Cammy and Eve had agreed to et early at the café near the office, hoping to steal a few quiet monts over breakfast before the workday began.
Eve arrived first, but she wasn’t exactly at ease. From the street, Cammy spotted her through the window—fidgeting, glancing around anxiously, her fingers wrapped tightly around her coffee cup as if it were the only thing grounding her.
As Cammy stepped inside, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filled the air. She grinned as she approached the table. "Eve! You’re early!" she exclaid, making Eve flinch. Cammy frowned. "Woah, are you okay? I swear, your coffee must be too strong—it’s turning you into a nervous wreck." She chuckled, sliding into the seat across from her.
Eve let out a shaky breath. "Cammy, sothing happened—"
But before she could get another word out, Cammy’s phone buzzed loudly on the table.
She glanced at the screen. "Hold that thought, it’s Attorney Perez," she said, quickly answering the call before stepping back outside.
Eve watched her through the glass, her eyes narrowing as she observed Cammy’s changing expressions. Her friend was frowning now, her jaw tight, her free hand gesturing in frustration. Whatever she was hearing wasn’t good.
Eve bit her lip, trying to read her lips through the window. "Dun...can... court? No..." she whispered to herself, her unease growing with every passing second.
"So, not only are you a liar, but you’re also a spy?"
The sharp accusation made Eve’s head snap up, her eyes locking onto the man who had dared to say such words.
Her curiosity twisted into fury in an instant. Brow arching, she glared at him. "Did you just call a liar and a spy? How dare you!"
Harry let out a low chuckle, pulling out the chair beside her with deliberate ease and setting his coffee down on the table. "Am I wrong?"
Eve’s fingers curled around her cup, her knuckles turning white. "Of course, you’re fucking wrong!" she shot back.
He leaned in slightly, his gaze sharp and unyielding. "Then explain sothing to —why did you tell Cassey’s father is dead? Because last I checked, I’m sitting right here, very much alive."
Eve froze. Her breath hitched, her mind scrambling for a response. "You are not—"
But before she could finish, Cammy suddenly plopped down into the seat across from them, exhaling a deep sigh as she reached for her coffee. "Ugh, I’m so sorry, guys. Grace just hit with bad news, and it’s way too early for this."
As if a switch had been flipped, both Eve and Harry turned to her, their brewing argunt montarily forgotten.
Eve was the first to speak. "What happened?" she asked, her voice still tense, but now marked with concern.
Cammy let out a deep sigh, rubbing her temples. "My evil soon-to-be ex-husband just won’t stop. He filed a request with the CorEx board to manage both my shares and Dylan’s. Grace says she’ll handle it... but that’s not the worst part."
She paused, her jaw tightening before she continued. "Duncan also filed for parents’ rights... and my own mother signed in his favor." She scoffed bitterly, shaking her head. "I swear, sotis I wonder whose side she’s even on."
Eve and Harry both remained silent, sensing the storm of emotions rolling off Cammy.
"So yeah, I’m sorry, guys. I can’t make it to lunch today."
"Lunch?" Eve blinked, montarily distracted from Cammy’s troubles.
"Yeah," Cammy nodded, "I set up a reservation for six. Greg, Ethan, Chiqui, the two of you, and —kind of like a little welco-to-the-team gathering. But I have to et Grace at lunch now instead and sort this ss out."
Eve swallowed. ’Well, at least Chiqui will be there,’ she thought, trying to find so ease in that.
"I’ll definitely be looking forward to lunch then," Harry said smoothly, a mischievous glint in his eye as he clinked his coffee cup against Eve’s. She shot him a glare in response.
Cammy, oblivious to the growing tension, perked up. "Oh! That reminds —I forgot to introduce you two!"
Harry leaned back in his seat, smirking. "No need for introductions, Cammy. Eve and I are now acquainted."
Eve stiffened as he threw her a teasing glance, his words layered with aning.
"Ahh, good! I love a man who takes initiative!" Cammy bead, completely missing the way Eve’s jaw clenched.
She then turned back to Eve. "By the way, what were you going to tell earlier?"
Eve quickly waved her hands dismissively. "It’s nothing. I’ll tell you another ti."
Cammy gave her a curious look but let it go.
Eve took a deep breath. "We should probably get going. I’d like to get to the office early—familiarizing myself with the work might help calm my nerves. That okay with you?" Eve suggested, an excuse to try to get rid of Harry.
Cammy nodded, but before she could respond, Harry stood up first, adjusting his cuffs. "I’ll leave you ladies to it. It was nice eting you, Eve. I’m really looking forward to lunch." He shot her a wink before strolling out of the café.
Eve let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding.
Cammy chuckled, watching Harry walk away. "God, he’s cute, isn’t he? I swear, he was totally srized by you last night. He even asked to introduce you two—but when you texted to et up early, I just invited him instead. Honestly, I think you two would make a great couple."
She grabbed her bag, ready to leave, but Eve’s hand shot out, gripping her arm tightly.
"No, Cammy," she said, her voice low and urgent. "We wouldn’t. We can’t."
Cammy raised a brow. "Why not?"
Eve swallowed hard before dropping the bomb. "Because, Cammy... he’s Cassey’s father."
Cammy froze. Her eyes widened in shock as her jaw practically hit the floor.
Slowly, she sank back into her chair, staring at Eve in stunned silence.
"He is your ex? How? Why?" So many questions ran through Cammy’s head, even making her forget her own problems... At least for a mont.
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