f.m. ~camren

chapter 4

Lauren struts up to the front desk of HYPE-R Records following an unusual burst of confidence on Tuesday afternoon. She and Camila had exchanged a few texts since their 'date', but it wasn't determined yet when they would see each other again because it was her turn to make the next move to advance the 'relationship'.

"I'm here to see Camila Cabello," Lauren announces to the receptionist.

The young, blonde woman behind the counter looks her up and down, then raises an eyebrow skeptically.

"Camila doesn't get visitors," she declares flatly before turning her focus back to her computer screen and typing quickly as if she expects Lauren to leave.

Lauren clears her throat.

"Will you at least let her know that I am here?"

The receptionist lets out a huff as if she is being inconvenienced before raising the receiver on her phone, dialing an extension, and bringing it to her ear.

"There's some woman here to see you," she announces into the phone before pulling the lower part away from her face, placing her hand over the mouthpiece, and whispering to Lauren, "Who are you?"

"Tell her it's Lauren."

"She says her name is Lauren. Would you like me to have someone escort her out?"

Lauren becomes smug when the receptionist's eyes widen in surprise at what she can only assume are orders from Camila to do the exact opposite. Her suspicions are confirmed when she hangs up the phone and stands from the desk.

"Camila can't come down to meet you right now, but she has asked me to show you where her office is located if you are able to wait a few minutes for her."

Lauren nods her head in agreement and follows the receptionist's lead as they enter a secure part of the building and take some stairs to the second level. They pass a couple recording booths and a meeting room before they reach a hallway to turn down on their left. The nameplate on the door in the middle where they pause reads "Stella Miller," accompanied by "Asst. Camila Cabello" in much smaller print beneath it.

"Here's a visitor's pass," the receptionist explains after reaching into her pocket and pulling out a slim security card, "I have to get back to my desk. If you end up waiting a long time and need to leave, the pass will clear you to wander along this floor until you find your way to the main level again. Just don't forget to turn it back in or it will set the alarm off downstairs."

Lauren slips the card into her pocket and leans against the wall casually. When the door is finally opened and Camila appears, the wait has been almost ten minutes.

"I guess you're really busy," Lauren observes with an apologetic tone before following Camila's gesture for her to enter the office.

She notices the larger desk is empty, indicating Stella Miller's absence. There is a door propped open in the corner that leads to a smaller room with less desk space which clearly belongs to Camila. They enter Camila's office space and Lauren grabs a chair to take along with her from the main room upon realizing the absence of a place to sit besides Camila's one desk chair.

"Don't worry about interrupting me. I just wrapped up a conference call with my boss and that was my last major commitment for the day. Everything else is dull paperwork," Camila reveals.

"That receptionist is some piece of work," Lauren vents, unable to hold back her distaste for the encounter leading up to their current meeting.

Camila laughs lightly.

"Sadie makes everyone feel like a burden sometimes. I think that's her way of making herself seem more important."

"Seems accurate. Do you have plans tonight?" Lauren asks, cutting to the chase.