CHAMELEON

EIGHT.

When Cameron was safe inside of the AirBnB she was renting she threw her purse onto the ground with a loud thump. Feeling a weakness she had almost forgotten, she let herself slump against the foyer wall and follow her purse down. Tucking her knees into her chest, she started to contemplate how she let herself get in this position.

Why had a few months of freedom led her into hating her secret even more? Was it the feeling of freedom? Probably not, she decided. She was able to be free from fake names and fancy dresses for about half of her life. Was it being back home that was bothering her? Cameron typically spent most of her free time outside of Canada. Maybe she spent time away so that she wouldn't realize how much she wanted to settle here. Settle. The thought was uncomfortable. Had she started to settle here? It sure as hell didn't seem like it, as she sat inside a rental purchased through a fake name.

Was it being so close to Sadie again? Cameron had spent almost five years of her life living down the street from her friend. She tried to visit now at least once a year, and Sadie never attacked her about putting down roots before like she was trying to do now. She had also been sneaky enough to drag Cameron into the first environment she felt safe in for as long as she could remember. Cameron really shouldn't have taught Sadie how to be so sneaky.

She smiled faintly at the memory of teaching Sadie about basic disguises and personas. She had spent hours dressing her friend up to look like a prissy little rich girl. "You've just gotta blend in," Cameron had told her over and over again.

"You blend in everywhere," Sadie had pouted. Then she laughed at an idea, and the girls had worked themselves into a fit of giggles over one of the tacky hats Cameron had stolen from Patricia.

"You're like a chameleon. Cami the chameleon."

For the last few days Cameron had been exactly that. She walked for hours in sky high stilettos, talked like a passive house wife with no personal ambitions, and stuffed her face with ridiculously expensive food that tasted as bland as pasta water. The only perk associated with growing up was that she was now allowed the lush champagnes served at social events.

Thankfully, Brett had only been part of her security detail for the first day. She wasn't sure if she would have been able to play her part with him lingering around. The pair had managed easily enough by not speaking or even sharing quick glances. Cameron also knew that she would not have been able to accomplish any whispered conversations without her mother or Agent Boyce all over her like mud on a pig. It didn't really seem fair that Brett had also met her parents. Weren't people supposed to keep their families and sexual partners far away from each other? At least most important part of her family, Charlotte, had been miles away. Cameron felt the gnawing sensation in her stomach again. Had Brett seen Charlotte? There was no way to find out without exposing herself to him.

Cameron crawled across the floor to her purse and dug around for her personal cellphone. Sadie picked up on the first ring, giving an enthusiastic agreement to meet for drinks. When asked if she would mind friends from the club tagging along, Cameron surprised herself by saying no. She knew that she needed as much information on Brett as possible to drag him away from her second life. Running without throwing him off would end badly. She needed some ammo from the people who had sworn to have it.

"Holy shit," Cameron said aloud to the table of girls waiting for her just one hour later, "It's like submissive station ran away."

Giggles were the only answer to her statement except for Sadie, who jumped up to give her friend a hug.

"I'm so glad you wanted to get out. Lord knows we all need it. Right, girls?"

A few of the women raised their glasses in acknowledgement and Cameron figured she was already a couple drinks behind.