Fantasies in Silk.

"Wow, Camila, your place is beautiful," Delilah complimented, glancing around. I smiled.

"Thank you," I said, throwing my bag on the couch and allowing her to sit while I grabbed some juice for each of us.

As I approached the kitchen, I heard noises that sent a chill down my spine. I turned around and saw a vase on the dining table.

I grabbed it, and slowly walked into the kitchen, my heart racing with dread.

A lady was behind the cooker, humming to herself and swaying her hips to whatever music played in her head.

"Who are you?" I asked, my brows furrowed.

She spun around, and the vase slipped from my grasp, shattering on the floor.

"Ava?" I whispered, a grin spreading across my face.

"Hello there bitch," she smirked, and I ran to hug her, squeezing the life out of her body, making her squirm.

"I can't breathe, Cammie," she managed to say, and I reluctantly let go of her.

"I can't believe you're here. Why didn't you text me that you were coming back?"

"I'm sorry, I got tired of Singapore, and I also got a job here, so I decided to come back. And as for informing you, I wanted to give you a surprise."

"Well, you did, I really did miss you."

"Of course you should," she wiggled her brows. "I'm preparing dinner, and with the look on your face, I guess you're hungry, so I'll cook for the both of us."

"Can you make it three? I brought someone over."

"A guy?" A mischievous look crossed her face, and I slapped her arm.

"No Ava."

"So it's a female? You got another best friend, Camila?'" I grabbed her hair as a frown appeared on her brow.

"Of course not silly, she's a friend I made today. I brought her because she couldn't go home," I explained, and she nodded in understanding.

"That's alright, go freshen up because you have a lot to fill me in on," she grinned, and I shook my head.

"There's nothing really, but I'll just do as you say." I left and returned to my room to refresh up.

^^^^^

I walked down in a silk nightgown to find Ava and Delilah already getting familiar with each other.

"Hey, what are you two talking about?" I sat on the couch, grabbing a plate from the center table.

"Ava was just telling me about Singapore," Delilah responded as Ava carried on with her stories. While my mind drifted back to what happened between Luciano and me moments ago.

'Goodnight Ms Colorado.' His voice played like music in my ears.

My mind raveled back to when his hand touched mine, the way he stared at me, his handsome face and sexy body.

I felt my clitoris getting wet at just the thoughts of him.

While staring at his abs, I could only imagine how they'd feel to run my hands down them.

His hands inked with tattoos and adorned with rings, I imagined them around my throat while he whispered dirty things in my ears.

My legs unconsciously jammed together at the thoughts of Luciano Dela Lucchese.

"Do you remember, Camila?" The sound of my name from Ava jolted me out of my nasty fantasies about a man I had met a few hours earlier.

Her forehead furrowed with apprehension.

"Are you okay?" I flashed a tight-lipped smile and nodded.

"But you're sweating." She pointed out.

Shit! I didn't know that. How can I tell her I'm in this state because I was thinking of a sexy billionaire who I met a few hours ago and spent a little time with?

"I think I know what's wrong," Delilah spoke up, giving me a wicked smile, and I glared at her warningly, prompting Ava to look between us suspiciously.

"It's nothing really, I think I'm just tired. I'll go and sleep now," I dropped the plate and left for my room.

I exhaled loudly as soon as I entered my room. Finally, I could breathe normally.

Because I was so hot, I turned up the air conditioning to its highest setting.

I climbed into my bed and pulled the blankets over my body. I thought I'd finally be able to escape Luciano's thoughts by sleeping, but it wasn't as easy as I had hoped; he simply had to appear in my dreams too.

^^^^

I slipped into a cold-shoulder turtleneck black dress, the small open design at the middle adding a touch of daring. It hit my mid-thighs, the inverted "U" shaped slit on the right side.

I knew Mr. Paisley would have something to say about it, but I pushed his opinion to the back of my mind.

'Paisley Fashion House,' a place without a dress code, but if there was one, Aubrey would never get away with her daring outfits.

No one seemed to mind her attire, but when it came to me, I was instantly branded a "slut" who is trying to seduce the men at work.

Sighing, I looked at my reflection. Just a dab of gloss on my lips and a messy bun for my hair, I headed out.

I found Delilah waiting, her eyes widening with relief as they met mine.

"I almost thought you left without me," she said, breathlessly. I shook my head, a smile playing on my lips.

"Why would I? Come on, let's go before we get stuck in traffic."

"Ava, we're leaving now!" I yelled out.

"Okay, but be sure to come home early. We're going to a party," she yelled back.

"A party? You know I do not like parties."

"That's your problem, Camila,' she retorted, her voice firm. "We'll do as I say!"

There was no arguing with her, so I left with Delilah, dropping her off before driving to work.

Mr. Paul, as always, greeted me with a welcoming smile. The office felt strange though.

A peculiar silence hung in the air, and everyone seemed unusually calm. I stopped walking, scanning the hallway, wondering if it was me causing the quiet, but it wasn't.

For the first time, this normally bustling place was eerily silent.

As I reached my office, Paula was waiting at the door, her face etched with worry.

"Paula?" I called out, a knot tightening in my stomach. She looked up, relief flooding her features.

"Thank goodness you're here," she breathed out.

“Why? What's wrong?” I asked, pulling my keys out to unlock the door.

"We've all been waiting for you in the conference room," she said, her words rushed.

I dropped my bag on the table and gave her a questioning look.

"Why?"

"You see, Mr. Dela Lucchese is here. He's been waiting for you, and, well, he's not exactly being patient. And Mr. Paisley looks like he could..." I didn't let her finish. I grabbed my iPad from my bag, where I'd carefully saved all the designs for our new project.

"Damn it! Why didn't you call me, Paula?" I asked, my voice laced with panic. We rushed out of my office.

"I tried, Camila, but it wasn't going through," she said, her voice barely a whisper.

We reached the conference room and I pushed open the door. All eyes fell on me, sending a wave of nervous energy through me.

My gaze locked with a familiar pair of dark gray eyes that seemed to pierce through my soul. I swallowed hard, unsure of what to say or how to even open my mouth.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Aubrey smirking. And Mr. Paisley, well, after this meeting, I might just hand in my resignation.

"Camila, we've been waiting for you," Mrs. Paisley broke the silence.

Though her voice was calm, I could see a flicker of disappointment and anxiety in her eyes.

I mumbled an apology and walked to the front of the room, ready for the presentation, his unwavering gaze never leaving mine.

I finished my presentation, and Aubrey started hers. I tried to focus on her words, but my mind was consumed by the man across from me, his eyes burning into my skin.

Why did he constantly stare at me? Was he harboring some animosity towards me, or simply observing me with a critical eye?

I was desperate to understand his thoughts whenever he looked at me like that, but his expressions were always so mysterious. Aubrey finished her presentation.

A heavy silence filled the room, the anticipation thick in the air.

"I won't be able to invest in this company," he said, the bombshell dropping, silencing the room. Our eyes widened in shock.