The natural assumption, of course, was that he’d been cheating on her, but she had refused to let herself believe that. However, after observing the way Nathan had been following Julia around the room with his eyes, she was beginning to have some real suspicions now. Could he possibly be banging that little bitch? It would explain his withdrawn behavior these past few months, their bland sex life, and other oddities she’d noticed. She made a mental note to herself to pay closer attention to Nathan’s habits and maybe even stop by the office more frequently to observe any interactions between him and Julia.
Cameron’s mood had not improved once they were seated for dinner, since their tablemates included Travis, Anton, and Julia, along with Eric and Karen Chiang, and a very attractive gray haired man in his fifties who introduced himself to everyone as Jackson West, the owner of the winery whose vintages were being served at tonight’s dinner.
From the very beginning of the meal, Travis and Anton had taken control of the conversation, and their very favorite topic of discussion had been Julia. During the first two courses, everyone at the table had been obliged to hear one or the other of them prattle on about what a great cook Julia was, how beautifully decorated her flat was, how kick-ass she was at yoga, no surprise considering that she had been a teacher of the practice during college. Cameron learned – reluctantly – that Julia had graduated from Cornell, had interned and then worked at one of the top design firms in Manhattan, and had lived in a tiny studio in the Upper East Side.
Cameron wasn’t sure which of these facts angered her more. She couldn’t cook at all, had always had hired staff to look after her while living with her parents, and nowadays she liked to joke that her favorite thing to make for dinner was reservations. She’d never really used the kitchen inside her professionally decorated apartment. She hated yoga, claiming that it wasn’t really a workout and that she needed something much tougher to challenge her, like kickboxing or spinning. The truth of the matter was that she wasn’t the least bit flexible and was also somewhat uncoordinated, but she’d never admit either of those facts to anyone.
The knowledge that Julia had attended an Ivy League school had really touched a nerve. For most of her life, Cameron’s parents had pushed her to excel at school and get good grades so that she could attend a school like Harvard or Yale or Stanford. But she had generally disliked school, and had goofed off and partied a lot in high school. No number of private tutors to bring her grades up or improve her SAT scores had helped. Neither had any of her parents multiple social and political connections, or their monetary donations. By pulling a lot of strings, Cameron had managed to get accepted to USC but she’d dropped out after her freshman year due to academic probation. She’d eventually obtained a degree in art history from a small liberal arts school in Manhattan, but her father had set his foot down about her living there after graduation. He’d been willing to set her up in the gallery, but only if it was in San Francisco. He had wanted both of his daughters close by and under his control as much as possible. No matter that Cameron had always dreamed about living in Manhattan, which she considered a far more vibrant and exciting city than San Francisco. When Graham Tolliver made up his mind about something there was no denying him, and Cameron had grudgingly returned to San Francisco after college.
At one point in her life Cameron had fancied herself an artist, but had been told by more than one of her teachers that she simply didn’t have that sort of talent. She had settled for learning enough about art and artists to carve out a career as a gallery owner, and the Union Street establishment was quite successful. Travis had even bought several pieces from her recently for design projects, and one of those pieces was currently gracing a wall in the restaurant this evening.
Travis made sure to call everyone’s attention to the piece, complementing Cameron on her choice. “I think that turned out to be an excellent selection,” he told her. “I’m glad we went with the still life instead of the abstract, much more fitting with the décor.”
She nodded warily, a bit unsettled with this rare compliment from him. “I agree.”
Travis gave her an odd little smile. “Tell me, Cameron. What was the name again of that artist who did those magnificent landscapes hanging in your gallery? The ones you told me weren’t for sale?”
“You mean the Benoits? Her full name is Natalie Benoit and you’re correct - those pieces aren’t for sale. They’re part of my personal collection, pretty much my most prized pieces” she replied firmly.
Julia started visibly and shot Travis a quizzical look, but he only continued to regard Cameron calmly. “Well, you won’t believe this amazing coincidence. The woman you told me was one of your favorite artists of all time happens to be Julia’s mother.”
Cameron felt like she’d taken a punch to the solar plexus, unable to catch her breath or think of anything to say in response. She had only to look at the expression on Julia’s face to know it was true. She quickly reached for her wine glass and bolted down the rest of its contents before refilling it to the brim.
Jackson turned to Julia with great interest. “I’m not much of an art expert, but even I’ve heard of Natalie Benoit,” he gushed. “And lucky enough to have attended one of her shows about a decade ago. Your mother has incredible talent.”
Julia smiled up at him. “Yes, she does. She doesn’t paint much anymore, since she’s already begun to develop some arthritis in her fingers. She devotes most of her time to her gallery nowadays.”
“Oh, that’s the Spindrift Gallery in downtown Carmel, isn’t it?” asked Karen. “Eric and I have been in there a couple of times. They always have such a magnificent display. I’ve read that it’s one of the top galleries in the country.”
Eric snapped his fingers. “It just occurred to me, Julia. If your mother is Natalie Benoit, isn’t she married to Robert McKinnon?”
Nathan looked startled. “The architect?” He gaped at Julia. “Your father is the Robert McKinnon?”
Julia nodded. “Yes, though he rarely does design anymore. He prefers to build things these days – decks, furniture, cabinets.”
Nathan seemed fascinated by this revelation, and Cameron was furious that all of his attention now seemed to be focused on Julia. He and Eric peppered her with questions about her father, who apparently was some highly regarded architect that both men had studied and tried to emulate while back in college.
“I would kill to meet him someday,” said Eric. “Any chance he might pay you a visit soon?”
Julia shrugged. “My parents aren’t big city people. They love living in Carmel and don’t venture away from there too often. But I might be able to persuade them to come up for a visit one day.”
Travis gave Cameron a huge, very satisfied grin.”Well, wouldn’t that be something? Eric and Nate could meet their idol, and perhaps Cameron hers.”
Cameron would have gladly spit in Travis’ twinkling, humor-filled eyes at that moment. She knew now that he had brought all of this up deliberately to rub her nose in the fact that the artist she had idolized for years was the mother of a woman she saw as a rival. The knowledge stuck like a thorn in her side, and she had to clench her fists to keep from tossing her wine at his smugly triumphant face.
She finished off her wine, and discreetly motioned a waiter over, asking him to bring her a dirty martini. She’d had two already before dinner, plus four glasses of wine since, but needed the alcohol badly to steady her nerves that were all but screaming at this point.
Karen unknowingly poured salt into Cameron’s already gaping wound by asking Julia, “Are you an artist like your mother, then?”
Julia laughed softly. “There is no one like my mother. Her talent is otherworldly. I draw and paint a little as a hobby, nothing more.”
“She’s being modest, Karen,” chimed in Nathan. “There’s a series of charcoal drawings in her office that she swears she did on a lark, and they’re incredible”
Cameron felt like kicking Nathan under the table, and
pulling Julia’s hair. The fact that her own fiancé was now singing the little bitch’s praises made her stomach clench. And how the hell much time was he spending in her office anyway? Her palm began to twitch with the need to hit something, someone.
When the waiter arrived with her martini, she drank it down like it was lemonade, drawing a raised brown from Nathan.
“Easy, there,” he said in a hushed tone. “What the hell’s the matter with you, anyway? You haven’t said two words all evening and you’ve been belting drinks back like a sailor on shore leave.”
“What’s wrong?” she hissed. “What the hell do you think is wrong? I’m fucking sick of hearing about how fucking wonderful that little bitch is. All of you might as well be kissing her perky little ass.”
“Keep it down!” he urged in a low whisper. “And ease up on the booze, Cam. Maybe we should order you some coffee.”
Defiantly, she poured herself another glass of wine and swallowed half of it at once. “I’m fine,” she bit out. “Now can you act like my fiancé for the first time tonight and try to change the goddamned subject at this table?”
In actuality, it was Julia who tactfully changed the subject when she asked Jackson more about this winery, a topic he was only too happy to expand upon. That only worked for a little while, however, before he began to ask her and Travis questions about potential re-design ideas not just for the tasting rooms but for two of his personal residences.
Julia was well aware of the murderous glares she’d been receiving all evening from Cameron. The blonde hadn’t even said hello to her when they had all taken their seats earlier, nor had she said a single word to her since.
And she had absolutely no idea what sort of little scheme Travis and Anton had cooked up between them, but it was quite obvious to her that something was up. She’d given Travis a couple of little nudges under the table, and frowned at Anton more that once when they had persisted in making her the subject of conversation. It made her very uncomfortable to find herself the center of attention, for she was normally a rather private person. She’d spent almost half her life trying not to call attention to herself, and wasn’t very happy that the two men were now doing just the opposite.
The waiters had cleared away the main course and were starting to bring coffee around in preparation for dessert. Julia figured this would be a good time to visit the ladies room, and excused herself quietly. She happened to catch Nathan’s eye as she stood, and was conscious of him watching her as she walked away from the table.
She’d been more than a little on edge all evening with Nathan seated directly across the table from her. Very aware of the presence of his fiancée by his side, Julia had been extremely careful to keep any conversation with him brief and polite, and had avoided looking in his direction as much as possible. But despite her best efforts, there had been several times when their gazes had collided and held until one or the other had looked away abruptly.
It was killing her to see him with Cameron, to covertly watch the other woman touch him, whisper to him, to know that she would be the one sharing his bed tonight. Julia didn’t know if they lived together or not, but it was difficult to believe they didn’t have frequent and very physical sex. Nathan had been such a hungry and demanding lover during their one night together that she knew he’d need to fuck often and hard. She bit down on her bottom lip to stifle its trembling, and refused to let herself picture him screwing Cameron as well and as eagerly as he’d done her. It was obvious from his skill and his dominance in bed that he had a lot of experience, certainly far more than she did, and she realized that there had likely been quite a few women in his life. That realization made her doubt even more that the night they had spent together had really meant anything to him other than another notch on his belt.
The ladies room was mostly empty when she walked in, with one woman washing her hands and one of the stalls occupied. The woman at the sink looked up and smiled at Julia.
“I love your dress,” she gushed. “We’re sitting at the table next to yours, and I’ve been admiring it all evening. Lucky you to have the perfect figure for it.”
Julia smiled gratefully at the woman, who was in her early fifties and garbed in a stylish ivory wool pantsuit. “Thank you. You’re very kind.”
The woman, who had close-cropped auburn hair, finished drying her hands. “Oh, to be your age again and have every man in the room panting at your feet. Watch out for that one at your table in the black suit, dear. He looks like he wants you for dessert.”
With a wink, the older woman left and Julia locked herself inside an empty stall. Going around the table in her head, she flushed as she realized the only man in black was Nathan. The woman must have been mistaken, though, for surely Nathan wouldn’t have been looking at her in that way, especially with Cameron glued to his side and watching his every move.
She was alone in the bathroom while washing her hands until the door opened and Cameron strode purposefully into the room. The blonde’s gait looked a little unsteady, and as she drew closer Julia recoiled from the smell of alcohol on her breath. Cameron’s hazel eyes were furious, spitting fire, and her mouth was twisted into a tight, angry line.
Julia looked at her uncertainly. “Have they served dessert yet? I was hoping to get back in time. The desserts here are supposed to be fabulous.” She hoped wildly that she didn’t sound too forced in her effort to be pleasant to the other woman.
But Cameron was evidently in no mood to make polite small talk. “You fucking little bitch,” she snarled angrily. “I hope you and your fucking little queer friends are having a good old time making me look like an idiot tonight.”
Julia gasped, unprepared for the harshness of both Cameron’s words and tone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she ventured. “No one is trying to do that to you.”
Cameron smacked her hand against the granite topped sink. “That’s exactly what’s happening. I’m well aware that Travis and his little pet hate my guts, and they know the feeling is mutual. This is their twisted little way of sticking it to me. They want to make me look bad in front of Nate. But it won’t work.”
“I’m sure that’s not -“
Cameron gave her a sudden, vicious shove, cutting her off. “Shut up! I’m sick of hearing you talk tonight, sick of seeing you looking at my fiancé like a lovesick calf. You’ve been sending him little suggestive glances all night, thinking I wouldn’t notice. He’s my fiancé, Julia. I’m the one he loves and is going to marry. Leave him the fuck alone!”
Julia gaped at her, one hand propped against the wall to steady herself. Cameron might be thin but she was also tall and strong, as evidenced by the push she’d just given her. “I’m well aware of that. Nathan is my boss, that’s all. And I don’t poach on other women’s territory.”
Cameron’s eyes narrowed dangerously. “Oh, but I bet you’d like to, wouldn’t you? He’s awfully yummy to look at, and sooo good in bed. You can’t tell me you don’t want him to fuck you? Or has that already happened? Have you been fucking my fiancé, you little bitch? Have you?”
Julia flushed. “Stop this. I think you’ve had too much to drink and -“
Crack!
The sound of Cameron’s palm making contact with her mouth reverberated though the cavernous bathroom. Julia whimpered in pain and pressed a hand to the corner of her mouth, startled to see blood staining her fingers. She’d noticed the massive ring on Cameron’s engagement finger earlier, and realized it had just cut her lip.
Memories of the night when Philip had tried to rape her came rushing back, for he’d struck her across the mouth in much the same manner, also drawing blood. Julia was shaking, tears running silently down her cheeks as she turned away from Cameron, afraid another blow would fall.
But Cameron seemed content to lash out with words alone. “Stay the fuck away from Nate,” she threatened. “If I catch you looking at him again tonight, you’ll be sorry. He isn’t interested in you, bitch, so leave him alone.�
�
She stormed out of the bathroom then, slamming the door shut behind her. Julia clutched the granite countertop, her legs trembling like crazy. She forced herself to take several long, deep breaths, afraid she was going to throw up or pass out. Hoping desperately that no one else came into the bathroom, she grabbed a paper towel and wet it before pressing it to her mouth. The bleeding stopped fairly quickly but her lip was swollen and sore, and she winced when reapplying as much lip gloss as she could stand to camouflage the cut. She dabbed under her eyes with a tissue to dry her tears and hoped her eye makeup wasn’t destroyed. After brushing her hair, she forced herself to return to the table, though it was the very last thing she felt like doing. She wasn’t about to give Cameron the satisfaction of driving her away, or letting the evil witch think she was afraid of her.
But something in her face must have betrayed her, for Travis frowned instantly upon seeing her and whispered urgently in her ear, “What the hell happened to you? Have you been crying?”
Julia bit her lip and turned her face away from the others to whisper back. “Can’t talk now. I’ll tell you about it later.”
She was silent and subdued for the remainder of the evening, which fortunately ended sooner than later. She was more than happy for Cameron to take control of the conversation, especially since the nasty bitch was quite obviously well on her way to being sloppy drunk, and making an ass of herself in the process. Even Jackson murmured to Julia, “Looks like someone’s been enjoying my wine a little too much.”
Julia absolutely refused to glance across the table where Cameron and Nathan were seated, even though she felt the almost continual force of Nathan’s gaze upon her. As drunk and obnoxious as Cameron was quickly becoming, Julia wouldn’t put it past her to make a scene if she caught Julia looking at him again. She kept her gaze downcast and hoped no one tried to engage her in conversation.
Serendipity (Inevitable) Page 18