~SAND CASTLE~ ALEXIS ROOM ~
With shaky hands, Cora knock on the door and when she heard Alexis thick voice, telling her to come in.
She went into the room with his food in hand.
“Goodmor….ning” her voice faltered when she saw him.
He had nothing on except for the towel which was hanging loose around his waist, revealing dark curly hair which will definitely trail down to….
“If you are done starring, you might as well leave” said Alexis.
That got Cora looking away, silently cursing herself for being caught.
He might be identical to Paolo since they are both twin but they gave off different vibe.
Paolo is the typical bad boy type while Alexis is as gentle as a dove or as bad as his brother….she didn’t know but what she know is that she has got to tell him before she loses courage.
“Anything else?” Alexis asked and slowly, she turn to him.
“I have a proposition to make ” Cora began.
“Not interested”
“But you haven’t even heard it”
“I don’t need to and let me tell you this…I don’t mingle with the girls my brother go out with. Now, leave” he said gruffly.
“And who told you that am one of the girls your brother goes out with? Am definitely not one of them and neither will I ever be!” She said, earning his attention once again.
“Am here solely to ask for your help. I….I need you…to pretend to be my boyfriend” Cora said, heaving out a sigh.
“You want me to pretend to be what?”
” I need you to pretend to be my boyfriend. I don’t know what Paolo told you but I…I don’t like him and no matter how many times I tell him, he won’t leave me alone ”
“Which is why I need to pretend to be in a relationship and get him off my back for good” she finish quickly.
“Why me?”
“Huh?”
“Why choose me?”
“Cause you are his brother. He will back off and stay away once he knows that we are dating” Cora replied and he stood, with his arms folded against his broad chest starring at her.
“What do you say, Will you help me?”
*****
~ SELENA’S ROOM ~
“Ouch! That hurts you jerk” Selena cried out, hitting Stephan.
“Am being extra careful here. You should be thanking me instead of insulting me” Stephan retaliate, using the band aid to cover up her injured cheek.
“Gosh! I look like a scarecrow” said Selena as she stared at her face with her glass.
“Even without the bruise, you’ve always been ugly” Stephan mock.
“That’s not true, she’s beautiful”
Someone said by the door way and they both turn to see Lucas there.
“Well, well, well. I finally get to meet the great Lucas” Stephan said, stretching forth his hand to Lucas but Lucas went past him and took hold of Selena’s hand, giving it a little kiss.
“Nice to meet you, I am Lucas”
“And I am Selena. What a charming boy you are” Selena said, totally charmed by him.
“You ignore me just to go to a lady, you really are your father’s son” Stephan said.
“My mom taught me to always treat a lady with care and that’s what am doing or am I wrong?” He ask Selena who shook her head.
“You really are the most charming gentle man of all”
“I know that” Lucas said, giving her a wink and she burst out laughing.
Stephan stood still, watching Selena. For the eight years they’ve been working together, he has never seen her smile like this….it made her look fragile and beautiful.
“And so where is this charming boy heading to?” Selena asked.
“To my mom. I haven’t seen her ever since I woke up, can you help me?” Lucas asked.
“You heard the kid, Stephan. Let’s help him get to his mom” Selena said and taking hold of his hand, they left the room while Stephan followed suit.
*****
~ CESARE’S ROOM ~
“Why do you keep on looking at me like that?” Cesare asked as he sat up on the bed.
“How am I looking at you?” Mariano asked in return.
“Like you would like to hold me in your arms….just like the good old days” Cesare said.
Mariano threw a pillow at him.
“If I hadn’t sent Stephan to you guys, you would have both been dead” Mariano said, looking worried.
“But we are back here safe and sound. I knew you were going to send a backup which was why I went into Lion’s den” Cesare said, smiling at him.
“Did you trust me that much?”
“More than life itself” Cesare reply and he nodded.
They both met and bonded at a very young age and they’ve always been friends ever since.
“Lilo was gone by the time we got to Vicenza, we only met his men who captured us and tortured us” Cesare told him.
Lilo Manchester being the leader of a trafficking gang whom Mariano have been trying to capture for a very long time.
“But Lilo had no idea about us coming to Vicenza, how on earth was he able to leave before our arrival” A disturbed Cesare said.
“There’s a spy amongst us” Mariano said.
“Really?”
“It’s just a hunch but I need you to keep your eyes open. If you find anyone suspicious, bring him to me” Mariano added.
“Err….I heard about your thing”
“What thing?” Mariano asked.
“Lucas and Camila” Cesare replied and when Mariano said nothing, Cesare ask.
” What do you plan to do with Camila? I know you would want to keep your son but you won’t…..want to keep Camila, right?”
“Camila and Lucas are my business. Don’t expect me to talk about them with you. Get some rest, doctor order” Mariano said, tapping him lightly on the shoulder before leaving his room.
He was heading to Camila’s room when Bianca showed up.
“What’s this about that kid being yours? I thought you said you never want kids!” Bianca demanded.
“I change my mind”
“Okay. I accept that you’ve changed your mind and that you want kids but why keep that woman here? Can’t she leave?” Bianca said, referring to Camila.
“I don’t owe you any explanation” Mariano spat out.
“But you…”
“Enough Bianca! This is none of your business so stay out of it!” He warned and walk off, leaving her fuming more with rage.
*****
~ CAMILA’S ROOM ~
Camila was on the bed when she heard a knock.
“Go away! I don’t want to see anyone” Camila yelled.
“Mommy”
As soon as she heard that, she got off the bed and ran to the door.
“Lucas!” She said in relief.
Lifting the boy into arms to shower him with kisses.
“I missed you so much” Camila said oblivious to Stephan and Selena at the door.
“Which is why I came looking for you. I will admit that I lost my way but aunt Selena and Stephan brought me here” Lucas introduce.
“Shouldn’t that be uncle Stephan?” Stephan said and Selena elbowed him on the stomach to keep shut.
“Am Selena and this is Stephan” Selena did the introduction.
“Lucas must have been a handful”
“On the contrary, he has been nothing but a charmer. He’s just like his father, The boss is just….”
“Thanks for bringing Lucas to me” Camila said quickly and shut the door on their face.
“Did they hurt you?” Camila asked, having seen the bruise on Selena.
“They are nice people, Mommy”
“They are not. No one here is nice which is why I don’t want you mingling with them until we find a way to leave” Camila said, hugging him more closely.
“Mommy, why do they keep saying that I look like my dad, Do they know who he is?” Lucas asked.
Camila should have known that Lucas is smart enough to understand things around him.
If it were up to her, Lucas will never know that Mariano is his father but he does and the only thing she can do now is to tell him the truth.
“Why don’t you answer him, he’s waiting” Mariano said at the door way.
When exactly did he get here? She thought and gently set Lucas on his feet.
“It’s because you look like him” Camila said, her gaze only on her son.
“Lucas your daddy is….”
“Is him, right?” Lucas ask, pointing at Mariano who was still at the door way.
“It is him ” Camila admit and she watch him run towards Mariano.
“I finally have a daddy” Lucas said as Mariano carried him into the room.
“You already know that I am your papa” Mariano asked and Lucas gave a nod.
“How?”
“It’s simple. I look just like you. You have a full eye brow and I do too, you’ve got pointy nose which I have too and your eyes is the same colour as mine and most of all, you have the same wink as me” Lucas said, winking at him and Mariano couldn’t hold back his laughter.
Camila watch father and son being affectionate to each other and she couldn’t help but to feel jealous.
“Did you know that I kept thinking father Christmas to be my real father for a very long time?”
“That’s bad. Your mommy made you think so, right?” Mariano asked and when Lucas replied.
Mariano gave her a angry look which made her tremble a bit.
“Now that you know that I am your father, are you happy?”
“Yes! I am very happy. I now have my papa and momma with me” Lucas said looking so cute and Mariano couldn’t help but to kiss him on the forehead.
The two maids assign to Lucas came into the room to announce that it was time for him to get ready for bed.
Camila was prepared to follow but Mariano held her back.
“You go with Petra and Mira. Your mother and I have somethings to talk about” Mariano said.
And when they left, his smile faded, leaving a harsh look on his face.
“You aren’t going to strangle me right?” Camila ask, moving away from him.
“Like I said, I won’t do something to earn my son’s hatred though I really want to strangle the life out of you. Get an early rest cause we are going out tomorrow”
“Where are we going?” Camila asked.
“You will find out tomorrow. Be ready before Ten” he toss her way before leaving the room.
Camila was filled with worry the whole night…she kept thinking about what he told her.
She slept late and woke up early still wondering where he was taking her.
She was relieved when she got outside to see Mariano and Lucas waiting for her.
“Get in” he ordered gruffly and she got in followed by Lucas and the devil himself.
“To sand castle villa right?” His driver asked and started the car while four to five men followed them in the other car.
Mariano and Lucas talked through the whole ride, excluding her.
And she didn’t really seem to care since she was busy with her thoughts.
An hour later, the car stop and they all got down.
“You still haven’t told me why we are here” Camila said to him but he ignored her.
Reluctantly, she followed him into the villa where they were welcome warmly by the house keeper.
“Where’s nonno *grandfather* ” Mariano ask.
“At the terrace” the house keeper reply.
Mariano took hold of Lucas hand and surprisingly did the same with hers.
Camila was starring at their linked hands as they made way to the terrace which had a grumpy looking old man.
“You are finally here?” Alejandro Castillo said.
“Yes, nonno. We are here”
“Is she the one you told me about?” Alejandro ask, assessing Camila from head to toe.
“It is her. Isn’t she lovely?” Mariano asked.
“She is. I must admit that I was expecting you to bring back a dumb blonde as your fiancee but am glad that she’s black haired” Alejandro said, looking please.
“Yes, I certainly chose the perfect fiancee” Mariano replied, starring at a shock Camila…..
TBC💚