Page 61 of Grumpy Bossy Billionaire Enemy

Seeing Nancy Henderson up close felt like I had just seen Beyonce. The pictures in those fashion magazines or strewn across the internet didn’t do justice to her beauty. She was not only beautiful, but she was also elegant. Her skin looked like a baby’s. Her natural blonde hair was styled in long, flowing curls. Her almond eyes were soul-piercing.

Everyone on the table looked surprised to see Nancy, except Mrs. Robinson. She’d invited her to what was supposed to be a family dinner. In her defense, Nancy was also family. Everyone at the table knew that Nancy wasn’t family; it was clear that Nancy’s appearance in Richmond was all a plot from the Queen bee. Nancy was one of the pawns Mrs. Robinson wanted to use in her game of ego against Troy.

Camille might realize that Mrs. Robinson’s disapproval of her wasn’t just about her status. It was about her ego. Henry and I exchanged a quick glance; it was the first time we’d intentionally looked at each other. We knew that this dinner was going to be a long, silent one.

****

Yesterday, I started my journey of detachment from Henry. One of the better ways of doing that was to have a hobby. I spent my day searching the internet to find which hobby best fit someone with my personality. I picked the gym. I could spare one hour of my time thrice a week just to keep fit. My gym instructor started me on a Cardio Cadet; and while I ran on the cardio machine, he came around to check my speed rate. He seemed to have a crush on me too because he passed me with a smile every time. I guessed that he flirted with every new gym member.

I resumed my shift after leaving the gym. Camille appeared as the elevator doors opened. She was smiling as we walked through the hallway to the changing room. It felt great to see Camille smile. I hadn’t seen her smile in a long time; not only was she smiling at seeing me again, but she was smiling because she was finally back in the hospital. She had told me all about her family’s affiliation with the Robinsons. Mrs. Robinson tried so hard to pay her father off and make him disappear. However, Troy had solved this tussle by giving Camille’s father a seat on the hospital’s board. It was an offer Camille’s father refused and had transferred to his daughter.

“I’m leaving Richmond,” Camille announced as I changed into my scrubs. “I’m going to California or New York, where I can start again. Get a new life far away from Mrs. Robinson.”

“You’re going to leave Troy?” I asked, but my thoughts screamed something else. You’re going to leave me?

“For my sanity, yes!”

“I’ll call you every day.” Camille seemed to read my mind. “I’ll still be your best friend.”

“Have you talked to Troy about this?”

“No, I haven’t,” Camille replied. “I’m afraid he won’t let me go if I told him.”

I noticed Camille wasn’t changing into her scrub. She was not here to resume her shift; she was here to say goodbye to me.

“So you’re just going to run away from this whole thing? You’re going to let Mrs. Robinson win?”

“She always wins,” Camille replied, “and she won’t stop until she sees me leave Troy?”

“She can’t fight for life,” I replied. “She’s trying her last straw. One last time for her to shake up your relationship and see if you accept defeat.”

“I’m too weak, Amelia,” Camille cried. “I’ve used up the energy in me.”

I nodded slowly. “Whatever you decide, just know that I’m on your side.” I squeezed her hand and muttered, “I’m always team Camille.”

She chuckled, the closest thing to a laugh she had made today. My heart sank as I watched Camille turn around to leave. She pressed the elevator button gracefully and flashed me a smile as the doors closed. The last time I felt this way was when Nolan left Richmond. I was alone again and had no one to talk. My trip back home was silent. I’d spent my entire shift in a twelve-hour surgery, and I’d faked an enthusiasm to do another shift.

“You can’t,” my supervisor said to me over and over again. “You need some rest, Amelia. You should know better than to use the operating room as an escape from your personal problems. Go home and settle the score.”

I wondered how he knew I had a score to settle at home. Then I remembered that this was still a hospital run by Henry’s brothers. This was also the hospital where Julia will take her paternity test. Nurses and doctors were bound to gossip about everything. Like an outcast, I walked back to my car, heading to the mall, but my car started to malfunction. I located a nearby mechanic a few blocks from my home; the mechanic told me they’d have to keep my car for proper repair.

“Amelia, right?” Someone walked up behind me as I tried to fill out a form given to me at the cashier.

I turned instantly recognized my gym instructor. “Joshua?”

I tried to remember his name. He’d told me on my first day at the gym, but I’d preferred to refer to him as my gym instructor.

“Jason,” he corrected me. “I guess you aren’t good with names.”

“I just got off a twelve-hour surgery. I tend to think more about work,” I replied. “I apologize for the mix up.”

“It’s fine.” He looked around, nervously dipping his hand into his pocket. “You’re here to fix your car?”

“Yes,” I answered, “it stopped dead on my way home. I’ve probably been using it for a long time without proper maintenance.”

“Give me a minute,” I said and went back to filling out the form before me. I gave it back to the woman behind the glass window.

Then I turned back to Jason. “What are you doing here? Did you come to fix your car?”

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