Page 12 of Bad for Business
“I don’t have any plans at all,” I answer, Camille’s face popping into my mind. As if on cue, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out, finding her name on my screen. She insistedon exchanging numbers on the short plane ride here, and now I’m kind of wishing I’d held off.
I stare at the phone for a moment before shoving it back into my pocket and focusing on Jude.
He lifts an eyebrow. “You sure? Not a lot of people are here yet, so I thought it’d be good to catch up a little, but I get it if you can’t.”
I shake my head and point toward Pembroke Grill. “Yes, let’s eat.”
Jude smiles and gestures in the restaurant’s direction. “Sounds good.”
“I didn’t know how much you’d be around this summer,” Jude offers before taking a drink of his water.
We’ve been seated for almost an hour now, just catching up and it’s been nice. For the first time since my father shared the news, I don’t completely dread the idea of spending the summer here. I’m reminded how much I like the men I’ve met because of family and business. After my mother passed, I might’ve started spending too much time with guys I went to school with who don’t really have to work a day in their lives. They don’t take anything seriously, so I hadn’t been either. Catching up with Jude reminds me that it’s okay to grow up a little and live up to the expectations of being lucky enough to be born into a family empire.
I sit back in my chair, letting out a long breath as I’m reminded of just how much my mom loved this place. “To be honest, I didn’t know if I’d be back much either. I didn’t realize I was avoiding coming here until I was forced to.”
“Forced?” Jude asks, his head cocking to the side slightly.
My mouth snaps shut for a moment as I figure out a way to spin my slipup that doesn’t involve admitting that my father hired what is essentially a babysitter for the summer and that I had no choice in coming here. I give him a grin and playfully roll my eyes. “Might be dramatic. Butforced,as in this place is where my future board will be for the summer. I had to come impress them.”
He gives me a nod before taking another drink. “You’ll impress them. If you need anything, just let me know.”
“Thanks,” I tell him, placing my palms against the table. “So where’s Cal? It seems like I always see the two of you together.”
Jude smiles. Callahan Hastings and Jude Kensington are always together. They’re best friends, and I hadn’t realized how odd it was to see one without the other until right now. “Cal’s coming down next weekend. He’ll be excited to see you. You can talk to him about how to get a board to love you. He can do no wrong in his board’s eyes.”
I laugh. “That’s probably because Cal doesn’tdoany wrong. He’s likable but doesn’t fuck around. He gets the job done. It’ll be nice to see everyone this summer, for sure.”
I’m about to ask Jude what his plans are for the rest of the week when movement from the corner of my eye catches my attention.
I look over Jude’s shoulder, my stomach dropping when I see a familiar face stomping in our direction.
Camille glares at me from across the room, her steps confident and purposeful as she heads right to us.
“Oh fuck,” I mutter under my breath, sitting up straighter in my chair as I realize that the angry look on her face might actually scare me a little.
“What’s wrong?” Jude asks, turning around in his chair to follow my line of sight.
Camille closes the distance to the table. She doesn’t even spare a sideways glance toward Jude. All she does is focus her wrath on me.
“You missed our meeting,” she hisses. Her chest rises and falls in angry breaths. She keeps her voice low and composed so as not to disturb the other patrons, but the tone is still harsh.
“I didn’t agree to the meeting,” I respond with a smile.
Jude glances between me and Camille with a curious look on his face.
Camille narrows her eyes. “I don’t care. We’re having our meeting.”
Jude clears his throat, his eyes wide as he takes us in. Finally, she tears her angry glare from me and looks over at him.
“I’m Camille.” She offers her hand out to him, and he quickly takes it, a smile spreading across his face as they shake hands.
“Jude Kensington.” His smile gets even wider. “How have I not seen you here at the club? Are you a new member?”
Camille gives him a tight smile. “My father’s a member. Troy Vaughn. Maybe you’ve heard of him.”
Jude’s eyebrows go to his hairline at the information she gives him. He looks over at me once before looking back at her. “So you’re a Vaughn? From Vaughn PR?”
Camille nods. “I am. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to my client.”
