“Could you help me set the table for dinner, Scarlett?” Clarissa asked.
Scarlett nodded absentmindedly and took out the plates from the cupboard, she was far too deep in thought. Cameron hadn’t shown up to work in two weeks. The first day he didn’t show up, she was worried, but she brushed it off as nothing, and then the days piled up. The only word she had received from him was from Lucious. He had told her he simply needed a break. She wanted to call him, she stayed up at night thinking about calling to check on him, but she couldn’t bring herself to in the end, so she settled for a text. He responded, and that was it.Each day she showed up at work, hoping that would be the day he would come, but that didn’t happen. She had toyed with the thought of going to visit him at home. Just the thought of it made her giddy, but she had discarded it. She couldn’t get past Jaxon, he was making unannounced and unpredictable visits at work and at her house, just like right nShe watched in silence as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. She knew he was only doing it because of her mother. The decision was already made, and there was no way she would let Levi go on a vacation without being there. Now that she presented it to Jaxon in front of her mother, he wouldn’t be able to tell her not to.Clarissa frowned, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” she sounded a bit hurt.“I was still undecided about going or not, and I wanted to make the decision all on my own without you interfering or urging me to...”“Of course, you should go!” Clarissa squealed in excitement.Scarlett sighed, “See...”Clarissa stole a nervous glance at Jaxon. Maybe she should have curtailed her excitement about Scarlett going on a trip. She cleared her throat, “Where are you guys going?”“It’s a family trip, the whole family and friends are going to Hawaii.” She emphasized the words family and friends. Her mother was making it
Scarlett woke up every morning after that dinner with Jaxon and her mother, picked up her phone, and peered at it, seeing Cameron’s name on her caller ID. She made mental notes to have the talk with him as soon as she got to the office, and when she got there, she swore she would do it as soon as she got home. News flash! She never did, and the days rolled by up until today.She hoped for a tiny miracle, that Jaxon would end up sick or miraculously change his mind about coming on the trip, but it was all wishful thinking because he showed up at her house, his luggage packed and a huge smile on his face. He even helped her mother get Levi ready. Cameron had already packed a bag for her and Levi, so she only had a smaller suitcase.The drive there was tense, she didn’t say one word. Jaxon, on the other hand, was in high spirits. He was singing along to songs blasting from the radio and engaging Levi in baby talk. As soon as they drove into the airport, her heart drop
Hadley rushed after him, “Cameron, are you okay?”He grabbed her hand without a word and pulled her to the bathroom, then shut the door behind them.She looked at him, her brows furrowed in confusion, “Are you okay?” she asked, “She doesn’t have to be here if you don’t want her…”“She’s here already,” he blurted.“Did you know she was coming along with her partner?” She asked, stifling a smile. She knew Jaxon fairly well, they had met at a few events. He was also very popular because he was always in the media eye, and the newest thing about him was his relationship with Scarlett. It was amusing to her. She tried to keep a blank expression on her face, Cameron didn’t need to know that she found his whole ordeal amusing.Cameron’s jaw hardened, “No, but that’s okay.”“No, it isn’t…” She cupped his cheeks, “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want. This is your family trip, an avenue for you to kick back and relax. This is your
Jaxon stared at Cameron in amusement, he looked so uncomfortable and out of place, even if it was his private jet, and they were guests on it. He even looked close to tears. Hadley was acting like a support system to him. He glanced at Scarlett, her gaze was lowered, and she looked awfully embarrassed. Well, he had only just begun, and everyone was already in their feelings. It was a week-long trip, and by the end of it, they would have lost their minds.“Please put on your seat belt and prepare for takeoff...” the announcement broke the awkward silence in the room.Jaxon put his hands around Scarlett’s shoulders and pulled her closer. “You told me you hate take-offs and landings. Well, I’m here by your side for this one. I’ll be your knight in shining armor.” He kissed the top of her head.Cameron had a scowl on his face as he glared at them.“Let me help you with that,” Hadley offered. She reached forward and fastened his seat belt.At
Jaxon went up to the suite where Levi was with Ms. Sharma. They were giggling and playing, and they didn’t hear him come in.He cleared his throat.She turned around, “Mr. Brooks, I didn’t see you come in…”He nodded, “It’s fine," he stared in silence for a while, "Scarlett tells me you take such good care of him.”Ms. Sharma smiled politely at him, “The Graysons are like family. I took good care of Cameron as a young child, so of course, I’ll care for his s—"“But he is mine!” He interjected sharply.She was taken aback by his outburst. He was calm for a moment and in the next, he wasn’t.He exhaled and steadied his breathing, “I see Levi as mine,” he explained.She nodded, “I understand.”“Leave us alone for a moment."She hesitantly stood to her feet and left the room.Jaxon stared at Levi with a crooked smile on his lips, “You’re not a Grayson, you’re going to be a Brooks.”
She felt Cameron’s pain. How he wouldn’t even look at her. The tears in his eyes, Cameron never cried, and yet she had seen him battle to keep back the tears from trickling down his cheeks, and it was all because of her, all because of her stupid relationship or whatever it was between her and Jaxon. She had caused him pain, a pain so deep she didn’t think he would ever forgive her. She wouldn't blame him if he didn’t forgive her.Her eyes glistened with unshed tears, and when she couldn’t hold it back anymore, a tear traced a path down her cheek. She cupped her mouth to stifle her sobs.Jaxon was glaring at her as the attendants walked up to him. They helped him to his feet and placed the first aid kit on the table. He turned to them, “Thank you, but my woman will help with it…”They hesitated.“Leave us alone and shut the door after you,” he ordered.The flight attendants did as they were told, and then he and Scarlett were finally alon
Belinda Grayson stood to her feet as soon as Cameron walked in with Hadley by his side. Her heart was racing in her chest as she quickly scanned him with her eyes to see that nothing was physically wrong with him. Her fears were not allayed yet, he had called before the jet landed that he needed all of them assembled in one place, awaiting his arrival. His voice sounded frantic and had her on edge. Belinda pulled him into a hug, “What happened, Cameron?” she asked, her eyes searching his, “You had us all terrified...”Mr. Grayson stood up, “Cameron.”Vanessa, his older sister, rushed towards them, “If you’re not dying, and I mean it, Cameron, don’t ever call and act that way over the phone. Never.” She spelld out and turned to Hadley, “How did you let him do this?”She shrugged, "This was all him."Cameron let his mother fuss over him, even though he was exhausted and wanted to retire to his suite and hide away.“Is everyone okay? Cameron
The warm Hawaiian sun had just dipped into the ocean, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange. The Grayson family gathered around the table, surrounded by lush greenery and the soothing sounds of the island. It was a gathering of the immediate family and those close to the family; all the other guests were scheduled to arrive later for the main event. Everyone was dressed in flower-patterned shirts and dresses.The chatter was loud and vibrant as the waiters scurried around to set the table. The main course was pan-seared salmon with quinoa and lemon butter.Jaxon cleared his throat to gain everyone’s attention, “I just want to officially say thank you for having me here. Your hospitality has been amazing, and we are glad to be a part of your celebration.”Belinda smiled at him, “Thank you so much, Jaxon Brooks. We are glad to have you here.”Mr. Grayson hummed in response.Jaxon flashed her his signature boyish smile, “I have a feeling I’ll love it here!”“Shall we make a toast
Lucious arrived fashionably late, as always, for Mrs. Grayson’s birthday celebration. Through no fault of his own, his flight had been delayed. He rushed in when the party was already underway, grabbed a glass of champagne, and blended in with the merry crowd. His eyes searched the room for familiar faces, and then he spotted her: Scarlett Knowles.She looked beautiful in the blue and white floral dress she was wearing. He rushed towards her, grabbed her shoulders from behind, and exclaimed, “Hello, Scarlett!”She turned around sharply, her eyes widening in excitement. “Lucious! You got here late. I was beginning to think you wouldn’t come anymore!”He rolled his eyes. “I had the most hectic flight, you won’t believe it…” He let out a big exhale and fanned himself with his hands. “The flight got delayed, and we encountered some difficulties on the way here. I should have just listened to Mr. King's advice and flown private…”Scarlett gave him a knowing gaze. “Mr. King, huh?”Lucious g
“Happy birthday to you...” Everyone's voices rose together in a slightly off-key rendition of "Happy Birthday."Belinda beamed, glowing as her family and friends sang together for her. They were all gathered at a hall in the resort. Her birthday celebration was a small, cozy event. At the end of the rendition, everyone stepped forward to personally wish her a happy birthday and hug her.Her husband, Mr. Grayson walked up to her, beaming with smiles. He opened a jewelry box and revealed a diamond necklace. “I had one especially made just for you, there’s only one special gem, just like you...” He leaned close and kissed the top of her head.There were a lot of "aww's" from the crowd.She shut her eyes. “Thank you, my love.”Her grandchildren, Loretta and Levi, had brought gifts for her: handmade cards and letters. It was the cutest thing. Levi’s gifts were mostly illegible scribblings, while Loretta’s were more meaningful, but she loved and appreciated every one of them.Cameron and Va
Vanessa walked into the lounge, her hands folded across her chest, “Cameron! Cameron!” She yelled aloud as she walked in.He rolled his eyes, “Nessa, it says relaxing lounge for a reason,” he gestured towards the sign at the door.She glanced at it and back at her scruffy-looking brother, “Yes, I can see that it clearly says relaxing lounge and has a no alcohol policy so what’s that about?” she pointed at the half-full bottle of whisky by his side.He exhaled, “Does it matter? We bought out the whole place. The rules don’t apply anymore.”She walked up to him, “I don’t think that’s how rules work, but you’ve never been one to abide by any rule ever, so I can’t say I’m surprised.”He groaned, the last thing, okay maybe not the last thing. The second to last thing he wanted to hear was his sister’s bickering. The last thing was definitely his mother's voice chiding him for something, “What are you here for, Vanessa?”She gave him a long look. He lay on the couch, his hair overgrown, spo
Cameron bit down on his lips, liking the way she called out his name softly. It made him rock hard. “I want to bend you over right now, right here, and make love to you until your body shakes in excitement. I’d like to hear you cry out my name as you beg me to make love to you, knowing no other man will ever give you pleasure like I would, knowing it will never be enough…”Scarlett let out a small squeak. He spun her around until she was facing him and pulled her close. Her breasts were pressed up against him, almost spilling out of her dress. He stared at them with a burning look of desire in his eyes.Jaxon was fuming where he stood. Somewhere in the middle of the song, he had stopped pretending like he wanted to dance. He just stopped and stared at them. His hands were clenched into fists. Cameron’s hands were roaming, whispering into Scarlett’s ears, and she looked like she was enjoying it, every bit of it. Her eyes were shut, and she was leaning into Cameron. She had no fear for
It was going to be fun, alright! Cameron gulped down two more shots, loving the burn of the liquid as it trickled down his throat. This was what he needed. He turned around to leave. Jaxon finalized their order before he left.Cameron was only halfway towards Scarlett and Hadley when a familiar song came on the speakers. He stopped in his tracks to listen, his lips curling into a small smile. He looked up to meet those bright blue eyes staring at him with flushed cheeks. He knew exactly what she was thinking about at the moment. He walked up to her and grabbed her, “Shall I have the first dance, Scarr?”Scarlett looked around in worry.Hadley opened her mouth in protest, “Cam—”“Oh, it’s only an old-fashioned dance, love,” he cut in. “It will be good for us, remember?” he used her exact words against her.Hadley frowned.“What the hell, man?” Jaxon protested when he saw Cameron was holding hands with her.Cameron spun around to face Jaxon, still holding onto her. “Oh, it’s only a danc
As they got out of the car, Hadley leaned forward, cupped his cheeks, and kissed him, “This will be good for us.”Cameron stared at her hesitantly.“I promise.” She leaned into him, grabbed his hand, and put it around her waist, “You’ve been stuck up all day, overthinking, worrying...” She pulled at his cheeks, “You’re beginning to have worry lines. You’re in need of a good rest…”He gave her a look.She burst into soft laughter, “Yes, you need rest and you’ll rest later tonight. You’re also in need of some fun. I don’t think you have enjoyed any bit of our trip here. You can’t keep wallowing in your problems, let loose and let’s party!”He glanced at the neon flashing sign; it read Club Dazzle. They had driven a long way to find the club. Apparently, it was a hotspot for tourists. He could easily blend in without being noticed, and maybe that was what he needed. A night without Scarlett, a wild night drinking and dancing might just be enough to stop thinking about her. He hardly beli
Jaxon peered into the room with a frown on his face, “Are you sure the petals are enough?” he asked.The young brunette girl nodded, “There isn’t a lot to work with here. The twin-sized beds don't really help..."” She trailed off.His frown deepened, “Have you checked with the staff? Are there no available rooms?”She nodded, “This resort is fully booked by the Graysons. The neighboring lodges are fully booked at this time of year. The nearest hotel room is two hours away…”Damn you, Cameron! Jaxon cursed under his breath. His plans to take Scarlett to bed were getting frustrating each and every day. He hated sleeping next to her yet unable to touch her. She usually slept with her back to him and a blanket covering her head. It was like she was taking extra care to get further away from him as she possibly could. There were no other rooms available, and he had no car to make the two-hour journey.He had to improvise and make do with what he had. He couldn’t continue to hold back, it w
Cameron stepped out for a walk, and this time he truly needed the time alone and the fresh air. He needed to settle with his thoughts and clear his head. He had walked for a long distance, without his phone or his headphones, and then a thought hit him, Levi! He had been so caught up in his life falling apart; he hadn’t given his son much thought. He walked straight to the suite he shared with Ms. Sharma, and to his amazement, Scarlett was there.She stared wide-eyed at him when he walked in. She was sitting on the bed, with Levi in her arms. Ms. Sharma was giggling about something she said; she stopped when she saw him.Cameron took in her appearance. She was wearing a pale pink robe, her hair was tied up in a messy bun atop her head. Her suite was not far from Levi’s, so she had probably made a quick stop. He had hoped to catch her alone since the first day he spotted her at the airport. He had memorized a long list of questions he hoped to ask her when he did, m
Hadley stared at her reflection in the mirror, her blonde hair styled to perfection and cascading in waves down her back. She reapplied her bright red lipstick and admired her reflection in the mirror. She had on lacy lingerie that left next to nothing to the imagination. Of course, it was bright red lingerie. Red was Cameron's favorite color, something she had learned only a few hours ago, which was pathetic. But she wasn’t going to put herself down, not today. Today was great, she and Cameron had gotten a lot closer. She had half-expected him to push her off when she started kissing him earlier, but he didn’t. He let her, all of that in front of Scarlett. She would be dumb not to get the message that Cameron was hers and hers alone.As if on cue, the doors opened, and he walked in. He froze and stared at her. For some unexplainable reason, she was unnerved by his piercing stare. She had done this a couple of times. She was a model, being seductive was her job. S