Page 87 of This Time Around
“It was a mistake—”
“Your champagne, Mrs.Hawke,” the waiter says, sliding her sparkling glass to the table.Waiters in establishments like this were primed to know their guests.Hearing Camilla called Mrs.Hawke made me cringe.
“Rinaldi,” I said.“Miss Rinaldi.”
“Yes sir.”The waiter nodded at me.“Have you had time to peruse the menu?May I recommend the salmon—”
“We won’t be eating dinner,” I said, as Camilla reached for her menu.
“Cooper—”
“Her champagne is all, thank you.We won’t be eating,” I repeated, more sternly for Camilla’s benefit as her gaze turned calculating.
“Anything else for you to drink, sir?”
“Just the water.”I handed him my menu and waited until Camilla followed suit.She moved slowly, eyes never leaving mine.Her perfectly manicured, blood red fingernails finally handed the menu to the waiter.“Thank you.”
“I understand you’re upset, Cooper,” Camilla said as soon as the waiter walked away.Outside, the sidewalks were still crammed with photographers.Some smoked, others spoke, a handful of others lurked in the windows, their faces glued to us.I had no doubt all of them paying attention were taking mental notes, if not written ones, of everything they could see.“But you agreed to dinner.”
“I agreed to meet you here.”I leaned forward, my elbows on the table.“But I will not be played and I will not allow you to orchestrate anything that could possibly appear as a romantic reunion between us.Cut the crap, tell me what your game is and what you want, and then, sign the papers.”
For the first time in months, the old Camilla reappeared.It disappeared in a flash, so quick I wondered if I imagined it.“In a hurry to get back to your farm girl?”
“Don’t,” I hissed.It had taken her longer than I thought it would for her to bring Rebecca into this.But no one, no one would ever disrespect her.And definitely not this woman.“Don’t you dare bring her into this.You wanted your game, Camilla, but that’s not a card you get to play.”
“Please.”She rolled her eyes, and sipped her champagne.“She’s already in it.Tell me what it is about her you like so much.”
“That she’s everything you’re not.”
Pain slashed her eyes and vanished.God, how did I stay married to this woman?Much less love her so damn much?She was sitting across from me and I felt nothing but the itch beneath my skin to get out of there as soon as possible.
“What?She’s poor?”
“No.She’s kind.”
She licked her lips, and if it could be done elegantly like her tears on the talk show a few weeks ago, she managed to do it.“Lovely.How cute.”
Sexy and cute.Beautiful and smart.Motivated and sad.Honest and pure.Rebecca was everything Camilla could only pretend to be.I was done wasting my time.
I picked up the other envelope, my winning hand and set it on top of the divorce settlement she hadn’t bothered to open.“Before I left town, I hired a private investigator.”
“You…what?”
“Yup.”I pushed down the satisfaction as Camilla’s expression paled.“And not only do I have first-hand evidence of one of your affairs, he uncovered twelve other men you’ve been with during our marriage.”
“Cooper—”
I ignored her plea-filled tone.Like I’d listen to her beg me now.I smirked victoriously.“He also found photographic proof you’ve been with men even while you’ve been begging me to come home.Go ahead” —I flicked my hand toward the envelope— “take a look.”
She lifted her champagne to her lips.Red fingernails tapped the crystal.“I don’t need to.”
“I have more than enough proof to take this to the courts.Our prenup states in the case of infidelity, we walk away with what we brought into the marriage.If you walk out of here tonight without signing our divorce settlement, one I had drafted today in light of this new evidence, I will take that folder, plus copies I have in my car, and hand them to every single photographer waiting for us outside.”
“You wouldn’t.You wouldn’t take a hit like that to your pride again.”
“God, please, Camilla.I no longer give a shit.You orchestrated this and you’ve lost.Give me a slice of honesty and I might reconsider, but you’ve had your chance and you could have walked away with millions from me.Instead, you’re proving yourself to be one of the vilest women I’ve ever met.End this so I can go home.”
“Home?To Kansas?”
