Page 26 of The Executive Assistant

Or maybe he wasn’t even in. Maybe he was out at a bar, flirting with a beautiful woman.

Before I could stop myself, I hit the call button on the intercom.

CHAPTER TEN

“Hello?”

I froze at the sound of Cameron’s voice leaving the small speaker. What was I doing?

“Hi, Cameron. It’s Alison,” I said, my stomach flip-flopping. “I was in the neighborhood and just… wanted to talk.”

“Oh,” Cameron replied, sounding surprised. “Of course. I’ll buzz you in. I’m up on the third floor.”

When I heard the door unlock, I headed inside and ventured up the stairs until I reached the third floor. The hallway smelled like cleaning supplies, and the wooden floor creaked under my feet as I headed down the hall.

I didn’t know what to say to him. Where would I even start?

When I reached his unit, I knocked. The door opened a few seconds later, and Cameron appeared in the doorwaywith a warm smile on his face. This was the first time that I had seen him in casual clothes, specifically a white t-shirt and gray sweatpants, and he still looked strikingly handsome.

“Sorry I just showed up out of nowhere,” I apologized. “Are you busy?”

Cameron shook his head before motioning for me to come inside. “No, not at all.”

I followed him through the foyer where it split into an open space. It looked like a typical one-bedroom apartment, but it was clean and tidy from what I could see. “Nice place.”

Cameron glanced over his shoulder at me, his smile weaker than normal. “Oh, thanks. It’s nothing much.”

It seemed pretty homey to me. It smelled nice too, like he’d just cooked something.

As I trailed him out of the foyer, I started conjuring up all the courage I had. It was time to say something. After taking a breath, I parted my lips to speak—

But the words never came because a noise from the kitchen caught my attention. Someone else was here: a woman, cooking dinner. She was the supermodel from the restaurant.

I froze in place, my stomach dropping.

He wasn’t sad or hung up on me. Not when he had her.

I looked between him and her, rethinking everything that happened between us. My stomach twisted, and Istarted to step back, especially when the woman turned and smiled at me over her shoulder. How was she not fazed by me? Did she even know who I was?

Before I could flee the apartment and try to preserve what was left of my dignity, Cameron took my hand and led me down a short hallway to his bedroom. He turned on a floor lamp and shut the door behind him, stopping me from leaving.

I spun around to face him, my heart briefly stopping when I realized how close we were.

“What’s going on, Alison?” Cameron asked me, stepping closer. “Is it a work emergency?”

I shook my head. “There’s no emergency. Is that woman out there your girlfriend?”

Cameron looked so surprised that it caughtmeoff guard. “What? Riko?” He shook his head quickly. “She’s my cousin. Well, technically my step-cousin. She comes over and makes me food every once in a while. I don’t ask her to — she insists.”

“I remember seeing her with you at The Cavallino.”

“I took her there for her birthday.”

My skin went hot with embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I jumped to conclusions.”

A slow grin spread across his face. He took a step closer, raising a brow at me. “Were you… jealous?”

My cheeks must’ve been bright red. I didn’t say anything, but I didn’t have to.

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