Chapter 23 Àlvaro's Pov
I got home at one in the morning, physically exhausted. I went through every little detail, scenario and threat that could go wrong when going for Sergei but if anyone is going to help me, then it would be Anthonio.
As I shut the front door behind me, my eyes gravitated towards the kitchen where I could clearly see the patio door open. I clenched my jaw. Who is out there by this time?
I shrugged off my jacket and proceeded to the patio. I exhaled a breath when I realised that it's Cami, her hands rested against the bannister as she looked out the simmering lake, wearing a tiny blue dress.
Her skin is flushed pink from the coldness of the night and I could see her breath in the air.
“Why aren't you in bed?” I asked and she shrieked in fear, only just now noticing my presence.
“I can't sleep.” She replied when she managed to calm herself.
“Come inside. It's cold.”
As if my words reminded her just how cold it was, she wrapped her little arms around herself, protecting her skin from the chilly breeze but those little hands won't do much especially compared to what she was wearing.
She scoffed. “Oh so now you care about me?”
My jaw tensed and my nostrils flared as I approached her to study her expression. She's back to feeling normal I see. Insufferable as ever and it drives me fucking insane. “You know what? If you want to commit suicide by freezing yourself to death, then go right ahead.” I spat out as I turned around and walked out of the patio back into the kitchen. When I paused by my jacket to retrieve my phone from my pocket, I noticed that Camilla was still standing outside. I wanted to walk away but something inside me won't let me.
I glared over at the patio door that was still wide open. I could still see the corner of Camilla’s silk dress flapping in the wind. It's beyond freezing outside and she was only wearing a skimpy excuse for a nightwear.
Go to bed, Àlvaro. Go to your fucking room. I shouted at myself but I still didn't move.
“Fucking insufferable woman.” I mumbled under my breath.
The wind whipped through the air like a mini hurricane and I groaned to myself. I walked back out the patio, watching as her hair flew against the wind. “Come inside, Camilla.”
Camilla turned back to me, surprised by my reappearance. Her hand draped across the wooden bannister and I leaned forward to grab her hand, tugging her into the warmth of the house. I expected her to say something. To protest like she'd normally do but she said nothing. She just allowed me to bring her inside.
Once we were in the kitchen and the patio door shut. I turned to her aggressively only to be taken aback by how pretty she was with her hair so messy from the wind.
My fingers raised out of a mind of their own and I pushed a few strands behind her ear, her skin radiating the coldness into my hands.
I dropped my hand to her cheek gently and my hand almost froze at the temperature of her skin. “You're freezing, chica.”
“Why do you call me that?” She asked suddenly, tilting her head into my hand further.
“Because I can and I want to.” I whispered deeply as I dropped my face closer to her.
Her eyes fluttered shut as if she had to close her eyes to enjoy the intensity of my voice. Her throat clenched and her lips parted slightly. “I should go to bed.”
“Yes, you should.” I lowered my face even more, pressing my forehead against hers. “Just not in my room anymore.”
“You really are a fucking—”
I didn't let her finish her obvious insults before crashing my lips down on hers. She exhaled loudly, the fight instantly seeping away from her as her fingers slid up my shirt and over my biceps.
I clutched her tighter and angled her head so that I could claim her lips better between mine and listening as she whimpered when I brushed my tongue against hers.
My cock throbbed inside my pants when she eased into my touch. She tasted so damn good and I'd love to eat her sweet little pussy against this counter like a starved man.
I walked her backwards and her spine hit the edge of the counter but when she attempted to stabilize herself, a loud noise echoed through the house and I jumped, opening my eyes to find the fruit bowl crashed on the ground. Camilla’s hand must've hit it as she was trying to stabilize herself.
“Shit.” She cursed under her breath.
Santiago came rushing down, gun in hand but when he noticed that it was just us, he dropped his gun to his side and exhaled.
“What the fuck?”
“Sorry.” Camilla rasped, clearing her throat. “I ran into the counter and the fruit bowl dropped.”
Santiago furrowed his brow, not believing a word she said.
Camilla bowed her head as she hurriedly upstairs.
“Camilla.” I called and she stopped, turning to look at me down the stairs. “Not my room.” I reminded her.
Without a word to me, she turned back and walked off.
“What was that, man? If you want the girl that bad, just fuck her already.” Santiago grumbled.
“I'm fucking exhausted right now. I'll let you know how the meeting with Anthonio played out tomorrow.” I said, immediately changing the subject.
“Sure boss.” He replied as I walked past him and upstairs to my bed for a much needed sleep.
Even if my cock is still throbbing inside my pants.
Camilla’s Pov
A day after he practically threw me out of his room in such a humiliating manner, here he was, standing at my door with a gown bag that he just threw at me.
Asshole!
“Shower.” He growled. “We're going out in a few hours. I'll send in some ladies to help you get ready.”
Ladies? What the fuck?
I could get ready on my own even though I didn't know where exactly he was taking me.
I didn't get a chance to tell him that though because he was out of the room before I could say anything.
Which was just as well because I couldn't make myself up to save my life.
I shook my head and opened the gown bag. It revealed a tight spaghetti strapped red dress that was low cut and had the entire back cut out.
It was….revealing and absolutely gorgeous!
I showered, lathering myself in expensive looking soaps and washes. I wanted to smell like lavender and sea breeze but what I failed to understand was how does one capture the scent of breeze? Do you, like, take a jar and run down to the beach and start trying to catch the breeze?
I shook my head at the ridiculous thought. I got out of the shower and pulled my hair into a wet ponytail.
Just then, there was a heavy knock on the door. I walked tentatively towards the door. I knew it wasn't Àlvaro because he wasn't in the habit of knocking. Santiago was my next guess but ever since the dreadful incident with the intruder, I've been moving with a bit more caution.
I slowly unlocked the door to see two women. They held cases of makeup and hair products.
Brushes, combs, perfume and hairspray lined the inside of the clear cases.
One woman was big and burly looking with dark hair pulled harshly into a tight knot. The other was a soft and shy looking woman with light hair and a soft complexion.
“Miss Andrews?” The burly looking woman said.
I almost didn't respond considering that wasn't my last name but for some reason unknown to me, Àlvaro was still trying to keep my identity a secret.
“Yes?” I replied suspiciously.
“We work for Mr Castillo and we're here to aid you in getting ready for tonight's event.”
Event. What event?
Without giving me enough time to respond or even collect my thoughts, they sprung into action.
They sat me down on a chair and while the timid woman started on my makeup, the burly woman began combing through my hair rather harshly.
I had a feeling she secretly despised me.
I don't know how the timid woman was able to get any makeup done with all the pulling from my hair but she managed to get some perfect strokes as she pampered away at my face.
The finished product was incredible. My lips were painted a ruby red, my eyes had black winged liner with sparkly silver bordering the black line, false lashes made my eyes stand out. My cheekbones were lined in a perfect contour, studded silver earrings made my eyeliner pop.
My hair was a half up, half down duo. It was curled in loose ringlets and pulled loosely out of my eyes.
I looked way better than what Angela did on the night of my birthday.
I looked good, I was almost pleased with my appearance until the larger woman came with a black box. She opened it, revealing a silver necklace with blood red rubies and clear cut diamonds with the insignia of the Spanish mafia. It was like I was a dog and this was my collar.
I tried to pull away but the burly woman was fast. She fastened the necklace around my neck.
As if the tattoo on my wrist wasn't enough, now I had a collar telling everyone who I belonged to.
It didn't take long to figure out the kind of ‘event’ Àlvaro was taking me to.
They helped me into the stunning dress and pulled out a tissue box, revealing a pair of tall sparkly silver heels.
I suck at walking in heels.
No no no. I suck at walking in general.
My thoughts drifted once again to my birthday. The day that felt like so long ago, the day my entire life changed.
If only I had stayed in the club. If only I had stopped when the bartender called out my name. If only I had even gone home to have crazy drunk sex with that stranger.
If only. If only. If only.
I wobbled a bit but manged to look in the mirror.
The woman that stared back at me was a complete stranger. She was even more mature looking. Her features were defined, her lips pouty. Her body was hugged tightly in a blood red dress, her breasts threatening to fall out.
I nodded to the two women awkwardly mouthing ‘thank you.’ They looked at me strangely but nodded anyways.
I was about walking out the door when I stumbled, almost completely landing on my clumsy ass face, when two strong arms caught my waist.
Typical!