Fiona raises an eyebrow, her gaze sliding meaningfully between Camille and me. "I can see that. Though I must say, I'm surprised you found time in your schedule, Alex. Especially after our conversation last night about how busy you’ve been."
The damage is instant and visible. Camille's expression shutters completely, the brief openness we'd achieved vanishing behind a wall of hurt and anger. She stands abruptly, gathering her bag.
"I think we're done here for today," she says curtly.
"Camille, wait—" I begin, rising from my seat. "This isn't what it looks like. Fiona and I aren't?—"
"It doesn't matter what you are or aren't," she cuts me off. "Your personal life is your business, just like mine is mine."
Julian and Tristan are on their feet now too, flanking her protectively once again.
"We'll be in touch later," Julian says, his hand finding the small of Camille's back as he guides her toward the door. "Maybe via email would be best."
The door closes behind them with a soft click that sounds like finality. I turn to face Fiona, fury building in my chest.
"Get out," I say, my voice deadly quiet.
She has the audacity to look surprised. "Alexander, I was just?—"
"Get. Out." Each word is clipped, final. "And don't come back. We're done—professionally and in every other way."
For once, Fiona seems to recognize the danger in pushing further. She leaves without another word, the click of her heels fading down the hallway.
I'm left alone in my office, surrounded by evidence of all I've built, all I've achieved, and none of it matters. Because the one thing I truly want—a chance to be part of Camille's life again, to be a father to our child—seems further away than ever.
Chapter 27
Camille
The elevator doors slide shut and my body betrays me. I wrap my arms around myself, trying to stop the shaking, but it doesn't help. The image of Fiona standing there, her smug smile, her casual reference to her and Alexander's conversation "last night"—it's too much for me to deal with.
"Fuck," Julian swears under his breath. He reaches for me, arms opening. "Come here."
I fall against him, letting his warmth envelop me. His heartbeat is steady against my ear, a contrast to the erratic pounding in my chest. Tristan stands on my other side, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. The elevator descends, numbers blinking by in reverse, each floor taking us further from Alexander but not from the pain of what just happened.
"I knew it," I whisper into Julian's chest. "I knew they were together."
"We don't know anything," Tristan says, his voice low and measured. "She could have been lying."
I shake my head. "He didn't deny it."
The elevator reaches the lobby. Julian keeps his arm around me as we cross the marble floor, past the curious eyes of thereceptionist, out into the bright afternoon sunshine that feels like a mockery of my mood.
Tristan steps ahead to the curb, raising his hand for the waiting car. The driver opens the door, and Julian guides me inside, sliding in after me. Tristan follows, shutting the door with a soft click that somehow breaks something loose inside me.
The first sob catches me by surprise, rising from somewhere deep and painful. Then another. And another. Until I'm gasping, drowning in tears I've been holding back. Julian pulls me closer, my face pressed against his shoulder, his hand stroking my hair.
"Take us to my place," Tristan tells the driver, his voice steady but tight with what might be anger.
"I'm sorry," I manage between sobs. "I don't know why I'm?—"
"Don't apologize," Julian murmurs against my hair. "There’s no need."
The car moves through midday traffic, the city passing in a blur outside the tinted windows. I close my eyes, focusing on Julian's arms around me, on Tristan's hand finding mine and squeezing gently. Their solid presence anchors me when everything else feels like it's dissolving.
"Did you see how she looked at me? Like she'd won something." I pull back from Julian's chest, wiping at my face with trembling hands. "God, I feel so stupid."
"You're not stupid," Julian says fiercely. "You're the one who's moved on. You're the one building something real with us."
