Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 32

Alexander staggered into his hotel suite, the dim lighting making it difficult for him to focus.

He was inebriated, his senses dulled by alcohol, and the sound of his footsteps echoed throughout the room.

As he approached the bed, a figure lying there caught his eye, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtained window.

Initially unable to discern who it was, his eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness and he realized it was a woman.

Despite the poor visibility, the curves of her silhouette drew him closer, igniting a spark of desire and intrigue within him.

Suddenly, the woman stirred and reached out to grasp his tie, pulling him towards her.

Their bodies collided, and the warmth and scent of her enveloped him.

As her eyes fluttered open, she met Alexander's gaze in the dim light. He was captivated by the intense desire he saw in her beautiful gray eyes.

What followed was a passion unlike anything Alexander had ever experienced before.

The encounter was not the culmination of any long-held desires, but rather a raw, primal force that he could not fully comprehend.

In the heat of the moment, he heard her whisper, "Hot, I'm so hot," her voice a sultry, seductive purr that sent shivers down his spine.

~~~~~~~~~

The memory of that intense encounter lingered in Alexander's mind as he shook his head to clear his thoughts and took another sip of scotch.

Although it took him several days to recollect the details of their tryst, he chose to keep the recollection of that intense moment to himself.

Similarly, he never revealed to Camilla that he was aware of her parents' involvement in the scheme, which he had learned from the hotel's CCTV operator.

Now, standing on the balcony of his mansion, Alexander gazed up at the glittering stars, his mind still preoccupied with Camilla and the weight of her earlier words.

"....we're not a real couple, Alexander. Our relationship is just for show, to redeem my image in the public eye. Meeting each other's families is something real couples do."

"....Please don't get carried away with this. It's all just lost an act...."

Her words reverberated through his mind like a broken record, her tone and delivery etched deeply into his memory.

They had stripped him of his defenses, leaving him vulnerable and exposed.

The weight of her words felt crushing, pressing down on his shoulders and threatening to overwhelm him.

His emotions churned within him like a tempestuous storm, refusing to dissipate.

Alexander took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts and quell his turbulent emotions.

But the hurt remained, persistent and nagging like an unceasing ache.

He raised the glass to his lips once more, the smooth burn of the scotch offering temporary respite from the pain.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

At the Kings' residence, Camilla struggled to remain present and engaged with her family as her mind kept drifting back to her conversation with Alexander.

She couldn't shake the feeling of guilt that gnawed at her, convinced that her words had hurt him.

The question lingered in her mind, "Was everything just an act or was there a spark between them?"

Lost in thought, she mindlessly picked at the Mango Panna Cotta she had brought from the kitchen.

Her family's chatter and laughter around her went on as Camilla stared into her bowl, until her mother called her name with concern in her features.

"Cami, are you okay sweetie?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah, I'm fine," Camilla replied, pretending to be interested in the dessert as she scooped some into her mouth.

"Are you sure? You've been eating that Mango Panna Cotta for a while now," her grandmother added, also concerned.

"I'm fine, Nonna. I've been feeling a little bloated recently, so I don't want to rush it." Camilla explained, offering a weak smile in hopes of deflecting their attention.

"Then why haven't you also been contributing to any of the discussions tonight? We've been talking about politics, food, and even fashion, but you've been awfully quiet," the older woman asked, her eyebrows furrowing suspiciously.

"Well, actually," Camilla started to say, searching for a plausible excuse, but her father interrupted her before she could finish.

"Madre,(Mother) it's your birthday and you should be celebrating with your children. You need to take a break from your FBI job," he teased, winking at his mother.

She shot him a playful glare as the rest of the family chuckled.

"Uncle's right. Nonna should have retired a long time ago," Esmeralda chimed in, and everyone laughed again.

When the laughter died down, Camilla spoke up.

"I appreciate your concern, Nonna, but there's really nothing to worry about. I was just thinking about work and some new designs we're working on," she lied, hoping to ease her grandmother's worry.

Nonna sighed. "Okay, I'll try to believe that," she said with a warm smile.

The conversation at the table gradually shifted to Amara, the third eldest grandchild and the recent opening of her jewelry store, taking the attention away from Camilla.

The young woman in question was in her early thirties, recently divorced with two kids, and harbored a long-standing jealousy towards Camilla, despite Camilla being unaware of it.

"So, how are your sales going?" Edwardo, Esmeralda's father and the eldest child of the Kings, asked with curiosity.

Amara shrugged and replied, "Not bad, I suppose. The store has grown a lot, and we're getting more customers every day, but there's still a lot that needs to be done." She admitted, picking at her food.

"Perhaps if I could get some help from someone with more experience in the business, with a brand that's a household name, that would give my business the push it needs. What do you think, Camilla?" Amara intentionally directed her attention towards Camilla, who had only been half-listening.

Camilla responded enthusiastically, "Yeah, that would be a great idea!" though it was evident that she wasn't paying much attention.

"Indeed it would," Amara responded, patiently awaiting Camilla's realization.

However, when it became apparent that Camilla had missed her point, Amara decided to be more straightforward.

"Fortunately for me, your boyfriend possesses the precise skills and connections that my business requires."

"I had hoped that you could introduce us, so that he could assist me in giving my jewelry store the boost it needs," Amara explained, casting an expectant glance at Camilla.

"Ohhh," Camilla stated awkwardly, struggling to keep up with the conversation.

"What kind of business did you say you had again?"

"I have a jewelry store," Amara answered, sounding slightly annoyed. "I recently opened it. Were you not paying attention?"

"I apologize," Camilla calmly replied. "I must have missed that detail when you mentioned it."

"Apology accepted, and thank you as well," Amara responded, now smiling with a sense of triumph.

"Thank you for what?" Camilla asked flatly, giving Amara an incredulous look.

Observing her daughter's increasing irritation, Riza quickly interjected in order to avoid sabotaging a carefully planned and potentially beneficial opportunity.

"For agreeing to inform him about her jewelry store, dear," Riza said playfully.

"It would have been easier if we could have met with him one-on-one today, but since you mentioned he had urgent work to attend to, you are the best person for the job," Riza said, smiling.

Camilla responded with the same smile, but her tone was apologetic.

"I'm sorry, Auntie, but I already have a lot on my plate. I think Amara will have to wait until she can meet with him one-on-one. As you said, it would be easier that way." Camilla said calmly, pretending innocence as the corners of her lips lifted slightly.

Suddenly, an irritated and angry voice spoke up from the table.

It was Stella, Amara's younger sister, who was equally divorced, had one child, and was in her mid-twenties.

"So you mean you can't help your own cousin because of some silly excuse of being busy with your own work?" Stella said.

Camilla responded coolly, maintaining her stoic expression as she stared at her younger cousin defiantly. "Yes, that's exactly what I said."

A hint of annoyance crept into Amara's voice as she glared at Camilla. "What do you mean 'that's exactly what you said'?"

"I mean that's precisely what I said," Camilla reiterated firmly, meeting her cousin's angry gaze head-on.

"Stop it, both of you!" Edwardo's thick Italian voice rang out, effectively cutting off the arguing cousins.

"I've already given instructions that I don't want any Telenovela drama this year and you both went ahead and did the opposite. It's like I can no longer expect my guidance to be followed," the tired old woman began to say.

Sighing, she started to speak again, "Camilla, please inform your fiance about Amara's jewelry store. Consider it among your other contributions to the family," she pleaded, clearly frustrated by her grandchildren's constant bickering and attempts to provoke each other.

Camilla let her finish and allowed some seconds to pass by before she gave her a reply.

"First of all, Nonna, Alexander and I haven't reached the fiancé stage yet. Our relationship is still new, and we're taking it slow," Camilla paused before continuing.

"Secondly, I cannot, because I'm dating a multi-billionaire jewelry store owner, take advantage of my relationship with him and push family members into his private business."

"It's his decision whom he wants to associate with or partner with, and I will not jeopardize our relationship by pressuring him to help Amara," she declared firmly.

"He built his success and reputation on his own terms, not because of family connections."

"Just because I'm his girlfriend doesn't mean that telling him about her business obligates him to help. It's ultimately his decision, not mine," she concluded, ending the discussion.

Silence descended upon the room, and it seemed that some family members saw reason and understanding with what Camilla had said.

And after a while her grandmother spoke,

"That's true. I've been praying for you to find someone, Camilla. We can't risk losing that," she mused softly, glancing at Amara.

"But Nonna," Amara started to object, but was quickly cut off.

"We'll find another way to bring attention to your store. No more talking, let's eat, we still have to cut the cake," the elderly woman declared decisively.

"Wait, can I say one last thing?" A little boy named Angel spoke up from beside Amara.

"Sure, ometto(Little man), go ahead," his great-grandmother replied sweetly.

"Can I have more lasagna?" Angel asked excitedly, causing the room to erupt in laughter at his innocence and adorableness amidst the family drama.

"Of course, dear," Alessia replied as she went over to serve him.

As the night wore on, a sense of tranquility finally settled over them.