Heart Hold Fast

Chapter Sixteen

A/N: This chapter has been a long time coming, and I realise it's neither as long, nor probably as good as you were hoping. Work and stress is doing a very good job of sapping my creative spirit, but I'm doing my best to battle through. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I promise to do my utmost to keep updates coming with some sort of consistency.

As the days wore on, New York began to sink out of summer. Central Park became adorned with autumnal colours, and the citizens hurrying up and down the sidewalks switched their shirts for jackets and scarves. That heavy warmth in the air had been replaced by a lighter, crisp coolness, and Camila found herself preferring the city at this time of year. It felt less imposing, and kinder, when swaddled up in preparation for the winter months.

Ruben's work appeared to be going smoothly, and he had gelled well with his colleagues. Every so often, Camila would join him at a restaurant or bar for evening drinks with his co-workers. They were boyish, and ambitious, but pleasant enough, and she enjoyed being a part of these more youthful outings. Although she and Ruben were the same age, if not younger, than many of his colleagues, both felt distinctly older than them, on account of their married status.

Particularly Camila had a total lack of experience with nights out of this sort, and she felt a simple thrill at venturing into a more mature, adult world. Away from her parents in Miami, she was enjoying a sense of increased freedom, and, despite being initially hesitant, she was starting to understand the attraction that New York held for bright young sparks. She was starting to feel like any other couple, starting out together in the big city.

Regardless of what had been said at the Lodge, Camila had seen almost nothing of Lauren in the first month when she came back from Florida. The notorious businesswomen remained characteristically difficult to get hold of, and was as busy with work as she had ever been, but Camila had learnt not to take it to heart any longer. With Lauren, she had learnt that you had to wait for her to come to you, as frustrating as that could be.

Yet, eventually, one chilly Monday morning brought the telephone call that she had eagerly awaiting.

"It's for you," Ruben yawned, handing the telephone to his wife as he rolled out of bed.

Camila sat up hurriedly, and clapped a hand over the receiver.

"Is it Mum?" she mouthed at him.

"No," he shook his head, "Somebody called... Normani, I think she said,"

"Who?" Camila hissed, as he rifled through his closet to find a shirt.

"Just answer it, Mila!"

She silently wracked her brains. The name sounded familiar, but from where or when, she could not recall. Before she had time to solve the puzzle, a pillow came flying at her from Ruben's direction, and her husband gave her a pointed look.

"Hi!" she injected slightly too much enthusiasm into her voice.

"Good morning," a smooth voice answered, "Mrs Cabello, I presume?"

"That's me," she responded, "Who's calling please?"

"It's Normani Kordei. I'm the managing director of Jauregui Marketing Agency's New York branch,"

"Oh... OH!" she suddenly remembered where she knew the name from, "You work with Lauren!" she blurted out, "Sorry!"

There was a knowing chuckle on the end of the line.

"She's my boss, yes," Normani replied, "I'm calling to schedule a meeting on her behalf today. When are you next available?"

"She wants to meet me?"