Page 49 of Finesse
“I don’t want your money, baby girl. Your money is no good with me.” He shakes his head. “I wanted to talk to you about the terms of our arrangement.”
“The terms of our arrangement?” Every word comes out like a sentence. My heart races to uncontrollable levels and I’m struggling to remain calm. “I just told you I’ll pay you back in full. The shops are up and running like clockwork. You’ll get your money back in no time. I’ll take out a loan to pay you back.”
“The money wasn’t a loan. It was a gift and it should be treated as such.” His low voice comforts me like a blanket. “I’m installing cameras in your shops. Every time you go to the bank to make a deposit, you’ll have security detail to ensure nothing happens. If you take a day off, I need to know where you’re going and how long you’re going to be there. From this moment on, you’ll be escorted to the shops with my driver.”
Cameron is giving me direct orders, not suggestions. It’s also clear none of this is up for negotiation. The hair on the back of my neck stands up and I feel a sliver of a chill down my spine. “What’s going on?”
Three
I’m used to Cameron not giving me direct answers. That was his M.O. throughout our entire relationship until he was forced to reveal everything. Well, most things. I’m sure there is a lot I don’t know and I will never know.
Cameron looks at me square in the eyes and I can tell he’s contemplating how much he wants to reveal. We both know it doesn’t matter if he tells the whole truth or a part of it; he’s not letting me go again. I’m not sure if I want him to is the real problem.
“Nothing you should be concerned with.” This record already sounds familiar and I don’t like the remix of it. “I’m not stopping you from doing whatever it is you want to do, baby girl.” Cameron sips his cappuccino and completely ignores my question. “But I do think my terms are more favorable than you trying to pay off what’s not a loan.”
It doesn’t matter if I don’t want any part of whatever Cameron is doing; he’s going to make me a part of it, regardless. I glance at his eyes and felt my breath caught upon seeing his steely gaze. I stared back at him, not in love, but out of defiance. “Fine.”
“Paychecks will be sent out as normal and there will be no more interruptions. You don’t have to worry about being raided or the police frequenting here unless they’re just coming in to try these delicious biscuits.” He takes another bite and shakes his head. “So good.”
There’s a reason why Cameron added in that little bit about being raided or being confronted by the police. He doesn’t have to tell me they’re on his payroll. “I’m glad.” I fold my arms. “Anything else, boss man?”
Cameron finishes his cappuccino and blots his lips. “Where did we go wrong, Tay?”
“Oh, I don’t know…” This is the part where I really think this fool is wasting my time. “…the fact you chose the streets over your girl? Maybe that part.”
He rubs his five o’clock shadow and licks those kissable lips. I’m ignoring the soft thumping occurring in my panties. “Nothing is more important than you, Taylor.” His voice is low and so damn hot. He locks eyes with mine and my body shivers. “Absolutely nothing.”
“That’s not the point, Cameron.” I mention to him. “You were more devoted to your corners than to us.”
“That’s not true,” he shakes his head and the chestnut brown hair softly moves, “I treated you very well. Whatever you wanted, you received.”
“Please stop trying to sweet talk to me. I’m getting hot and bothered.” I roll my eyes. He laughs at my annoyance and once again, the thought of whether to fight or fuck him occurs in my brain.
“I always took care of you, Tay. I always will.” He purrs as a spark flew between us. He grabs my fingers and I don’t stop him. His hand is just as soft and smooth as I remembered. “Everyone knows what the deal is between us. Everyone knows who you are and what you mean to me. Nothing will ever happen to you.”
“If something goes down, Cam, I’m the first target they’ll go after.” Our fingers interlock and it feels like home. “You can’t protect me all of the time. Some of these females out here are just as ruthless as the men.”
“Oh, I know,” says Cameron, abruptly. “Trust me, I know.”
I don’t want to ask the question but it’s going to nag me if I don’t. Cameron didn’t have to say a word to let me know the score. “The person who’s targeting you is a woman.”
Cameron is silent for a brief moment. His face is taut and the slightest hint of dismay appears in his eyes. “I don’t want you to concern yourself with that,” he stands up and dusts off his jeans as his security detail appears. “You keep this business running tight.” He kisses my hand and winks at me. “I’ll see you later.”
“Later?” I stand up and follow him out to the door. “You don’t know where I live.”
Cameron turns to me and grabs my waist. He brushes a lock of hair away from my face and smiles at me. “I know everything about you, baby girl. Believe that.”
I watch Cameron motion to his security as they nod back at him. I don’t know what silent language they have but I’m assuming the coast was clear and we both could go home. “Cam?”
He turns around and smiles at me. “Yes, baby?”
I lean against the door jamb. “Are you hitting me up because this pussy is good and you miss it or because you’re in a drought?”
He smiles his schoolboy charm smile and kisses my forehead. “I think we both know the answer to that question.”
I closed up everything again and felt the butterflies in my stomach. I tried not to smile but I couldn’t help it. Gosh, my body missed him. My heart craved him. My mind told me to knock it off and get some sense.
I can’t ignore what Cameron does, but I wonder why he’s being so protective of me all of a sudden? And who was the mystery woman?
