Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 71

Camilla was taken aback by the sudden surprise, her face lighting up as the young woman with auburn hair and mesmerizing blue eyes enveloped her in a warm embrace.

"Surprise!" she exclaimed joyfully.

With their embrace ending, she held Camilla at arm's length, her eyes filled with overwhelming affection.

"Sorry, I'm late. Happy birthday, darling," she murmured, her voice dripping with adoration and genuine love.

"What are you doing here? You should be getting ready for your movie premiere tomorrow," Camille exclaimed in surprise, while Taylor waved her hand dismissively.

"Yeah, but there was no way I was going to miss my designer's thirtieth birthday," she replied, determined and with a smile on her face.

Their pleasant greeting quickly turned into a mixture of confusion and displeasure as Camilla's gaze shifted from Taylor Jones to the man standing behind her.

The unexpected and unwelcome guest in the room cast a shadow over the atmosphere.

Camilla's voice held a mix of disbelief and irritation as she exclaimed, "John Fraser? What the hell are you doing here?"

Interrupting the exchange, Alexander stepped into view and broke the silence.

"He came with her," he said, gesturing towards Taylor, who now appeared visibly guilty under Camilla's penetrating gaze.

The revelation added a layer of tension to the already unsettled atmosphere around all four of them.

Camilla's disappointment and sense of betrayal were evident in her questioning tone as she asked, "Why would you bring him to my birthday party?"

Taylor, standing beside John, looked flustered as she attempted to explain herself.

"Now, before you get upset, let me explain," Taylor began, sensing Camilla's brewing irritation.

"I understand the history between you two. I'm also aware of what happened between your husband and him at the auction, months ago, but the thing is..." She trailed off, allowing her words to linger in the air.

John, standing beside her, interjected, explaining.

"Taylor and I are actually together now," he revealed, hoping to provide some context and alleviate the tension in the room.

And as he continued, his expression carried the sincerity that accompanied his words.

"When Taylor informed me that your assistant shared with her the surprise birthday party being planned for you and invited her, I expressed my interest in coming as well,"

"I'm here so I can apologize for what went down that day and all the things I said."

"I believe that saying sorry in person is the best way to make things right," he explained, his voice filled with genuine remorse.

"You didn't deserve those hurtful comments, and I'm truly sorry for saying them. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

A heavy silence hung in the air as John and Taylor anxiously awaited Camilla and Alexander's response.

However, instead of an immediate response, Alexander and Camilla turned to face each other, their expressions reflecting a mixture of surprise and skepticism.

And after a moment of silent communication, they refocused their attention on John and Taylor.

Camilla let out a sigh, carefully assessing John's expression before reluctantly speaking, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I suppose I accept your apology."

A small smile immediately formed on John's face at her words, but Camilla quickly shifted to a serious tone, her words carrying weight.

"However, let me make it clear. The only reason I'm accepting it is because you're with one of my closest clients who is also a dear friend."

"If you ever break her heart, rest assured, I will ensure you regret it."

Her sincerity was unmistakable, leaving no doubt about her determination to follow through on her words should he indeed break Taylor's heart..

To ease the tension in the room, Taylor let out an awkward laugh, attempting to diffuse the atmosphere.

"No need to worry about that, because John is fully committed to making our relationship work and ensuring it doesn't end like my previous one," she reassured, exuding confidence in her words.

Alexander, who had remained silent until now, joined the conversation.

"Well, since everything has been said and settled, who's up for a drink?"

"Apart from Camilla, of course," he added in a lighthearted tone.

Camilla raised an eyebrow in response, playing along with a teasing tone.

"Why would I be excluded?" she questioned, her voice dripping with fake outrage.

"I can have some juice, and that isn't an alcoholic drink if that's what you're so bothered about."

" So, I definitely deserve to be included in your question," she joked, a playful glint in her eyes and the other three shared a lighthearted laugh, the tension before dissipating.

Alexander nodded, a playful tone in his voice, as he teasingly asked, "Oh, okay, so what drink does the lady of the house desire?" He raised an eyebrow, waiting for her response with a smirk on his face.

Camilla's wide grin stretched across her face as she exclaimed, "A fruity mocktail punch would be absolutely perfect!"

Alexander nodded in acknowledgment of her choice, offering a subtle nod and a warm smile before heading off to fetch the fruity mocktail punch.

Camilla's attention shifted to the couple before her, and she couldn't help but notice John's gaze fixated on her protruding belly.

His expression appeared unexpressive yet intense as he stared, causing a slight ripple of uncertainty within her.

Caught off guard by Camilla's gaze on him, John quickly adjusted himself, feeling a wave of awkwardness wash over him.

"Ummm...you have a lovely baby bump," he managed to say, though the words came out sounding strange and awkward.

Camilla's and Taylor's reactions were nearly simultaneous, both sensing the awkwardness in John's statement.

But they chose to overlook the oddness of his comment.

And maintaining a sense of polite indifference Camilla responded with a hesitant yet polite, "Uh...thanks," while Taylor stood by John's side, maintaining a neutral expression.

Feeling the weight of his awkward words, John simply nodded and turned away, his hands nervously fidgeting with each other.

His gaze avoided Camilla's, seemingly embarrassed by his unintentional misstep.

He had intended to explain his staring by complimenting her baby bump, but instead, he had inadvertently made himself look foolish.

The discomfort lingered in the air as he grappled with his own embarrassment, searching for a way to regain his composure.

Nevertheless, the party carried on smoothly, and Alexander returned with Camilla's drink while the servers attended to John and Taylor, ensuring that everyone was well taken care of.

Laughter and conversation filled the air as the evening progressed, creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.

As the night drew to a close, the clock striking one am signaled the end of the festivities.

The guests bid their farewells and made their way back to their respective homes, leaving Camilla and Alexander to finally retreat to the intimacy of their bedroom.

"Hmmm...that feels amazing...right there," Camilla moaned as Alexander massaged her shoulder blades.

"You know, when you said you felt the same way about missing me, I didn't realize it was all because of a simple massage," Alexander said, raising an eyebrow and a playful smile forming on his lips.

"But I must say, it's quite intriguing to discover that my magical massage skills are capable of inducing such intense longing in you," Alexander teased.

Camilla's giggle filled the room, her eyes twinkling with joy. "No, I genuinely missed you," she said, her voice filled with sincerity.

"The massage is just an incredible bonus of having you as my husband," she added, leaning back against him and relishing the warmth and comfort of their shared space as Alexander continued to knead her muscles, his touch firm yet gentle.

"Hmm...really," Alexander whispered seductively, planting soft, trailed kisses on her neck.

Camilla chuckled, about to express her thoughts, but the sudden flickering of the lights interrupted her.

"Oh no...what happened?" she exclaimed, sitting upright and reaching over to switch the lamp on.

"I think there's a power outage," Alexander remarked, his tone laced with concern.

"Which is quite unusual," he added, emphasizing the abnormality of the situation.

He grabbed his mobile phone from the bedside drawer and dialed one of the technicians in charge.

"Hello...Hello? Nathaniel, I... I can't hear you," Alexander spoke into the receiver, frustration evident in his voice.

The connection was poor, causing the person on the other end to be barely audible.

Frustrated, he ended the call and decided to go check on the problem himself.

He got up from the bed and made his way toward the bedroom door.

"Where are you going?" Camilla asked, beginning to get out from under the covers herself.

"I'm going to see for myself what's causing the problem," he replied.

"Okay, let me follow you then," she said, making a move to grab her robe, but Alexander's words stopped her in her tracks.

"There's no need for that."

"Just stay here, and I'll be back before you know it," Alexander assured her, sensing her reluctance and Camilla let out a sigh, conceding to his request.

"Fine... just don't take too long," she replied, playfully rolling her eyes as she settled back onto the bed as he turned around and left the bedroom.

Minutes passed, and Camilla's impatience grew as Alexander had yet to return.

She reached for her phone, ready to call him when a sudden knock on the door halted her actions.

Curiosity piqued, she asked, "Who is it?" but received no reply.

She waited for a few seconds and still did not receive any response. Her intrigue turned into a hint of apprehension.

Slowly, she pushed her legs off the bed and slipped on her robe, cautiously making her way toward the bedroom door.

With a mix of caution and curiosity, she turned the doorknob and opened the door, only to be met with complete darkness.

"Alexander? Is that you?" she called out, but there was still no response.

Closing the door, Camilla went back to retrieve her mobile phone and switched on the flashlight.

And now with the beam of light from her phone guiding her way, she stepped outside the bedroom, cautiously exploring the darkened hallway.

As she moved forward, a sense of unease settled in, causing her heart to quicken its pace.

The atmosphere grew eerie, and an unsettling feeling crept over her, heightening her senses and fueling her curiosity.

"Alexander, if this is a prank, it's not funny," she called out, her voice echoing through the corridor, but there was still no reply.

Proceeding cautiously, Camilla followed the trail of light from her mobile phone until she found herself facing the staircase leading to the ground floor.

The darkness below thickened, engulfing the surroundings and limiting Camilla's vision to just a few feet ahead.

A cold shiver traveled down her spine, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin as the overwhelming sensation of being watched intensified, creating an eerie presence in the air.

Instinctively, she clutched onto her protruding belly, finding solace in the protective gesture as she navigated through the darkness.

Unable to bear the tension any longer, Camilla decided to return to the room and wait for Alexander's return.

However, as she turned around, her heart skipped a beat.

Standing before her was a figure wearing a terrifying mask that glowed in the darkness.

She let out a loud, startled scream, causing her feet to stumble back toward the stairs.

Bracing herself for the impact, she closed her eyes tightly, but to her surprise, it never came.

Slowly, she opened her eyes, only to see the masked figure with an outstretched hand, holding onto her and preventing her from falling down the treacherous stairs.

Fearfully and cautiously, she turned her head and peered down the steep staircase, her adrenaline coursing through her veins as she realized the significant distance and the potential harm that awaited her and her unborn child if she were to fall.

With a gulp, she turned her gaze back to the person who had seemingly come to her aid, suspending her fall with just the tips of her toes touching the first step.

"Alexander?" Camilla called out, hoping to confirm the identity of the person before her.

However, as she glanced at the hand holding her, she saw no resemblance to her husband.

Fear crept into her voice as she asked again, her tone trembling, "Who are you? And how did you get in?" Her words stammered, betraying her rising anxiety.

The figure's silence stretched on, prolonging Camilla's anxiety, until finally, a raspy male voice broke the silence, slicing through the air like a chilling blade.

"I go by the name Red Saint," the voice oozed in a sickeningly saccharine tone, sending shivers down Camilla's spine.

"It's been a pleasure meeting you...Camilla," he added, his words laced with a sinister undertone.

Without warning, he released his grip on her hand, causing her to plummet down the staircase.

Having no time to scream or react, Camilla e tumbled, her body twisting and turning in an uncontrollable descent.

Each impact with a step sent searing pain through her, jarring her senses.

Amid her terrifying fall, darkness closed in, and the last thing she remembered was the sharp crack of her head hitting the ground before everything faded into blackness.