"I STILL CAN'T believe this is who Ryker is..." Julie turned to her.

"Yeah, I know. I never guessed he'd be my boss either."

It had been a month since Laavanya had joined Piper & Lawson and she had received her first paycheck. After paying the rent, the bills and preparing the budget for her daily expenses, she was left with just enough money to treat her with something small. She decided to buy herself a dress for the celebration party being held tonight. With her work doubled in the last few days, she never got a chance to go shopping so, here she was–four hours before the party—in  the mall with Julie who had just returned from her summertrip to buy herself a new dress as she told her the whole story of her month at her new job.

Leaving out the mind-numbing revelation that Ryker was a father. And that he may have actually liked her back too.

But that was seven years ago.

It's too late now anyway.

"How is he–as a boss?" Julie asked nonchalantly as she continued to rifle through the dresses in the sale section. They hadn't had much success in finding a perfect that fit both her budget and her choice.

"He is all right, I guess. Doesn't treat me any differently."

That was true. Despite everything that had happened between them—or everything that hadn't, it didn't affect his professional instincts in any way. He still discussed and made remarks without sliding anything personal, he gave equal importance to all of his employees, he corrected her when she was wrong. When he was a boss, he played his part correctly. She had started to admire that about him.

Well, she was beginning to admire a lot about him.

"Who are you bringing to this party?" She pulled out a bright green dress. "How is this? It'll pop your eyes."

"I don't want to look like a zombie incarnate," she commented. "What do you mean who? I asked Cameron a week ago."

Truthfully, she had asked him just to release the tension between them. When he picked her up from Ryker's, he had been tempted to ask what was going on, to voice his suspicion again. He wasn't wrong to suspect her. Any partner in their sane mind would've questioned the motives of their partner if they found their boss sleeping in their room or left late from their boss's apartment. Cameron had every right to suspect her but after the emotional roller coaster she had been through in the last hour, she didn't have the energy to deal with him so she lied. She told him they were discussing a project they needed to finish urgently followed by the question: Would you like to come to the office party with me? I will introduce you to my co-workers.

The tension in Cameron's muscles had dissipated. But not completely. He agreed to be there anyway.

"The same Cameron who doesn't make you happy anymore?"

"We are working things out." She brushed her hand through the material of the dress but when she checked the price was over her limit, she quickly put it back.

"Babe..." Julie walked toward her from her side of the lane with a beautiful dark blue dress in her hand. "I know you care about him but love and care are not the same thing. You can't keep hurting him and yourself. If you really think this is just a phase, then go ahead and try to make things work but you are too young to pursue a relationship just because you think you should."

"But he is right for me."

"If you don't love him, there's no point in putting in the effort." Julie stretched her other hand and rubbed Laavanya's arm. "There's no easy way out of this."

"I know." Laavanya nodded. She averted her eyes back to the dress. It was made out of satin fabric with little beads around the hem of the neck that dipped into her cleavage. She took it in her hands and traced the line of beads. "I like this dress."

"Yeah?" Julie's lips curled up with a smile.

"Yeah," Laavanya smiled back. "Let me try it. You have to do my eyeliner too."

"Still haven't perfected the wing, have you?" Julie laughed and snaked her arm over her shoulder as they walked towards the trial room.

***

"Wow, Laavy..." Cameron said as he walked in through the door with a rose in his hand. He was wearing a tux with a blue bow like she had asked him to. His hazel eyes travelled the dress that hugged her petite figure. She didn't have any curves or love handles and on some days she didn't feel confident of her body but she was so good at faking it that no one doubted it. "You look gorgeous."

"Thanks." She smiled and walked towards him. "Is this for me?"

"Uh, yeah..." He gave it to her and kissed her cheek. "Let's go?"

Laavanya nodded. They said goodbye to Julie who was watching their interaction and was planning to have Laavanya's apartment for herself for the rest of the night so they could have a sleepover once they are back and Julie would get a chance to tell all the family tea her best friend had missed.

When Laavanya walked into the room in Cameron's arms, Diana was the first one to notice them. She simply raised her glass of champagne and nodded at her. Laavanya offered a tight smile and met eyes with Jennifer who was just approaching them.

"Laavanya, you look amazing!" Jennifer hugged her right when another man walked to stand beside Jennifer. When they parted, she shook hands with Cameron. "You must be Cameron. I am Jennifer and this is my fiance, Benton." She stood beside the tall, bulky man and hooked her arms in his, the diamond in her ring finger shining.

"It's great to meet the two of you. Do you both work here?"Benton asked, his deep and authoritative voice already intimidating her.

"No, honey. I told you, remember?" She lightly tugged his arm. "Laavanya joined just a month ago and her boyfriend is a data analyst at a french company. I am sorry for his forgetfulness. He can remember the age of the murder victims but not my birthday." She laughed while Benton watched his fiancee with a smile.

"He works for the FBI," she whispered into Cameron's ears. "And she brags about that at any chance she gets."

Cameron snickered and Laavanya felt good. They have been sharing such tense moments lately that she almost misses what they had. She loved to spend time with him so much. They used to be glued twenty-four seven. She would practise illustrations in her apartment and he would play with numbers while listening to their playlist.

She missed what they had before.

"Oh, look at these two–high on love," Jennifer said with awe. "Aren't they just like us, honey?"

Laavanya's smile dropped.

"Yeah," Cameron mumbled.

Her heart sank.

And the worst possible thing happened, she saw Ryker.

She saw Ryker wearing a dark blue tuxedo, drinking wine as he watched her. Something changed in his face. But before she could react, he looked the other way.

She felt her breath shorten.

"Do you want a drink?" Cameron asked and she nodded. He left to get her a drink. After sharing another smile, Jennifer and Benton walked away to greet Mr. Edison. She was left alone with her thoughts and a sinking heart. And when Cameron returned with a Cosmo in his hand, she chugged it whole. "Woah woah, are you okay?"

"Yes, I am okay."

She was not.

"Do you want to leave?"

"No. Let's go meet my co-workers."

***

The party had calmed down. The publishing partners—Miss Piper Fitz and Mr. Raymond Lawson—had made their speeches. The guests were introduced and had extended their gratitude for being invited. The girls from a local non-profit organisation that Piper & Lawson annually donated big cheques to had performed a dance. And the food was served.

Laavanya had survived the party so far without any mental breakdowns. She had no appetite to eat. Or drink anymore. She felt like she was just floating. Cameron was charming self to everyone but he barely spoke to her. And she hated how much it bothered her and how much it didn't.

"Do you want to dance?" She asked.

"Uh, sure." He smiled and pulled out his arm as he carried her to the dancefloor. A soft song was playing so Cameron put a hand around her waist and she rested her palms on his chest. They moved slowly in a rhythm. "You never said I," he mumbled.

She lifted her chin. "What?"

"On your first day here, when I called you. You didn't say it back."

im tempted to give a double update today but I'm gonna hold my urge

or maybe I won't;)

what do you think of the chapter? lemme know what are your theories for the next chapter