Chapter 109: Babe

Greg made a quick stop at one of the fancy clothing boutiques near his penthouse, stepping inside with a sense of urgency. He needed to get Cammy something comfortable to wear—something untouched by the events of the night. Meanwhile, she remained in his car, her delicate figure bathed in the soft glow of the city lights filtering through the tinted windows.

She stared blankly outside, her mind adrift, lost in a storm of thoughts she couldn’t escape. The world beyond the glass moved at its usual pace—cars speeding by, people laughing on sidewalks, neon lights flickering—but inside, within the confines of the car, there was only silence.

When Greg returned, he slid into the driver’s seat and reached for her, his fingers wrapped gently around her left hand. He gave it a soft squeeze, grounding her back to him, back to the present.

"Let’s grab something for dinner," he said, his voice low, careful. "That way, we can eat right away, and after you freshen up, I’ll take you back to Dylan."

Cammy turned to him, her expression unreadable. Then, with effort, she forced a smile—small, fragile, but there. "Let’s get some burgers."

Greg studied her for a moment before his lips curled into a faint smile. He lifted her hand to his mouth, pressing a lingering kiss against her knuckles before shifting the car into gear and heading toward the nearest fast-food chain.

As he drove, his eyes flickered to her every few moments. She sat still, lost in a world he couldn’t reach. He wanted to ask what she was thinking, what emotions were tearing through her—but he hesitated. Some wounds weren’t meant to be pried open so soon.

Yet he could feel it—the weight in her heart, the unspoken pain. He wanted nothing more than to take it away, to make it disappear with a touch, a word, anything. But he knew it wouldn’t be that easy.

Healing wasn’t something that happened overnight.

But that didn’t mean he would ever stop trying.

As soon as they stepped out of the elevator and into the quiet sanctuary of his penthouse, Greg handed Cammy the paper bag with the clothes he had bought for her. His voice was gentle, careful. "Hey, do you want to eat first? The hot water’s off, and it’ll take some time to heat up after I turn it on."

Cammy glanced up at him, her lips curving into a small, almost absent smile. She gave a slight nod but didn’t speak. Instead, she extended her hands, silently asking for the burgers, fries, and drinks he was holding.

Greg hesitated, eyeing the pile she was already juggling. "You sure you can carry all that? You’ve got your clothes, your bag..."

A flicker of something—determination, maybe stubbornness—passed through her tired eyes. "Of course," she said softly. "Give me those so you can turn on the water heater."

Greg exhaled a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "Alright," he relented. "Let me fill the bathtub too, so you can relax. My en suite is the only bathroom with a tub. Start eating without me—I might take a while. I’ll grab some towels and toiletries for you."

He reached out, smoothly taking back the paper bag with her clothes before handing her their dinner. Their fingers brushed for the briefest moment—a fleeting, wordless exchange.

Then, without another word, Greg turned and disappeared into the depths of his penthouse, leaving Cammy standing there, arms full, staring at the space he had just occupied.

For the first time that night, she exhaled.

Greg rushed to the bathroom to prepare everything that Cammy would need. From the hot water, the bathtub, towels, extra toothbrush, and toiletries that he kept from his travels since he never had female visitors so that’s the closest thing he has that a woman can use.

He also lighted some scented candles in the hope that it would help Cammy relax and calm her mind. He added some bath salts and placed a couple of different bath bombs on the side of the tub–just some of the gifts that he receives from clients and employees.

He checked everything once more before joining Cammy in the dining room. He found her by the kitchen island and strode his way there right away.

"Cammy, I placed some bath–" he uttered but immediately stopped when he saw her wipe her tears while facing back.

’Shit! She’s crying again. Fuck you, Duncan! You will really pay for this!’ he thought before rushing to her.

Greg moved swiftly through his penthouse, his every action fueled by an urgency he couldn’t quite explain. He rushed into the bathroom, determined to prepare everything Cammy would need—anything that could bring her even the slightest comfort.

He turned on the hot water, letting the bathtub slowly fill as he gathered fresh towels, an extra toothbrush, and toiletries he had collected from his travels. He had never needed to keep anything specifically for a woman before—he never had female visitors. But this would have to do.

As the water continued to rise, he took it a step further. He lit a few scented candles, hoping their soft glow and delicate fragrance would help soothe her frayed nerves. Reaching for the bath salts, he poured a generous amount into the tub, watching as they dissolved into the steaming water. Then, his eyes landed on a small collection of bath bombs—gifts from clients and employees, things he had tossed aside without a second thought. Now, he carefully placed a couple by the edge of the tub, giving her options.

He surveyed the space one last time, making sure everything was perfect. It wasn’t much, but it was something. A way to show her that he cared—even if he couldn’t fix everything.

With a deep breath, he stepped out of the bathroom and made his way to the dining area, eager to check on her.

As soon as he entered, his gaze locked onto Cammy sitting by the kitchen island. She had her back to him, but the subtle movement of her shoulders gave her away.

"Cammy, I placed some bath—" He stopped mid-sentence.

She was wiping away her tears.

His heart clenched.

’Shit. She’s crying again.’

A fresh wave of rage surged through him, tightening his fists at his sides. ’Fuck you, Duncan. You’re going to pay for this. Every last bit of it.’

Shoving aside his anger, he strode toward her, closing the distance in an instant. Right now, nothing mattered more than her.

Greg forced a lighthearted smile, trying to lift the heavy air between them. He reached out, wiping her tears away with the rough pads of his fingers.

"Hey, Babe, did the burgers taste that bad? Are they so awful they made you cry?" he teased, his voice soft but laced with concern.

Cammy frowned, her watery eyes locking onto his. "What did you just call me?"

Greg tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "Babe?" A flicker of confusion crossed his face. ’Did I mess up? But... I know what I heard earlier.’

Her brows knit together, mirroring his confusion. "Why?"

Greg leaned in slightly, studying her expression. "You called me ’Baby’ earlier—when you hugged me."

Her lips parted, her gaze searching his. "I did? Are you sure?"

Greg scoffed playfully. "More than a hundred percent sure, Babe. What, are you having some kind of amnesia now?"

Cammy rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a small smile. "No, I’m not. I just... don’t remember saying that. Must’ve been a slip of the tongue."

She patted the seat next to her. "Sit and eat."

Greg obeyed, plopping down beside her. As he unwrapped his burger, he smirked. "So, does that mean it’s okay if I call you Babe?"

Cammy hesitated for a second before responding. "Uhm... okay."

Short. Simple. Almost dismissive.

Greg didn’t push. Instead, he smiled to himself and ate in silence, sneaking glances at her every now and then.

Minutes later, Cammy finished her food, wiped her lips, and stood up.

"I’m going to the bathroom," she said, her voice casual—too casual. Then, just as Greg took another bite, she added, "Can you join me in the tub after you eat?"

Greg froze.

His chewing slowed, his fingers tightening around the half-eaten burger. He turned his head toward her in stunned silence, his jaw slack.

He nodded.

"Okay, I’ll head first. See you."

She strolled toward his room without a backward glance, her figure disappearing behind the door.

Greg remained motionless, his burger forgotten. His eyes stayed glued to where she had been standing. He didn’t blink. Didn’t breathe.

What the hell just happened?

Greg’s mind reeled, trying to catch up. One second she was in front of him, radiating that quiet storm energy, and the next... gone.

No explanation. No warning. Just a look, a walk, and a door closing behind her like a damn full stop at the end of a sentence he hadn’t even started writing.

He rubbed his face with both hands, dragging them down slowly as if it would somehow help him process.

Did I miss something? Did I say something? Was that an invitation... or a goodbye?

*********

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