Chapter 11

Camila

The faint smell of alcohol lingered in the air as I sat inside the bar, awaiting Josh's return from the bathroom. I didn't plan on going out tonight, but he convinced me to the comfort of my own room, just so I could watch him flirt with girls all night.

The night was hot enough already, and the last thing I really needed was a room full of drunk people rubbing up on each other. The last time I was out at a club was seven months ago, when I first found out that I would be married off to Elijah.

It wasn't a planned night, but it did end fairly. Josh and Mira had to take me back to Josh's place just so I could sleep off everything and then they made sure to take me home in the morning. That was the first time I had ever let myself go like that, no one could ever get me to go out unless it was by force, and I've had a lot of those.

"Let's go", an arm wrapped around my waist and I was taken up from my stool.

Josh's cologne filled my senses as he held me close to him and steered us to the direction of the exit. Once we were out, he intertwined our fingers and tugged me behind him.

It was around ten in the night, normally Josh would stay out for as long as he desired but he had to get me home. He was just a few inches taller than me, surfer blonde hair and ocean blue eyes, we were just the same age, we went to school together and even though my parents forbid me to see him because of his family status, I still hung around him because he was a better human than they ever were.

Joshua Basset, he lived with his grandparents who own a surf shop, they built surfboards and skateboards, even boats. They made good smooth of money, but Josh had his ways of making his own money, legally too. My parents might think he's just a boy with a poor family status, but Josh was more than that and he was always there for me, so I never let go of him no matter what they said.

"Did you speak to Mira?" I ask while buckling my seatbelt.

"I did"he says confirming his answer with a head nod.

"Did you guys at least discuss the trip to Beijing?" I ask looking over at him.

"Did you speak to Mira?" I ask while buckling my seatbelt.

"I did"he says confirming his answer with a head nod.

"Did you guys at least discuss the trip to Beijing?" I ask looking over at him.

"We did, don't worry, we'll be fine okay, it's only for a week, they need help with the Engineering and Marketing needs Mira's final projects, if you need us just call"he replied giving me a kiss on the cheek, I smile tilting my head to look at him.

"What?" Josh asks snorting as he started to drive out of the club's driveway.

"I always wondered why we never dated"I say recalling his many jokes and my own taunts.

We both knew he had a thing for Mira, but we couldn't help but joke around about us being together one day.

"Ahh, the infamous thought"Josh says holding his index in the air and then dropping it.

He placed his finger on his lips then made a clicking sound with his tongue.

"Don't you think we'd make an excellent batch of sand babies?" I joked poking his cheek.

"I see what you did there, sand babies"he says chuckling.

We continued our banter as he drove me home, a place I could've done so much without. Elijah was away on some business trip in Thailand, my parents were there and his parents were away. I don't know where his brother has been these past days, but I bet he's up to no good wherever he is.

Just as Josh drove out of the driveway and through the tall gates, my phone made a pinging sound, followed by some more notifications.

Confused, I took it from my jacket pocket, I unlocked it to see what the whole fuss was about and I saw there was a picture of me and Josh, posted on a homepage for s magazine, The Daily Scoop, it wasn't even daytime.

Are you serious?.

A few other pictures followed, and some questions that raced my mind. Asking if I was having an affair so early in my marriage, then a few comments confirming that it was just my best friend, but you know gossip traveled in many ways.

I opened the door and walked inside the house, hearing my father's obnoxious voice, he was raging on and on about me always trying to humiliate him. It didn't even say anything about him, he just always wanted to be the center of attention, everything had to be about Nicholas Brinx.

Upon closing the door, I heard Quinn from behind me telling that Dad wanted to speak to me in the sitting room. She was so cheery about it, she always got a kick out seeing me getting hit or even just gettin g scolded for something.

"You called"I say walking into the sitting room.

My father was standing up, furious, he had a glass in his hand, I'm guessing bourbon was the feel tonight. He took a puff from his cigar and then a long sip from his glass, finishing everything in one go, he placed the glass on the coffee table and gave me angry stares. Just what I needed to end the night.

"Well, a pleasant morning to you too"Elijah says taking a seat by the pool.

I was standing on one foot, the other one propped up to better keep my balance. It was around six or so in the morning, I had woken up because Mira and Josh we're leaving for Beijing at exactly 4:00 a.m, they had some important work to do there and I knew a free helicopter pilot who could take them.

Instead of going back to bed, I brushed my teeth, journaled and then came out back for my morning meditation.

"Hello"I acknowledged closing my eyes to ignore him.

"And how are we this morning?" Elijah asks, I opened one to peak at him, he stood up and I closed my eye to ignore him again.

"Well rested, I would appreciate it if you stopped staring at me"I say clasping my hands and bringing them to my chest.

I could feel Elijah's intense stare, burning into my face. I haven't seen him in two days, and he just decided to come and intrude in my morning routine.

Opening my eyes, I sighed and put my foot down, I put my hands on my hips and looked up at him.

"Aren't you happy to see me?" he asks with a pout.

I stepped closer to him, I noticed he was completely shirtless. Just standing there in sweatpants, his blue orbs boring into my green ones. We stood there staring at each other for a few seconds, I had nothing to say and he was awaiting and answer.

Was I happy to see him?.

I don't know.

I didn't grow too attached to him in the past few weeks, so him not being here wasn't a total loss.

"Let's see, my supposed husband left me alone for days to go on some mysterious escapade"I say taking a deep breath, for a few seconds my eyes searched his and then I looked away.

I cannot fall into his beautiful green eyes, I cannot allow the devil to win this game.

Elijah placed his index finger under my chin and moved my face up to look at him. He opened his mouth to say something but his eyes caught something on my cheek.

"What happened?" he asks turning my face enough to get a better look.

I was about to tell him that it was nothing, but someone walked out, interrupting our little moment, not that I'd count it as anything special.

"Eli, when did you....get back?" Emilio asks, slowing down in his tracks as his eyes caught sight of us.

We both looked in his direction, he had a very surprised expression displayed on his face. I stepped back a little, not realizing how close I was go the edge and slipped.

A gasp left my mouth, I expected to fall into the pool but Elijah wrapped his arms around me, spun us around and I fell back, pulling him down on top of me.

"Oh this is just adorable"Emilio says letting out a laugh.

"Are you okay?" Elijah asks looking down at me.

Again, my words were cut off by Quinn.

"You little skank"Quinn says squinting her eyes and making a wretched face.

Better not scowl too much and ruin that million dollar face work.

"I'm fine"I finally get out, Elijah got up and helped me up, our eyes settling in Quinn.

"Let's go"Elijah says placing his hand on my back and steering in the direction of the house.

"Where are we going?" I ask looking up at him.

"Breakfast, I asked Chef to prepare something for you, then we're going out"he replied without even sparing me a glance.

Lunch, with Elijah Camorra, I've had many lunches and dinners with him on our trip, but I wonder how much a headache he was now.