Chapter 15

Camila

"Why are we in London?" Elijah asks as we stood waiting for Josh to come and pick us up.

"Funny how you wait until we landed and are now awaiting a car, to ask me why"I say laughing lightly.

He looked at me with fearful eyes but soon blinked away all his words and thoughts.

"I see my mistake, but you practically demanded me to come with you, you made me call my pilot, on his day off"Elijah says in a tone that made me give a questionable look.

"I'll make it up to you"I shrugged just as the black limo pulled up to the curb.

The driver exited the car to open the door and once we got inside, he closed the door. I removed my coat and shook it off then handed it to Elijah, who took it without question.

Josh sat across from us with his iPad in hand and two cups, one coffee and a latte. He handed one cup to us each and a donut to me. I haven't been to London in over five months, my grandparents lived somewhere on Oxford but they died and sold the place, my Dad wanted nothing to do with it seeing as he was the only child, he just wanted the high life and mansions they built.

"Is this?" Josh asks with a smile as he motioned to Elijah.

Elijah just sat there, silently sipping his coffee and gazing out the window. The streets were illuminated by lamps and people enjoying their Saturday night out.

"The one and only, did you get to Marcel?" I ask taking his iPad from him and looking at it.

"Yeah, he's expecting us at the house"Josh replied looking at Elijah.

Josh never had luck around wealthy people, they always judged him because of his background. He would only tell them what his grandparents do for a living, Josh was actually a co-manager for one of Clair Enterprises, the manager had about four companies built in Italy, England, Beijing and Romania, my grandfather knew the owner very well,which is why I come here sometimes to see him.

"Good, Elijah, I want you to meet Joshua Basset"I say touching Elijah's shoulder.

He turned to look at Josh, who nodded his head. I watched the body language between the two and with a frustrated sigh, I rolled my eyes.

"Look, I'm married to Elijah, whether you like it or not and Josh is just my best friend, so no need for the manly banter. I am stuck with both of you per my life choices, so shake hands, exchange numbers and get along"I demand looking between them once more.

"I never had a problem with him"Josh mutters shaking Elijah's hand.

They both sit back and looked out the car windows. I could feel the tension between them, it was such a manly thing for both men in a woman's life to have a jealous rage amongst them. Elijah and I were legally bound until further notice, while Josh and I have been best friends for over ten years and more, so there was no way either of them could be jealous of the other.

The car drove through the tall black gates and up into the yard. A few security guards displayed all around, speaking to each other through earpieces and body language. It was a real treat to see sometimes.

Once we got up to the doors of the house, they were opened by the butler.

"Madam, Sirs"Hansen says with a slight nod of the head.

"Goodnight Hansen"Josh and I replied waving at him.

Elijah nods politely, his head turning to catch every glimpse of the inside of the mansion. This house a little bigger than his, he had a chandelier in the ceiling right before the staircase and this one had the chandelier over the staircase, the two way staircase that would lead up to dozens of rooms, bedrooms and playrooms, a cinema, the lots.

We were lead into the sitting room, where two guards stood dressed in all black. They both nodded at us and we returned the favor.

"What are we doing here?" Elijah asked finally, I've been waiting for him to ask me that question.

I opened my mouth to answer, but a tall man entered the room from a door by the fireplace. He was dressed in a blue robe, grey from his head to his beard. He looked like Father Christmas, except he had no big belly and he doesn't say ho ho ho.

"Camila, so wonderful to see you"Marcel says with open arms as he walked toward me.

"Marcel, you look richer every time I see you"I smile engulfed in his hug.

Marcel Clair, one of the managers at Clair Enterprises, no one had ever seen the real boss, I've heard they just take orders as they come and do as they are told. Marcel was a nice old man, standing tall enough to almost fit through most doors, which is why the doors inside his house had to be an extreme feet or two long. He was recently married, his wife was a nice woman, whom I've only spoken to or seen a few times.

"And this must be Elijah Camorra, Camila has told me quite a lot about you,Marcel Clair"Marcel says outstretching his hand.

"Is that so?" Elijah asks looking down at me in amazement.

"Lower your ego, just a tad bit"I offered, closing my index finger to my thumb.

"It's an honor to meet you Sir, I've heard nothing but great things about you"Elijah says trying to get Marcel to let go of his hand.

Marcel finally stepped back, he casted a glance at Josh and with a slight hand gesture, Josh chuckled at him. The two were used to working together so no need for introductions.

"Thank you, I hear you're trying out new projects for your own company"Marcel says taking a seat in his chair and motions for us to sit.

"Ah, yes, I should say, I never expected to be meeting you, especially not on a Saturday night, when I should be resting for my trip to Italy tomorrow"Elijah said into my ear a little too loud.

I look at him with squinted eyes before turning my attention to Marcel, who was rather more interested in our bickering.

"We both are going to Italy you dimwit, now shut up and listen, you'll thank me later"I say whilst turning my attention back to Marcel.

"Why would I be thanking you?" Elijah asks confusion etching his every being.

"Right, Camila has told me so much about your new projects and I talked to my boss, he would very much like for you to be a partner in the London and Beijing project"Marcel says flipping open a tablet.

Elijah looked at me then at Josh, he looked so lost. His father and mine have always wanted to get their hands on such an offer like this one, knowing Clair Enterprises and Industrials is now a huge deal in most countries. Clair has been building and remodeling many old buildings, new buildings and much more.

Just imagine how they'd feel knowing Elijah managed to score such a contract, they don't even get an email back. I know because I've heard them discussing it plenty times, and what better thing to do than to get in touch with the people my grandfather knew and ask for a favor.

Elijah would be making triple what his father was making, he would have unlimited resources and he would most definitely be calling all the shots. Mr. Clair was a man of many things, and a man who would turn a growing mind into something great, that he would do.

"You will have all the resources you need, plus Mr. Clair's personal phone number, his assistant's phone lines and his emails, he will be in touch with you as often as you wished to speak to him. Trust me Elijah, your father would kill for this kind of offer"Marcel mused, leaning back into his comfortable arm chair after handing his tablet to Elijah.

Elijah's eyes looked over the outlines of the contract with unsurity, he was confused and was obviously lost for words.

"But won't I be going against my father, he's in third place right after Brinx and Clair, wouldn't he be furious?" Elijah asks looking around the room at each face.

I placed my hand on his shoulder, catching his attention, he looked at me and his green eyes showed so much more than I've ever seen.

"Sometimes Elijah, you have to do what's best for you, and if signing a deal with your competitor was it, if it put you in a better position in the long wrong, do it, it's what's best for you"I tell him, patting his shoulder.

"Listen to your wife Elijah, she's a very smart girl"Marcel says lighting a cigar.

Elijah looked me in the eyes, his searching mine and then he sighed.

It was probably wrong, now turning him against his father and mine. But he got married to me for their own benefits, what he was getting out of it wasn't enough. I knew that when this was all over, they would rid him of what he worked for, because they can't stand to see someone else doing better than they did.

And plus, I knew he was up to something, what better way to get back at him than to feed him what he really needed and watch how easily he will crumble and realize that even if he did try to figure me out or hurt me in any way, I still helped him get to the top.

Sometimes it's better to feed the enemy with the food they never expected you to, be kind to the ones out to get you and watch how their mind will go into a frenzy, eventually, they will crumble to you and you will have to decide what it is you will do next.