by Mills, L. C.
I frowned, who was Greg and why was he coming here?! Oh my god, he wasn't coming here, he was already here! I scrambled up from the couch.
“Who's Greg?!” I walked over to Cameron and picked up my bra that had fell sort of his desk.
He put the phone down and looked up. “I'll explain when we're dressed.” He walked out from behind his desk.
“Uh, half of our clothes are out in the lift area! Closet?!” I asked. Assuming we would need another top each.
“Yes, good idea.” He grabbed my hand and towed me behind me.
As we scuttled into his bedroom, he pulled the door open to his walk in closet and let me pass him.
“So who's Greg?! And whys he just turned up?!” I made myself busy putting my bra back on.
He sighed. “Well, while I was checking the books at the cafe I took the liberty of contacting my acquaintance that's the detective! I told him what happened to you, after all you did change your mind, but I didn't think he'd want to speak to you so soon!”
He walked over to his own section of the wardrobe and pulled out a plain shirt.
I stood with my mouth open for a second, I didn't even know what I'd say, and I hadn’t expected to have to speak with anyone. It made me nervous. “Oh, what should I wear?!” I was suddenly self-conscious.
He walked back over and looked at me thoughtfully. “Whatever you want! He's not here to judge you! He's here to help! Just be yourself! No need to be scared!” He rubbed his hands down both of my forearms.
I licked my lips. “But I am! What if he thinks I led him on?!”
He smiled softly at me, his eyes soft. “You did no wrong! You will be fine! I'll be there right next to you the whole time!”
I took a breath in. “Okay.” I glanced at the clothes and picked out a plain sweatshirt. I knew I'd feel comfortable wearing it.
Cameron checked his watch. “You okay to head out?! I'll stop at the kitchen and make coffees first, come with me?!”
I nodded. “Okay, let's do this!”
His hand found mine and I gripped it tightly.
chapter 32
After we made coffee we walked into the city side of the apartment. I was incredibly nervous still and wished Cameron wasn't carrying a tray of coffee and instead was holding my hand, but I didn't have anything to fear or hide so why was I nervous about telling Greg about what had happened?!
I walked in behind Cameron and spotted Greg right away, he wasn't as tall as Cameron and was in his forties with mottled brown hair, he wore a suite, but it wasn't as crisp or well presented as I thought it might be. This was well worn, probably worn to work most days and washed regularly.
I watched as Cameron placed the tray down on the coffee table and held his hand out to Greg.
“As always good to see you.”
The two men shook hands and I hung back studying them.
Cameron moved back to stand next to me.
“This Evangeline, as you can see she's very nervous, like I said before, you kinda sprung this on us, but I do appreciate you coming! Sit down, coffee is fresh and yes, those are posh chocolate biscuits Greg!” He chuckled.
I sucked up the courage to step forward and held my head high as I stuck my hand out. I wasn't brought up to be impolite. “Nice to meet you.”
He studied me for a second before taking my hand and shaking it firmly. “And you Miss Watson, only wish it was under better circumstances for you!” He spoke with a broad London accent.
I smiled, “Yes, so do I!” I stepped back to Cameron and we all took seats.
“So Cameron has told me what happened, but I'd rather hear it from you Miss Watson, start from the beginning!” He smiled and reached forward and picked up his coffee and eyed the biscuits with suspicion.
I took a breath. I knew I'd have to tell him.
“Well, I started by ringing Damon that morning on my way out to ask if he still wanted to meet that evening, he wanted to talk about his ex-girlfriend she's in the hospital! I was going shopping anyway cause I was buying Cameron a gift and when I met him he was acting weird!”
He held his mug of coffee and nodded. “So what happened when you met up?!”
I sighed. “He hugged me for way too long and it was awkward! He sniffed my hair and my neck! I pulled away and figured if we went and got food, maybe he'd stop acting so bizarre but instead it got worse! I was worried he'd been drinking and rode his motorbike there!” I hugged myself as I continued to talk, neither Greg nor Cameron interrupted me, but I could feel Cameron's hand on my lower back as if he knew it would make me feel safe.
“He made some inappropriate comments about where I'd been shopping! When I asked him to stop he became angry that I was dating Cameron and buying him things! I got up, he grabbed my wrist very tightly and said I had led him on, and broke his heart, which I have agonized over, but I know damn well I've never done anything to encourage him! I have an anxiety disorder and he was triggering me and I kinda freaked out and slapped him! You know the worst part wasn't even what happened in the lift, but that no one came to my aid! Like what the actual fuck is that about!” I let a shaky breath go.
“It's okay you’re doing really well darling!” Cameron rubbed my back.
Greg frowned. “No one at all asked if you were okay?! No security or whatever?!” He looked shocked.
I nodded. “Yea, that's what I'm saying! When I broke free of Damon he was still ranting at me, so I headed for the lift, I have little eye hand coordination at the best of times and I figured the lift would give me time to pull myself together! But as the doors started to close he just jumped in! I told him he was freaking me out, but he just kept going on and on about how it wasn't fair that Cameron got the girl and he didn't, he backed me into a corner and forced himself on me by kissing me! He's obviously got a grudge against him because he made that quite clear today!” It wasn't that bad to tell it in the way I had, small summarized chunks.
Greg raised a brow. “You saw him today?!”
I gave him an odd look. I hadn't set out to see Damon, far from it so I was keen he should know it had been an accidental meeting.
“I was with Cameron outside my apartment and he was just being an asshole! He has sent me a few texts since yesterday too!” I sighed.
“I saw the texts and had to step in to stop him from trying to intimidate her today, I am looking into why he thinks what he does about me, but what I am worried about is how he has access to Evangeline at her building! He works there, but she didn't know that when she befriend him!”
I let him talk. He made it sound better than I could.
“Did you say you had CCTV footage of this?! Anything would be great because we could potentially do him for sexual assault! Anything like what happened is classed as that! I mean we could charge him and take him to court. It'll depend on his record being clean! And if I'm honest, any good barista could argue she befriended him so he got the wrong idea!” He held his hands up as Cameron shot up from his seat.
“I don't believe that, but that's how it works and you'd know that!”
I looked up at Cameron, his whole body language was hostile towards Greg. “I don't want to press charges! I just want him to get a caution or something so he stays away!”
I heard Cameron sigh heavily as he sat down next to me. “What if he had done anything else?”
I turned my head to look at him. “Yeah, but he didn't and I kinda gave as good as I got! I used self-defence to get away from him! Cameron I don't want to ruin his life or spend the next God knows how long having to keep going over and over it! Please respect what I want!”
His eyes softened as he took me in. “I do respect what you want it's just he scared you and hurt you! I saw how you were! I don't want him to have a chance to do that again! Because I don't trust myself not to end him next time!” He stroked his hand down my face, softly.
I shook my head. “He won't will he! I think he genuinely regrets it. Let Greg sor
t him out and I'm sure he will leave me alone!” I wasn't going to be forced into a corner over this.
Greg cleared his throat and I turned back to face him.
He smiled as he picked up a biscuit. “To be fair to Evangeline I don't think it would have made court! I'll have him picked up by two of my officers and I'll interview him, shake him up a bit, hold him a few hours, then give him a recorded caution so if he was ever to do anything like that again, he will get taken to court!” He pointed the biscuit at Cameron. “I'll email you later Cameron! It does mean that she doesn't have to do anything other than sign a statement! I'm sorry, but since she's the victim I do what she wants.”
I smiled at him. I was more than happy to sign a statement. I was pleased he wasn't overriding what I wanted either. It hadn't gone down very well with Cameron though.
“Fine, but I think he's a time bomb waiting to go off! But I will support her decision 100%.” He rested his hand on my leg.
I sighed. “Cameron I know you want me to press charges or whatever, but I just think if I do that I open myself up to a whole load of stuff I'm not prepared to waste time on! I'm with you and that's all that matters! He will learn the hard way!”
He half smiled at me. “I know and I do appreciate that fact! I just want you to be safe.”
I grinned at him. “I am safe! What with you and Jones I'm never far from safety am I?”
“That is true!”
An hour later and I had signed a statement and Cameron had given Greg all the CCTV footage on a USB stick. I now stood in the kitchen loading the dishwasher while Cameron said goodbye to Greg.
I picked up the last biscuit and eat it in two mouthfuls. They were French, and one of my favourites.
I pulled open the fridge to find the bottled water and found all the shopping that Cameron had spoken about had been neatly put away. I wondered if Jones had been in. Did he ever get any time off?! I found the water and shut the fridge as I turned around I saw Cameron leaning in the doorway, his hands in his pockets he looked brooding.
I unscrewed the bottle cap as I studied him. “Are you cross with me?! Cause I'm not gonna change my mind so your just gonna have to get used to it!” I raised a brow and fixed him with a defiant look.
He didn't speak for a while, he just studied me.
I sipped my water, and waited.
“I'm not cross at you, I respect, and that’s what you wanted! But I need you to understand something though, you and he can't ever be friends again, that means no hanging out with him, no meeting for coffee, I just can't cope with the idea of that fucker being around you knowing how he feels!”
I would have normally flipped it at being told whom I could or couldn't be friends with but I understood why he couldn't tolerate it and he had given me a perfect opener so I put the lid back on the bottle placing it down as walked over to him.
“I don't honestly think I would be able to be his friend after what he did and said so that's a no brainer, but at the same time I need you to understand something for me!” I looked up at him.
He placed his hands on my shoulders and nodded at me. “And that is?!”
He sounded unsure and I could understand why.
“You and Erin, I don't trust her! She's got it out for me because of us and I don't want you to meet her without someone else being there as a witness! I don't want her to be able to, I dunno seduce you or play the damsel in distress to get your attention!” It wasn't unreasonable, I wasn't saying I didn't want him to never see her again, I knew in business that'd be impractical.
He nodded. “Well, I'm glad to hear you trust me! And if that's what you want, I will make sure I don't see her alone! Jones will always be with me and she won't be more than three feet from me, trust me darling I don't want her touching me either! I don't have a lot to do with her now anyway! So if we are done brokering deals, shall we start prep on our meal for tonight?!” He stroked his hands down my arms.
I grinned. “Shouldn't we tidy that broken vase up first?!”
He smiled down at me. “No I'll leave that to the housekeeper! It's out of eyesight and frankly, right now I don't care about a vase! Let's start on food!” He pulled me into him, holding me against him. I grinned, feeling his body pressed against mine.
I wrapped my arms around his back and snuggled my head into his chest. “But we did break it so maybe we should tidy it away, I mean it's not fair on your housekeeper to do that!”
He rubbed my back softly. “I know the concept is alien to you, but that's what she is paid for! Gwen has been alerted and is on her way to fix it as we speak! So don't worry!”
I grinned. “Gwen?! That's Jones's wife right?!” I tipped my head back to study his face. “And yes, having a house keeper is alien to me cause I've always tidied up after myself and my dad since as long as I can remember!” Having a housekeeper would be absurd to my father! When he was at home he did his own cleaning!
He raised a brow. “Yes, well now you don't have to! I mean, obviously if I drop something in here I would clean it up, but she would only moan at me if I let you clean it up or I did it myself! Trust me, she's a perfectionist!”
I grinned. “Okay, I trust you! Well will you at least let me go fetch our clothes that we left in there?!”
He rolled his eyes and let me go. “Go on then! You're a strange little thing!”
I stepped back and grinned at him. “Yeah, but I'm your strange little thing so get used to it!”
He laughed and moved out of the way of the door frame letting me out.
I moved past him and made my way to the entrance hall, as I pushed the door open, I pulled a face, water from the vase had spread across the floor so I had to pick my pathway to our tops now laying up the corner with my backpack. I grinned to myself as I bent down to pick them up.
“Eww, it's all wet.” I pulled a face as I wrung out the hoodies as best as I could. I shouldered my backpack, which was thankfully dry when I heard the door open. I glanced up expecting to see Cameron but instead was a woman in her 40s with long curly black hair.
“You must be Evangeline! I'm Gwen! Ceredig said you were pretty, but you are a stunner! Don't worry about the mess, that's what I'm here for!” She beamed a smile at me.
I blushed at her compliment. So this was Gwen! She was very pretty. She had pale skin and lovely brown eyes and spoke with a broad Welsh accent.
“You're too kind! So is that Jones first name?! How do you pronounce that?!” I stepped forward missing the puddles of water and held my hand out.
She grinned and shook my hand firmly. “Oh, it's a Welsh name, you say Ker-Ed-Ig, he prefers Jones though, that’s an Army thing!”
I smiled. “Yeah, so Cameron said, I feel bad you've been called away from your day off to do this, I could have done it.” I loitered near the door.
She stepped around me and placed down the bucket and mop. “It's what I'm paid for! It's why both Jones and I live where we do! I don't mind!”
I felt the door open behind me.
“Ah, I wondered what was taking you so long my darling, I was suspicious, you were cleaning up, but I see you've found Gwen!”
I felt Cameron's hand on my lower back, as he stepped into the room beside me.
Gwen grinned up at him as she started to mop. “Sorry if I kept Evangeline, we were just chatting! I'm sure I'll see you again sometime, nice to meet you.”
I smiled. “Nice to meet you too.”
“Come on, let's get those in the washing machine!” He held the door open for me to pass him.
I grinned up at him as I passed by remembering just what we had been up to in the hall.
“Thanks Gwen.” He let the door shut and indicated to go back towards the kitchen.
“So where's your washing machine?!” I asked as we walked into the kitchen.
“It's just around here, in the utility area.”
We walked around the counter and passed through into a smaller area, it had a
washer and dryer and various other things including Cameron's wine fridge.
I pulled open the washer and chucked the two hoodies in.
“Gwen was really nice! She's prettier than I imagined and very Welsh!” I grinned.
Cameron laughed. “Well, I assumed you'd found each other, did she have much to say?!”
He tried to keep his tone casual but it was an odd thing to ask and it made me suspicious.
I shrugged. “Uh, no, she told me what Jones's name is, how to pronounce it and she said I was a stunner and that she didn't mind cleaning the vase up!” I didn't tell him she'd said Jones had told her I was pretty because I knew he'd not like it and I didn't want to get Jones into trouble.
He smiled. “Well, you are a stunner! And all mine! Lucky me!” He stepped towards me, his head tilted to one side.
I took a breath in, occasionally he looked at me like he was stalking his pray, but I didn't back away, I waited for him to make his next move.
He pulled me into him as he reached me and kissed me.
I wound my hands into his hair and I kissed him back softly.
After a few minutes he pulled back from the kiss. “I wish we hadn't been interrupted earlier! I had plans for you! Which will now have to wait! Are you hungry?!”
I grinned up at him. “I am sure we can make up for lost time later on and baby, I am always hungry!”
He kissed down my neck, softly nibbling as he went. “Was your backpack dry?!”
I ran my hand up the inside his shirt and grinned as his skin erupted in goose bumps as my fingertips traced his spine. “Yes, it was fine.”
He took a breath in through his nose. “That's actually very comforting, you’re stroking!”
I grinned, I liked that my touch relaxed him.
“So what's the plan for food?! Are we doing roast potatoes?! Can we have them fluffy?! My dad always makes them fluffy, I think you have to part boil them and then roll them around the colander!”
