Power Plays

Camila entered the little diner a few blocks away from her workplace. She looked around and smiled when she spotted Miels sitting by the window.

“Hi,” she said as she approached the table.

“Hey,” he said as he stood up to hug her and help her with her chair. “How are you?”

“Tired,” she chuckled. “How are you too? I hope I didn’t pull you off work?”

He shook his head. “Oh no. Today is my off day, and I am good, thank you.”

They stared at each other for a moment.

“Would you like to order something?”

“I am fine, thanks. I just… Joan’s taking me out. Says I need to relax more.”

“She’s not wrong,” he agreed.

“Do I look that bad?” she asked in mock surprise.

Miles chuckled. “You need to be mentally ready and healthy for what’s coming,” he told her.

Camila sighed.

“It’s going to be a huge storm,” he said.

Camila reached out for his hands on the table.

“Well, I have you and Joan to stand by me, so it’s a storm I can get through.”

He nodded and smiled.

“The court date has been postponed due to an incident that happened with Watkins Jr.. Says he’s in pretty bad shape,” he shrugged.

He handed her a document, and she looked through it.

“Looks to me like they’re trying to delay the case so it gets cold and the judge just tosses it,” he shrugged. “I don’t really know.”

Camila frowned. “That’s possible?”

Miles sighed. “Looks like you have a lot of things to catch up on concerning cases like this.”

Camila placed the document on the table and buried her face in her palm.

“I’m sorry, I haven’t gone through those links you emailed me,” she sighed. “Work and other personal matters have been too much to cope with.”

He reached for her hands and squeezed them lightly.

“I understand. No pressure. I am here every step of the way,” he offered a smile.

She returned it. “I know, I am just… Miles, I’m scared.” She leaned closer, her eyes wide with worry. "What if they let him walk?” she asked, slightly frowning. “What if my mom doesn’t get the justice she deserves? I…” She sighed again. “I can’t let them walk, Miles. It was never a mistake.”

Miles squeezed her hands again and leaned in. “We are going to fight with everything we have. We might not have much, but we have a lot of fight in us to win this.” He caressed her cheek. “They will not walk, okay?”

She nodded and breathed out. “Okay.”

Miles stared at her lips for a second and then back to her eyes. He cleared his throat and leaned back.

“Want to go for a walk?” he asked after a moment.

…

Miles and Camila walked side-by-side at the park, eating ice cream from the cone. They said nothing but just let the noise from children running in the park surround them.

They sat on one of the benches in the park and faced each other.

“You got a little something on your…” He helped her clean her cheek with a tissue, and she smiled.

Her phone beeped, and she took it out of her purse to check it. It was a message from an unknown number.

She frowned at the content of the message.

“What’s wrong?” She turned her phone so Miles was looking at it. “Shit! I knew they’d try to scare you away.”

Camila chuckled sarcastically and pocketed her phone.

“That’s really low of them. trying to use that against me.” Her face hardened. She turned and dumped the rest of her melting ice cream in the trash can beside her. “Why can’t they just own up like grown adults?”

“I guess you can’t win with the rich,” he shrugged.

She looked at him, no strain of a smile on her face.

“If they want to play dirty, then I am sure as hell going to—”

“Hey Cam.” Henry appeared out of the blue with his usual charming smile and quiet demeanor.

Camila grunted. “Oh, what the hell do you want now?” She glared at Henry.

He was taken aback by her aggressive tone towards him. “If you came here for Joan, SHE. IS. NOT. TAKING. YOU. BACK!” She half-yelled at him, which attracted a few attentions to them.

Henry looked at some of the questioning looks thrown in their direction with embarrassment. He turned back to Camila, his face void of any warmth.

“Look, I’ve tried to play the good guy for months now. I said I was sorry, and if she can’t be mature enough to forgive me, I really don’t know what to say.”

“Wow, you cheat and hurt her, and she should just forget about it right away. Nothing ever happened.”

“Yes! Everyone does that, and I am not the first or the hundredth person to commit such a mistake.”

“Dude, are you listening to yourself?” Miles asked, a hint of disgust on his face.

Henry looked at Miles like he was an alien, then he returned his focus on Camila.

“I have tried my best, done all I can, and begged for Joan to take me back, but she’s being adamant about it. Just let her know this: I will make her life a living hell if that’s what I have to do for her to be mine again.”

Camila felt a chill run down her spine as he spoke those words to her. Something about the way he said it was scary.

“You can’t do anything to her,” Camila said above a whisper, like she wasn’t certain.

Henry smirked. “I know who has her father’s company, and I’m a big player in this game. A few words in the right ears, and Anderson & Co. will be nothing but dust. So, she better play nice.” He said the last words in a sing-song voice and winked.

“If you try anything against my girlfriend and her friend…”

Henry chuckled. “Chill, man. Don’t get into a war when you’re not ready for the battle. Focus on Isabel’s case, and I’ll focus on mine,” he warned, then turned around to leave.