Playing Games

Chapter 6

The following week came with its usual chaos—work, gym, and trying to keep her life balanced. Camille had managed to keep things smooth between her and Maurice, but it wasn't easy. He was consistent, always checking in, making sure she was good, but he wasn't pushing her like before. That should've made her feel better, but honestly, it just made her nervous.

It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop.

One afternoon, Camille sat at her desk, sifting through emails when she saw Maurice's name pop up on her phone.

Maurice:

"You free to run through the presentation tomorrow? Need a final look before we hit the board."

Work. Just work. Camille sighed, reminding herself to stay focused. She couldn't let her mind wander every time his name popped up. She needed to keep things professional—especially now that they were trying to take things slow outside the office.

Camille:

"Yeah, I'm good for tomorrow. What time?"

Maurice:

"2 pm?"

Camille:

"Works for me."

She put her phone down and leaned back in her chair, letting out a deep breath. Work was their safe space—the place where things made sense. It was easier to keep the lines clear here. But tomorrow's run-through meant being in a room alone with him again, and that always stirred something inside her. They had a history that wasn't just going to disappear.

The next day came quickly, and before Camille knew it, she was standing outside the conference room, preparing herself for what felt like a routine check-in but somehow carried more weight. She couldn't shake the nerves, no matter how much she tried to focus on the task at hand.

When she walked in, Maurice was already there, setting up the presentation slides. He glanced over his shoulder when he saw her, flashing that easy smile that always had a way of disarming her.

"You ready for this?" Maurice asked, turning back to the screen.

Camille dropped her notes on the table, trying to keep her cool. "Yeah. Been through this thing a hundred times, so we should be solid."

Maurice chuckled. "I like that confidence."

They ran through the presentation quickly, their work chemistry as smooth as ever. Camille had to admit—when it came to the job, Maurice was good. They worked well together, and for the most part, their interactions stayed professional.

But there were moments, little cracks in the surface, where that old tension slipped through. Like when Maurice leaned over her shoulder to adjust something on the screen, his closeness making her heart skip for just a second. Or the way his gaze lingered on her when they wrapped up the final slide.

"We're good," Camille said, breaking the silence that had settled over the room. She stood up, gathering her papers. "Presentation's ready for tomorrow."

Maurice nodded, closing his laptop. "Yeah, we're solid."

Just as she was about to leave, Maurice's voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Camille," he said softly, and there was something in his tone that made her pause. "I've been thinking..."

She turned, her eyes meeting his. "About what?"

He hesitated, as if weighing his next words carefully. "About us. About how we're doing this."

Camille felt her heart speed up, but she stayed rooted in place. "We said we were gonna take things slow, right?"

"Yeah," Maurice replied, nodding. "But I don't want you to think that means I'm not serious about us."

"I don't think that," Camille said, her voice softening.

"I just... I don't want you to feel like I'm playing with your time," Maurice added. "I'm trying to be patient, but I also want to make sure you know I'm all in. I want this, Camille."

Camille felt her defenses crack just a little. His voice, the way he was looking at her—it felt real. Like he wasn't just saying the right things, but that he actually meant them. And that scared her because it made her want to believe him.

"I get that," Camille said, her voice steady. "But I'm still figuring it out. I need time, Maurice."

"I know," he said, his tone softer now. "I'm not rushing you. I just needed to say it."

There was a brief silence between them, and for the first time, it didn't feel heavy. It felt... honest. Like they were finally starting to get somewhere.

Camille gave him a small smile. "I appreciate you saying that. But let's just keep it slow for now. No pressure."

Maurice nodded, his smile mirroring hers. "Together," he added, his eyes shining with determination. "I want to be your partner, not just in love but in everything."

Camille smirked, leaning against the table. "Mmm. Sounds like you're racing to the altar. Should I be picking out dresses or calling dibs on the cake flavor?"

Maurice laughed, shaking his head. "Nah, we're not rushing the frosting."

"Good," she teased, "because I'm not settling for vanilla."

They both chuckled, the tension easing into something lighter, something that felt more like them. It wasn't perfect, but it was a start.

As they gathered their things to leave, Maurice caught her eye one more time. "You still down for lunch next week?"

Camille smiled. "We'll see. Maybe."

He nodded, giving her a playful wink. "I'll hold you to that."

Later that night, Camille sat in bed, her phone resting on the nightstand as she scrolled through her messages. Her phone buzzed, pulling her out of her thoughts. It was Maurice again.

Maurice:

"You good?"

Camille hesitated for a moment before responding.

Camille:

"Yeah, I'm good. You?"

There was a long pause before his next message came through.

Maurice:

"I just keep thinking about what you said. About taking it slow."

Camille's heart fluttered, her fingers hovering over the screen.

Camille:

"And?"

Maurice:

"I'm cool with it. But I'm not going anywhere. I'm serious about this."

She stared at the message, her mind racing. She wanted to believe him. She really did. But trust was hard, and she knew better than to give it away so easily.

Camille:

"I know. We'll see."

Maurice's reply came quickly.

Maurice:

"We need to talk. Soon."

Camille locked her phone, placing it face down on the nightstand. She wasn't ready for that conversation yet. Not tonight.