Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 92

In the midst of the surrounding darkness, Camilla's breathing quickened, and she tightly gripped the handrail for support.

Her heart raced within her chest as the elevator finally stopped falling.

And even though he couldn't see her, the sound of Camilla's breathing stirred immense concern in Edward.

"Camilla, are you alright?" he called out, his voice tinged with genuine worry.

Instead of responding, Camilla, haunted by her past trauma and now suffering from PTSD(Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) triggered by the darkness, remained frozen in fear.

The oppressive darkness and the confined space overwhelmed her, temporarily robbing her of the ability to communicate.

Edward's concern grew as he strained his ears, desperately hoping to hear any sign that Camilla was alright.

With no response forthcoming, he released the handrail and reached out, his hands searching for her.

But when his fingertips finally made contact with her arm, she let out a piercing scream, shocking him to his core.

"Let go of me!... Somebody help!.... Help!" Her panicked voice echoed through the darkness as she struggled to break free from Edward's grip.

Edward, startled by her intense reaction, reluctantly released his grip, opting instead to gently grasp her shoulders.

With mounting concern and a lack of understanding regarding her distress, he attempted to shake her out of the trance-like state that seemed to have taken hold of her.

"It's me, Camilla... It's Edward," he urgently reassured, his voice filled with a mixture of worry and determination.

Camilla's eyes widened as she scanned her surroundings in the oppressive darkness, desperately seeking any signs of an exit or a means of escape.

Fear and haunting memories flooded her mind, obscuring her thoughts and overwhelming her senses in the face of the darkness.

Still, Edward continued to hold onto her shoulders, providing steady support amidst the storm of her emotions.

In a gentle, soothing tone, he implored, "Camilla, listen to my voice. You're here with me and you're okay."

But her body still quivered within his grasp, her breaths uneven and ragged.

Despite hearing his voice, the overwhelming fear and distress seemed to drown out his words.

Recognizing that his initial approach was not breaking through her defenses, Edward took a deep breath, contemplating a different strategy.

With cautious care, he gradually loosened his hold on her shoulders, allowing her more space while remaining close by.

However, this change in approach failed to calm Camilla, who immediately resorted to banging on the walls of the elevator.

"Help!" Her desperate pleas reverberated through the space, mirroring the depths of her anguish and the all-consuming panic that gripped her.

Realizing the gravity of her distress, Edward swiftly retrieved his phone from his pocket and turned on the flashlight function.

The sudden illumination startled Camilla, causing her to cease her pounding and turn to face Edward, who now stood visible in the glow of his phone's light.

Gradually, her breathing began to steady, the edges of panic dulling as she fixed her gaze on him.

Seeing her starting to calm down, Edward decided to speak again, his voice filled with reassurance.

"It's okay... Just trust me, you'll be fine," he said, his eyes fixed on Camilla's fearful expression.

But to his surprise, she swiftly pulled herself away from the walls of the elevator and enveloped him in a tight hug.

"Alexander... Please don't leave me alone again... The dark... I was so scared."

Edward was slightly taken aback by Camilla mentioning Alexander, her ex-husband, a name that he knew didn't belong to him.

Nonetheless, he gently held her in his arms, returning her embrace with caution, and providing her with comfort and reassurance.

"I'm here, Camilla. You're safe with me. I won't leave you alone," he whispered, his voice brimming with sincerity.

As Edward held Camilla tightly, a sudden voice emanated from the speaker system in the elevator, breaking the silence.

"Attention, this is an automated emergency call. We have received an alert that the elevator is experiencing a malfunction," a calm and reassuring voice echoed through the confined space.

The voice continued, delivering important instructions, "Please avoid attempting to open the doors or operate the controls."

"Trained professionals are aware of your situation and are diligently working to resolve it. Your safety is our utmost priority."

"And in the meantime, please try to stay calm. Help is on its way," the voice reassured them.

Edward and Camilla listened intently to the voice, finding comfort in the knowledge that their distress had been acknowledged and that help was on its way.

Several minutes passed, accompanied by the sound of approaching footsteps and hushed conversations outside the elevator.

It was evident that the rescue team had arrived.

A renewed sense of hope washed over Edward and Camilla as they heard the clattering of tools and the coordinated efforts of the team to access the elevator.

With a mechanical hum, the elevator jolted, and the doors smoothly slid open, revealing a group of skilled technicians and concerned emergency personnel, ready to assist them in their time of need.

But even with their arrival, Camilla continued to hold tightly onto Edward, unwilling to let go.

Recognizing her overwhelming distress, Edward understood that carrying her in his arms was the only way to coax her out of the elevator.

With the rescue team's guidance, he carefully held her in a bridal-style embrace as they made their way toward the exit.

•~•~•~•

Seated in the backseat of his car, Alexander's emotions ran high as he scrolled through a blog post that stirred disbelief, anger, and jealousy within him.

The post featured a photograph of Edward carrying Camilla in a bridal-style embrace, her head resting on his chest after their harrowing elevator rescue.

As Alexander continued reading, the article's writer subtly implied a romantic relationship between the two individuals, suggesting that Camilla had found love again, following a year after her divorce from him.

His teeth gritted together, as he kept his eyes fixed on the screen, his voice breaking the silence as he turned to address his personal assistant, James, seated in the front passenger seat.

"James, arrange a flight to Paris for this evening," he ordered, his voice carrying a mix of resolute determination and a deeply wounded sense of pride.

Knowing Alexander's tendency to make swift decisions, James quickly replied respectfully and efficiently, "Yes, sir. I'll make the necessary arrangements immediately."

The mere notion of Camilla being involved with another person wasn't only unbearable but incomprehensible to him.

And as the car skilfully drove through the vibrant streets of Los Angeles, Alexander's mind raced with thoughts of confronting Camilla and uncovering the truth behind the alleged relationship.

Perhaps, in doing so, there would be a glimmer of hope for reigniting their relationship.