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“Isn’t that,” she pauses like she’s searching for the right word, “promiscuous?”
I want to wipe the sneer from her face but instead, I plaster a smile on my face, clenching my teeth before I can answer.
“I may not work for others but it does for us.” I still have my fake smile in place as I grit out the words. I brace for her next words. The malicious smile on her face tells me it's not going to be remotely kind.
“Well, we can't all be as open-legged as you." She sneers, revealing her pearly white teeth.
"I beg your pardon?" Cammy clips. My attention was so riveted on Matilda that I didn't see Cammy observing our exchange.
Every gaze snaps to her, her beauty makes them all appear frumpy. Like mere mortals while she is a goddess slumming it with the riff-raff. Just like the first time I saw her, she's the vision of angelic perfection.
“Cammy.” I breathe her name horrified of her hearing how vile Matilda is being. I’m also more than a bit shocked that she’s defending me since in past interactions it seemed like she wasn’t fond of me. Or at least was jealous that I won’t be with her.
Matilda looks thoroughly chastised and tries to play it off. “Oh, we’re just giving her a hard time.”
“That's not what it sounded like. It sounded like you were being snarky and mean to someone who calls you friends.” Cammy holds Matilda's eyes for another moment before she looks at me and holds out her hand. “Come on, Elle.” Her tone holds no room for argument and I grab my purse and follow her to her table.
I look over my shoulder to see all their shocked faces, and I smirk at that knowing that they are astonished at what just happened.
We sit down. I feel so ashamed.
“Thank you and I’m so sorry,” I say to the clothed tabletop.
“Of course. You have nothing to be sorry for. Those horrible women do.” She tsks and tutters in disgust over them.
“I should have stopped trying to be friends with them a long time ago.” I huff. “They’re toxic but in a stealthy way.” I rub my temples, trying to keep the mounting headache at bay until I can get home.
Cammy has my food sent to her table and we eat making small talk. All I can think about though I being able to go home and lay down to try and get ahead of this migraine.
When I’m finally done, I text Cade to come and pick me up. I don’t wait long before he pulls up and I slide in.
“How was brunch?” he asks with a smile.
“Horrible. I won’t be hanging out with them again. They’re judgy and vile. They basically called me a whore for dating all three of you at once,” I say, closing my eyes and resting my head against the headrest.
“Are you feeling okay?” His voice is tight but it’s all I can do to try and combat the pain radiating through my head and down the back of my neck.
“Not really, I have a migraine. Can you take me home please?”
“Of course, pet,” Cade agrees.
18 Living Nightmare
By Monday morning I’m functional, but I still have some echoes of my migraine from Saturday. I just hope that Mr. Neal is in a halfway decent mood today and doesn’t give me a hard time over anything.
The ride up to my floor is thankfully quiet and I exit, making my way to my desk. Mr. Neal isn’t in yet. I stow my purse, taking my phone out, and set it on my desk before booting up my computer.
When it’s ready I go over the day's schedule, return a few emails, and print off the needed documents for today.
Mr. Neal strolls in, on his phone as usual, heading straight into his office without a glance in my direction and closes his door. I breathe a sigh of relief and grab my phone before I head to the printer to pick up my papers.
The day is long but when nothing out of the ordinary happens, I relax a little. Maybe he was so drunk he doesn’t remember what happened. Hoping that’s the case, I go to the shared break room with a stack of papers to look over and read them while I grab a quick snack to hold me over until dinner tonight.
When I get back my office phone is ringing so I lean over, clutching the paper to my chest and answer it, “Hello, Mr. Neal’s office. How can I help you?”
The voice on the other end is blocked out by the fact that Mr. Neal has come out of his office and pressed himself against me. My heart sinks and rises into my throat at the same time.
“I knew you wanted me. The other day you just needed some time to warm up to me. I’ve given you that time, now stop fucking around and get with the program.” His hot breath fans over the back of my neck, sending a shiver of fear down my spine. I look around for anyone that might help me but everyone is gone.
