All Chapters of Before You Forgot Me: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

CAMILACamila's feet moved before her brain could stop them.She'd told herself to stay away from Eric tonight. To be professional. To not make any gossip worse.But then she'd looked up and seen him staring at her with an intensity that made her skin feel too tight.And Victoria's hand on his arm.And something inside her snapped."Sir." She stopped in front of him."Camila." His voice was lower than usual. Rough."I... I wanted to thank you. For the opportunity to speak tonight.""You earned it." His eyes swept over her, and she felt it like a physical touch. "You look..."He trailed off."I look what?" The question came out breathier than she intended."Nice." The word sounded like it was dragged from somewhere deep. "You look nice."Camila smiled. Just a little to show appreciation.Haha, What was she expecting from him?"You don't look so bad yourself, Mr. Sylvester."A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips. "I have a good tailor.""Clearly." She muttered."Yeah, I need you to give

CHAPTER THIRTEENERICThe drive home was suffocating.Victoria had been talking non-stop since they left the gala. About Marcus, about Camila, about Eric's "embarrassing" public display. Her voice grated on his nerves like sandpaper.Eric's hands gripped the steering wheel, knuckles white."Eric, are you even listening to me?"Victoria's sharp voice yanked him back to the present."What?" He pulled through the gates of his estate, the security lights flickering on automatically."I asked if you're planning to explain yourself. To the board. To me." She crossed her arms, glaring at him. "That scene tonight was humiliating.""What scene?" Eric parked in the garage, turned off the engine."You. Running to defend that woman like she's your personal responsibility. Marcus was right, it looks inappropriate."Eric got out of the car without responding.Victoria followed, her heels clicking sharply on the concrete as he walked toward the house. "Don't ignore me, Eric. I'm trying to help you."

CHAPTER FIFTEENCAMILAOh God.Oh my God oh my God!Camila was sitting in Eric Sylvester's lap.In his office.On a Tuesday morning.With his secretary fifteen feet away on the other side of that door.Her brain short-circuited. What the hell?"Sir—, " she started, her voice strangled."What are you doing here?" Eric asked, his voice cold and rough and nothing like the broken tone from seconds ago.But his arms were still around her waist. Holding her. Not letting go.Camila's heart hammered so hard she was sure he could feel it. "I... I came to talk. About last night. About Marcus. But you were—you seemed like you were in pain, and I—"She needed to get up. This was inappropriate. Unprofessional. Dangerous.She needs to get away from him. So fast.But she couldn’t seem to move.Because beneath the coldness in his voice, beneath the hard lines of his face, she saw something else.

ERICThe Wellington Room was everything Eric had dreaded.Elegant. Intimate. With a view of the city that Victoria immediately started gushing about."Eric! Finally!" Victoria swept toward them in a red dress that screamed for attention. "And Dr. Camila. How... unexpected.""Victoria." Camila's voice was cool. Professional. "Mr. Ashford."Richard Ashford stood from his seat, assessing Camila with sharp eyes. Tall. Silver-haired. The kind of man who'd built an empire and wasn't impressed easily."So you're the researcher everyone's talking about," Ashford said, extending his hand.Camila shook it firmly. "I hope they're saying good things.""They're saying you're brilliant and controversial. In my experience, those two qualities often go together." He smiled. Shark-like. "Let's see if you're worth the investment."They sat. Eric at the head of the table. Ashford to his right. Camila to his left. Victoria next to her father, shooting daggers at Camila.The server poured wine. Brought me

ERIC Eric saw the moment Camila walked out of the restaurant. Saw Bradley kiss her cheek. Saw red.Then Bradley left. And Camila walked toward him.Eric stood. Tried to school his expression into something neutral.Failed spectacularly."Hey," Camila said softly."How was your date?" The words came out clipped. Cold."It was... fine.""Fine.""Yeah. Fine.""He kissed you.""On the cheek. As a friend.""Looked like more than a friend from here."Camila's eyes narrowed. "Are you jealous?"Yes. Furiously. Irrationally. "No. I'm your boss. I don't get jealous.""Right. My boss. Who waited for over an hour in a hotel lobby.""I said I'd drive you home.""You could have left.""I didn't want to leave."The admission hung between them."Why not?" Camila asked, stepping closer. Because watching you date someone else was torture. Because suddenly, I wanted to be the one across from you at dinner."Because it's late. And I gave you my word."Camila stared at him. Frustrated. Searching."You