Daylight

Chapter 9: No one's Mrs.

Camila watched everyone at the party talk about the incident between Lauren and her ex-wife and well, she didn't blame people for talking, it was a big fight but she was annoyed by the whispers, especially around Liv.

"Where's mommy?" The little brunette asked and Camila had to bite her lips.

"Hm" The truth was that she didn't know, all she saw was Lauren going inside with Luna a while back and she hadn't come back yet "I'm going to check on her okay? You go play with your friends" She pointed at the kids in the pool again, at least children were resilient like that.

"Camila..." Demi tried to stop her but she just kept walking before she lost her nerve, she went in by the lateral doors and passed through the kitchen. Things were calm again and Lauren hadn't been back, it was okay to check. It's human to be worried.

"I'm going to kill that little bitch" She heard an unknown voice saying in the living room and Camila tried to see who was it before she could go there herself, has someone follow Lauren and she hadn't noticed?

"Veronica, be reasonable" That voice now, that she knew, it was Normani... Well, at least someone had gone after Lauren and Luna, knowing her friend was there should be enough to make her go away, surely her boss was fine now right? She should turn away, go back to the party, and Liv...

"No, Mani, she's right" Lauren Jauregui's voice kept in place, it was the first she heard that kind of emotion from the usually cool woman, except for the incident a few moments ago of course. "How could she? And I still fell for her bullshit of being friends because of Liv's birthday"

"It's not your fault, honey" Another voice she didn't know said and Camila frowned, Honey? She tried to look again and saw that it was the woman sitting at Lauren's table, probably her friend. "The important thing now is to talk to the girls"

"Talk?" Lauren sounded disgusted "Livia probably thinks I ruined her party - and I did - and Luna is locked in her room because of that damn necklace, and that woman... she took it again you saw that? She took it before she left"

Camila frowned to herself, what was the big deal about Lucy's gift to her younger daughter?

"I just..." She heard something in the CEO's voice "I just can't do this anymore"

Camila left quickly without being seen, she didn't want to hear anymore, well, she did but not like that. She wanted to go in and offer comfort to the woman but she knew she wouldn't be welcome. She didn't want to hear such a personal moment in a way that was so... wrong.

She went back to the party and tried to forget the angst in Lauren's voice.

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When Camila left to work on Monday morning she did think the day would be long. The party was over the moment Lauren yelled at her daughter's other mother, no one enjoyed it after that, except for the children of course.

After an hour or so, Demi has to end the party, and Lauren and Luna never come back.

Camila had left with a full stomach but an empty feeling in her heart. She left feeling like she could've done more. What if she had said something about Lucy when she first saw her? What if she had talked to Lauren? What if she had gone into the living room? What if she had gone to Luna? These scenes kept on playing on her mind, she couldn't sleep at all and spent the entire Sunday like that.

Waking up Livia tho, she expected... more. The girl seemed fine and happy, she went about her morning like nothing had happened. Maybe Lauren talked to her? Camila wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth so just thanked that she was okay and went on about her day.

She went to Luna's room and paused, the girl wasn't there and it didn't seem like she slept there at all.

"She's in my room" She heard her boss say and turned around, Lauren was holding herself against the door "She won't be going to school today"

The CEO didn't look like herself, not to say she was ugly, the woman was beautiful and Camila didn't think she could be ugly, not even if she tried but she did look tired.

But could she blame her?

"I'm sorry to ask, Mrs. Jauregui" She started hesitating "Are you alright? Are the girls?"

Lauren sighed to herself like someone getting ready for a battle and Camila regretted asking, maybe she shouldn't bother her very busy boss with such questions. The woman who just looked at Camila like she was seeing her for the first time, the brunette felt a chill going through her spine.

Maybe she was seeing her for the first time.

"Do you care?"

"I'm sorry?" Camila didn't understand, of course she cared right?

"Do you care about my daughters?" She said impatiently "Or are you just asking out of politeness? Because if it's the second save it, if you pretending to care for your job there's no need, that's not why I pay you"

Lauren's words were stern but fair, their eyes looked into each other and Camila held her gaze, she had nothing to hide and her concern was genuine.

"I care..." Camila said weakly but honestly "I care about the girls" She repeated because it was true.

Lauren nodded to herself as if she already knew her answer and maybe she did.

"Luna is not okay..." Lauren started and Camila was surprised, she didn't think Lauren would say anything "You must've noticed she's a... peculiar child"

"Yes" she agreed on a serious note, it was the first time Lauren was discussing her daughter's behavior with her.

"I know my daughter's privileged, she had everything, the best teachers, the best school, the best clothes" She sighed "At the same time, she had a pretty rough life under my ex-wife's hand and I regret not acting sooner but well, that's water under the bridge"

Camila nodded for her to go on.

"Lucy was never very stable and Luna likes to test people's patience, especially after Liv's birth..." Lauren looked at the window and paused "Anyway, I won't bore you with the details, let's just say, please be patient with her"

Camila opened her mouth but nothing came out, that's rich Mrs. Jauregui, she was telling Camila to be patient with Luna? Wasn't she the one that wouldn't 'give in to her daughter's antics?" She wanted her to keep talking but Lauren had moved on already.

"Her visit yesterday will probably be a set back" She sighed "We've to be careful with her"

"Of course" Camila nodded "I'll do anything to make her comfortable, Mrs Jauregui"

"Good, that's good" Her boss looked at her again "And my name's Lauren"

Camila blinked twice in shock.

"I'm no one's Mrs anymore" She completed and gave her a little smile that made Camila's heart skip a beat, even if she didn't know why.

Camila watched her go, It seemed like she was doing much of that lately and it would be a lie to say she minded.