Chapter 4 – The News

The bus ride home felt longer. Camilla sat by the window, holding her laptop bag against her chest like it was the only thing keeping her together. Her reflection in the glass looked pale, her eyes too wide, as if even she couldn’t believe the words she had spoken an hour ago.

“I will do it.”

Her own voice kept repeating in her head. What had she done?

By the time the bus screeched to her stop, the sky was painted orange, fading to grey. Seattle’s evening was breezy as she hurried down the familiar street to her home. The apartment building was old, but it was home. She climbed the stairs two at a time, her heartbeat uneven, not from the climb, but from the weight of the secret in her chest.

As she pushed the door open.

“Camilla!”

Anya’s voice came from the kitchen. She appeared with a wooden spoon in hand, her hair tied in a bun, flour on her left cheek. “Finally. I was about to send a search party.”

Camilla forced a small smile. “I had a busy day.”

“Busy day? That’s what you call it? You were gone forever. Aunt Roseline kept asking if you got the job.”

At the sound of her aunt’s name, Camilla’s heart softened. She slipped off her shoes and headed to the living. Roseline sat in her usual armchair, with small blanket over her lap, her skin pale but her eyes blue and warm.

“There is my girl,” Roseline said softly, her voice weak filled with affection. “How did it go?”

Camilla froze for half a second. Then she crossed the room and knelt beside her aunt’s chair. “It went well than I expected.”

Anya leaned against the kitchen doorway, still holding the spoon. “just that? That sounds suspicious. Spill.”

Camilla looked between them, her aunt’s fragile smile, Anya’s eager curiosity,and took a deep breath. “I didn’t just give the presentation.”

Anya’s brows shots up. “Don’t tell me you set the building on fire.”

Camilla let out a small laugh. “No, but I might have set my life on fire.”

Roseline turned her head towards.“Camilla…”

She met her aunt’s eyes. “I met the CEO. The… the man I spilled coffee on the other morning.”

Anya gasped. “Wait. That guy? Mister Stone Face?”

“Yes. Him.”

“And?” Anya crossed her arms dramatically. “Don’t leave me hanging. What happened?”

Camilla hesitated. Then the words flows out. “He offered me a job. As his assistant.”

The room went silent.

Anya blinked. “Assistant? As in you will be working right under him?”

“Exactly under him,” Camilla muttered. “practically across a glass wall.”

“Oh my God.” Anya dropped the spoon into the sink. “This is insane. The billionaire CEO wants you...”

“Don’t say it like that,” Camilla cuts in, heat rushing to her face.

“He wants you as his assistant,” Anya finished with a sly grin. “Though honestly, I don’t blame him. You are brilliant. And stubborn. And kinda scary when you argue.”

Camilla shot her a look. “This isn’t funny Anya and you know it.”

Roseline’s weak hand reached for hers. “It’s not funny, but it’s a blessing. This could be the start of something big for you.”

Camilla’s throat clutched. “It feels too big. He’s… he’s impossible, Auntie. He’s arrogant, and pompous, and I swear he looks at me like he can see right through me.”

“Maybe he can,” Roseline said softly.

Camilla frowned. “That doesn’t help.”

Anya sat down on the couch, tucking her legs under her. “Hold on. Did you actually accept? Or are you still thinking about it?”

Camilla chewed her lip. “I… accepted.”

Anya’s jaw dropped. “Camilla!”

Roseline squeezed her hand. “Good girl.”

Camilla snapped her head toward her aunt. “Good girl? Auntie, I don’t know what I just got myself into. He gave me rules, Anya. Rules. Like I’m signing my life away.”

Anya’s grin widened. “Rules? That’s so… dramatic. Please tell me one of them was ‘don’t roll your eyes at me.’”

Camilla blinked. “…Yes.”

Anya burst out, laughing out her stomach. “He actually said that? Oh, this man is ridiculous. I like him already.”

Camilla groaned and dropped her head into her hands. “You are not supposed to like him. You are supposed to tell me I’m crazy for agreeing.”

“Oh, you’re definitely crazy,” Anya said between laughs. “But crazy can be fun.”

Roseline’s voice cut through their teasing, soft but serious. “Camilla.”

Camilla lifted her head. Her aunt’s eyes were shining, though her smile were weak. “You did the right thing. This job… it could open doors for you. And maybe, just maybe, it will help with…” She muttered off, her hand brushing the blanket over her lap.

Camilla’s chest ached. She reached out, covering her aunt’s trembling fingers. “Don’t. Don’t think about that right now.”

But Roseline shook her head gently. “I can’t pretend, sweetheart. You know what the doctor said. Surgery isn’t optional. And money…”

Camilla cut in, her voice firm. “I will figure it out. I always do.”

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with the truth they all knew but never said aloud.

Anya broke it with a forced cheerfulness. “Okay. Enough gloom. Let’s focus on the important part. You are now working for Seattle’s most eligible bachelor. Which means…” She raised her eyebrows. “…daily doses of tall, sexy, and insufferable.”

“Anya!” Camilla groaned again, grabbing a throw pillow and throwing it at her.

Anya caught it, laughing. “Admit it. He’s very hot.”

“I will admit to no such nonsense.”

“Then your face will admit it for you,” Anya teased, pointing at her flushed cheeks.

Camilla buried her face in her hands. “Why are you like this?”

“Because one of us has to keep things interesting.”

Roseline chuckled weakly, her laugh breaking into a cough. Camilla immediately turned, worry flooding her face. “Auntie?”

“I’m fine,” Roseline said, waving her hand, though her voice was thin. “Don’t look at me like that. You two keep me young with your bickering.”

Camilla leaned closer, her voice softer. “You promise you will tell me if it gets worse?”

Roseline gave her a tired smile. “I promise.”

Anya clapped her hands suddenly, breaking the tension again. “So, first day tomorrow, huh? Big girl job. Do you need me to pack you a lunchbox? Maybe a note that says ‘don’t glare at the boss!”

Camilla groaned. “I already regret telling you.”

“No, you don’t,” Anya shot back. “You love me.”

Camilla glanced at her aunt, then at her best friend. Despite the chaos in her chest, despite the fear of tomorrow, she couldn’t help but smile. “Unfortunately, yes. I do.”

Anya grinned, satisfied. “Then it’s settled. You will crush this job. He won’t know what hit him.”

Roseline whispered, almost to herself, “Neither will she.”

Camilla turned. “What?”

Roseline shook her head, her eyes far away. “Nothing. Just… proud of you.”

Camilla swallowed hard, pushing back the lump in her throat. She forced a smile and kissed her aunt’s forehead. “Rest now. I will check on you later.”

Roseline nodded, closing her eyes.

Camilla stood, her heart heavy. She turned toward Anya, who was already clearing the kitchen.

“Anya,” she whispered.

“Yeah?”

“What if I made a mistake?”

Anya glanced at her, seriously for once. “Then we deal with it together. But I don’t think you did. I think this is the beginning of something… big.”

Camilla hugged herself, staring out the window into the night. Somewhere out there, Adrian Harrington was probably sipping expensive whiskey.

And tomorrow, she would be stepping into his world as his assistant.