Justice Falling (Falling #3)(21)

In the middle of Ty’s description of a new company he was championing, Camille stood up as if the building caught fire. “I have to go.” Her voice was thick with emotion and cracked on the last word. She riffled through her purse and pulled out her wallet.

“Oh no, honey, this is a business lunch.” Aspen waved her off. Camille nodded, putting away her wallet.

“I’m sorry.” She looked into my eyes. Fear, sadness, and regret all warred for top billing in her gaze. Then she shot a glance at Ty and winced.

He leaned back and with the most smarmy expression possible said, “It was really good seeing you again, sweetness. Maybe we can catch up sometime.”

“I can’t take this.” Camille blurted and ran out of the restaurant. I moved to chase after her.

“No!” Oliver stopped me with a hand on my chest. “Something stinks about this.” Oliver pointed between Ty and me. “I’m going to check on her. Make sure Aspen gets back to the office safely. Got it?”

“Yes, but I--“

“No buts. Take care of my girls.” He pointed to Aspen, kissed her cheek then patted her belly. Aspen cringed, clearly annoyed with her personal assistant. “I’ll see you at the office after I find out what the hell set a fire under our girl’s ass.”

“That ass is sweet. I can attest to that.” Ty held his hands about a foot apart and thrust his hips.

“Cock sucking wanker!” I pulled back my hand ready to pummel the bloody bastard. A huge arm grabbed my bicep, preventing me from hitting my mark…Ty’s smirking mug. A body-builder type patted me on the back.

“You gonna start a fight with a pregnant woman at your table?” The beefy stranger gestured to Aspen. I looked at her surprised face. Her hands covered her round bump protectively.

“Sorry. Thanks, mate.”

“Respect!” The testosterone filled man fist pumped me. I’ll never understand the fist pump. Or is it bump? “What the f*ck, man! You were going to hit me?” Ty yelled. He fluffed his suit coat, and buttoned it at the waist.

“Don’t ever talk about my woman like that!” I growled making my intent very clear.

“Your woman! Now she’s your woman? Just a half hour ago she was your friend.” Ty flicked the shoulders of his suit coat and ruffled a hand through his brown hair. “I’ve already had her, and it wasn’t worth the effort. You can have my sloppy seconds.”

“I’m going to murder you,” I gritted through my teeth.

Aspen put a hand on my chest and then Ty’s. She looked at Ty then back to me. “Enough. Tyler, it was…well not exactly pleasant meeting you. I think it’s time for you to go.” He frowned as she added, “Nate, walk me back to AIR Bright.”

I stood seething as I watched my best friend walk out confidently into the city streets. Women everywhere checked him out as he went, and now I knew he’d had my woman. My precious Camille. Christ!





Chapter 6





Tears raced down my cheeks as I stood in the elevator at AIR Bright. I’d give anything to avoid going back to work, but I needed this job. The money I made working for Jensen Construction was fair, but not enough for us to live on alone. At least not yet. I was low man on the totem pole, only a receptionist. That wage did not pay my half of the rent, daycare on the days Jin couldn’t watch Tanner, or food and medical coverage living in New York City. It was just enough to take me off government assistance. Hence, the reason I still worked at Gems. I hoped I’d get a good raise and more responsibility along with medical coverage when I had my six month review. When that happened, I would quit Gems for good.

“Cami! Hold the door!” Oliver’s voice echoed off the walls in the building’s lobby. Instead of holding the doors, I hit the “Close” button repeatedly, mashing my thumb into the round disk. I should have known one of them would come after me. At least it wasn’t Nate.

The doors closed before Oliver reached them, and I let out a sigh of relief. I stood silently in the corner as it stopped a few times to let people get on and off before reaching Jensen Construction’s floor. It was just enough time to calm myself using the meditative breathing tactic I learned during Lamaze class when I was pregnant with Tanner. After seeing Tyler, incredibly attractive, his suit fitting like it was tailored to highlight his long, lean body to perfection, yet still the worst possible jerk, almost sent me into a full-blown anxiety attack. When the doors opened, I was shocked to see Oliver leaning against the opposite wall, feet crossed at the ankle, hands in the pockets of his designer suit.

“How did you…?”

Oliver grinned his pristine metro-sexual features adding to his mirth. “Private elevator. Benefit of being BFF with the building owner.”

I passed him entering the office. With practiced ease, I slid into my desk chair, put away my purse in the bottom drawer, adjusted my hands over my desk and looked at Oliver.

He sat his hip on my desk, tapped his fingers against the surface and scrutinized my face. “So, you just going to sit there and pretend you didn’t just run out of lunch as if your hair was on fire?”

“I apologize. I wasn’t feeling much like myself. I’ll apologize to Mrs. Jensen, too.”

“Mrs. Jensen? You’re serious? You’re worried about my girl?”