Chapter 13

Elijah

"You don't strike me as a very idiotic person"Camila says while bringing the fork up to her lips.

Her eyes weighing into mine, she spoke with so much confidence and her sentences were always structured, no matter the sarcasm or the backlash.

"Is that so?" I ask now intrigued in whatever she had to say.

"Charming, I'd admit, but idiotic, no"she says shaking her head vigorously.

After our lunch yesterday, I decided to take her out to dinner. There was something about the way she talked yesterday, Camila always spoke in smart syllables and smart sentences, but never had I witnessed her being coy.

She spoke as if she was giving a mouse to a cat, toying with it to see how long it would take the cat to catch it. And surprisingly, I was more interested in getting to know Camila Brinx, and what made her the very charming person she was now.

I've met plenty of 19 year old girls, in rich homes, with money to waste. They were never always wreck less, but I had yet to find one as beautifully carved as Camila. She was smart, calm and never seemed to even care about the outside world that much, she was the only person inside her bubble and as far as I can see, she never allowed anyone to get inside it.

Emilio has tried many times to charm her, he flirted but it would only backfire, he tried getting her attention, which he would get for merely five seconds or less, she never showed interest in anything he tried with her.

Matter of fact, I've never seen her passionate about anything other than meditating and her 4:30 p.m meals, she was a remarkable subject, something like a Frankenstein test subject.

"You find me charming?" I ask leaning back into my chair and admiring her.

"You're not all that bad looking, although you could use a light trim"she replied indicating a scissor with her fingers, right on her forehead.

"Never had the time, would you care to?" I ask suggestively, her eyes watched me, sure enough to notice a joking tone.

"I could, no harm trimming a pup, I could use the charity"Camila says lifting her glass to her lips and sipping her champagne.

My lips part in amazement, I don't know if it's the fact that she referred to me as an animal, or the way she referred, she said is so swiftly and smoothly, leaving only room for amazement.

Now I'm not so sure who was playing with who, I was only doing what my father wanted, but now that I was apparently caught up in Camila's being, I wanted to know more. Something inside me craved more, I needed to at least find out more about her, apart from the model shots, the smiles and the smirks, her witty charm, there was more to her and I wanted to find out every inch.

"You just referred to me as an animal"I say watching her gaze lift from her wrist watch and to my eyes.

The dull brown eyes, holding me captive for the few seconds until she blinked and smiled.

"I referred, you took it upon yourself to accept it"she said whilst tilting her head and cocking her eyebrow.

My eyes widened in shock at her remark, I kept my eyes glued to my plate, trying my best to not look her in the eyes. That's what I'm trying to figure out, how can she possess all these attributes, being so calm and collected, replying with words I've heard but the way she spoke them, gave them a whole new meaning.

"Camila, can I ask you a question?" I ask finally letting my eyes settle on her face.

Her high cheek bones, perfectly sculpted, raised in a small smile, granting me the privilege to ask the question. Her curly brunette hair was cascading passed her shoulders as her eyes lifted up to look at me, a glimpse of mischief and coyness playing a role in the green orbs. She was in fact a beautiful young lady, in many ways than one.

"Your father, why does he act that way toward you?" I ask careful enough to not offend her.

Camila's eyes became duller, her smile faded and a look of pain stretched across her face. And just as I was about to tell her she didn't have to answer, she smiled and the familiar dullness returned to her eyes.

"My father, he is a man of many things, but a father, he has never been, I hope that answers your question"she replied nodding her head curtly.

I understood what she meant, Nick always cowered Camila down, I've seen it happen plenty of times over the years and my mother always spoke about it. But somehow, in articles and on social media, they were always portrayed as the perfect family, the perfect daughters and parents, just as my family was seen. But what goes on behind closed doors, no one seems to know and it will always be that way.

I've heard Camila getting physically abused by both parents, I have been able to stop a few attempts but I am not always around.

My father was a man of many faults, but he would never put his hands on my mother and would never dare to touch me nor my brother. He was a vicious and aggressive man, but he always made sure to keep himself in line.

"What about you?" Camila asks adjusting herself on her seat.

"Me?" I ask looking at her with confused eyes.

"Yes, former billionaire bachelor, how does it feel to be legally bound to a woman you know nothing about?" she asked with a pouty face causing me to smile and raise an eyebrow.

"Don't you feel flattered to have tied down the former billionaire bachelor, legally, we can do whatever we want"I remind while letting a longing smile linger on my face.

Camila's expression changed, her eyes dilated and she licked her lips. Her eyes raked over me and with a smirk, she made a flirtatious look evident on her once innocently proven face.

"As appealing as that may sound Mr. Camorra, I had no intentions of tying down a bachelor, let alone a man of your culture", that was her only answer and I was left speechless.

Again with the smart insults, she really has her work cut out for her. Whatever game was being played, she wasn't a pawn, she wasn't bait, she was way more valuable and I could see it, she knew she had power and she was taking it, using it to her best advantage.

There was something about the way she carried herself, the way she spoke. I don't think I should fear anything else, but the young woman sitting across from me, fork in hand, fiddling between her fingers and her eyes not leaving mine, she blinked ever so gracefully. She wasn't just toying with me, she was playing along, and one of us will end up losing this game.