Chapter 82 82. I DARE You
I didn't move from the bed.
"Tell him to leave."
Maya shifted in the doorway. "Cami, he's not asking nor threatening to come in. He just wants to talk to you."
"No."
"He looks bad and-"
"I don't care." Liar. I pulled the blanket over my head. "Tell him to go back to his fiancée."
Her footsteps retreated. I heard the muffled sound of voices through the front door, then Maya returned.
"He says he's not leaving until you talk to him, and you should come out now before-in his own words-shit gets messy."
Threatening me? Well fuck you, Lucien.
In an almost aggressive toss, I threw off the blanket, but the surge of adrenaline vanished the moment I stood. My legs went liquid beneath me.
I managed to walk out and then leaned heavily on the door, holding the handle.
"Leave me alone, Lucien."
Silence. Then his voice, rough and strained. "I know you saw the broadcast."
"Congratulations on your engagement."
"Camila, open the damn door while I'm still asking nicely. Let me explain."
"You owe me no explanation." My voice cracked despite my best effort. "I understood perfectly."
"You didn't. Jessica and my father-"
"I don't want an explanation." Tears rose fast. I sniffed, trying to hold them back. "My bad reputation was threatening your position, right? The board needed you to get a more suitable partner or you'd lose your place, right?" My breath hitched. "You also needed her to get your inheritance, right?"
The words felt heavy on my tongue.
"You killed two birds with one stone."
"I DID IT FOR YOU!" His shout rattled the door. "Camila, if you would just let me-"
"I understand that you needed to get rid of the bad omen." My throat burned. "It's fine. I'm not mad at you for your decision."
"What fucking decision?" Something slammed against the door. His palm. "Open this door and tell me you want to leave to my face."
I stumbled backward, tears spilling over. The pain in my chest spread through my whole body. My belly cramped. Every breath hurt.
Maya caught me before I collapsed. She guided me back to the bedroom, and helped me sit on the bed.
"Cami, I think you should give him a chance to explain. He seems like he has something important to say."
"I don't trust myself." I wiped my face with pale hands. "If I open that door and look into his golden eyes, I'll melt... or break... or let him manipulate me with his words." I pulled my knees to my chest. "I can't handle it now. Please."
"But what if-"
"If the ache in my heart dies down, I'll open the door. I promise. Just not now."
Maya squeezed my shoulder. "Okay. But for what it's worth, I think you're wrong about him."
She left me alone in my sorrow after that. Hours later, she was out for an interview and her new part-time job. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, until the afternoon light changed to evening.
Finally, I got up, rinsed my face and pulled my hair into a ponytail. My reflection looked hollow.
"I can do this."
I can talk to him calmly, hear whatever explanation he thought would make a difference, then close the door forever.
My hand turned the knob, and the hallway was empty. Left, and then right, and there was no one.
I scoffed, the disappointment crashing through me.
Of course he'd left. I should have expected this. Lucien, the unethical business man, loved his money, his business, more than anything. Some emergency had probably called him back to the office, back to Jessica, back to his real life where I didn't exist.
I closed the door.
Next, i forced myself to take a shower and dress properly. My outfit of the day was a black mini dress. The fabric was soft and clinging. The hemline stopped mid-thigh, and of course, my ankle monitor was exposed.
Let them see it. Let every person who looked at me know exactly what I was. A woman accused of murder. A woman with nothing left to hide and nothing left to lose.
I wasn't going to cower anymore. I had a case to fight and A name to clear.
The first law firm declined politely. No problem. There were others.
"Sorry, we can't take on new clients at this time," the second said. Fine.
"Your case doesn't fit our expertise," the third apologized.
I clenched my fists outside the building. The suspicion crept in, and by the fourth rejection, I knew.
I found a table at the coffee shop and opened my laptop. Spent hours drafting emails to every lawyer and firm I could find online. Hit send, send, send.
Rejections started coming back almost immediately. Some within minutes.
"We regret to inform you..."
"After careful consideration..."
"Unfortunately, we cannot..."
My fingers trembled over the keyboard. This had one person's fingerprints all over it.
Pulling out my phone, I stared at his blocked contact. One tap to unblock. One message to tell him exactly what I thought of him interfering in my life.
I did it.
My thumbs flew across the screen.
"Stop blocking every lawyer from taking my case. You've made your choice. Now let me make mine. Leave me alone or I'll report you for harassment."
Three dots appeared instantly. He'd been waiting for me.
"Open the door."
'Ohh, he was back.'
I typed fast. "Leave my door or I'll call the police and get a restraining order."
His reply came in seconds.
"Call them, Fiera. I DARE you."
The air left my lungs. I could hear that deep and commanding voice saying those last three words in my head. Could feel his hand around my throat, his teeth on my ear, his breath hot against my skin as he called me "Fiera."
I blocked him again and pressed both palms to my ears like that would stop the memories.
It didn't work.
My chest ached. My hand went there automatically and felt the chain of the Fiera necklace still around my neck. I yanked it off. Held it in my palm, ready to throw it across the shop.
Instead, I tucked it into my handbag.
"Miss?" A barista stood by my table. "You've been here for hours with one coffee. If you're not ordering anything else, I need to ask you to leave."
"Sorry." I ordered a sandwich and a pastry I wouldn't eat. No appetite. Nothing since last night.
My phone buzzed. Unknown number calling, but I declined it. It rang again, a different unknown number.
Declined, again and again. He can use other people's phones or whatever landlines, I'm not answering shit.
The cafe manager approached an hour later.
"Miss, I really need to ask-"
"Leave her alone," came a man's older voice, older. "She's waiting for me."
The manager apologized and retreated. I looked up as the man approached my table.
Sixties, maybe. Silver hair, expensive suit, kind eyes behind wire-rimmed glasses.
"You need a lawyer, correct?"
I sighed. "Did Lucien send you?"
He chuckled and extended his hand across the table. "Actually, your father did. I'm Greg, and I've been looking for you for quite some time."