CHAPTER 50 Defence

　　Camila's pulse quickened as the murmurs of the crowd hushed to a whisper. The room, thick with anticipation, made her feel as if she were standing at the edge of a precipice, the world tilting beneath her heels. Then, like a scene from an old Hollywood film, the grand doors at the end of the hall burst open, spilling forth a cascade of light that sliced through the dimness of the auditorium.

　　She shielded her eyes for a moment, and when her vision adjusted, there he was- Travis Turner, stepping confidently from the halo of brightness into reality. His tailored suit hugged his athletic frame, the sharp lines of it cutting a stark contrast against the soft glow behind him.

　　"Is this really happening?" Camila muttered under her breath, more to steady herself than to seek an answer.