Burn Me Once, Burn With Me novel Chapter 66

"You actually lost a case this simple? The compensation is just enforcing my legal rights."

Cassian's tone was nonchalant, but the pressure in the room was almost suffocating.

A heavy silence settled over the conference hall.

"Figure out how to fix this mess."

Cassian's patience was gone. He stood, gathered his things, and strode for the door.

But as he passed Cameron Lockridge, he stopped abruptly. His hand landed on Cameron's shoulder, squeezing down hard. "Maybe you should think about what you've been up to lately."

It was a threat—

And a warning.

Cassian's footsteps echoed away, the sound growing distant, but Cameron was already sweating, his crisp dress shirt sticking to his back. He racked his brain. What had he done to offend Mr. Veyne?

His gaze dropped to the file in his hands.

He was supposed to be Veyne & Co.'s private attorney. But since his mentor, Ruby, went to prison, he'd had a falling out with the firm, and had been preparing to strike out on his own. Mr. Veyne knew all this—he'd even kept sending important cases Cameron's way by default.

Sure, this case was high-profile, but was losing it really enough to warrant all this hostility?

Why was Cassian coming down so hard now?

Cameron's mind spun. Suddenly, a clear, beautiful face flashed before his eyes.

No way…

A chill ran down his spine.

Could Mr. Veyne have found out Ms. Grayson was living at his place?

The more he thought about it, the more certain he became. What else could it be?

Was it when he'd brought the divorce papers for signature last time? Had Cassian noticed something then?

Frustration and confusion gave way to dread. Cameron's grip tightened on the file until the paper nearly tore.

Gritting his teeth, his mind wandered back to the first time he'd seen Ms. Grayson after she got out of prison.

Her face had been so pale and lost, her eyes full of contempt whenever she looked at Morgan.

In his memory, Ms. Grayson had always been like a gentle, distant moonbeam—something you could admire but never touch. You could bask in her soft, holy light, but she was always out of reach.

But that day, he finally got close to the moon.

He still didn't know what possessed him to walk out of the firm and challenge Mr. Blackwood for her. Ms. Grayson's eyes had lit up with a complicated mix of hope and hesitation.

He blinked himself back to reality, forced a smile, and shook his head. The effort only made him look more haggard.

Ruby was still worried, but seeing he didn't want to talk, she pressed her lips together and let it go.

"Go rest for a bit. I saw some groceries in the fridge—I'll make dinner tonight. I'll call you when it's ready," she said softly.

Cameron didn't argue this time, just shuffled off to his room.

Ruby watched him go, then headed into the kitchen.

Cameron collapsed on his bed, pulled the contract from his briefcase, and paged through it again. On the last page, the penalty clause stared back at him: thirty million dollars.

His head throbbed harder.

His firm had earned some renown from his work with Veyne & Co., but their cash flow was always tight. Even if he sold everything, he'd never scrape together that kind of money.

He rubbed his brow, the ceiling spinning above him.

Exhaustion finally overtook his anxiety, and at some point, he drifted into sleep, the file slipping from his fingers to the edge of the bed.

Knock, knock.

"Cameron, dinner's ready. I'm coming in, okay?"