Chapter 515: Owed
Cameron could not take his eyes off Camille, who had left the door open as she walked away. He knew she had done so for Mina's sake. It would be easier for the woman to run out of the car if she didn't have to struggle with the door. He turned to glare at Mina, knowing that she had tricked him. There were lots of things Luna had told him about the woman, but he was only just now seeing it in action. He knew she had misled him; she had managed to introduce him to a woman who was smart and attractive, and she successfully diverted his attention, but he would not let her know that he knew, he would use it to his advantage.
"When I make all of your friends like me, I will turn all my focus back to you." Mina scoffed and Cam smiled. He no longer had any intention of chasing after Mina, he now wanted Camille Emming, but neither woman could know that. Since Mina had played him, he would play her back.
----
Bastien waited for Olivia to meet him at a private bar. He had never been to the place, but it was packed, and it was the perfect environment to enact his plans. He and Cylus had not been on speaking terms, but he knew from Vanya that the man no longer suspected him. His father had almost lost everything, and Bastien fought the urge to buy a top shelf drink. He needed to conserve money, and the effects it had on his life were visible.
When Olivia strolled into the bar, she looked stunning. She carried herself differently, she looked more mature, and Bastien felt his heart twitch. She was happy, and it was obvious it was the sort of happiness that came from contentment. As soon as she sat, he ordered two drinks. He half thought that Olivia was going to ridicule him for ordering something cheap, but she said nothing.
Bastien first apologized for what happened the night of Connor's party. In keeping with his lie, he claimed that he thought she and Mina were pranking him, and only realized it was not a joke, when he noticed her clothing was removed. He then went back to the incident where she was drugged, telling Olivia that he really believed she was drunk, and had he realized it was something more, he would have called Cylus.
Olivia stared at the man, his lie was so convincing that if he had not already bought a sugar pill from Mills, she would have believed him. She excused herself to the restroom, and when she came back Bastien proposed a toast to 'friendship.' Olivia stayed drinking with the man, until she started to feel 'dizzy.' She asked him to call her cousin, but he promised to get her someplace safe.
Bastien carried her out of the bar, supporting her weight and just as before, Olivia did not speak. He kept giving her assurances, telling her that he would not hurt her, and that she would be okay, and she wondered if the man had already learned his lesson, until they pulled up at a cheap hotel. Bastien lifted her, stopping for a second to study her face, before he walked into the hotel, rented a room, and laid her in the center of the bed.
He removed his shirt, and Olivia secretly pressed a button on her bracelet that told the people waiting to 'come now.' Just as the man climbed on top of her, the door flew open and Cylus walked in with a scowl on his face that made Bastien go ghost white.
"Cy, wait. I really like Oliv-" his words were never heard because he was punched. Olivia stopped acting and sat up, pulling her cousin off the man before he accidentally killed him. She had heard about what happened to Willow from Mills, and she wondered if Jeremy Barnes had been beaten as badly.
Cylus pulled Olivia out of the room, not bothering to call help for or make sure anyone handled Bastien. Now that he knew the man was no longer his friend, he would remove all the aid he had been secretly sending the man's family. Once in the car, Cylus broke down, frightening Olivia.
"Nothing happened," she assured, but she soon realized that Cylus was not crying for her. She believed that he was crying for his lost friendship, but in reality, Cylus was crying for Mina.
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Camille was crying into the phone with Mina listening at the other end. She wanted to laugh at the woman, but she knew it wasn't right. President Cameron had made good on his promise and made her his personal assistant. Camille was humiliated by it, but what was worse, was that her father was bragging all over as if she had not just gotten a demotion. She went from having people who worked under her to having to work under others and she blamed Mina.
"Can you not just take one for the team and marry him?" Mina laughed loudly.
"Why? Isn't he very likable? I thought you said you can't judge without getting to know a person." Camille whimpered into the phone.
"I hate you Mina Harlow. I really do." The woman hung up, and feeling guilty, she sent Mina a text.
[You owe me!] Mina smiled at her phone.
[Consider us even.] Camille wanted to throw her device, but Mina was right. She was the one who owed Mina. She looked down at her hand and cursed as he vowed to never raise it to another person again.
----
Mina had just left a mandatory meeting at Rouge Entertainment. Cylus had apparently wanted to talk to his artists about consent. It was a good discussion, and while uncomfortable at first, she found herself amazed with how many men thought it was okay to do something with a woman who was under the influence. Their belief was that as long as they had not done anything untoward, then it was fine. Even Brayden looked shocked by the amount of ignorance in the room, and Mina found herself wondering if she had misjudged him.
She walked out of the building and felt her phone vibrate in her back pocket. Looking at it, Mina smiled at the number that displayed. Mills' brother was in Pan, and she knew the woman was calling to invite her to dinner. Mina had already agreed, she was just waiting on the details.
"Hey, you killed him yet?" Mina teased, knowing that Mills had been miserable with Drax and spent most of her free time avoiding the man by staying at her apartment until he showed up to collect her.
"Not yet, but pretty close." Mina laughed, but Mills did not, and she sensed the woman had bad news. "Mina, President Lee is insisting that dinner be held in his mansion. I understand if you don't want to come, but it would mean a lot if you would." Mina massaged her brow.
"When?" she asked, wanting to know if she had time to mentally prepare.
"Tonight, and you should bring a date, so you have someone to escort you home." Mina knew the woman was being subtle, but it was good advice; but she didn't want to pull another innocent person into her drama. She did not outright agree to be there, but she left the option open, feeling reluctant to disappoint Mills.
Mina ended the call with Mills and called Zane, who she spoke to more regularly as the man formalized the non-profit for his mother. The man was not shocked to hear from her, but he was shocked by her request.
"You know I wouldn't have asked if I didn't already know you are on the guest list." Zane chuckled, knowing that Mina was putting him in his place again. She had been clear from the beginning and he respected that about her.