Chapter 5

Camille

Sitting in the sprawling, glass-walled reception lounge of Vellum Hotels, my heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs. I clutched my design portfolio tightly against my chest like a shield, trying to focus on the breathtaking views beyond the glass walls.

Naomi had spent weeks hyping up this meeting, but actually being here made the reality sink in. I had spent the last month burying myself in refresher courses, trying to rebuild the confidence that Tristan had spent years tearing down.

“I’m sorry I kept you waiting,” a deep voice interrupted my thoughts.

I lifted my gaze as he stepped closer. His blue eyes met mine, and I instantly recognized him as the handsome stranger from the restaurant. My breath caught in my throat as the realization hit me. 

A small smile played on his lips. “We meet again. And your eyes are brighter today. I’m glad.”

“You…are the client?” I blurted out before I could stop myself, my face instantly burning. I quickly cleared my throat, forcing myself to stand up and extend my hand. “I mean…Mr. Sterling, it's a pleasure to meet you.”

He chuckled, wrapping his large, warm hand around mine. “The pleasure is entirely mine, Camille. Naomi speaks very highly of you. Please, let’s head into my office.”

I nodded, following him into his sleek, modern office. He walked over to his desk and leaned against it, studying me with amusement.

“I have to admit, when Naomi told me she was bringing in a designer, I didn't expect it to be you,” he said.

My cheeks warmed up again. “I didn’t expect it to be you either, Mr. Sterling.”

“Gareth,” he corrected gently. “Save the formalities. Show me what you’ve got in that folder, Camille.”

I placed the folder on his desk, going through them with him.

“I’ve drafted a few initial concepts for Vellum Luxury Hotels,” I said. “The current trends focus on minimalist warmth, but I wanted to pitch something more timeless and rich for your boutique places.”

Gareth flipped through the pages slowly, taking his time with each concept. Finally, he closed the folder and looked up.

“Naomi wasn’t exaggerating,” he said. “Your understanding of space and luxury is incredible.”

A smile broke through my nerves. “Thank you, Gareth.”

“I’d like to start with this project,” he said, tapping his fingers on the file. “If everything goes the way I think it will, we’ll talk about something much bigger, possibly the redesign for my entire flagship chain.”

“The entire chain?” I stared at him, my heart skipping a beat. “You seem to have a lot of faith in me.”

Gareth smiled warmly. “Based on what I’ve seen so far, yes. I’m confident you’ll exceed my expectations.” 

A smile tugged at my lips before I could stop it. 

“Then I can’t wait to prove you right.”

His words were a contrast to the insults I’d grown used to from Tristan. It felt good to hear someone believe I was capable.

Gareth checked his watch before meeting my gaze. “How about lunch? Let’s discuss the details over food.”

“Lunch sounds perfect, Mr Sterling,” I replied.

“Gareth,” he corrected smoothly, stepping out from behind his desk to hold the office door open for me. “After you.”

I stepped into the hallway, trying to ignore how close he was standing. 

“Where are we going for lunch?”

“There’s a quiet Italian restaurant just down the street,” Gareth said, walking alongside me toward the elevator. “They have the best pasta in the city, and honestly, you look like you could use a break from business meetings.”

A small laugh escaped me. “Is it that obvious?”

“Just a little, he admitted, a playful glint in his blue eyes as he pressed the elevator button. “But don’t worry. Once the food arrives, the corporate talk officially stops.”

“Right,” I teased. “I mean…why talk about business with your favorite pasta right in front of you.”

Gareth laughed.

 “Exactly. And since I’m paying, I make the rules. No business talk allowed until dessert.”

***

The restaurant was intimate and warm, tucked away from the busy city streets. We were seated at a corner table, and the moment the waiter set down our menus, Gareth leaned back in his chair with a relaxed smile.

“Alright, Camille,” he said, locking his blue eyes into mine. “The corporate talk is officially on pause. Tell me about the woman behind the portfolio.”

I paused looking down at my hands for a brief second. For six years, my identity had been swallowed by being Tristan’s wife. I’d been nothing else beyond that, reclaiming my own story felt strange, but looking at Gareth, I forced myself to step out of that shadow. 

“There isn’t much of a mystery,” I said, meeting his gaze. “I love creating spaces that feel like a sanctuary. I’ve always been passionate about this and I believe every room should tell a story, not just look expensive.”

He listened intently, a deep look of respect in his eyes. “A woman with your eye for beauty and luxury should never be hidden away. Naomi should have introduced us sooner.”

“Well,” I teased, meeting his gaze with a small smile. “Better late than never.”

Gareth chuckled softly. “True. Some introductions happen at the right time.”

The waiter set our steaming plates down between us, and I picked up my fork, looking across the table at him. “So, the spotlight is on you. What made you get into the hotel business?”

He leaned back in his chair. “I just wanted to create spaces that offered people the comfort of a real home while away from home.”

“That’s really beautiful,” I said, meeting his blue eyes that seemed to pierce through mine.

Gareth held my gaze for a moment longer than necessary.

“I have a feeling this partnership is going to be something special.”

His words left me unexpectedly flustered. Heat crept into my cheeks.

“Is that so?”

“I’m certain of it.” His voice softened. “You completely amuse me, Camille. Luckily, this hotel project gives me an excuse to see more of you.”

I looked away, not able to hold his intense gaze. 

Being looked at with that kind of genuine interest, let alone being made to feel desirable was something I hadn’t experienced in years. And now, another man looked at me as though I actually mattered.

Gareth’s expression softened.

“So,“ he said quietly, ”are you ready to give me something to look forward to?”