Old Money || Shawmila [Completed]

30. Jealous

For the first week, Camila's mornings had been filled with two contrasting emotions: excitement and worry. Living with Shawn was exceeding her wildest expectations, but she knew that this exhilarating new experience had to remain a secret for as long as possible. If anyone at work found out they were living together, all hell would break loose. The competition between law firms in the city was hard to explain to anyone not involved, especially given the calm facade everyone maintained. But behind the polite smiles and calculated words, there were unimaginable tensions and cunning games. If anyone discovered that Camila and Shawn were living together, especially now that they were facing each other in a case worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, heads would roll.

So, Camila spent the first week of cohabitation happy but tense. However, adjusting to the new routine hadn't been too difficult. Now, she and Shawn could go to work together, but every morning, before reaching her office, she made sure Shawn dropped her off a block away to avoid any suspicion. She refrained from talking about herself, even with the few colleagues she had managed to socialize with, and in general, kept her private life separate, carefully avoiding any confidences that could expose their relationship or jeopardize their careers.

There was only one person she felt like confiding in; especially because it seemed impossible to hide anything from him. Connor had a knack for being the world's biggest snoop, as if he had a radar that detected every subtle change in the lives of those around him. It was no coincidence he had asked her out to dinner.

However, someone wasn't happy about this. Shawn had opposed it entirely, trying to dissuade Camila with various tactics. His charming words, which almost always enchanted her, hadn't worked, nor had the much less orthodox method that had convinced her to cancel the last time they'd had this discussion. So, in the end, he resorted to acting like a toddler throwing a tantrum.

"I don't want you to go!" he had finally exclaimed, pouting and crossing his arms, blocking the wardrobe doors with his towering frame.

"Seriously, Shawn, do you have to make such a fuss? He's just a colleague; there's no need to be jealous."

"You forget that I know exactly what kind of snake he is. And even if I didn't, his reputation precedes him."

"Okay, but he and I don't have that kind of relationship! He's just a friend, a simple colleague who helped me out, especially when you were the source of my problems."

"Oh great, so now I'm the problem," Shawn huffed, growing increasingly serious and angry.

Camila approached him, clasping her hands behind his neck and staring straight into his eyes. "Let's not fight over something so silly, Shawn. You know I love you and don't want anyone else, why can't you trust me?"

He pulled her close, their bodies pressing together like magnets. "The problem isn't you, baby, it's him. I trust you completely, or else we wouldn't be here right now. But I wouldn't trust him even with my goldfish." Camila burst out laughing at the absurdity of his statement. Shawn allowed himself a small smile before turning serious again. He tucked a dark strand of her hair behind her ear and stroked her cheek. "Seriously, I don't trust him. I'm not proud of what I'm about to say, but I know how guys like him think. They see girls like you as trophies, conquests, challenges to check off their list. You're incredibly beautiful and sexy, you've got impressive intelligence, everyone would fall at your feet. Add the fact that you're already taken, and it makes you the perfect prey. I know because I used to think like that."

"And yet, in the end I managed to handle you, didn't I?"

"Camila..."

She pulled away, annoyed. "Enough. Shawn, I don't need to convince you to let me go because I'm not asking for your permission. Tonight, Connor and I are going out to dinner, whether you like it or not."