Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 125

The car ride was quiet, with only the soft rumble of the engine and the occasional passing of streetlights breaking the silence.

Camilla couldn't help but steal glances at Charles, trying to make sense of their unexpected meeting.

Feeling her gaze on him, Charles chuckled softly. "Are you going to keep staring, or are you going to say what's on your mind?" he quipped, his voice laced with amusement.

Surprised by his directness, Camilla blushed and quickly turned her gaze away. "I... I'm sorry. I'm just... I'm still surprised to see you again," she admitted, her voice slightly shaky.

Charles nodded, understanding evident in his eyes. "I can imagine. It's quite a coincidence, isn't it?"

A little silence ensued before she broke it,

"Thank you, Charles... for helping me out, back there," she finally spoke up, breaking the silence. "I really appreciate it."

Charles glanced over at her briefly, a warm smile playing on his lips.

"Of course, Camilla. I couldn't just leave you stranded on the side of the road. I'm glad I could help."

Camilla nodded.

"So, why are you back in town?... Last I heard you moved off to Paris?... Are you back here in Los Angeles now?" Charles questioned as he took a U-Turn.

Camilla sighed, her smile fading slightly. "No, actually. I...my mom, she's hypertensive and suddenly had a heart attack, so I rushed down to see her..."

"Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that," Charles said softly, "That must be really tough for you."

"Oh...yes, but she's actually better now. She's much better than when I came," Camilla replied with a small smile.

"But it was definitely a scary experience. It made me realize how precious time with loved ones is."

Charles nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I can understand that. It's moments like these that remind us of what truly matters."

He took a deep breath. "So, where are we headed?"

"Umm...Grand Arcade," she answered, and Charles raised an eyebrow as he focused on the road.

"Grand Arcade... Any reason why you're staying at a hotel?" he asked.

"Umm... not exactly. I won't be staying for long, so I just thought a hotel would be better," she explained, and Charles nodded in understanding.

The car soon fell into an awkward silence again, and Camilla turned her gaze to the window, watching the passing scenery outside.

"So, have you... Have you and Alexander seen each other since you arrived?" Charles suddenly voiced, his question forcing Camilla's attention back on him.

"Uh?" She asked as if she hadn't heard him correctly.

"Have you seen my cousin Alexander since your arrival?" He repeated, and Camilla hesitated for a moment before answering, choosing her words carefully.

"...No," she replied, lying to him, recalling Alexander's request to keep their reconciliation within a very close circle of family for now.

"...To be honest, after everything that happened between us... I don't think I actually want to see him... or accidentally run into him all through my stay here... I really pray I don't," she added.

Charles briefly removed his gaze from the road to her, staring at her with a strange expression she found quite peculiar before he returned his focus to driving.

"I'm really sorry for all you went through with your marriage to my cousin, Camilla... and to be honest, I think Alexander is a fool to let a treasure like you go even an inch away from him," he replied, and Camilla unintentionally let out a sigh of relief, believing that he had bought her lie.

"Yeah... I guess so," she replied, her thoughts swirling with Charles's unexpected words.

She had expected him to drop the subject, but he continued, and his words grew more heartfelt.

"You know, if I were in Alexander's shoes, I would never let someone like you walk out of my life," Charles confessed, his voice filled with longing.

"I would fight tooth and nail to keep you by my side... I would cherish you and love you with all that I am."

Camilla's heart quickened at his words, and she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. His sincerity was undeniable.

"And so what if we lost a child... we could always have another... or even adopt."

"There are so many children out there who need a loving home, and I would gladly welcome them into our lives," Charles added, his voice tender and genuine.

Camilla was taken aback by his words and the way he said them.

It was as if he was baring his soul to her. She couldn't deny the intensity of his feelings, and it left her at a loss for words.

"Charles... I don't know what to say... I..." She trailed off, her gaze momentarily shifting to the silver bracelet on his right wrist.

It had wild animal paw prints engraved on it, a detail that caught her attention.

It reminded her of the bracelet she had seen in her hypothetical trance during the hypnotherapy session with Dr. Blackwell.

The coincidence sent a shiver down her spine, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was more to Charles than met the eye.

The more Camilla stared at the bracelet, the more it seemed like an exact match to the one she had seen in her trance.

It was an uncanny resemblance that sent shivers down her spine.

Charles's voice broke through her thoughts, and she blinked, momentarily lost in her thoughts.

"Do you like it?" he asked, bringing her attention back to the present. Camilla blinked owlishly at him, her mind still partially elsewhere as he focused on driving.

"What did you say?" she questioned, a bit disoriented.

"The bracelet...I said, do you like it?" Charles repeated, and Camilla hesitated for a few seconds.

Her mind drifted back seven years ago to Tokyo, where she had gone to secure a business deal.

•~•~•~•~•~

Flashback

•~•~•~•~•~

Camilla wore a vibrant red romper, her blond hair flowing freely, and she looked stunning with her light and natural makeup.

She sat at a round table in the hotel bar, accompanied by her supposed client, a wealthy businessman named Austin Rivers.

Camilla had come with the intention of opening a branch of her Fashion House in Tokyo.

Being one of the most influential individuals there, she approached Austin Rivers for a partnership deal.

However, unbeknownst to her, the older man had a terrible habit of sleeping with younger women in exchange for whatever they desired, as long as it was within his means.

Austin's wrinkled hand slowly left his own thigh and began to creep onto Camilla's exposed thigh, gently stroking it.

"Oh come on, darling... Just spend one night with me, and I promise I'll give you everything you've asked for. Even if you want the entire city of Tokyo, I'll make it yours."

Camilla's eyes narrowed, and she swiftly pulled her hand away from Austin Rivers' touch.

Her initial impression of the wealthy businessman had been positive, his silver fox appearance and charismatic demeanor giving off an air of sophistication.

But now, faced with his disturbing proposal, she felt a mix of disgust and anger.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Rivers, but that's not the kind of partnership I had in mind," Camilla replied, her voice cold and composed despite the simmering anger within her.

She leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms over her chest and fixing him with an unwavering gaze. "I came here to discuss a business arrangement, not engage in any personal favors."

Austin Rivers chuckled, his eyes scanning her from head to toe. "Come on, darling, don't play coy."

"A woman like you knows how to get what she wants. Why not combine business with pleasure? Huh?... It's called using what you have to get what you want...And I can assure you that you won't regret it."

Camilla bit her lower lip.

She tried to keep her cool, as she was accustomed to dealing with challenging people in the fashion industry.

However, this old man's audacity was pushing her limits.

She took a deep breath, stood up abruptly, and without thinking twice, she grabbed the glass of water on the table and splashed it onto his face.

"Go fuck your mother you shameless old crap!" She said, her voice filled with anger and venom.

Austin Rivers was taken aback, visibly shocked as he watched the water drip down his face.

Before he could react, Camilla stormed away from the table, only to collide with a younger Charles who happened to be holding a tray of drinks. The drinks spilled all over Camilla and shattered as they fell to the floor.

"What the hell?!" Camilla yelled in anger, her frustration mostly stemming from her encounter with Austin Rivers.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry miss," Charles quickly apologized, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket and offering it to her to clean herself up.

Camilla simply stared at him in response. Based on his attire, she assumed he was one of the waiters at the bar.

She felt a twinge of guilt for yelling at him, realizing that it was her own fault for not paying attention and causing the collision.

Raising her purse a little higher, she opened it and took out a few dollar bills, handing them to Charles.

"Here... these drinks must be expensive, and I doubt your pay would cover the cost. Take this," she said. Charles, who had initially extended the handkerchief to her, brought his hand back to his side, realizing the mix-up.

"Oh... I'm not a waiter," he chuckled, realizing the misunderstanding. Camilla frowned in response.

"I'm sorry, but if you're not a waiter, why are you dressed like one and acting as though you're about to serve drinks?" she questioned.

Charles opened his mouth to respond, but before he could utter a word, Camilla cut in.

"You know what, it doesn't really matter if you're a waiter or not. Just take this," she said, grabbing his right hand. As she did so, her fingers lightly brushed against the silver bracelet on his wrist, and she squeezed the dollar notes into his closed palm.

"There...our collision was my fault, and I apologize. The money in your hand is also compensation for the spilled drinks. So, have a wonderful evening," she added, walking away and leaving him standing there in awe.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Flashback Ends

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Camilla gazed at Charles, a sudden recollection of their initial encounter flooding her mind.

"...It's a lovely bracelet," she eventually responded, mustering a faint, somewhat forced smile. "Where did you get it from?"

Charles let out a soft chuckle, a mischievous glint in his hazel eyes. "Funny story, I actually swiped it from Alexander... It happened on my birthday about ten years ago."

"Everyone had given me a gift except him, so I spotted this on him, liked it, and made him give it to me as a present."

"It's been a part of me ever since, like a trademark," he explained, and Camilla mumbled softly as a fleeting thought crossed her mind.

Although her words weren't loud enough for Charles to hear, she quietly uttered, "You were wearing it on the night of my birthday party."

"What did you say?" he inquired, causing Camilla to blink and shake her head slowly, realizing she had inadvertently spoken her thoughts aloud.

"Nothing, just lost in thought... I felt like I'd seen it somewhere else before," she replied, attempting to cover her slip-up, and Charles chuckled in response.

"This?... No, you probably saw a different bracelet because this one right here is the only one of its kind ever made," he confidently stated.

Camilla's focus on the bracelet sharpened as his words matched her suspicions.

If this bracelet was indeed the only one of its kind, that meant the one she had seen on her attacker's wrist during the hypnotherapy session was the same as the one Charles was wearing now.

The realization sent an involuntary shudder down her spine.

She lifted her gaze from the bracelet to Charles' face, and suddenly, his features seemed to distort, like he was wearing the same menacing clown mask from that night.

Camilla froze, her shock and horror evident.

The car came to a halt at the Grand Arcade Hotel just as her fear reached its peak.

"Here we are," Charles announced, turning off the engine. He glanced at her with concern.

"Camilla?... Are you okay?... Why are you staring at me like that?" he inquired, but she appeared too horrified to respond. Charles reached out to touch her, and she gasped.

"Don't touch me," she exclaimed, breathing heavily. Her abrupt change in demeanor left Charles visibly confused.

"What do you mean?... Are you okay?" he asked, attempting to reach out to her once more.

"I said don't touch me!" Camilla's voice trembled with fear as she raised it, her eyes wide with panic.

She hastily unbuckled her seatbelt and practically leaped out of the car, slamming the door behind her.

Her legs felt like jelly, her whole body trembling from the shock of the revelation she had just experienced.

She rushed into the hotel entrance, leaving Charles behind, staring at her retreating figure in utter bewilderment.

Charles lowered his gaze to the bracelet on his wrist, his thoughts racing.

His hazel eyes were filled with contemplation as he stared at the unique piece of jewelry.

Slowly, he lifted his gaze, fixating on the entrance of the hotel, where Camilla had vanished.

Something had clearly unsettled her deeply, and Charles couldn't help but wonder about the connection between that bracelet and her reaction.