Entangled With My Rival CEO

Chapter 96

The first rays of the morning sun poured through the sheer curtains, painting the room in a soft, golden hue.

Camilla slowly stirred from her sleep, releasing a tired groan as she stretched and opened her eyes.

Turning to her side, to her surprise, she was met with Alexander's sleeping figure, his features peaceful and relaxed.

Blinking in disbelief, Camilla's shock broke the silence as she exclaimed, "Che diavolo! (What the hell!)"

Startled, Alexander jolted awake, immediately sitting upright.

"Camilla... You're awake," he said, his voice a mix of relief and uncertainty, evident from the bewildered expression on her face.

Camilla's heart raced as she looked at Alexander.

It had been a year since they last saw each other, and now he was here beside her, seemingly out of nowhere.

Her hands flew to her head as she tried to recollect what had transpired the previous night, but her memories were hazy.

She recalled Edward coming over, going to a bar he had chosen, and then...

....her memory faded, only to resurface with the reminder of the drinks she had consumed.

She cursed herself mentally for getting drunk, especially considering the effects it had on her.

She struggled to piece together what happened after she had that second glass of Classic Martini, but the attempt only intensified the pounding headache, as if someone was hammering on her skull with a sledgehammer.

And the pain seemed to heighten even more when she looked back at Alexander.

"How did I get here?... How are you even here?... Where's..." Her sentence trailed off, and Alexander completed it for her, "Edward Caruso," his voice filled with disdain for the young man.

Camilla furrowed her brow at the mention of Edward's name.

"How did you know his..." She stopped herself, her gaze shifting to their interlocked hands on the bed.

She quickly let go, moving back slightly to create distance between them.

Several seconds passed before she spoke again.

"I was out at a bar with Edward... How did I end up with you?... Why are you even in Paris?" she questioned, glancing around the unfamiliar, spacious room before returning her gaze to him.

She then added, "Wait... we're still in Paris, right?" and Alexander subtly nodded in confirmation.

"I came for... for... a business deal," he lied, his eyes briefly diverting from hers.

It was difficult for him to come clean about the real reason for his presence in Paris.

He couldn't admit that after seeing the blog post of her and Edward Caruso, jealousy had consumed him, compelling him to come and win her back.

Nervously, his eyes met hers again as he continued, "You were drunk, and by chance or coincidence, I happened to be in the same bar as you and that guy," he said, partially lying, as the truth was that he had been keeping tabs on her every move since their divorce, making it easy for him to find her when he arrived in Paris.

Camilla maintained her unwavering gaze, her brow still furrowed.

"So?" she replied, her words carrying a subtle edge.

Taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly, Alexander looked directly into her gray eyes.

"So, I brought you here," he continued, his voice tinged with a mix of sincerity and unease.

"I couldn't just leave you in that state, especially with someone like that guy."

Camilla's eyes narrowed as she scrutinized Alexander's face, searching for any signs of deception.

His explanation seemed plausible, but doubts lingered in her mind.

She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story.

"And Edward just let you take me?" she questioned, her tone now tinged with a hint of irritation.

Her irritation was not directed at Alexander, but rather at Edward for seemingly treating her like a possession to be handed over.

She wanted answers, but Alexander remained silent.

Determined, she moved to the edge of the bed, and as she got up, a sharp pain shot through her head, causing her to wince and grip her temple.

The lingering effects of her drunken state made it difficult for her to fully focus and regain her balance.

Without hesitation, Alexander reached out, concern evident in his eyes, as he held her arm to steady her.

"Be careful. You still have a hangover from last night. Maybe you should lie back down and rest a while longer," he suggested, his voice filled with a mixture of worry and care but Camilla shrugged off his hand.

"I don't need your help nor do I need you to tell me what to do!" Her voice carried frustration, her words sharper than she intended.

The pain in her head intensified as she tried to assert her independence, causing her to grip her temple even tighter.

Despite it, she made her way to the door, determined to leave.

However, Alexander once again intercepted her, taking a big stride to stand in front of her, blocking her path.

A mix of concern and determination reflected in his expression.

"Camilla, please... Can we at least take a moment to talk? It's been a year since we last saw each other... Don't you have anything to say to me?" he pleaded.

Camilla stared at him for a while, a hint of vulnerability in her gray eyes.

It had truly been a year since their divorce since she last saw him.

And she couldn't deny that she hadn't given much thought to how it would be if they were ever in the same space again.

Now, unexpectedly finding themselves together, more than a million thoughts raced through her mind.

Memories, emotions, and unanswered questions flooded her thoughts, leaving her reeling.

She took a deep breath as if searching for the right words to express herself.

Finally, she spoke, her voice filled with a blend of uncertainty and a tinge of longing.

"...Yes...I do have something to say." Her voice wavered for a moment and then, all of a sudden, her expression changed.

Her eyes narrowed, her brows furrowed,

and her voice turned sharp and cutting.

"...Get the hell out of my way!" she yelled, her words laced with raw emotion.

The anger in her voice reverberated through the room, punctuated by the intensity of her gaze.

Alexander stared at her in stunned silence, taken aback by the sudden shift in her demeanor.

He searched her eyes, desperately trying to find a way to bridge the gap that had formed between them.

But Camilla was resolute and the room filled up with an uncomfortable tension as their emotions collided.

Her chest rose and fell with each breath, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and hurt.

She stood her ground, her body radiating defiance.

"Move," she hissed, her voice low but filled with determination. "I won't ask again."

Alexander's gaze faltered, and for a moment, it seemed as if he might protest.

But ultimately, he stepped aside, his face a mask of conflicting emotions.

Camilla stormed out of the room, her heart pounding in her chest.

She didn't even bother to ask Alexander for directions to get out of the house as all she wanted was to be far away from him at that very moment.

The pain in her head intensified with each step she took, but she pushed through, her determination overriding the discomfort.

As she stepped into the living room, the coldness of the floor seeped into her bare feet, halting her in her tracks.

She looked down, realizing with a tinge of frustration that she had forgotten her shoes.

"Damn it!" she muttered under her breath, contemplating returning to the room to retrieve them.

To her surprise, she turned around and found Alexander standing there, holding her shoes in his hands.

"Here," he simply stated, extending her shoes towards her.

Camilla's expression registered a mix of surprise and confusion.

She hadn't anticipated him following her, let alone holding her shoes.

For a moment, she hesitated, uncertain of how to respond.

Reluctantly, she accepted the shoes from his outstretched hands, her guarded demeanor intact and as she slipped them on she could feel his gaze upon her, his presence still lingering in the space between them.

True to her thoughts, Alexander silently stared at her, his eyes conveying a blend of remorse and longing.

"You don't want to talk to me... fine, I won't force you. But I brought you here, so let me at least take you back," he finally spoke, his voice tinged with sadness and resignation.

Camilla's emotions remained raw and turbulent, her mind overwhelmed by conflicting thoughts.

She took a deep breath, attempting to calm her racing heart and find clarity amidst the chaos within her.

Raising her gaze to meet Alexander's, her eyes guarded yet revealing a glimmer of vulnerability.

She couldn't deny that a part of her badly wanted to hear him out, to understand why he did what he did to her.

The pain he had caused her still felt too strong to overcome.

She longed for closure, but another part of her craved to shut him out entirely, to walk away and erase his existence from her life.

After a moment, she nodded, her voice softer than before.

"I suppose, after everything, that's the least I can allow you to do," she replied.

"But don't expect anything beyond that." With those words, she swiftly turned towards the exit she had set her sights on, leaving Alexander to stare at her retreating figure, feeling the ache in his chest expand.

Eventually, he gathered himself and trailed behind her.