sweet instigator

four.

"Liz, I swear to god." Madeleine groaned into her phone. She was crossing the street as she almost cursed at her best friend, glancing left and right to make sure no one ran her over as she hastily ran through the drizzle.

She had a bag underneath her arm, holding a pastry she had been looking forward to all week. During her lunch break, she hurried over to the bakery to treat herself to it and she'd divulge in the glazed donut with a hot coffee this afternoon to end the week of work.

"What?" Liz sounded innocent. Maddie rolled her eyes as she used her badge to enter the office building again, "You're telling me you had no idea he'd be there? That's a load of bullshit."

Liz exhaled, "Look, Micah might've mentioned it. But we just feel like you two could really hit it off if you gave him a chance."

Madeleine couldn't believe the subject of Cameron was still so present, even weeks after she went on the forced date to realize he was the guy who lied about his name and occupation to get in her pants and impress her.

Madeleine and Cameron made a deal that night. She'd keep his secret and just do the date, but that'd be it. They'd tell their friends they weren't interested and they both hoped that'd be it. But apparently, that was not just it.

Liz and Micah couldn't take a hint and they couldn't let it go.

Madeleine opened a few doors, smiling at co-workers and ignoring the sounds of ringing telephones and printers running as she headed to her shared office space, "Didn't Cameron also tell you guys that he's not over his ex and that he's not interested?" She mused out loud, "Sounds like both of us want you guys to fucking drop it."

Liz was silent and she knew Maddie was right. Because yesterday after work, Liz invited Maddie out to grab a drink and chat and they happened to head right into the bar where Micah was grabbing a beer with Cameron.

Madeleine had glared at Liz, who tried to play it off as the biggest coincidence known to mankind. Madeleine had rolled her eyes before sitting down at the table against her will, forcing a small smile at Cameron who seemed just as confused as her to be sitting there.

What followed was about thirty minutes of Liz and Micah attempting to set Maddie and Cameron up. They took toilet breaks together to leave them alone at the table and even urged both of them to go for a smoke outside. Madeleine refused a cigarette for probably the first time in her life.

Her wine wasn't even finished when she could no longer bear to sit at the table and look at Cameron. All she could remember were his eyes when he fingered her to an orgasm on that fucking dining table. She shuddered in disgust at the memory and announced that she was leaving, running out of the bar without a second thought.

"He said he thinks you're hot." Liz mumbled and Madeleine rolled her eyes, "And to you that means he wants to marry me? Jesus Christ, Liz..." She exhaled, rubbing her forehead as she pulled back her desk chair to take her usual spot.

James - her co-worker - was subtly listening in on the conversation while typing away at his computer as Madeleine took a breath, "I need you both to let this go. Don't set me up. I'm not interested in him or in anyone else at the moment." She knew her tone sounded more snarky than she had intended to, and apparently Liz did finally get the hint, "Fine." She breathed, "Sorry."

Maddie bit her lip and closed her eyes for a second, "I have to go, I'll talk to you later."

Liz didn't say anything anymore and the call ended. Maddie felt overcome with guilt the second her screen turned black again and nibbled her lip, flicking her eyes shortly up to James who had his brows up.