~ SAND CASTLE ~ EVENING~
A fuming Bianca could be seen walking down the hall way.
She ignored the greetings of some of the workers and went straight to a room which she went into without knocking.
“Lenora! It’s over, it’s all over!” Bianca said, as fresh tears slid down her cheek.
“What’s wrong?”
“He’s getting married to her,Mariano is marrying that Bîtch” Bianca cried out.
“Where on earth did you get that info? It might be a lie”
“It’s not a lie. I just got a call from Mariano’s grandfather, telling me to prepare things for his wedding. At first, I thought he was referring to me but he called Camila name and…he wants me to… He wants me to….have lost him Lenora, have lost Mariano for good” Bianca said, crying harder.
“You’ve not” Lenora said suddenly ” Do me a favour and wipe your tears, I will be back”
Lenora left the room and came back later, holding two little jar in hand.
“What’s that?” Bianca asked.
“You remember when we went to China last year and I told you that I brought back some treasure with me?” Lenora said.
“Is this the treasure?” Bianca ask, referring to the jar in Lenora hand.
“The blue jar contains Lethal pill. Once taken, death follows. You only have to put it in one’s drink and bam….he or she is gone” Lenora said.
“So you are suggesting I put it in Camila’s drink?”
“Am sure boss will be announcing his engagement to her tonight. We shall all gather and toast to them and give her the poison to drink” Lenora said, Bianca smiled.
“What about this?” Bianca asked, raising the yellow jar to eye level.
“It’s aphrodisiac pill. If a man or woman drinks this, it makes them horny. Have used it once and it worked. You can put it into Mariano’s drink and who knows, you might end up giving him another child”
“Not bad. Do you know who will be serving tonight?” Bianca asked.
*
Cora stood against the kitchen counter, fín?E?ing her lips lightly while thinking about the kiss she had with Alexis when Lenora and Bianca showed up.
“Hey Cora, will you be the one serving dinner tonight?” Lenora asked.
“No, am off for today but I think it’s going to be Genova ” Cora replied.
“Do you know where she is?” Bianca asked.
“She’s at the backyard” Cora replied and immediately, Bianca and Lenora went in search of Genova leaving Cora day dreaming about her kiss.
*****
~ DINNER ROOM ~
Luna and Selena were the first to get to the dinner room.
They were having a fun filled chat when Stephan and Enzo showed up.
“Hello freaky!” Stephan greeted while Enzo took a seat, acknowledging Selena while he ignored Luna.
“Stop calling me a freak” Luna said.
“But you are a freak especially with the way you handle those computer, I could never do that, I don’t even know how to use the mouse but you….you are good” Stephan compliment making her smile.
“Is it that I arrive early or I arrive late?” Cesare ask by the door way.
“Your early” Selena replied, gazing at Cesare lovingly, something Stephan notice.
“For the very first time, you came early” Luna said as Cesare took his seat beside Stephan.
“Let’s just say that am dying to know what Mariano has to tell us and also, you look very pretty Luna, did you get a new glass cause it suits you” Cesare said and Luna blush.
“If you keep telling her that then she will keep believing herself to be pretty with this hideous glass on” said Matteo as he walk into the room and sat beside Luna.
“But she’s indeed pretty” Cesare replied.
“She is but she will be more pretty if she takes the glass off” Matteo said, pulling off Luna’s glass.
“She’s more beautiful with the glasses on, dimwit” Selena snap at Matteo as she put the glass back on Luna’s face.
“With or without glasses, shouldn’t you think your girlfriend pretty all the time?” Stephan threw at Matteo who smiled nervously.
“I do think her as pretty and I tell her that everyday, isn’t that right, love?” Matteo ask and when Luna gave a nod, he kiss her on the cheek.
“Get a room” Selena said, Stephan rolled his eyes while Cesare kept smiling.
Enzo just sat in silence, watching Matteo charm Luna like he always does.
Paolo and Alexis arrived together and everyone kept talking, while waiting for Mariano to show up.
The clattering of heels announced the arrival of Bianca and Lenora. They were both dressed to kill for dinner.
“Bianca in blue looks like a ruffled peaÇOçk while Lenora in black looks like an ostrich” Selena whispered at Luna and they both giggle.
“Gosh, you both are stunning” Paolo compliment and while Bianca ignored him, Lenora smiled brightly.
“More like they are performing a fashion parade” Selena muttered but everyone heard.
Choosing to ignore Selena’s taunt, Lenora decided to attack Luna.
“Oh my! Why do you keep wearing that hideous glass? Don’t you know that it makes you look more ugly?”
“What do you mean by ugly? She’s pretty with the glasses on'” Selena replied.
“Stop trying to fool her, the earlier she do something to her face, the better for her” Lenora said hotly.
“And has anyone told you that you look like a zombie with that plastic nose you did recently?” Selena said loudly and everyone burst into laughter.
“I didn’t do any plastic surgery. My nose have always been like this” Lenora said,losing her cool.
“Then I suggest you get it done since it look crooked and if punched, am sure it will fall off and then…you will lose your beauty”
“You are going too far, Selena. I won’t….”
“Enough! Can’t we stay together without bickering at each other?” Bianca ask, hitting the table in anger.
“And you? Aren’t you second in charge, why aren’t you doing anything?” Bianca ask.
“But I am doing something, am watching the show” Cesare said and once again everyone burst into laughter.
Down the hall, Mariano could be seen walking ahead while Camila followed slowly from behind.
“If you keep walking like that then we will be late” he stop to say to her.
“I still don’t know why I have to join you and your crew for dinner. Can’t I just have it in my room?” Camila asked and instead of replying.
He went back and taking hold of her hand, he began to pull her to the dinner room.
“We are having dinner to announce to my crew as you’ve called them that we are getting married. You already agree to marry me, so at least pretend to be happy about it” he said to her as they walk into the dinner room.
Everywhere grew silent as soon as Mariano and Camila walk in.
“Evening everyone” Mariano greeted after settling down on his seat with Camila beside him.
“As some of you know. I recently found out about the existence of my son and it’s all thanks to Camila who made him find me” Mariano began.
“I realise that I can’t let my son go and Camila here is very important to me which is why I proposed to Camila and she accept. This gathering is to announce my engagement to her” Mariano added.
Cesare, Luna, Selena and Alexis had a surprised look on their face while Bianca did her best to hide her anger, Matteo kept grinning like a fool and Paolo let out a whistle.
“Nothing to say?” Mariano asked when everyone went silent.
Bianca stood up at that moment and turn to everyone.
“Boss is getting married, you all should congratulate him” Bianca said with a forced smile.
“Congrats Mariano” Bianca said giving him a hug and surprisingly she gave Camila a hug too.
Congratulation came from everyone apart from Cesare who still digesting the whole thing.
“Let’s all make a toast. Bring in the drink” Bianca ordered and Cora walked in with two other maid, no sign of Genova.
“Where’s Genova? She should be the one handing out the drink?” Bianca whispered to Lenora as the maids distribute the drink.
“Let me go ask her” Lenora said and left the room.
Cora brought her tray to them and she gave Bianca the glass on the left and Camila, the glass on the right and then Mariano was given the last one.
Bianca stared at the drink wondering which one is the poison one.
“Cheers to boss engagement and cheers to our future lady boss” Selena said as they all drank the wine.
Not wanting to seem suspicious, Bianca had hers too.
Seeing a worried Lenora return, Bianca left her spot and went to meet her at the door way.
“What happen?”
“She said the schedule was suddenly change and she had no chance to take out the poisoned drink” Lenora replied.
“She also said that Cora was the one with the tray which had the poisoned drink and that the drink on the left is the one with the lethal pill” Lenora added.
“Oh no! I had the one on the left, I took the poisoned drink” Bianca said, holding her throat.
“Let’s get out of here, I have the antidote” Lenora added as they both fled.
On the other hand, Camila felt her inside burning. She only had a few drink, so what’s wrong with her?
“Are you okay?” Mariano asked.
“I feel a bit hot, am going outside to get some air”
Camila walk out of the room, feeling more hot than ever.
“What’s wrong with me?” She muttered as she made a turn only to see Cesare resting against the wall.
“Camila” Cesare called and she stared at him questioningly.
“Do you still recognize me?” Cesare ask and she kept starring, trying to figure out who he is.
“I do! You are the kind gentle man who always came to the restaurant I worked at ten years ago” Camila said, a smile on her face as she recognised him.
“Am glad you still remember me. Tell me? Are you really getting married to Mariano?” Cesare asked and she gave a nod.
“Just like he said, he proposed and I accept. I accepted a man I h@të so much” Camila added, staggering a little.
Cesare held her in his arms, trying to steady her and that was how Mariano saw them when he arrive.
“What’s going on?” He asked, looking from Cesare to Camila.
“I think she’s a bit drunk” Cesare replied still holding onto Camila.
Mariano didn’t know why he didn’t like Cesare hand around Camila’s waist but he ignored the angry feeling in him and pulled Camila into his arms.
“I will take care of it” Mariano said possessively, lifting her over his shoulder, he took her to her room.
“If it’s a forced marriage, I have nothing to worry about” Cesare said to himself.
*****
~ CAMILA’S ROOM ~
“Put me down you brute!” Camila said and Mariano dump her on the bed.
“Since you can’t flirt with me, you now try to flirt with my friend, right?” Mariano said and Camila began to laugh.
“What’s funny?”
“Are you jealous?” She asked as she staggered off the bed.
“You shouldn’t be jealous. I decided to marry you after all” said Camila as she move close to him to wrap her arms around his neck.
“Why are you suddenly being touchy?” Mariano asked as he pushed her away from him.
“I feel hot Mariano and it’s itchy down here….” She made a pout while pointing to her çlitoris.
“Is that a new way of asking for s*x?”
“Maybe it is” Camila said, moving towards him again but he pulled away from temptation.
“What’s wrong with you? You were angry at the thought of sleeping with me and now….your throwing yourself at me?”
“So? You intend to leave me this way? Then I will go and ask one of your crew to help ” She said, heading to the door.
Mariano went after her and when he caught up with her, he lifted her by the waist and back to bed where they both fell on it together.
“You really are asking for it, Woman!” Mariano said and underneath him, she giggled and wrap her arms around his neck.
“Am horny” she said, grinning like a fool.
Mariano got off of her, putting some distance between them.
“Why did you laugh?” Camila ask suddenly as she sat up.
“Huh?”
“Ten years ago when we first met, Sabrina brought you to the restaurant where I worked and when I introduced myself, you laughed. Why did you do that?” Camila asked, Mariano said nothing.
“It’s stupid of me to ask that when I know the answer, I clearly saw the disapproval in your eyes, you disapproved of me back then and you still do now and I also began hating you since that day ” she added.
“You thought my laughter was because I disapprove of you?” Mariano asked.
“You don’t need to justify yourself. You disapprove of me and I h@të you, let’s keep it that way” She said, getting off the bed.
Camila didn’t get to go far because, he took hold of her hand and pulled her on the bed with him on top of her.
“Gawd knows that ever since I met you, have felt a lot of things but disapproval isn’t part of it” He said and parted her tempting lips with his own…..
TBC💚
