All Chapters of Flavours of love: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Camiella's POVI found it challenging to comprehend everything that had just transpired, particularly if I had remained in that room. The suggestions my dad was making seemed utterly absurd, didn't they? Urging for increased security and involving Stefano in the investigation made sense to a certain degree, as any parent would naturally be concerned for their child. However, I was no longer a little girl. The idea that marriage suddenly held the solution was, well, quite ridiculous.It did have some logic, I couldn't deny that. If I were married, there would indeed be someone paying closer attention to my safety, someone prioritizing me. Yet, the notion of marrying someone for such a pathetic arrangement didn't appeal to me. When I eventually chose to marry, it would be because I loved the person, and if they expressed concern for my well-being, it would be out of genuine care, not because my father was paying them to do so.And Stefano out of all people? Really? If the people after m

"Of course not," she huffed, "but it made me paranoid. I couldn't go there alone after that," she admitted reluctantly, "you all have me horrified to be alone in my apartment after this morning. I can't stay there by myself, I'm... scared," she confessed. "Are you?" I mused, lifting a brow. "Oh God," she whined, covering her face, "why? Why did I ever think I could come to you for this?" She laughed humorlessly and threw her hands up in defeat. "Forget it. I'll just go home. If I'm found dead tomorrow morning, you can kiss your money goodbye and explain to my father." And she turned to leave.Camiella was my one-way ticket to this payment right now. I needed her more than she needed me. I had to keep her safe and keep my word. Regardless of what Mr. Rodriguez thought I owed him, I was a man of my word. Not to mention, something about Camiella's situation simply wasn't sitting right; someone was lying. Either Mr. Rodriguez knew more than he was letting on about the people after Camie

"Not until I'm done with you, darling," he mumbled absentmindedly without sparing me a glance. "You've been overthinking the whole day. Reach any conclusions yet?" he questioned. "Only the one I'm dreading." "Oh?" he mused. "Would you seriously marry me? Just if you were being paid more?" He chuckled softly, "Why are you asking? Especially when you don't truly want to know the answer, Ms. Rodriguez." I frowned, my eyes following his movements. "I'm curious." "About?" "About what kind of man you really are." He looked at me briefly. "You must have some morals, somewhere within you," I huffed. "Barely," he replied. "Not even for the things you care about? Is there really no one that matters to you?" "If there was, the world would know it," he answered, turning to me, and tossing the last file onto the third pile. "Oh? Is that the type of man you are? To show off what belongs to you?" "If it deserves to be shown off, yes," he nodded. "Really? I thought you'd say everything

"My concern is not what people will have to say, it's my daughter's safety," he snapped. "The sooner your engagement is announced, the easier it will be for Stefano to take care of you without people getting suspicious," he said to Camiella before turning to me. "Make up a story to go along with it, do what it takes, I don't care, Stefano. You both have one week to sell your story." "Give us two weeks," I negotiated. He sighed, "Stefano..." "Two weeks, Mr. Rodriguez. I can keep her safe for fourteen days without being her fiancé." He glanced at Camiella and released a breath. "Do as he says where your safety is concerned, Camiella. Please. This isn't a joke, you understand that, don't you?" Her gaze met mine. "I understand." She set the file down and grabbed the notepad sitting on the table and tore off a sheet as Derek and Mr. Rodriguez diverted to the first contract they would be signing with me. Derek wasn't directly a part of any of this, but he needed to know what was going

I sighed, moving on to the next text, blinking in utter confusion when I read it. Even the one after that, and the one after that. They were mostly from Shirley's friends and some other girls within Jake's social circle, all asking if I would be getting married to Stefano or if I really went looking at wedding rings with him. Looking up at him, I thrust my phone at his chest. "This is exactly why I didn't want to step into the store." He glanced at the texts once before blankly handing the phone back to me. "You can always ignore them, Fiesty." He spun on his heels and began walking to the car while I trailed behind him. "I'm not surprised you said that," I whispered behind him, both of us opening our own doors and getting in before he started the car and began driving to Nova. The restaurant wasn't far from where we currently were and we reached it within five minutes or so, getting seated at a table for two, right behind the glass window near the sidewalk and street. "Perfect t