he'd said mostly because I wanted to avoid seeing Cameron blow up.
“Said what?!” He was doing his best at being calm, but I could see he was angry already because his eyes were dark now. Foreboding, like angry storm clouds.
I licked my lips nervously. “He said he didn't need to know what was in the bag cause he could imagine me wearing pretty much anything anyway!” I looked down at our combined hands.
“I told him I would rather he didn't, and that he was meant to be my friend! But he was so angry, he said how come you.” I touched my left hand softly to his chest so he'd know I meant him. “Could see me in whatever you liked, but he couldn't!”
“Because he's not your boyfriend and I am! What the fuck was he on?! How dare he talk to you like that?!” He shook his head in disbelief. It was a credit to his self-control that he hadn't lost it yet. I would have, if I thought Erin was imagining him in his underwear, but then she probably did and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.
“Yeah, well that's what I said, but at that point I figured he had been drinking so I got up to try and leave but he grabbed my left hand and wouldn't let go, I told him he was hurting me but he said I had broken his heart and that I had led him on!” I hung my head, angry tears pricking at my eyes, remembering how Damon's eyes had looked so much like Sean’s. The hurt in them. I hadn't caused that I had to keep telling myself that and at the very least if I had, I hadn't meant to.
“Hold up, Jones didn't tell me that, may I see?!”
I sighed. “I didn't tell him, I've only just remembered and my priority was getting away.” I held my left arm out for him.
“Thank you Evan, its okay.” He let go of my right hand and his fingers softly brushed up my sleeve of my shirt revealing my wrist. It was the first time I'd seen it, but you could clearly see his finger marks on the skin around my wrist, it was red and slightly swollen.
“You’re going to need some ice on that, I'll get you some now!”
“No! Don't go! Can we finish talking first?! I just wanna get it over with!” I gave him a pleading look.
“Sure, okay, but after I need to put an ice pack on that!” He brought my wrist to his mouth and softly kissed it. “He won't ever touch you again, I can assure you of that!” His eyes flashed darkly.
I blinked at him. “So after he did that, I slapped him pretty hard in the face and walked away, I didn't trust myself on a moving escalator so I went to the lift, I didn't see him but just as the lift door was shutting he just appeared out of nowhere!”
I sighed, I knew I was going to have to tell him what had been said, I couldn't filter it.
“I told him he was freaking me out in the hope he'd stay away, but he pinned me to the side of the lift; he was ranting at me, he took all the things I had done for him, and vice versa as signals that I was into him, I tried to tell him that I had only ever been his friend but I guess when I got with you he got jealous.” I let a breath go.
He stroked his hand over my cheek, softly stroking the hair back behind my ear. “You're holding something back, tell me, please!” His eyes pleaded with mine. I could see he hated hearing what had happened, but yet he still wanted to know more.
I chewed my lip. “He said men like you aren't capable of love and are only interested in themselves and money and well to be honest, he was rambling a lot about how you'd destroyed a good working person buying out their company at rock bottom price and then liquidating it then he just kissed me! I didn't want to kiss him, I didn't want him anywhere near me but my mind just froze! I could taste him for ages after!” I hung my head, angry, hot tears spilling down my face. I was so angry I shook. “Do you know what the worst thing about the whole ordeal was, not one person came over and asked if everything was okay! Like how could they just sit and eat pizza when he was grabbing my wrist like that?! Also, there is CCTV, staff and security all over that place yet no one even came to see if I was okay, not even when Jones picked me up and put me inside the SUV! What the fuck is wrong with soci
ety?!”
He let a breath go. “Its okay, my darling, I'm here now! He should never have taken his personal issues out on you! Clearly he doesn't know anything about me and if he did, he would never have touched you!” He pulled a hanky out of his pocket and dabbed at my tear stained cheeks with it gently.
I sniffed in, he was being so lovely. “Thank you, I didn't feel safe going home, cause he works there so I called Jones.” I smiled at him, he was actually very good at taking care of me.
“I am so glad you felt safe to come here, I would never have turned you away! I wish you had rung me first though, when Jones rang and said...” He closed his eyes like he was in pain. “Evangeline I have never been so affected by anyone before, the idea of you being hurt terrified me!”
“I'm really sorry, I figured it was better he tell you, I was kinda freaking out at the time.” I stroked my fingertips down his face, softly and hoped he'd understand I was trying to comfort him.
He leant into my hand, a grin spreading across his face, his eyelids fluttering shut.
“The train journey was the longest time ever, I just wanted to get home to you! Please stop apologizing none of this is your fault! Come on, let's get that wrist an ice pack, you don't want it bruising!”
I nodded. “I know! Can I have a hug first?!” I grinned lopsidedly at him.
“You didn't even need to ask!” He pulled me into him, wrapping his arms around me, holding onto, and comforting me.
I was half lying against him now, my arms draped around his neck as best as I could and inhaled his scent, letting it hit my senses. “Thank you, I don't want to report what he did, it's not like I would achieve anything is it, but I don't think I can be his friend again after this so he doesn't get away with it, not really.”
He sighed. “I knew you'd say that, I really think you should though! It's not okay what he did! I know people in the police who'd take this very seriously! At least shit him up with a caution!”
I pulled back from the hug so I could frown at him. “I don't want him getting in trouble because of me! I mean what if I did lead him on without knowing! I'm not used to guys, yanno maybe I brought it on!” I was so confused.
