On your knees, Mr. Billionaire

010

Camille Blackwell

~•~

I almost talked myself into not going. I was going to use the excuse that Caden couldn’t be home alone but when I asked Jen if she could watch him for the night, she said yes.

There was also the fact that it was my first outing, even if it was a social event, in the three weeks I’d been back in New York. It slipped when I was speaking with Dana one day and she encouraged me to go so I ended up getting dressed and taking a cab to the location that Jocelyn had sent me.

I had survived a nasty divorce, a pregnancy alone, and moving back to the city that almost broke me. I was certain I could endure two hours of small talk and random people pretending they cared about me when all they wanted was the gist on what happened back then.

That was what I told myself during the ride there.

The venue was a beautifully decorated rooftop. There were maybe fifty guests in total. The small number didn’t comfort me because if anything, people were more likely to notice me with such sparse guests.

Staff moved through the crowd with champagne and I snatched one immediately, knowing I wouldn’t be able to survive the night without alcohol.

Jocelyn found me almost immediately. “You came!” She said brightly. I didn’t even realize she was in front of me until she spoke. Her genuine smile brought a smile to my face.

“I said I would.”

“You also looked hesitant to give me your number.” She laughed, pulling me into a hug. My cheeks heated up. How was she able to notice that? “You look stunning, Camille.”

“Not as stunning as you, Jocelyn. Congratulations,” I said warmly. “Where’s the lucky man?”

She pointed across the room to a man deep in conversation with an older couple. “I’ll introduce you two properly later. Go have fun. It’s an open bar.”

She left me then to greet another guest while I let myself drift into the crowd.

It was the kind of gathering where everyone was familiar with each other, which meant several people recognized me from my years as a Blackwell wife. Most of them were shocked to see me because they hadn’t seen me at any events in years. Others were wondering what caused the split between he who shall not be named and me. I dodged intrusive questions and smiled and answered surface-level ones.

When I successfully shook them all off, I headed towards the bar. I exhaled and ordered a sparkling water. I had surgery the next day and two glasses of champagne were already pushing it.

“Hey.” Someone stood beside me.

I held back a groan. I thought I was done answering questions about my ex-husband but apparently, everyone wanted to hear from me firsthand.

I looked up and froze. I recognized him immediately. It was the same man I’d run into during my first day of work. The doctor. I struggled to recall his name, but it started with a C? He was in a navy suit, a huge contrast from his white coat, but he was just as handsome in it. “Hey,” I responded.

“You look really familiar.” He chuckled. “But I can’t place where I saw you and it’s bothering me.”

A teasing smile fitted my lips as I sipped my water. “Does that line usually work on other women?”

A flush crept up his cheeks. “Uh, no. I mean, it’s not a line. I know it does sound like that, but I promise, I’m serious. I just couldn’t help but come over and find out if we know each other.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “I’m joking. I remember you. We met once at the hospital. I started there three weeks ago.”

Recognition dawned on his face. “Oh, you’re the pretty doctor who looked lost that day?”

I raised an eyebrow at him. “So pretty you couldn’t remember me?”

“Cut me some slack please.” He laughed but he still seemed embarrassed. “I couldn’t recall if you were a doctor or a patient.”

“I’m just teasing you.”

He nodded and extended his hand. “Nathaniel Cole.”

Right. Dr. Cole. “Camille Laurent.” I shook his hand.

“Dr. Laurent.” He sounded like he was storing the name in his head. “How are you finding the hospital?”

“I’m still finding my way around,” I admitted. “But it’s a good department.”

“Neurosurgery, right?”

“Mmh.” I nodded. “What about you?” I didn’t get to catch his department the last time.

“Cardiac surgery.”

“Impressive.”

He gave me a dimpled smile. “Are you here alone?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Not really. I’m just curious how you know Jocelyn.”

“We knew each other through my — through mutual friends.” I corrected smoothly. “A few years ago. How about you?”

“Family friends.” He answered easily. Was he the one Jocelyn went to the hospital to personally invite? They must be really close then. “Her father and my father went to school together. Now it’s a whole legacy thing.”

I smiled. He was surprisingly easy to talk to. On the first day I saw him, he seemed quite intimidating. We fell into a comfortable conversation, talking about the hospital, the patients, and especially their family members, and even about a nearby restaurant that he swore was the best in town.

I looked around as I spoke and paused mid-sentence when my eyes caught on a very familiar figure by the entrance.

My hand tightened around my glass instantly. What the hell?

I was trying to avoid speaking with him so he just showed up in my space instead? He was with two other men whom I recognized as his friends and a strange woman who was holding on to one of the men.

As if he could sense my gaze on him, his eyes found mine across the room and stopped.

I saw the shock go through his eyes. So he was just as taken aback as I was.

Jocelyn walked up to them, but he wasn’t paying attention to her. He didn’t even look away. Neither did I.

“Camille?”

Nathaniel’s voice broke me out of my reverie and I faced him. “Sorry, what were you saying?”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dominic Blackwell approaching us.

Surely, he wasn’t walking towards me, was he?