Chapter Fifteen

Third Person POV.

Camila sat at the bar, her fingers gripping her glass as she drank away her anger and frustration.

The dim lighting and the soft murmur of conversations around her did little to soothe her resentment, and she still couldn't believe Gabriel had the audacity to cancel their usual appointment to hang out with a girl who wasn't even his real girlfriend.

She swirled the amber liquid in her glass, the ice clinking softly, as she tried to wrap her mind around what had come over Gabriel.

Gabriel, who had always prided himself on his disdain for relationships, especially with models, Gabriel, who had made it clear, found the entire modeling industry superficial and distasteful.

Gabriel, who had never shown any genuine interest in anyone beyond what was necessary for his business deals, And yet, here he was, paying a model to be his fake girlfriend, and worse, acting like he was genuinely attached to her.

Camila took another sip; the burn of the alcohol was a welcome distraction. It was infuriating. She had known Gabriel for years and had shared countless hours with him, and for this reason, she had always thought she understood him, knew his likes and dislikes, and knew everything there was to know about him.

But now, watching him with Antonia, she was starting to question everything.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of someone approaching. She sighed, already preparing to fend off another unwanted advance.

Without turning around, she spoke up, her voice laced with irritation. "Look, I'm not in the mood to be bothered. Find someone else to annoy."

"Well, that's quite the welcome," a familiar voice replied.

Camila froze, her glass halfway to her lips. She turned slowly, her eyes widening as she recognized the man standing behind her. It was Gerald Wilson, the firstborn son of the Wilson family and Gabriel's half-brother from his father's first wife.

"Gerald," she said, her voice a mix of surprise and confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Gerald took the seat next to her, signaling to the bartender for a drink. "I could ask you the same thing, Camila. It's not often I see you in such a state."

She narrowed her eyes, her guard up. "What do you want, Gerald?"

He chuckled softly, taking a sip of his drink when it arrived. "I just came to talk. You seemed like you could use some company."

Camila scoffed, turning back to her drink. "I'm not in the mood for company. Especially not from you."

Camila knew it was no longer wise to be here, especially with Gerald, of all people, since Gerald, Gabriel's half-brother and lifelong rival, was trouble incarnate. As Gabriel's assistant, she knew better than to be seen with him.

Their enmity was well known, and aligning herself with Gerald could spell disaster for her career and personal life.

Gerald was still seated beside her, studying her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. His piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through her, and the smug smile on his face only fueled her irritation.

She took another sip of her drink, hoping it would dull the edge of her frustration.

"Camila," Gerald finally said, breaking the silence. "You look like you've had a rough day. Care to share what's going on?"

She glared at him, her eyes narrowing. "Leave me alone, Gerald. Mind your own business."

He chuckled, the sound rich and infuriating. "Come now; don't be like that. We're both here; we might as well talk. It's not like you have anyone else to vent to, considering the company you keep."

Camila's grip tightened on her glass. "I don't need your sympathy or your company. Just go away."

Gerald ignored her request, leaning back in his seat. "Let me guess. Your bad mood has something to do with Gabriel's supposed girlfriend, doesn't it?"

Camila's eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by his accurate guess. She quickly masked her surprise. "Why would anything wrong with me have to do with another woman, especially Gabriel's girlfriend?"

Gerald laughed with a low, mocking sound. "Oh, come on, Camila. It's obvious. You're in love with Gabriel, and you're jealous of his new relationship. It's written all over your face."

She bristled at his words, hating how easily he seemed to read her. "You don't know what you're talking about. My feelings for Gabriel, if I even have any, are none of your business."

Gerald's smile widened. "Touchy, touchy. But your denial only confirms what I already know. You're not as good at hiding your emotions as you think."

Camila felt a surge of anger, but she forced herself to stay calm. Getting into a confrontation with Gerald would only make things worse. "Think whatever you want, Gerald. It doesn't change anything."

"I have a way to get Antonia out of Gabriel's life for good," Gerald said. "Once she's out of the picture, Gabriel can go back to focusing on you and you alone."

Camila's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Gerald," she said, "how exactly do you plan to get rid of someone that Gabriel seems so attached to? It's not like he's going to drop Antonia just because you tell him to."

Gerald chuckled. "Camila, you underestimate me and overestimate my little brother. Gabriel would never put his reputation on the line for a woman. And I have the perfect leverage to make him end things with her."

Intrigued despite herself, Camila raised an eyebrow. "Leverage? What are you talking about?"

With a smug smile, Gerald leaned forward, lowering his voice. "I have a video. A video that would ruin Antonia's reputation beyond repair, and if Gabriel values his own standing in society, which I know he does, he'll have no choice but to cut ties with her."

Camila's eyes widened slightly, realizing that Gerald was not joking. "You're serious. What kind of video?"

Gerald's smile widened. "One that shows Antonia in a compromising position. It's not exactly illegal, but it's enough to destroy her image and make Gabriel reconsider his association with her."

She leaned back, crossing her arms, as she scrutinized him. "And what do you get out of this, Gerald? What do you gain from helping me get rid of Antonia?"

Gerald's expression turned calculating, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "It's quite simple, really. I need Gabriel to lose favor with our father and, to some extent, the public. In exchange for helping you, I achieve my goal of weakening Gabriel's position in the family and in society."

Camila stared at him, her mind racing. She knew Gerald's offer was dangerous, but the prospect of removing Antonia from Gabriel's life was tempting.

"Without Antonia in the picture," Gerald added smoothly, "Gabriel's attention will naturally shift back to you, and he'll realize once again how he needs no one else. You'll have him all to yourself, and I'll have the satisfaction of seeing him falter. Easy, right?"