Chapter 143: Chapter 143

Maybe she was just being paranoid lately, but Camille couldn’t shake the feeling that she was being followed.

It was as if someone’s eyes were always boring into her back.

But whenever she turned around to catch the culprit, there was no one there.

Even when she was in the company, she couldn’t help but feel like she was being watched.

Despite this, Camille tried to keep up with the events of Joanna’s case. Unfortunately, the investigation was still ongoing, and the police now had their hands full with Hank’s mysterious death.

For now, they suspected it to be a suicide, but there were a few details that suggested foul play. After all, in high profile cases, the culprits would sometimes die ‘mysterious’ deaths in their cells, especially if they were a key witness in a trial.

But dead men tell no tales. The police couldn’t possibly question a dead man, so they had to make do with what they had.

That is, if Christian left any trace of evidence.

It was hard to believe that he’d be so careless, so Camille didn’t expect much from the investigation, anyway.

The only good news was that Michael was eventually found innocent. Thanks to the testimony that resulted from the multiple interrogations, it was proven that he had nothing to do with the accident or even Hank’s death.

But as for Grady, he was still not off the hook.

Even if he didn’t cause the accident himself, he was still held partly accountable for the tampering with Joanna’s car which caused her brakes to fail. The fact remained that he had allowed Hank to do all this in front of his own eyes. That was still a crime.

But the detectives were lenient with him because he was apparently being blackmailed and threatened by someone he couldn’t identify. Hank was actually the messenger, and Grady claimed that the threat was credible and very real.

However, Grady was also under suspicion of being involved in Hank’s mysterious death. It wasn’t looking good for him right now, and Camille couldn’t help but feel worried.

In the articles, the detectives assured the public that they would do everything in their power to solve the case as quickly as possible.

‘I think another investigator was in charge of Grady’s case, if I remember correctly,’ Camille thought absently as she looked through the documents on her desk. ‘I can’t believe this is happening to him. He was so kind to me, and I can’t even go visit him at the station, otherwise Christian might have my head.’

Since Michael’s last message to her, he had not texted her again.

It was hard to figure out her feelings about this. On one hand, she was glad that he trusted the information she had given him. She had done it regardless of the risks, as long as Michael would be found innocent.

However, she also felt an immense amount of guilt and sadness.

Oh, how she wished she could talk to him about everything. Whenever she thought about Michael, she felt resentment towards herself. This helpless, oppressive feeling was too familiar to her at this point.

Looking down, Camille gazed at the documents on her desk. They were about the joint project with Haynes-McGregor Industries, the one she was working on with Grady. Christian had given her the green light for the project, so she continued working on it despite Grady’s absence.

But whenever she thought about the older man, her heart sank to her stomach. Grady was being framed, but there was nothing she could do about it, and it was frustrating.

If she told Michael, then what? Grady was indeed a victim of coercion and blackmail, but she had no proof of that. Besides, Christian had already warned her not to say a word to anyone.

Camille let out a ragged sigh. She needed a plan. She couldn’t let it end like this.

But how could she make a strategy when her opponent was already a few steps away from checkmate?

***

With Joanna McGregor’s case coming to a temporary standstill due to a lack of evidence, two weeks passed like a whirlwind.

The industry gala, on the other hand, went off as planned.

Camille arrived at the venue, her heart pounding as she reluctantly held Christian’s arm. It was annoying, but she had to tolerate his presence for today.

It was difficult to touch this man who had so much blood on his hands yet he didn’t bother to wipe them off. She could see the blood, but she was forced to pretend that it wasn’t there.

The interior of the venue was grandiose. Elite figures and celebrities filled the hall, the air holding the scent of expensive perfume and delicious aroma coming from the food.

When Christian and Camille entered, it was as if their presence commanded the room. The guests turned to look at them, whispers among themselves excitedly.

Camille felt uncomfortable and a little self-conscious at the attention. She wasn’t a stranger to the stares and whispers. She already got used to them back at the company.

But tonight, she was dressed in an expensive black formal gown that hugged her curves, and she also had to wear a lot of jewelry to complete the look. Christian, on the other hand, was dressed in an elegant black suit that showed off his frame and brought out the magnetism in his features.

She hated to admit it, but he looked handsome. She couldn’t blame the women in the surroundings who couldn’t keep their eyes off of him. Maybe if she were a normal girl, she would’ve gaped at his stunning appearance like everyone else did.

Fortunately, Christian didn’t stay by her side for long. He excused himself shortly after they entered the hall to greet the top executives at a table nearby, leaving her alone for a moment.

Camille stood there, waiting. But at that moment, a group of young ladies quickly grabbed that opportunity to surround her.

She looked at them in mild surprise, not expecting to be crowded this soon. As she gazed at each of their faces, she could tell that they were daughters of prominent families. They had polite smiles on their faces as they regarded her, but their eyes were filled with concealed envy.

“Congratulations on your engagement to Mr. Callahan,” one of the ladies said, holding a wine glass. She was a pretty woman with curly brown hair, green eyes, and long lashes. “You’re Camille Parker, right? His secretary?”

She said the word ‘secretary’ as if it were a lowly term, one that she could trample on with ease. All the while, her voice remained polite and girlish.

Camille smiled. “Yes, that’s me. Thank you for your well wishes, Ms. Candlebury. I sincerely appreciate it.”

Camille knew this woman quite well. She was Miranda Candlebury, the youngest daughter of business tycoon George Candlebury, though she was more notorious for being a serial dater.

Well, this was going to be a troublesome bunch to handle.

“Catching Christian Callahan himself must be no small feat!” Miranda exclaimed with a growing grin. She was trying to provoke her, Camille knew.

However, before she could respond, two more young ladies chimed in to the conversation.

“Yes, indeed! You must tell us your secrets! How did you hook him in?”

“After all, you don’t look like you fit his high standards. Oh, no offense!”

They then burst into giggles.

Camille continued to smile, keeping her composure. “No offense taken,” she said pleasantly. “Christian is a wonderful man. I am very lucky to have him.”

Little did they know how much she wanted to throw up after saying those words.

“Lucky?” said the third lady with a laugh. She was a voluptuous woman with long black hair and brown eyes, whom Camille recognized as Betty Collins. Her father owned a company that specialized in trade and shipping. “You must have some serious skills to keep someone like Mr. Callahan interested in you! I don’t think luck is the only factor.”

“I agree with that,” a voice suddenly interjected, making Camille stiffen slightly in place.