Chapter 7

"Sorry, let me answer this call quickly," Dakota said apologetically to Cameron. "Alright," Cameron smiled.

Dakota answered the call. Madison's voice rang out. "What took you so long?"

"Huh? Did you call earlier?" Dakota asked, surprised. "Yeah, several times."

Dakota checked her call history; she had several missed calls from Madison. "Sorry, I must have been busy and forgot," she said apologetically.

"I knew you were busy with work." "How did you know?" "Don't I know you best? Have you finished?" "Mhm. What's up, Maddy?"

"Oh, nothing much. I just wanted to let you know I got a divorce," Madison replied. "Divorce? Why, all of a sudden?" "Ugh. I was blind to get together with that man. I treated him so well, yet he cheated on me—in spirit!" "Cheated in spirit?" "This is what happened" Madison explained the fake love letters, claiming Cameron had used her resources and demanded a million dollars a month in allowance. She divorced him because she'd had enough.

Dakota cried angrily, "That guy is terrible!" (She didn't know the truth.)

"Forget it. It's in the past. I just wanted to vent. Anyway, I've gotten something good—Mr. Price." "Then I must congratulate you," Dakota said.

"By the way, do you remember the pink hair bow we bought as kids?" "Of course. Why?" "I felt nostalgic seeing mine today. It's a token of our friendship!" "That it is. I've kept mine, too!" Dakota said, feeling guilty. (She had lost hers.) She hadn't told Madison because she was afraid of her reaction.

Madison's worries disappeared. It seemed Cameron hadn't cheated with her best friend. She trusted Dakota; Dakota wouldn't be interested in someone like Cameron anyway.

"That's all I wanted to talk about. I won't bother you further." "Alright, Maddy. Don't be sad, okay? I'll always be by your side," Dakota said encouragingly. "Okay." Madison hung up.

Cameron's heart sank. They had mentioned the hair bow! Dakota Jennings was the girl he'd met fifteen years ago! He trembled with emotion.

"Are you okay?" Dakota asked, surprised by his excitement. "I'm fine I just recalled something. Was that your friend?" "Mhm. My best friend. She just got divorced," Dakota said openly. "Divorced?" Cameron feigned ignorance.

"Yeah. That man was so mean!" Dakota was still angry. "Hm" Cameron's mouth twitched. "How mean?"

Dakota told Cameron everything Madison had said. She grew angrier as she spoke. "Who knew a bastard like him existed? He leeched off her and cheated on her—in spirit!" "Heh, yeah" Cameron responded awkwardly. (Could he tell her he was the "bastard"?) Madison had clearly slandered him. The love letters might have been a misunderstanding, but the million-dollar allowance claim was a lie. Madison had likely slandered him to hide her own infidelity. Dakota was oblivious. Looking at Cameron, she said, "You agree? If I met a man like that, I'd be sure to in his sleep."

"Be sure to what?" Cameron asked uneasily. Dakota mimed a snipping motion. "Heh no need to be that violent, right?" Cameron asked, feeling a chill.

Dakota said awkwardly, "Well I wouldn't actually. I was just angry. If only all men were like you." "Oh, really" Cameron chuckled nervously. "Why, of course!" Dakota said proudly, thinking he was being humble. "By the way, I still don't know your name. Maddy's call interrupted us."

"Hm, well call me Mr. Morgan for now." Cameron decided not to reveal his identity.

"You're funny," Dakota said, grinning. She felt he was different from other men. "Then I'll call you Mr. Morgan."

They chatted until her father called. At the cafe door, she said longingly, "This is my contact, Mr. Morgan. I enjoyed our time. Let's meet again soon." "Me too. Until next time." Cameron smiled warmly. "I'll be off then," Dakota said, driving off in her BMW 320i.

Cameron watched her go. She was positive and righteous. He wasn't sure how she'd react to the truth. Hopefully she wouldn't actually

He shook his head, smiling faintly. This misunderstanding would be resolved eventually. First, he needed to return to the villa for the hair bow. If it wasn't Madison's, she didn't deserve it.

The unnecessary website promotion has been removed. The parentheses added clarify the narrator's insights into the characters' thoughts and the actual events.