Filed to story: That Campus Prince Is a Girl
“I just want to apologize face-to-face,” Mark pressed. “That’s all. No agenda.”
“Not necessary.”
Cameron hung up without another word.
“Who was that?” Xander asked, his curiosity piqued.
“No one,” Cameron replied flatly.
Xander rolled his eyes. “So secretive.”
Elijah, setting down his pen, chimed in, “You’ve been studying long enough. How about a break?”
“Mind your own business,” Xander shot back.
Elijah raised a brow but didn’t take the bait.
Cameron checked the time and said, “That’s enough for today.”
“Two hours,” she reminded Xander.
“I’ll transfer it now,” he replied immediately, sending over 70 thousand without hesitation.
Cameron glanced at the balance on her account. Her lips curved into a subtle smile.
Over a million now. One step closer to launching my pharmaceutical company.
“You really light up when money’s involved,” Xander teased.
Cameron deadpanned, “If it bothers you, you’re free to leave.”
“I am leaving,” Xander huffed, standing up dramatically.
Two hours of tutoring had definitely worn him out.
He needed to go blow off steam with a round of gaming.
He stomped out without another word.
Elijah closed his book slowly and looked at Cameron. “Dinner?”
Cameron nodded. “Sure. I did say I’d treat you. Any preferences?”
Elijah thought for a moment. “How about fondue?”
He’d been meaning to try it properly-last time, Bradley had distracted him the entire meal.
“Sounds good,” Cameron said.
Just as they were getting ready to head out, her phone buzzed. Xander: [What are you eating tonight?]
Cameron: [Whatever you eat is your business.]
Xander: [You seriously can’t tell I’m trying to ask you out to dinner?]
Cameron: [I’ve already got plans.]
Xander: [With who?]
Cameron: [Not your concern.]
Xander: [Ugh. Seriously?]
Cameron didn’t bother replying.
Tonight, Xander wasn’t invited.
He’d be too loud anyway.
Dinner with Elijah was always calm, easy, and unbothered.
They hopped into a cab and headed for the restaurant./
What they didn’t see was a black SUV pulling out behind them and quietly trailing all the way there.
By the time Cameron and Elijah were seated and flipping through the menu, Mark strolled in, smiling, and behind him were Tessa and Skyler.
Cameron’s eyes narrowed.
They actually followed her here.
But this was a public place. She couldn’t very well Kick them out, especially with Elijah sitting right beside her.
They clearly weren’t here just for her anyway-Mark probably had his sights set on Elijah.
The Young family took the table directly across the aisle from them, close enough to talk. Too close
Cameron Barely glanced at the Young family before lowering her gaze again to focus on the menu.
Elijah, of course, had noticed them the moment they sat down.
He knew Mark
The man showed up at every holiday event the Moore family hosted, always trying to curry favor. Elijah had bumped into him more than once over the years.
Now, as Elijah’s eyes swept in their direction, Mark stood up almost instantly, his face lighting up with exaggerated warmth. “Elijah, what a coincidence Mark said enthusiastically, “I didn’t expect to run into you here.”
In truth, the Youngs had been waiting outside the restaurant all afternoon, hoping to catch Cameron.
Mark was determined.
He figured that once he got a face-to-face meeting with Cameron, everything else could be negotiated,
‘How difficult could it be to persuade a barely-adult teenager?’
What he hadn’t expected was for Cameron to show up with Elijah.
The two of them, having lunch together on a weekend-it said everything.
Now he understood why Elijah had been willing to risk offending his father to cut ties with the Young family.
Still, Elijah gave only the briefest nod in acknowledgment before looking away.
It wasn’t politeness-it was restraint.
Tessa leaned forward with an ingratiating smile, clasping her hands. “It’s been a while, Elijah,” she said sweetly. “You’re getting more handsome by the day.”
As she spoke, she nudged Skyler hard with her elbow.
Skyler looked like she’d swallowed a lemon.
Her parents were making her apologize to Cameron.
Getting forced to do it once in front of the entire school had been humiliating enough.
And now her parents wanted her to do it again.
She had zero desire to go through that humiliation a second time, but with both of her parents staring her down, she had no choice.
Skyler stood and bowed stiffly at a ninety-degree angle. “Cameron, I’m sorry. The stuff on the forum-it was all my fault. I really regret it, and I hope you can forgive me.”
She then turned to Elijah. “Elijah, I’m sorry I ignored your warning. Everything that’s happened-I brought it on myself. I’m sorry for dragging you into it.”
Cameron didn’t react. She didn’t even lift her eyes.
Instead, she calmly flipped a page of the menu and asked, “Shrimp?”
She ignored Skyler completely, and Elijahy did the same.
He nodded. “Su
Skyler stood there, stunned.
The two of them had completely brushed her off, like she didn’t even exist.
Mark shot her a look that said. “Do it.”
Skyler stiffened.
