Chapter 7

Elijah

I walked into the kitchen smelling waffles again, two days in a row I've been smelling waffles and each time I come into the kitchen, Camila was seated at the island.

Except this time, she was seated on top of the island with her earphones in and her legs crossed, her eyes closed and she looked calm and peaceful. Chef was by the waffle maker, he was already dressed in his uniform, he never spoke to anyone, just cooked and served.

I've heard Camila laughing and snickering whenever she was with him alone, but he never smiled to anyone else or talked to to anyone else, she really had her way with others.

I haven't been able to look at Camila from the night before because she always tried to dodge me or bid me quick farewell before disappearing up the staircase. I knew I heard when her father slapped her, and that made my mother upset, knowing that Nick would put his hands on his own child.

But in the time I've known Nick and my father, they were very ruthless men and I don't think they'd let anyone or anything get in their way of doing something. I was also upset, I never expected him to put his hands on Camila, her mother seemed so calm about the whole situation, dismissing it as a temper tantrum, over the years I've seen Camila, she was calm and never let anything bother her but over the two weeks we spent together, she was very ignorant and cranky but that was just her expressing herself.

Then the way Mira would talk about her, she always said that Camila was an open minded person, she was very easy to talk to and she was charming too, that, that I could agree on, she had her ways around every single thing.

"Are you done staring?" Camila asks catching me by surprise.

She still had her eyes closed but her eyebrow was raised in a questioning manner.

"I wasn't staring"I lied as Chef places a cup of coffee on the island for me.

"Right"Camila says nodding her head.

I took the time to look at her attire, she was only wearing a grey sports bra and sweatpants, her composure was perfect as she meditated. I remember her doing that on our trip a few times, she did early in the mornings and at noon whenever she could, and then before bed, said it helped her to keep her mind at ease. Her brunette hair was up in a messy bun with a few strands out, that really lit her face up.

"Okay, I can't concentrate with you staring"Camila says opening her eyes and removing her earphones.

"I wasn't staring at you"I laughed as she rolled her eyes and spun her legs over the island to get down but didn't .

"Chef, was he staring?" Camila asks, Chef turned to look at her then at me, he nodded his head then turned back to do his job.

"Okay then"Camila says in an I told you so tone.

I didn't bother to intrigue her, I just took a sip from my coffee and tried to not give in to her stares. But that was hard, seeing as she just sat there looking out of space.

Camila Brinx was indeed a fine and beautiful young woman, she was a role model to many girls and women, they aspired to have her calm and collected mindset. I've heard many girls discussing how beautiful she was and how much they admired the way she talked and carried herself. She was indeed remarkable, she has a light six pack and a beautiful hour glassed shape, not to mention her moisturized curly brunette hair.

I've never spoken more than a few words to her over the years, but I wished I had. She was a well educated person, from her interviews, to her modeling, everything about her was indeed captivating. But unfortunately, I wasn't here for all the beauty she possessed, it was only a sham marriage, and after that, she will probably leave the country.

"Do I have something on my face?" Camila asks brushing her cheek.

"No"I replied chucking at her. She let out a sigh of relief while putting her hand on her chest.

"Oh, good, I think it's you who've been drooling a little bit, I know I'm not that appealing to the eye, but do try to keep your mouth closed, flies tend to breed in open spaces"she says with that soft, witty voice of hers.

She sounded so calm and relaxed, how can one person have such a calm voice with all that's going on around her?.

Chef snorted to her remark, he smiled at her while keeping his head down, that's a first. I guess she did have a way with everyone.

Chef put a bowl of Cinnamon Toast Crunch on the island and Camila's eyes lit up. She grabbed the spoon and started on her breakfast, without even getting down from the island top. I didn't bother saying anything, it was her house too since we have been legally married.

"Don't you have work?" Camila asks with her mouth full of cereal. "I mean, you're a business man"she finished after swallowing the remains.

"Indeed, but we have a visitor today, he's supposed to be hear in a couple of minutes, for a business meeting with our fathers"I say looking at my wrist watch.

Camila was now less interested in whatever I was saying, I watched as she turned away and munched on her cereal. I, again admired her, I've seen her pictures on magazines and on the internet, in person she was no different, but the Camila everyone was so in love with, my father thought she had a weaker side to her, and he wanted me to find it.

He knew she wasn't just a perfect young woman, hiding in the shadows of her father, who I doubt gave any thought about her. And he asked me to find out as much as I could about her, but she was very hard to get through to, I will have to keep trying, I just hope neither of us get caught up in this whole marriage, I wanted to at least  make it out alive.

The doorbell rang a few times and I heard the door open. A few greetings were heard before footsteps toward the kitchen.

Nick walked into the kitchen, dressed in his business suit, he looked at Camila and so did I. She slid down from the island and stood beside me, as the man walked in behind her father.

"Elijah, Camila, you remember Devon Ramirez?" Nick says and just as I stood up to greet the man, I felt Camila grab my arm.

I turn to look at her and she gave me an apologetic look and loosened her grip. I looked between her and Devon, he was looking at her with a little grin as her father smiled proudly. My eyes looked over Camila's attire and I turned around, and faced her, so that I was blocking her completely, my hands resting on the island.

"It's very nice seeing you again Mr. Ramirez, however my wife and I are in the middle of breakfast, why don't you start without me, I will only be a minute"I say turning my head to look at Devon and Nick.

"Surely"Devon says shooting Camila another toying look before he and Nick turned and walked out.

I turn to look down at Camila and she looked up at me slowly. Her brown eyes held something I've never seen before, the last time I was this close to her was that night we both got drunk and slept together. A night I didn't regret, but we were both caught up in the moment and it was very wrong. I'm glad Mira didn't say I took advantage of her best friend because my cousin hated my guts, more now that I was married to Camila.

"I want you to stay in your room, lock the door, don't open until you hear me call okay"I say cupping Camila's face in my hands.

She nods without question and I stepped back, I asked Chef to make her something for her to take with her. By the look in her eyes, I knew something happened with Devon, something her father agreed to and knew about, and he was proud about it. I've heard rumors about Devon, my mother doesn't like him, he wasn't a great man of character and he certainly didn't care how he'd get to the top, he just had to.