"Can you believe Sam got the job?” Maddie chimed. “I’ll be training her over the next few days. At least, I'm going to try. I hope to hang on that long, but by the feel of things I might be out of here sooner than I thought. That’s not to mention that my doctor put me on bed rest and Hunter’s on my case about it."
I smiled and nodded, taking notice of her overgrown baby belly.
Maddie looked back to Samantha. "Abigail works with Owen Wallace and Wesley Carver,” she said. “You’ve already met Cam, but he’ll be gone any day now. They used to date, eh?"
Samantha flashed her trademark bitch smile, straight from the fiery depths of the earth. Her bright green eyes glowed with envy. "Lucky you," Samantha said, pure evil flowing from her smooth voice.
I smiled, but it felt forced. I turned my eyes back to Maddie, my cool, green eyes warming 10 degrees. "I still can’t believe you’re having twins.” I rubbed her large, round belly.
"I can,” she stated, undoubtedly. “These babies are ready to come out. They’d better soon too or I think I might burst. Hunter says they’re coming tomorrow.”
"You’re lucky to have someone who cares so much about you," I gushed.
"Yeah, he has been a total sweetheart lately. Too bad he's got that evil succubus clinging to him every day," Maddie added, making a sour face.
Helping dig me out of that hole, Samantha changed the subject. "Didn't you say you dated Wesley Carver?"
Maddie smirked, taking the bait. "Yeah. Been there, done that. He couldn't keep up with me."
Samantha chuckled at her confidence. I was amused too, until I caught her gawking at Edwin when he passed by the doorway.
"I can’t believe I’ll be working with Eddie too,” Samantha chimed.
Did she just call my man Eddie?
"You’ll be working closely with him,” Maddie admitted. “Edwin works for Miller too.”
"Looking forward to that," she mumbled, under her breath.
I cleared my throat, anger warming my cheeks. "Actually that one's off limits. He's mine." I tried to keep my irritation at a minimum, but she really knew how to get to me.
"It's all good," she replied, coolly. "There doesn't seem to be a shortage of suitable men around here for me." Samantha’s eyes grew wide with mischief, a seductive smile playing on her lips.
I spun around to find Cameron making his way up behind me. "Excuse me, ladies," he said, as he reached for his papers. He made a grab for them and briskly walked off, avoiding an awkward exchange.
"Mmm. He must be fair game. I didn't see any ring on that finger," Samantha announced.
"He’s definitely not available,” Maddie explained. “He’s still hung up on Abby and he’ll be out of here in a matter of days anyways."
"What?" I asked, stunned by the change of dates.
"That's what I hear," Maddie said, shrugging her shoulders.
“Then I’d better get started now,” Samantha purred.
I refused to admit why, but I didn't want that bloodsucker latching onto Cameron. Maddie recognized my reaction and I couldn’t even hide my annoyance as Samantha chased after Cam. Maddie followed her and I hoped it was to keep Samantha on a leash.
I caught myself scowling into thin air minutes later. I pulled myself together and hurried back to my desk, only to hear Samantha putting the moves on Cameron one room over. Then I overheard Cam inviting her to his going away party this weekend. That was news to me.
I stood there stewing for a moment, wishing I didn’t have to listen to her annoying voice anymore. I gritted my teeth the entire time that she gushed about how great it would be to hear more about him. Cameron didn't seem to share her enthusiasm, but it still irked me worse than I cared to admit. If that evil whore is going to his party, then I will be there.
***
TWO DAYS LATER, WHEN I was least expecting an attack, I found the floosy – Samantha - with Edwin in his office, and she was leaning over his shoulder, giggling. I froze in the hall, folded my arms across my chest, and cast an evil eye at her. She knew the stakes; and if I had one right now, I'd be stabbing it into her menacing heart.
She glanced up at me unbeknownst to Edwin and returned a bright green glare. She knew exactly what she was doing. And, though I trusted Edwin with all my heart, I couldn't trust her as far as I could throw her. Still, I didn’t want my possessiveness to encourage her, so I dropped the glare and flashed her a false smile, as I passed the door. I ducked my head into Aliah’s cubicle and found her staring into space. She jumped when she saw me.
"Oh shit. You scared me. I thought you were Bailey," Aliah said.
I was unable to get past my own troubles. "Can you believe that slut? She's already making it her full time job to mess with my life."
"Yeah, I saw her flirting with Edwin this morning… then Cameron this afternoon."
"If she's trying to piss me off, then it's working."
Aliah’s responding smile was surprisingly soft. "You really have nothing to worry about though. Edwin is in love with you."
"It's not him that I'm worried about." I narrowed my eyes, when I recalled the image of Samantha hovering over Edwin at his desk, her fangs descending, warding me off.
"Relax," Aliah said, and leaned back in her chair. "I saw Edwin around her. He doesn't even give her the time of day. You have to hand it to him. I mean, she is a looker."
"Exactly. And she's throwing herself at him. I'm not about to let her sick herself on Edwin and hope he doesn’t have an unsuspecting moment of weakness. I'm trying to keep it together here, but it's tough when you just want to strangle the girl."
"How do you think I feel? I had to watch Hunter grovelling on his knees the other night, just to get Maddie to take her maternity leave a few days early. She’d better pop those kids out soon, because she’s driving me nuts."
"It's only going to get worse, you realize. Once she has the babies, she'll have two wondrous tools to control Hunter with."
"I hope you're wrong. I don't know how much more of this I can take," Aliah admitted.
"It looks like we're both in for a bumpy ride."
***
EDWIN INSISTED THAT WE meet up with the rest of the staff to kiss Cameron off from the firm. While I wasn’t looking forward to our official goodbye, I had to go to make sure Sam kept her paws off of Cameron. As Edwin guided me inside the club, it was apparent that he was eager to send Cameron packing.
On the other side of the room, a crowd of our coworkers had formed next to the bar. I let go of Edwin's arm the second I saw Maddie sitting on a stool there.
"Oh my gosh! Maddie! What are you doing here?" I squealed.
She squeezed Cam’s shoulder and gave him a friendly kiss on his cheek. "I couldn’t miss this. Besides, I hear labour could use a little kick-start sometimes."
"I don't think this is what they meant," I answered, my lips parting on a smile.
She shrugged her shoulders and looked around the room until her eyes locked onto her target. In an instant, I realized exactly what she was doing. She smiled and winked at me and I turned around to find Aliah and Hunter making their way toward us. As I suspected, the moment Hunter found his baby momma sitting there, all hell broke loose.
"What in the world are you doing here?" Hunter hollered.
"Relax, I'm not drinking. Cam deserves a proper goodbye," Maddie insisted.
Hunter lifted her from the bar stool, careful to protect his babies. "You're not staying here. I'm taking you home right now." He tried to gently guide her away, his other hand bracing her back.
"You're crazy! Lighten up," she said, smiling. She had him right where she wanted him.
"Lighten up? You're eight and a half months pregnant, with twins. You could go into labour any minute!" He growled, with wolfish frustration. "Sometimes you can be downright stupid."
Hunter looked to Aliah to apologize. "I'm sorry, but I have to do this."
Aliah flailed her hand uncaringly, but I knew it had to hurt.
"I'm
going to pull the car up and you’d better be at the curb when I get there," Hunter threatened. He stormed off angrily, as Maddie tried to hide her giddiness. Her plan had worked like a charm.
Maddie gave Cameron a hug and he gently cupped her huge belly with both of his hands before he let her go. That small exchange sent an arrow through my heart and gave me the urge to scream out in frustration. I was short on breath, when Maddie came to give me a squeeze goodbye.
Aliah stomped to our side. "I'll walk you to the car. Wouldn't want you to get lost on the way." Oh, she was mad.
"You be careful, girly," I said to her discreetly, before letting her go. "Take care of yourself."
Maddie spun around with the grace of a cow and walked out the door to the waiting car. Aliah followed behind her like a shadow.
When I turned back to the guys, I was surprised to find Edwin patting Cameron on the back. I had to force myself not to watch, even as Samantha slithered her way in between them. Edwin kept talking, and I could hear Samantha laughing at everything he said. I couldn’t get my wits about me, when I saw how Edwin continued to pat Cameron on the back like they were buddies.
It was all too weird for me to watch, so I tried to focus on Aliah, who was already knee deep into a bottle of vodka. “Do you see Samantha eyeing up my man like he's dessert or something? I want to slap that slutty smile right off her face."
Aliah nodded, having noticed it herself. "She is so blissfully unaware of your wrath," she slurred, already three sheets to the wind. She raised her drink to me. "May she suffer from dealing with other selfish bichez like herself."
Already roused, I clinked my plastic cup off of hers. "I'll drink to that."
After downing the rest of my drink, I straightened up, feeling a little better prepared to deal with Cameron. I ducked under Edwin's arm and squeezed my way between him and Samantha. She tossed herself purposefully into Cameron's arms and he caught her cooperatively. I smiled up at Edwin, to dodge Cameron's reaction.
Though I may have driven Samantha into Cameron’s arms, I had to be happy that I had saved Edwin. That had to be enough for me. So why wasn't it?
I sipped from my drink, annoyed by Samantha’s mischievous behaviour. She was still all over Cameron, nuzzling her nose close to his ear and hanging off of him like a cheap air freshener. He wasn't exactly knocking her off of him. A taste of my own medicine.
Edwin gave me a swift peck on my lips, and then told me he’d be back in a bit. I was glad. I wanted him as far away from that scandalous hoe as possible. Cameron caught my glaring green stare and instantly realized that Edwin was gone. He peeled Samantha off of his side and smiled at her, then casually wandered next to me. Samantha slunk away and dragged Taylor along with her.
"I didn't think you'd come,” Cameron admitted. “But I'm glad you did." His tone was soft, reminding me just how gentle he used to be with me.
Edwin watched me from a distance and I smiled to show him that he had nothing to worry about.
"I hope everything works out for you. And for Pheobe," I said, emotion choking my words.
"Thanks. That means a lot," he replied, leaning in sideways for a hug. He sensed my hesitation and stopped, mirroring my frozen stance. Then he wrinkled that adorable forehead. "One friendly hug won't kill you, Abby. Edwin's right there. Do you really think I would try anything?"
Though his smile was tense, I wanted nothing more than to ease into his arms and give in to the wayward effect he was having on me. I gulped back my nerve and reached an arm around him for a friendly squeeze. Cameron held on a little too long and a little too tight. His cologne made me feel dizzy and confused, triggering painful recollections of our happiness together.
I pulled away from his tempting embrace, and gazed into his resolute eyes. One of his hands lingered on the curve of my hip. He was aware of my discomfort, but wouldn't allow me to detach from him. He leaned forward. He was going to kiss me and I couldn't move.
His lips slipped right past my mouth and landed on my cheek.
Duh. Why would he kiss me on the lips? I gasped for air, as his mouth continued to my ear.
"I hope you're happy," he said, softly. He wasn't being mean. It actually sounded like he truly wanted me to be happy.
He hovered near my ear, with his eyes closed, and inhaled me before dropping his hand. When I didn't answer him, he turned and walked away.
I thought I was happy. He could likely see that I was happy. But now, after resurfacing from his arms, I wasn’t sure that I knew what happy was.
Could my life truly be happy without Pheobe and Cameron in it?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
WATCHING SAMANTHA TUG WESLEY and Edwin out onto the dance floor was like a splash of cold water to the face. The seductive smile she flashed directly at Edwin was no secret. She was taunting me. I flew over to them and tore Edwin's arm from her grimy little paws, stealing away his body and his attention.
"Oh, there you are," Edwin said to me, brushing my hair away from my face.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, to remind him why he loved me so much. He gladly reciprocated the love. After a few songs, I lightened my grip on Edwin. The crisis seemed to have been averted and the rest of our group, with the exception of Aliah drowning herself in free shots with random strangers at the bar, had made their way to the dance floor.
Catching me off guard, Samantha caught my arm and proceeded to pull me away from Edwin. "I'll only steal her for a minute," she chimed, over her shoulder.
After we were completely separated from our party, I yanked my arm from her grip. She came to a full stop and spun around, wearing her other face.
"You want to do this here?” she wailed. “Fine! Quit moving in on my game. You can't have them all."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I have a man. You keep your hands off of him and do what you want with the others."
She tilted her head to the high ceilings and laughed. "You couldn't keep your eyes away when Cameron had his hands on me."
"Puh-lease. You were stuck on him like a pesky mosquito."
"If you weren't sending him your secret signals, he'd be mine already," Samantha snapped, clasping onto my wrist.
My faint view of Edwin was obstructed by the other dancers. "You're delusional."
"Oh, I think not. Can’t settle on just one? I’ll help make that decision easier for you."
Done with her shit, I freed my wrist from her grip, dashed back into the crowd and convinced Edwin to take me home.
As Edwin pulled me away, he raised a hand to Cameron, who was lounging against the bar with Aliah. I couldn’t escape the agony in Cameron’s longing gaze. The tightness in my chest only squeezed tighter when I noticed a steady red glow reflecting in the mirror behind him. Reflections. That’s all they are.
Edwin's pace slowed as we got caught in a foot traffic jam near the coat check. An icy finger trickled up my spine, despite the overheated room. I turned back to check on Cameron and froze in terror as her glowing eyes burned black holes right through my heart. Jenny was here, and she was standing only a few feet away from Cameron, in the flesh.
I blinked harshly, hoping it was only a figment of my imagination. No. It was definitely her and she was a spitting image of me.
Jenny turned away, releasing me from her horrifying glare, only for me to realize that Cameron was still watching me, worry wrinkling his adorable forehead. I looked away, my only hope being that Cameron would forget about it, and Jenny would go back to where she came from. Maybe she could take Samantha with her too.
I promised myself, just one last glance. Jenny was gone, making me wonder if she were ever there at all. Cameron insisted we make eye contact and I gave it to him. Big mistake. His fingers were slanted, his fingertips touching, and his brow was furrowed, toying with my very sanity. When a flicker of misconstrued understanding arched through him, it tugged at every last one of my heart strings.
Why couldn't he just hate me? It would be so much
easier if he did.
I finally managed to pry my eyes from his, as Edwin helped me into my jacket. Trying to act ignorant to the connection that had just occurred, I clung to Edwin’s core and held on tight as he moved us closer to the door. Edwin lifted his arm around me and tucked me against his warm body as I cringed, recalling that Cameron’s official goodbye was now over.
***
ON MONDAY MORNING I fretted over the eerie quiet that had settled over the office now that Cameron was gone. That’s when I heard Aliah's screech. I dizzily hurried past the curious onlookers, who had their noses sticking out of their offices to hear what was going on.
"No! Really?" Aliah squeaked, staring into space. She hung up the phone, clearly in shock. When she turned to me, it was evident that she had gotten as much sleep as I had this weekend.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Maddie was having cramps this morning and Hunter rushed over to her place to be with her. She's in labour, Abby. Hunter's taking her to the hospital as we speak." Aliah’s eyes were wide with fright and started to water. "Should I go?"
"Didn't you and Hunter talk about this before now?"
"Not really. Maddie’s pregnancy has been pretty taboo for me. It’s gotten increasingly worse. Hunter didn't even come home last night. He just stopped in for a change of clothes and took off again when Maddie called him." Aliah’s words were laced with jealousy.
"You should probably go. Hunter is going to have two babies handed to him in a matter of hours. He's going to need some emotional support."
"You know I don't do emotions," Aliah insisted.
"I suggest you fake it then."
Flustered, she shutdown her computer. “Fine. But only because you’re making me.” She reached for her purse and rushed toward the front lobby.
I followed after her and stopped at the reception area to get my daily dose of office gossip from Taylor. There was a couple of clients waiting in the lobby, so we had to keep quiet.
"Saturday night must have been pretty wild for Samantha to not make it in this morning," I said.
A Twist of Fate (The Twisted Trilogy) Page 21