Chapter Five: “My Wife”

Camilla's POV

‘IN WHAT CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A SEISMIC SHIFT IN WEST CITY'S SOCIAL LANDSCAPE, BILLIONAIRE PATRIARCH ELIAS VOSS, HAS CONFIRMED THE RETURN OF HIS ONLY HEIR FROM THE STATES TO SUCCEED HIM AS HE COMES TO AN END OF HIS BUSINESS CAREER”

“JUST IN: HEIR TO EMPIRE HEIR HAS REPORTED TO BE MARRIED TO THE BILLIONAIRE ANONYMOUS OWNER OF NOVA COMPANIES AND NOVA FINANCE EMPIRES….

The city moved past the tinted windows and I sat in with my hands folded in my lap, dressed in a winter white Chanel blazer, with a matching skirt that screamed luxury.

My hair pinned back, gracing the effortless light make-up that made me more of that woman my father wanted for me.

“Are you nervous?" Luca's question interrupted my trail of thoughts.

"What? No?” I said almost immediately.

"Good."

And for some reason I didn't feel the need to fidget anymore.

I took one deep breath but the relief hadn't settled before the Nova Corp building arrived before I was ready for it.

A hundred floors of dark glass and steel.

The car slowed and the moment it stopped I could see them, clustered at the base of the entrance with their camera raised.

One of the many things I was willing to risk for Nathaniel.

Fame.

The car door opened and even before the heel of my stilettos met the ground, the sound of shutters hit first, then voices and the chaos of people who made their living from other people's moments.

I stepped out, straightening myself before the questions came immediately.

"Mr Milano, how long have you been back in the state?"

"Sir, is it true Nova Corp is now in full cooperation with Voss empires?"

"Ms Voss, where have you been? You disappeared completely—"

“Did you really go to study abroad even after your mother died?”

"When did you two get married? Was this arranged by Elias Voss himself?"

"Camilla, over here — can you tell us about your time away from the public eye?"

I kept my eyes forward and my face as neutral as possible even after the question about my mother.

We both moved through the crowd with the help of Luca's men.

Then suddenly a microphone appeared on my shoulder. "Should we call you Ms Voss or Milano”

"She doesn't answer questions before coffee." Luca said it without breaking stride and without looking at the reporter and somehow it landed like a full stop.

The tinted glass doors opened for us and we stepped inside.

The lobby staff arranged themselves the moment we entered.

“Mr Milano, the boardroom is prepared. Ms Voss, welcome…”

"Ms Milano.” Luca corrected and the lady could only bow calmly with a smile.

“Of course sir"

They all bowed as I walked past as though I belonged here.

The way eyes found me, the greetings and nods.

I had spent three years walking into the Hartford family orbit and shrinking to fit it.

This was the exact opposite of that.

The boardroom was glass and clean lines, on it sat the documents my ex husband needed when he stepped in.

Imagining the look on his face when he learns of the truth, when he realizes the gen he had lost.

“I need to make a call. Ten minutes" Luca looked at me. “You can do this, right?"

I forced a small smile and then nodded.

He held my gaze for a fraction longer than necessary, then stepped out.

I moved to the window. West city spread below me in every direction and I stood with my arms loosely crossed and thought about nothing in particular.

Then the boardroom door opened behind me.

I turned.

“Ma'am, your business partners are here" the secretary informed.

Almost immediately, Margaret Hartford walked in first, wearing a sharp coat and a sharper expression and a leather portfolio under her arm.

Nathaniel was half a step behind her.

They saw the documents first before they saw me.

The silence lasted exactly three seconds and Margaret's expression moved through confusion and amusement.

“You cannot be serious."

Nathaniel blinked as he stared at me. “What the hell are you doing here?"

“I knew the divorce was just a show, the brat still stalks you"

I couldn't help but smile. "Good morning Hartford's, I hope it's going to be nice doing business with you”

Margaret scoffed immediately. “Someone needs to remove her!” Her voice had risen with a pitch of performing authority. She looked towards the door. "Where is the staff? Why is she standing here unsupervised, she doesn't work here…"

“I'm not a staff, Margaret."

"Oh will you shut your barren hag….” She came at me but Nathaniel stopped her.

" Mother, wait, let me.” He said, eyes locked on me as he came closer till he was inches away from me.

I didn't flinch, instead I stared blankly, bored in fact.

“Did someone put you up to this?" He scoffed, looking away for a second before narrowing his gaze back to me “this is embarrassing Camilla, even for you. Playing office in a building that has nothing to do…”

" Careful.’ my voice interrupted calmly. “You're about to say what you'll deeply regret"

“Regret?" He laughed, turned to his mother “I'm trying to be nice here because I know this is the kind of stunt you'd pull to get me back.."

My outburst of laughter interrupted him, “I'm sorry," pressing my lips together to contain it “I'm sorry go on"

His brow twitched in annoyance. “You’re just insane."

“Or she found a new bed to climb into like the shameless woman she is or how else would she get these expensive coats and diamonds" his mother resorted.

“At least I didn't have to be ordered around by my twenty seven year old son to be able to afford rubies" I added

"Camilla…” Nathaniel warned

"It's Madame” I said simply, taking one step towards Nathaniel, holding up my hand high enough that he saw the ring on my middle finger. "You are to address me as Madame, as heir to the Voss empire, as the daughter of THE Elias Voss. Oh how I regret leaving my family for you"

“You better shut your trap…” he moved to grab my arm in his grip but then the air in the room suddenly shifted.

"Don't you dare think to lay a hand on my wife, Nathaniel."

A deep voice came from the doorway.

Nathaniel's hand dropped, his body turned slowly and stiffly.

Luca stood in the doorway.

His eyes were on Nathaniel's dropped hand and the look on his face showed he was deciding whether to have Nathaniel's hand amputated or his fingers.

But then.

"Uncle?”

Nathaniel's voice came out differently, I watched the expression on his face switch up as mine switched up as well.

Margaret's bag dropped to the ground with a loud clank. "You… how are you…. When did you…”

Luca walked into the room without answering them and came to stand beside me, the proximity of him was clear.

But I was unclear.

What the hell was happening?

Uncle?

I looked at Luca.

His jaws and the darkness of his eye, his cold expression and readable hate for both Nate and his mother.

I had it now as I heard it again in my own head.

Milano.

Luca Xavier Milano.

Hartford was of course Nathaniel's father's name.

“Respectfully step away from my wife, before I have your brain dissected for even thinking you could touch her" he said again, this time with less patience in his voice.