Chapter 118: You Gave Me A Reason To Wear It
Chapter 118: You Gave Me A Reason To Wear It
Camilla
"Don't overthink it." I tried to encourage myself as my car was parked in the driveway of their mansion, my heart racing and mind spinning.
The familiar gates that lined their property loomed over me, the same number of people guarding the entrance as the last few times I have come through this way.
As I stepped out of my very much contrasting car, I forced my back to straighten and my head to remain high as I walked up to the barred metal gates. As awful as it is, the person who I have come to know as the scary lady flicks her eyes down to my ring, the thing that gained me entrance here countless times now.
Without a word, the doors silently open before me, nothing more than a slight nod coming from one of the people here. I took a quiet deep breath as I moved to walk, maybe I might have seen things, I could have sworn that I saw a small smile appear on the female guard's face as I passed.
Although it was likely just a figment of my imagination, it gave me the courage to not back out as I lifted the flowy skirt of my dress and carefully made my way up the stone steps. I couldn't help but be a little surprised when it was an old woman who answered my soft knock on the door but I supposed my presence had been expected in previous times so my men were always the ones waiting for me.
I thanked the lady as she took my bag for me and hurriedly off without another word. For a moment, I fiddled with my hands, not knowing where everyone was but I soon heard an angry shout coming from the dining room to my right.
It was Adriano's voice. I followed the sound of people all the way until I reached the small stretch of wall that kept the table mostly closed off from the living room and kitchen. Of course, this also hid my presence from everyone there but I didn't come here to snoop, I came for demands.
Taking one final moment of preparing myself, I righted my posture as I slipped around the corner, revealing myself to the four men at the table.
It took more than a second before all talk went silent at the sight of me walking into the dining room. My head held high and indeed looked like the best dressed person here.
Although I don't know what to expect while coming here, nothing could have prepared me for the way my heart physically ached at the sight of my men. They dressed head to toe in all dark red and looked amazing in the perfectly tailored suits I am assuming Raphael forced them to wear.
Three gaze holds on me as looks of surprise and sadness are thrown my way. I could feel their eyes as if it were their hands touching my body but I refused to let my emotions show on my part. I wouldn't give Raphael the satisfaction.
Despite his unnerving luring smile, he is not fooling anybody that he is anything more than a conniving snake. Ignoring the men's pained looks and Raphael's one of amusement, I walked over to the table of untouched food and empty plates. Despite the time being close to nine o'clock.
"Oh my oh my." Raphael said with a tone that made my blood boil but I forced my expression into neutrality.
"I hope you didn't dress so nice for our sake, although I will admit, you sure know how to…"
"Don't worry, I didn't." I flashed him a sickly sweet smile, trying to contain the bile rising in my throat.
He is just an asshole. Adriano rose from his seat at his words but I didn't need him to defend me and I sure as hell didn't need Raphael thinking I couldn't hold my ground. So that is what I did as I held his stare, moving to sit down in the only other places at the table with a plate.
"Pardon?" He said, his body entirely calm, though I could feel the disbelief radiating off him.
"I got this dress a few weeks ago for myself, that is all I mean." I continued to hold his gaze as I pulled out the chair beside him and sat down.
"Although, I suppose you did give me an excuse to wear it. I am assuming your offer of dinner still stands?"
It took every ounce of control and sheer will within me to not fold under his stare and surprisingly, he was the one to break away first. I knew I was taking a huge gamble talking to him like this and I saw that in the tense yet prepared state of the three men across from me. It looked as though they were readying to leap across the table in between Raphael and I as he remained deadly silent for a moment's breath.
Then, he burst out laughing as if my presence alone was the most entertaining thing he had seen all year. I haven't yet looked directly at any of my men but I could see the lethal glint in their eyes even from Gregorio who has barely said a word today.
The loud display of amusement echoed throughout the house similarly to the way it did this morning as well. Not stopping at goosebumps from rising on my arms as Raphael turned his head back to me. For a second, I feared my disgust of him was shown too clearly on my face but I only found him watching me with a tilted head and a smile formed across his lips.
"I know why you are here and for that singular reason, you have got the balls to speak to me like that knowing damn well who I am. I will let you steal the men away early."
I picked up on the slight warning in his tone, though proving that I had indeed offended him and dented his precious male ego. Good, I saw through the corner of my eyes all three men rise from their seats without another thought, looking at me in a silent plea to follow them. They were the whole reason I came here but I also haven't eaten once today and was absolutely starving.
Reaching into the woven basket filled with buns, I grabbed a buttered dinner roll and took it with me as I stood, my dress falling gently against my ankles and ever so slightly across the floor. Domenico offered his hand out to me as I moved around the table but I didn't take it, brushing past him and telling myself I shouldn't feel bad about the hurt that crossed his features by my actions.
I can't touch any one of them though because it was either this or crying and I really don't want to start crying again. So instead, I chose to keep my hands busy by pulling off a piece of the bread before lifting it to my watering mouth. Thankfully, not another word from Raphael was spoken as I walked out, following a stone cold Adriano down the hall.
The second that monster of a man called Don was out of sight, I finally felt my muscles loosen up a little and a steady breath to fall past my lips. This was debatably worse because now I was alone with the very people all I wanted to do was hold but couldn't bring myself to do so. It soon didn't matter though.
Before I knew it, Gregorio and Domenico moved to my side, Adriano leading us down the hallway and opening the same door to the room we signed our contact in. I couldn't tell whether or not that was an intentional move on his part but it still caused my eyes to close for just a second, pretending that this was real and I could go back to the teasing, happy way things were this morning.
Unfortunately, reality soon reared its demanding head, my feet carrying me to the long table and turning so I could sit on it. My dress nearly tucked beneath my body, my hand wrapping around the edge of the wood and bracing them on either side of my legs. My heart pounding as the following footsteps sound.
Gregorio was the last to enter abs and the one to close the door, his eyes on me the entire time. I finally allowed myself to look at them but I didn't like what I saw. Things were much off between us and the unspoken words hanging in the air left nothing but nervousness and sadness to fill me.
I watched as Domenico moved to take a step towards me but I instinctively held up a hand. I couldn't let him, any of them touch me.
Domenico instantly stopped at the gesture, his arms folding around each other as he instead leaned beside the doorway. Gregorio ended up on his right and Adriano on his left.
They are all staring at me.
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