Surprise, surprise.

* * * * * * *

" Hi, Evelyn. "

Evelyn's head was now bowed, his vision shaky, " Hi Gabriel. " Her voice crooked.

" What are you doing? "

There he goes again, precise, sounding cold as usual. " Uh... I was, I just came in! "

She was doing good, she just needed to keep going. " Good morning! " Her voice was unusually high.

" Hmm, Good morning. " Gabriel folded his hands.

Evelyn desperately searched for an opening to leap out from, but there was none, he was everywhere.

" Were you trying to hide from me? "

Evelyn's face was instantly void of expressions, Gabriel was straight to the point as usual. " H.. hide? "

" Hide. " He answered her.

" No, no... of course not. " Now came the hardest part, " I was uh... it... I came... I__

" You're trying to come up with a lie right now? "

Evelyn had accepted her fate, it was time to call a spade a spade. " Yes, yes I am. "

Gabriel made a face like he was trying to recall something. " Then I'll make it easy on you, I won't ask why. "

Evelyn let out a sigh of relief, " You're a lifesaver. "

Gabriel chuckled, his hands falling off his torso. " So, your anniversary is today. "

Evelyn was glad that section was over, " Yeah, we're having dinner at Gu! Maya made it happen. "

" That's great, she told you about our date today? "

Evelyn briefly had uncomfortable flashbacks, Gabriel's stare pierced coldly through her, " Yeah, she told me. "

" Hmm, " Gabriel nodded as he turned to leave, " I hope we do like a... a double date soon. "

" That's a wonderful idea, " No, that was a terrible idea, but Evelyn just needed to get the hell out of there.

" Have a lovely day, Evelyn. "

" You to Gab. " Evelyn gasped, did she just call him Gab? was she getting comfortable all of a sudden? " Riel! Gabriel! " She concluded dashing away with her files hugging her chest.

* * * * * * *

Cameron has chosen a blue tux, he wore blue only on special occasions, like today. He had a smile of contentment on his face as he stocked his tie in place. He had made sure the occasion to carry out his plan was perfect, to heighten his satisfaction. This was just the usuals, it was him getting rid of anything that stood in his way, it was him eliminating anything that made him remember who he once was, it was him cutting off any reminder of his old persona.

" Sir? " Danny walked inside.

Cameron didn't need to use his words. an eyebrow raise was enough.

" Brooke's here. "

Jesus Christ! anyone but Brooke was the last person Cameron expected to see or hear from, which was surprising because she was his girlfriend. Well, not really to him, but to the rest of the world, Brooke was. Being who he was, he had a lot of things at stake, he had a story to bury, and even after all that time, he was still in the process. He needed a cover, a distraction, and Brooke was just that.

He couldn't tell the world the truth, nobody can know what the underlying story was, he had to deceive them all. Being in the center of it all was scary enough, and surviving the experience was traumatic enough. He couldn't bare the thought of it all being out in the open, he needed to keep an appearance.

He'd never touched her, he could never. He had never touched anyone, he could never. They don't see eye to eye, they don't need to. He pays her well, and on time, that's all he needs to do. But why the hell was she still bugging him? she had been smart, but he was smarter.

She began her plot by trying to seduce him, he was appalled and disgusted of course. And when that failed, her next display was trying to cajole him to go on flimsy adventures like dates, functions, clubbing, and one time, thanksgiving dinner, how dare she?

Still, he needed her, unfortunately, she was important. Maybe she knew that, that's why she keeps pushing her luck. He had created ways to deal with his dilemma, and they worked perfectly. Brooke's addition was to fool the public, while he maintained his occurrences privately.

He hadn't thought of their future endeavors together, him and Brooke. He hopes it goes smoothly, he doesn't want to imagine the stress of looking for a suitable replacement. But anyone can be replaced, if Brooke wouldn't understand, he would be forced to venture different measures.

* * * * * *

" Sir, why don't we just... replace her? " Danny asked as they could recognize Cameron's look of disgust.

" It's not that easy. " Cameron snarled.

" What should I tell her? "

Cameron grabbed his bag, " Nothing, we'll handle it like we always do. "

Danny nodded and headed out.

* * * * * *

Brooke spotted Cameron's car, and with a fierce look on her face, she went for it.

" You're not picking up my calls now? " She asked as she positioned herself in front of Cameron's window.

" Brooke, I never pick up your calls. "

" Well, we have to talk some way. "

" No we don't, I pay you on time and you leave me the fuck alone. "

" I'm your girlfriend! "

Cameron shook his head, " I pay you to be, don't forget that. "

" Cameron we need to talk, please. " Her voice now sounded softer, " Can we talk? "

" I'm headed somewhere so, no. "

" How about when you get back? we... we could fix up a__

" I don't have anything to discuss with you, if it's more money you want, I'll pay you. "

" It's not money, its__

" Then it's not important. " Cameron glanced at Danny, " Go. "

* * * * * *

Evelyn applied the only make-up she could, lipgloss. It was time to get her results, it could either go really good or really bad. To be honest, she wasn't prepared for any.

" You look beautiful! " Maya screamed as she rolled her chair over to Evelyn's location.

" Really? "

" No, you look pretty basic. "

Evelyn laughed hard, " No pressure. "

" You're hearing a result, it's not prom. " Maya muffled.

" What if I see the boss? " Evelyn whispered.

" Relax, nothing bad is gonna happen. I hope. "

" I love you too. "

Evelyn sprung to her feet, " I'm off, see you at home later? "

" Yeah, yeah, " Maya pulled her by the arm, " Just imagine yourself a few hours from now, you're in a restroom at Gu, and Danny's dick is stuck inside you, instead of your fingers for a change.

Evelyn was beyond embarrassed, " Shut up! "

Her footsteps weighed her as she journeyed to where she was called. She was hopeful, but she was also afraid. She walked into the office to see Alexa sitting on the left-hand side of the room, there was no one else in it. Evelyn became at ease as she joined Alexa. She was just about to obtain information from Alexa when a blonde-haired woman walked in, interrupting her.

* * * * * * *

" I'm Ingrid, nice to meet you guys. "

Evelyn was concerned, but she was calm.

" Nice to meet you too. "

" Nice to meet you too. "

She chorused with Alexa.

" I'm happy to tell you that you both passed the exams, you've been promoted. "

Evelyn was ecstatic, her eyes lit up immediately as her hands swung over to Alexa for a possible hug, but was rejected beautifully.

" Here you go, " Ingrid smiled as she handed them new name tags, " From tomorrow you no longer work here, higher security clearance am I right? "

" Higher salary! " Evelyn seconded.

" Higher men! " Alexa followed.

" She... she didn't mean that... " Evelyn wished she could un-hear what Alexa just said.

" Excuse me, I need to take this call. " Ingrid drifted away from them.

* * * * * * *

Evelyn couldn't contain her happiness, she had passed the exams! This was an anniversary blessing, she thought. It was surprising that only the two of them passed out of everyone, she must have narrowly passed. She glanced over to Alexa in hopes of getting feedback of matched energy but got a fuck you in return.

Ingrid returned and ushered them out of the room, Evelyn followed suit. As they made their way out of the office, Evelyn was stunned to meet a large crowd gathered at the cafeteria. The person at the center of the crowd almost made her wet herself, it was him. She got the shock of her life as soon as she spotted him, what happened to her chances of running into him? Evelyn's heart was pounding fast again, but she had to blend in.

She had to keep going, down the stairs and into the crowd. As they progressed, the crowd parted ways for them until they were in the middle. He was closing whatever little distance they had between them, Evelyn was panicking.

* * * * * * *

Cameron stopped in front of Alexa with a trenchant smile on his face.

" You are? " He asked her.

" Alexa Yue. "

" Congratulations. " Cameron welcomed her with a brief handshake.

It was like time was slowed down as he strolled over to where she stood, Evelyn, gulped in some air as Cameron stood in front of her.

* * * * * * * *

" Evelyn Parker. "

" You... you know my name. " Evelyn stuttered not realizing the first red flag.

" Yes, I've been meaning to see you again after our first meeting. "

Evelyn's gaze was tragic, he remembers her.

" You remember? " Cameron asked.

" I... I do. "

" You're fired. " His voice covered the room, " Clear your desk immediately. "