A Temporary Girlfriend

Chapter 13

"Adrian...," I said, holding his hands softly and looking into his eyes. For some reason, all I wanted was to get closer to him—even though he always pushed me away and sometimes spoke so coldly. I stepped in a little more, the space between us now barely there.

"What did I tell you before coming here?" Adrian said, gripping my waist firmly and pulling me closer. Our bodies touched. I slowly wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing his head toward mine, our eyes locked. His body wasn't just muscular; his skin was soft, and the closer I got, the more attractive he became.

"I'm sorry, babe. I just got carried away by the way you looked at me," I whispered, letting the words slip out freely. It felt like the world around us had vanished. I was losing control, but I didn’t want to fight it. I've never been strong around Adrian and Roderick. Whenever I’m near either of the two brothers, this irresistible desire overwhelms me, and it's hard to control myself. Maybe it's because I’ve never truly felt love before or been this close to anyone. Not like this.

"You know, if you're going to buy me all the dresses I like, you could at least tell me how I look in them," I said with a soft smile and a quick glance at his lips.

“There’s hardly a word to describe your beauty, Camila. You always look beautiful in whatever you wear. If I had to describe it, it would probably take forever,” Adrian said, his gaze locked in mine.

Hearing his compliment made me completely lose it. Without thinking, I moved closer to kiss him. But just as our lips were about to meet—

"I'm sorry! I didn’t mean to interrupt. I just wanted to tell you your clothes are ready, Mrs. Camila," Precila said, walking in with several shopping bags.

I snapped back to my senses and quickly took the bags from her, thanking her.

“Meet me at the car,” Adrian said coldly—just like that, he'd returned to his usual distant self. He walked past us without a glance, heading to the receptionist to pay, then disappeared through the exit, vanishing into the crowd.

“Thank you, Precila. I’ll be on my way now,” I said, but before I could leave, she held my hand tightly, stopping me in my tracks.

“Camila, wait,” she said, letting go slowly.

“Yes? Is something wrong?” I asked, surprised by the sudden seriousness in her expression.

“It’s about Adrian. I don’t know how long you two have been dating, but I want you to know—he’s a good guy. He acts tough, but when you get to know him, he’s really kind inside.”

I was stunned. Why would she say something like that? And how would she know?

“But… why tell me this? And how would you know?”

“Well, because I’m the CEO of this company… and because I’ve been close to Adrian. I even asked him out once—but he turned me down. He said he loved someone else. He’s loved her since he was a child, and I thought those feelings still held strong to this day,” she said, her voice soft, clearly lost in thought.

“I love Adrian. And all I’ve ever wanted was for him to be happy. Even though he rejected me, I still hoped he’d find the one he truly loves—or at least move on. But Camila… I’ve never seen that expression on his face until today. I don’t know what you did, but please, don’t break his heart. He’s a good man. He even helped me build this company and wanted nothing in return. I’ll be rooting for you. If you ever need anything, just give me a call. A friend of Adrian is a friend of mine.” She handed me her business card and left.

I stood there speechless, letting her words sink into my mind.

After changing into one of the dresses, I headed for the parking lot. Seeing Adrian’s car, I sighed deeply. My emotions were in turmoil. I walked to the car, holding the bags—which now felt heavier—and got in without looking at him. He didn’t look at me either. The ride was silent.

We arrived at his house in less than ten minutes—the roads were nearly empty. I stepped out, still carrying the bags, and headed toward the door, not saying a word or waiting for Adrian. I opened the door slowly—and there they were.

Mr. Clastu and Grandpa sat opposite each other with a bottle and glasses between them.

The moment Grandpa saw me, a bright smile spread across his face. I smiled too, forgetting all my worries—until Adrian came in behind me.

“Good morning, Father. Good morning, Mr. Damian,” Adrian greeted with a slight bow and headed upstairs without another word.

I watched him go, then turned back when Grandpa called to me.

“Oh, Camila! How was your day?” he asked as he tried to stand.

“Don’t change the subject, Grandpa. You know you’re not supposed to be drinking. It’s not good for your health,” I said, helping him sit back down. His body looked so fragile—he could barely stand upright.

“I’m sorry, Camila. It’s my fault. He insisted, and I gave in. Please forgive me. I’ll make sure he’s attended to immediately,” Mr. Clastu said, bowing slightly in apology.

“Oh, please don’t worry, sir. It’s okay, really. This isn’t the first time Grandpa sneaks a shot. I’m just a little worried, that’s all,” I said, settling Grandpa comfortably.

“Come on, Camila. Your old man is strong—and stubborn. I can handle a bottle or two,” Grandpa said with a grin.

I smiled, knowing he was always like this—and likely didn’t even know it was a soft drink.

“I’m glad you came early, Camila. And you look stunning. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you went to that party with Roderick,” Mr. Clastu said with a chuckle.

“Party? What party?”