I'm Engaged

Garrison clapped his hands together again, his wide grin growing. "Camilla, you won't believe this, but Desmond gave us the go-ahead for the interview."

Camilla's face twisted in surprise. She stared at her boss, her skepticism kicking in. She tried to make sense of the sudden turn of events. "Seriously? Desmond himself said yes?"

"He sure did," Garrison confirmed, patting her shoulder. "Mr. Vance is waiting in the meeting room right now. And get this—he requested you to conduct the interview."

Camilla blinked, trying to process the sudden shift.

Garrison leaned in closer, dropping his voice to a whisper. "If you nail this, there’s a three-thousand-dollar performance bonus waiting for you at the end of the month."

Three thousand dollars. That was a massive lifeline for her, a sum that could solve so many of her current problems. Financially strained and desperate, Camilla could not turn it down. She tightened her grip on the printed questions and the clipboard. She took a deep breath, straightened her spine, and walked toward the glass-walled office.

The heavy glass door opened smoothly. Desmond was already sitting on the plush leather sofa. He looked imposing, at ease in his tailored suit, radiating power.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Vance," Camilla said. She kept her posture straight and her voice professional, determined to keep a clear boundary between their complicated past and this business meeting.

"Ms. Stanton," Desmond replied. His deep voice was smooth, and a teasing sparkle danced in his dark eyes.

For a brief second, the air between them grew quiet. Camilla found herself distracted by his sharp, handsome features. He was the most attractive man she had ever seen. But the Vanguard Media cameraman let out a polite cough, breaking the spell. Camilla snapped back to reality.

She sat down on the opposite end of the sofa, making sure to put physical distance between them. She wanted to keep this recording as quick and direct as possible.

"Mr. Vance, what prompted you to agree to this interview with us?" Camilla asked, her voice steady as she looked briefly at the camera before turning her eyes to him.

Desmond narrowed his eyes, studying her calm facade. "To be honest, I was just bored," he said, shrugging.

Camilla’s lips pressed into a thin line. She knew what his claim of boredom really meant. It was a petty jab, a sign of his resentment about being left waiting at the hospital the day before. Still, she swallowed her anger and let it slide.

She flipped the page on her clipboard. "What inspired you to start your own company?"

Desmond shifted his weight, locking his gaze onto hers. He spoke slowly, emphasizing every word. "Because someone showed me that a man needs serious cash to feel confident talking to her."

The personal dig hung heavily in the room. Camilla felt the sting of his words, but she refused to let him see it. She kept her face expressionless.

"You seem to have everything under control, Mr. Vance, especially for being Oakhaven's youngest billionaire," Camilla said, smoothly steering the conversation back to a professional track. A touch of genuine respect colored her tone.

"There's always more to do," Desmond replied. His piercing eyes never left her face, ignoring the cameraman taping them.

"Everyone knows your mother raised you," Camilla continued, her voice softening slightly for the personal question. "What are her thoughts on your career?"

"She supports me, but she stays out of my work," he said, relaxing back against the leather cushions.

*She stays out of your work, but what about your personal life?* Camilla thought. An internal eyeroll accompanied the memory of his overbearing mother. She felt a wave of relief that their divorce had finally freed her from those constant family arguments and maternal interference.

She looked down at her notes, moving to the final, mandatory question. She kept her voice polished and detached. "One last question: Are you dating anyone?"

Desmond’s gaze darkened. He stared at her, searching her face for any sign of jealousy, hurt, or curiosity.

Camilla kept her perfect poker face. She gave him nothing, her expression as still as stone.

Seeing her lack of reaction, Desmond’s expression turned cold and serious. He leaned forward, looking her straight in the eye, and delivered his answer clearly for the camera.

"I'm engaged, actually."