It’s Too Late

Camilla's POV

She kept trying to pull him forward as his gaze remained trained on me, but not enough for others to notice.

“What's wrong, honey?” Her voice conveyed concern. 

Honey? Something sank in my chest. So I was right?

He chose her. 

It could've been anybody else, but he chose her specifically.

I looked away, and everyone rose to welcome him. That's when he came back to reality, a reality where he was the new  CEO of a company I just merged with.

He cleared his throat, his shoulders straightening as he walked toward his seat, Jessica taking the one adjacent.

Did she work with him? 

“I appreciate the warm welcome.”

His eyes found mine again but I looked away. We finally took our seats.

“Now, the reason why we are here. Miss Camilla Clark, right?” His gaze on me was bold this time.

Did he know it was my Camilla Clark? The way he looked at me just now, I didn't think he did.

That's when Jessica spotted me. She looked like she had just seen a ghost.

I rose to my feet, wearing a fake smile as I ignored her. 

“That would be me, CEO Alex.” 

The men stared, and I could hear whispers and snippets of gossip concerning my name. My lips stretched into a satisfied grin. 

I was recognized.

“You've made a name for yourself to be noticed by our company. Congratulations.” 

There was something striking about him. 

He seemed more commanding and cold, like he'd never been a husband before. 

“I'm honored to work with you. Thank you for setting up a meeting to meet a small company owner like me...”

“Nonsense!” Mr. Richards cut in.

“It's your right to be proud of what you've worked for. There's nothing small about your company. Just look at her, a beauty with brains!”

My chest filled with warmth as the whole board cheered for me.

When my gaze settled on Alex, his eyes weren't on me.

They were on Mr. Richards. His jaw ticked. 

I didn't want to think about what that meant.

“Thank you, Mr. Richards, and everyone.” I raised my voice a pitch higher.

I sank back into my seat, and the merger was finalized. 

It was going to be announced on the news that same day, and I had mixed feelings about it.

This is all I've ever wanted. 

For two years, I had worked tirelessly to be noticed by them. Now, I feel stuck.

How could fate be so cruel? If I had known I'd end up back in his orbit, I would've never come back here. What happened to his old company? 

We stayed back to discuss the ground rules and new projects were also discussed.

Every now and then, I would look up and catch this man's eyes on me. What gave him the right? Although all I wanted was to leave, I had to sit through his confused stares.

As we were wrapping up, he spoke to me again.

“Miss Clark, do you have any issues with the agreement and rules?”

I shook my head. 

That voice had made sweet love to me in the past, and had whispered sweet nothings in my ears. That voice had been mine, but now, it felt so distant.

“I'll let you know when you cross the line, Mr. Hale.”

Someone coughed and a couple gasps filled the air.

“She's audacious!”

“Not called the woman king for nothing!” I grinned from ear to ear.

“So that's your new name now?” Alex cut through my short happiness.

Our eyes met again.

“Why, jealous?”

He just stared at me like he was caught in a trance in front of everyone. I swallowed.

“I'm just kidding!” I teased, and the room erupted into a fit of laughter.

“That was intense,” a board member started off.

“Having someone like Mr. Hale and someone like Miss Clark in our company, we are about to have the best year!”

Cheers filled the room, and Jessica just had to wrap a hand around his arm then.

He didn't push her away.

I saw myself standing by our bedroom door years ago, listening to his mother.

My stomach twisted.

The rest of the meeting was unbearable.

Why did I care that Jessica kept calling him Alex like she knew him beyond professional walls? Why was there a deep agonizing pain in my chest anytime I saw them together?

Finally, it came to an end, and I rushed out before I would break down in there. 

I didn't make it far.

The elevator was about to close when Alexander slid in.

Then it closed, and all my progress crumbled. He had his hands in his pockets, fury flashing through his eyes. 

“Give me the answers that I need.”

The freaking audacity.

“What answers?” My fists clenched at my sides.

“Is it because I didn't come back that night? How could you hurt me and show up like this?”

My brows raised.

“I hurt you? What about you?”

“What about me? I'm the one who's heartbroken. You're alive. You have no idea how—”

I rolled my eyes, my arms crossing.

“Sure, heartbroken with Jessica in your arms.”

He let out a low curse.

“You left me. You told the staff you were coming back.” My body trembled, and I bit back tears. 

“I lied, obviously.”

“Tell me why. Now you're here, beautiful, like you plan to hurt me even more.”

A deep breath slipped past my lips.

“You didn't even look for me when I left.”

I saw something akin to a hurt pass behind his eyes.

“I didn't look for you? This is fucking unbelievable. That night, I—”

“Save the excuses.” I raised a hand between us, refusing to listen. I had no interest in anything he had to say now. 

If he had looked for me harder back then, maybe I would've been stupid enough to crawl back to a man who was exhausted with me.

Not now. I'm not the same woman.

“Look, we are business partners now and that's it. I don't want to have anything to do with you. Jessica won't like this, by the way…” 

His eyes blazed with fury.

“We are more than business partners and you know it,” he started off, his voice rough.

“You don't get to disappear for six years and have me act like you never existed. You are my fucking wife. Leave Jessica out of this.”

“With pleasure.” I wore a defying and mocking grin.

I'm still his wife in his dreams. 

He took in another breath.

“The launch dinner for the merger is in two days. How about you come?” 

I eyed him from top to bottom.

“Our conversations onward would only be professional. Keep your dinner. I'm good.”

He reached me in seconds.

“You will attend it.” His breath descended on my face. 

God. 

My eyes almost rolled back in my head but I stood tall.

“I will do no such thing.”

“If you want to keep working here, you'll have to—”

“You can't threaten me when you sought me out first.” 

His shoulders dropped in resignation.

His eyes softened into mine, and all I could see was Prince. It pissed me off even more.

“I don't want us to be enemies, Camilla. Please, we need to talk.”

The elevator doors opened up, so I pushed him away and stepped out.

“It's too late for that.”