Chapter 47 OLD FLAMES PART 3
Vivienne stood awkwardly in the doorway, Alexander with his back stiff and straight, and Camille with her hand reaching for his face.
"I'm sorry I didn't realize..." Vivienne started as heat flooded her cheeks. She bent down quickly to pick up her bag, wishing she could disappear into the floor. "I was just leaving."
Alexander stepped back from Camille immediately, putting distance between them. Relieved, as if Vivienne's interruption had saved him from this unwanted passion.
"Ms. Cross," he called, clearly embarrassed, his voice low and steady.
Camille's hand dropped slowly to her side. Her eyes narrowed as they traveled over Vivienne, taking in everything from her comfortable clothes to her messy ponytail. The corners of her mouth turned down slightly.
"I didn't realize you had company, Alex," Camille said, her voice honey-sweet.
"Where are my manners?" Alexander quickly recovered from the embarrassment. "Camille, this is Vivienne Cross. She's the face of the Tyranny project. Ms. Cross, this is Camille Winters, my ex fiancée."
Camille's perfectly shaped eyebrows rose at the word "ex," but she extended her hand toward Vivienne.
"So you're the one Alex is spending all his time with these days," she said, with a half smile. "How interesting. I didn't expect someone so ordinary."
The insult was delicately wrapped in just enough politeness to make responding difficult.
Vivienne ignored it. Then shook Camille's hand briefly, feeling the expensive softness of her skin. "It's nice to meet you Ms. Winters."
Camille tightened her grip on her before she let go. "Same."
Vivienne repositioned herself uneasily, holding her bag to her chest. "I should go. You were clearly having a private moment"
"Ms. Cross, wait." Alexander's voice held desperation, which surprised her. "Please. I need a minute to speak with you about tomorrow's schedule."
Camille's face darkened. "Alex, we're not done talking."
"Can we do this some other time," he replied, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And maybe next time not at my work station."
"You can't just dismiss me like I'm some random woman," she hissed. "If you hadn't left me on that altar, I would have been your wife."
Camille clearly wanted Vivienne to get the idea.
"That was a long time ago," Alexander said quietly. "And Camille. This is not the time or place."
Camille flinched as if he'd slapped her.
"You left me no choice Alex." She started as she moved closer to him. "Why aren't you trying to reason with me. I get that we both made a mistake. People make mistakes, Alex. Let's make it work."
"And people move on." He walked to the door and opened it. "Please. I have work to finish."
Camille didn't move. She stood her ground, glancing between Alexander and Vivienne with growing suspicion. "Is that what this is about? Her? Are you two...?"
"We are colleagues," Alexander cut her off sharply. "And you're being unprofessional."
"I'm being unprofessional?" Camille raised her voice slightly. "I'm telling Victoria about your behavior. Have you considered what she'll do when I tell her how rudely you've treated me tonight?"
"That threat won't work on me Camille." Alexander's voice was louder.
There was a silence stretched between them. Vivienne wanted to disappear, to be anywhere but here, witnessing this uncomfortable war.
She felt like an intruder but somehow still part of this story that had started long ago.
Finally, Camille grabbed her purse from the table. "Fine. But this isn't over, Alex. You can't get rid of me that easily." She looked at Vivienne with disguised contempt. "Enjoy your project together."
With one last wounded look at Alexander, she stormed out of the studio.
When the door finally closed, the silence was suffocating. Neither Alex nor Vivienne spoke for several long seconds.
Alexander ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. "I apologize that you had to witness that, Ms. Cross."
"It's fine," Vivienne said sharply, though it wasn't fine at all. Her mind was spinning, trying to process everything she'd just seen and heard. "It's getting late. I should really go."
"Wait, please." Alexander stepped closer, keeping a respectful distance but close enough that she could see the weariness in his eyes. "I feel like I need to explain"
"You don't," Vivienne interrupted, keeping her voice professional despite the storm inside her. "Your personal life is none of my business, Mr. Hunt."
"I know what you might be thinking. So I need to explain. I'm not...you might be thinking I am..." He stopped, frustrated. "It's not what you think. Camille and I have been over for years...but she.."
"Mr. Hunt," Vivienne said firmly, "I'm here to do a job. That's all. What you do in your personal life, who you date or don't date, none of that matters to me." The lie tasted bitter on her tongue.
"I just don't want you to think...because Isabella. Oh Isabella..." He trailed off, seeming lost for words.
"What I think doesn't matter," she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "I'll see you tomorrow for the session."
"Vivienne.."
Vivienne? Did Alexander just address Vivienne with her first name? Still, she ignored how it made her feel.
"Goodnight, Mr. Hunt." She turned and walked through the door before he could see the emotions threatening to spill across her face.
The hallway became endless as Vivienne made her way to the elevator. She focused on breathing, putting one foot in front of the other, until she finally reached her car in the deserted parking lot.
Once inside, with the doors locked and the silence surrounding her, Vivienne's carefully constructed walls crumbled. Her hands shook against the steering wheel as tears blurred her vision.
He hadn't married Camille.
After all these years of believing he had moved on without a second thought, after picturing him happy with someone else while she struggled alone with their child, after convincing herself she meant nothing to him. Was she wrong.
"Why?" she almost screamed to the empty car, her voice breaking. "Why didn't you look for me? Why didn't you find me?"
If he hadn't married Camille, if he truly hadn't moved on as quickly as she thought, then where had he been when she needed him most?
Where was he when she lay in that hospital bed, hurt and afraid?
Where was he when Noah took his first steps, said his first words?
Where was the man she had loved with her whole heart when she was running for her life, starting over with nothing.
Tears streamed down her face as she realized the story she'd told herself for years, that Alexander had quickly forgotten her, that he'd moved on to a perfect life with his perfect bride.
She didn't know what to do with this new, jagged piece of information that wouldn't fit anywhere in the puzzle of her life.
But was he really worth her tears. She stopped to wipe her eyes.
Because if he truly cared, he wouldn't have let his mother control his life. He would have looked for her.
Vivienne started the car.
She couldn't let herself be moved by a half story she knew nothing about.
For all she knows, the only person that mattered was Noah. He is her whole world and is probably staying up late waiting for her to come home.
The truth would have to wait for another day.