Chapter 4 A Bouquet

'Wait, did Cameron just text me?'

Hannah's heart skipped a beat as she fumbled to check her phone. Sure enough, there it was, a message from Cameron. The bold notification glared up at her from the screen, taunting her.

'Why would he message me now?' she thought, biting her lip.

Panic swirled in her chest. Did Cameron suspect her? Was it possible he had recognized her from earlier? Hannah kept her head bowed, desperately avoiding even the slightest glance in his direction. She knew if she looked up, her face would give everything away.

Ding!

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open. Relief flooded through her as she stepped out quickly, eager to put as much distance as possible between her and Cameron. But just as she moved forward, disaster struck.

Her ID card slipped from her pocket and clattered to the ground.

"Miss, you dropped something," came Cameron's voice, sharp and clear behind her.

Damn it! Hannah froze mid-step, her pulse thundering in her ears. She had no choice now. She turned slowly, her head still lowered, avoiding eye contact at all costs.

Cameron extended the ID card toward her, his brows knitting together in slight irritation.

Hannah reached out and snatched the card from his hand a little too quickly, her nerves getting the better of her. The motion came off as rude, and she inwardly winced at her own behavior.

"T-Thank you," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper, before spinning on her heel and walking away as fast as she could without breaking into a sprint.

Cameron watched her retreating figure, his expression a mix of confusion and annoyance.

"What a rude girl," he muttered under his breath. "I should've checked her name and which division she works in."

But Hannah didn't care. She burst out of the office building and hurried down the street, her breathing uneven as she finally allowed herself to relax. She slipped into a nearby pizzeria, the smell of freshly baked dough and melted cheese doing little to calm her nerves.

Sliding into a booth, she ordered quickly and sank into her seat, pulling out her phone. The unread message from Cameron stared back at her. Hannah stared at it for a moment, then exhaled deeply.

That was too close.

She tapped the screen, opening the message at last.

"Oh no, he wants to rent me again."

Hannah groaned internally, her fingers gripping her phone as she read Cameron's message. She shook her head vehemently. Absolutely not. She had promised herself never to get tangled up with him again. Cameron was a walking magnet for chaos, and Hannah valued her peace far too much.

(Hannah: I'm sorry, Mr. Carson, but I've stopped being a rented girlfriend as of last week.)

With a satisfied smile, she hit send. There. That should do it! She exhaled deeply, feeling an immense sense of relief. Now all she had to do was steer clear of him at the office, and her life could finally return to normal.

Her phone buzzed again.

(Cameron: I'll pay you double.)

Hannah rolled her eyes and quickly typed back.

(Hannah: No. I've stopped doing that side job, Mr. Carson.)

Seconds later, another message appeared.

(Cameron: Triple!)

Hannah scoffed. Does this guy not understand the word "no"?

(Hannah: Don't you understand what I'm saying? I've stopped. Please don't call me again.)

She placed her phone on the table with a huff of satisfaction. No amount of money could tempt her. Triple, quadruple-whatever Cameron offered-it didn't matter. She chose her peace over his nonsense.

But as she stared at her phone, doubt crept in. Had she been too harsh? Then again, considering Cameron's arrogant attitude, why should she be polite? He certainly didn't deserve it.

Her phone buzzed once more.

(Cameron: Damn woman! Why did you suddenly stop, huh?)

(Cameron: Alright, I'll give you whatever you want. Just cooperate with me.)

Hannah couldn't suppress a laugh as she read his increasingly desperate texts. The image of the haughty Cameron Carson groveling-even via text-was too amusing. But she ignored the messages and turned her attention back to her meal.

**

Across town, in a sleek, glass-walled office, Cameron stood by the window, phone clutched tightly in his hand. The skyline outside did little to calm the storm brewing within him.

Behind him, Ben strolled in, his signature smirk already plastered on his face. "That's quite the thundercloud hanging over your head. What happened? Lose a deal? Or did Harish finally push you to pick out a wedding tux?"

Cameron didn't bother to turn. "Find out where that girl lives."

Ben blinked, then leaned against the desk, clearly amused. "Which girl? The one who canceled on you?"

Cameron's jaw tightened as he finally turned, his glare enough to scorch. "She didn't cancel on me. She ended a business arrangement. It's different."

Ben let out a low whistle, fighting back a laugh. "Oh, absolutely. Totally different. One just sounds a whole lot like rejection, but, hey, what do I know?"

Cameron shot him a pointed look. "You know nothing, which is why you should just do what I said."

But Ben wasn't done. He folded his arms and cocked his head, the smirk growing. "I have to hand it to her. Most people wouldn't have the guts to turn down Cameron Carson, heir to the Carson empire. What'd you do to scare her off? Flash that award-winning charm of yours?"

"Don't push it, Ben," Cameron warned, dropping into his chair with a huff. "The last thing I need is your sarcasm."

"Who said I was being sarcastic?" Ben said, straight-faced. "But, seriously, maybe she's just not a fan of... you know, your attitude."

Cameron frowned. "What the hell's wrong with my attitude?"

Ben tapped a finger to his chin, feigning thought. "Where do I start? The scowl, the tone, the way you bark orders like a drill sergeant? Women just love that."

Cameron rolled his eyes. "My so-called attitude doesn't seem to bother the women at the club. They're practically throwing themselves at me."

Ben snorted. "Yeah, because they can smell the money, not your winning personality. Let me spell it out for you, they're into your wallet, not you."

"Thanks for the revelation, Dr. Phil," Cameron retorted. "Now, are you done with your stand-up routine, or do I need to hire a new assistant?"

"Relax," Ben said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "I'm just saying, maybe it's time to try a real relationship. One that doesn't involve contracts or... bribes."

"You want me to voluntarily subject myself to the chaos of a real relationship?" Cameron shook his head, letting out a dry laugh. "Says the guy who's never even had one."

Ben shrugged. "Touché. But hey, I'm not the one pretending to be someone's boyfriend."

Before Cameron could fire back, the office door swung open, and Harish walked in, exuding authority. His personal secretary followed, clipboard in hand.

"You can leave," Harish said curtly to the woman. "Clear my schedule for the afternoon."

With a quick nod, she exited, her heels clicking against the polished floor. The door clicked shut, and Harish turned his sharp gaze on Cameron.

"So," Harish began, steepling his fingers. "Have you proposed to her yet? I'd like us to meet for dinner soon to discuss your marriage."

Cameron stiffened, exchanging a nervous glance with Ben. The words hit harder than he'd expected.

"Uh... that's... I'll talk to her later, Grandpa," Cameron stammered, shifting uncomfortably.

Harish's frown deepened. "You haven't proposed yet?"

"Not yet," Cameron admitted, forcing a tight smile.

Harish leaned forward, his tone skeptical. "Don't tell me you don't know how to make a romantic proposal?"

Cameron coughed, glancing at Ben, who was clearly enjoying the exchange far too much. "Well, sort of. I... might need a little more time."

Ben snorted under his breath, but Harish wasn't amused. "Time? For what? You want to be sworn in as president-director soon, don't you? Then stop stalling and marry her. Josh and I fully support your relationship, especially since I found out that Hannah is such a diligent employee of this company."

"Wait, what?" Cameron's head jerked up in surprise.

"Excuse me?" Ben echoed, just as shocked.

Harish arched a brow, his lips twitching as though suppressing a smile. "What's the problem? Don't act like I don't know about your little office romance."

Cameron blinked, his confusion mounting. "Grandpa, what are you talking about?"

"Oh, come now," Harish said with a wave of his hand. "You don't need to pretend. I've known for a while. She works right here in the company, doesn't she? Do you met her during your visit to my office?"

Cameron's brain short-circuited for a moment. Hannah works here?!

"Look, Cameron, I don't want to wait too long for your wedding. So, speak to her soon and get things moving." Harish stood, straightened his jacket, and strode out of the room, leaving Cameron and Ben staring after him.

The silence stretched as the weight of Harish's words sank in.

"She's an employee here?!" Cameron muttered, still stunned. He spun toward his desk and pulled up the employee database, his fingers flying over the keyboard. A few clicks later, her profile popped up on the screen.

Cameron leaned back, an idea sparking in his mind. A slow, crooked smile spread across his face.

"This," Cameron said with a mischievous glint in his eyes, "is going to be so easy."

Ben crossed his arms, eyeing him warily. "Why do I feel like I should be worried? What are you planning?"

"You'll see tomorrow," Cameron said, his tone dripping with confidence.

Ben sighed, shaking his head. "Why do I get the feeling this is going to be a disaster?"

Cameron merely smirked, his mind already racing with possibilities.

**

The next morning, Hannah walked into the office with a spring in her step and a radiant smile that could have rivaled the sun. She felt lighter, as though a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Finally, she was free, free from Cameron Carson and his maddening antics.

Lucy, her ever-curious colleague, noticed the change immediately. She strolled over to Hannah's desk, coffee in hand and a sly grin on her face. "Whoa, what's with the sunshine vibes?"

Hannah set her bag down and leaned back in her chair with a satisfied sigh. "Can't a girl just be happy?"

Lucy arched a brow. "Come on, spill. Something's up."

Hannah's smile grew wider. "Fine. I'm done with him."

Lucy blinked, then gasped dramatically. "Wait, him him? As in, Cameron Carson, Mr. Rented Girlfriend Guy?! You're serious?!"

"As serious as a heart attack," Hannah replied with a triumphant nod. "And you were right, Lu. It's time to stop playing hired girlfriend."

Lucy let out an ear-piercing squeal, drawing a few amused glances from nearby desks."Oh my God, you gotta be kidding me."

"Well, I'm free now."

"So, does this mean I get to introduce you to my friends? I know a few good ones, solid guys, great jobs, decent hairlines."

"Pass," Hannah said quickly, holding up a hand. "Not in the mood for men right now."

Their banter was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Both women looked up just in time to see Cameron Carson himself strolling through the office. He was as impeccably dressed as ever, his tailored suit practically radiating confidence. In his hand was a massive bouquet of vibrant red roses.

Lucy's eyes widened. "Oh no. Oh no. Tell me that's not-"

"Why don't you reply to my messages, babe?" Cameron's deep voice cut through the air like a blade as he stopped in front of Hannah's desk, his piercing gaze locked on her.