Camila looked stunned as she moved closer. She took a moment to touch the flowers gently, making sure they weren’t fake and wouldn’t explode any second now. But they were real.

She picked up the ruby chocolate, her favorite, and looked at it with mixed emotions as she was suddenly taken back to eight years ago. Ruby chocolate had always been her favorite, but her family had expected her to be perfect, limiting her from eating it. Alejandro had worked twice as hard just to get it for her back then.

“Do you want me to get you bigger flowers or another flavor of chocolate? You can tell me,” Camila turned back to the familiar voice. Alejandro was standing behind her, looking like he had just gotten back from work.

“Why?” was all Camila could manage to ask.

“You don’t want it?” He looked worried.

“Why are you giving me gifts, Alejandro?” Camila repeated, noticing his breath hitch. He was struggling to apologize, and she knew it.

“Don’t push it. Can you not make things hard for me and just accept my gift?” He groaned.

“I will accept them if you tell me why you want me to have them. Or maybe it’s another attempt to hurt me again.” Camila narrowed her eyes.

Alejandro’s jaw tightened. “Is that all you think of me?”

“Well, you didn’t leave me a choice to begin with,” she replied, her eyes teary.

“I’m a monster, if that’s what you need to hear to feel better,” Alejandro angrily began to walk away.

“You’re such an @$$h0le!” Camila shouted after him as he left, but he never turned back. She turned to the flowers and chocolate on the bed.

“Why is he so difficult?” she muttered, pouting her lips. She couldn’t resist tasting the chocolate.

“Delicious,” she smiled, taking another piece but unknown to her, Alejandro was secretly watching.

★★★★★★★

BRETT’S APARTMENT★

“Goodnight, Mom,” he greeted before entering his room and locking his door. However, he froze at the sight of the person comfortably sitting on his bed.

“How did you get in here?” he asked, his eyes moving to the open window. He couldn’t help but slap his forehead, scolding himself silently for always forgetting to lock it.

“Leave,” Brett said tiredly.

“And if I don’t want to?”

“Then you should consider what people would think if they found out the leader of Cyber Boy is sneaking into the low-life scholarship room in the middle of the night through his window,” Brett thr_@tened.

“You wouldn’t do that,” Elijah smirked, standing up from the bed and moving towards him.

“Keep taking steps closer and watch me,” Brett said, picking up his phone.

Elijah, however, kept advancing towards him.

“I’m warning you, I don’t care about anything anymore. I just want you to leave,” Brett pointed his phone at him like it was a weapon.

“You haven’t changed one bit, Brett. You’re so adorable,” Elijah smiled and got closer. He grabbed Brett by the shoulders and pinned him to the wall.

“You don’t want me to leave,” he whispered in Brett’s ear.

“I do,” Brett’s voice was cracking.

“You don’t,” Elijah tasted his neck, his lips trailing upwards until they met Brett’s. “Stop me if you don’t want this,” he said before locking their lips together.

Brett gave in to the kiss. It had been so long since he’d done this, and he couldn’t lie; he missed it. Going undercover with the boy all the girls wanted and doing stuff like this in private.

“I miss you, Brett. I didn’t like it when I saw you with Isabella today,” Elijah whispered against his lips as he worked the buttons of Brett’s shirt.

“But you left me first for her,” Brett replied, also taking off Elijah’s clothes.

Elijah responded by leading Brett to the bed. After some minutes, they were naked, covered in blankets, and trying to catch their breath.

“You shouldn’t have come here,” Brett mumbled.

“I just can’t help it,” Elijah replied.

“But you know we can’t work. My mom won’t accept me, your parents won’t accept you, the world won’t accept us, especially you. And if I told you I’m willing to risk it, then can you risk telling everyone that you’re gay?” Brett asked, and Elijah clenched his jaw, not saying anything.

“You’re such a coward. This shouldn’t have happened,” Brett sighed, standing up from the bed and pulling on his boxers.

“Leave my room, Elijah,” he pointed to the window. “And don’t ever come back,” he added.

“Brett…” Elijah dragged his name with pleading eyes.

“Just go away,” Brett yelled this time, and Elijah stood up, putting on his clothes as he prepared to leave.

“Elijah,” Brett called before he could climb out the window, making him pause. “You can go ahead and date lots of girls, brunette, blonde, brown hair, or black hair. Kiss them and sleep with them, fill your head with lies, but it won’t change who you are,” he uttered with a grimace expression.

Elijah did not respond. He exited through the window, and Brett angrily locked it. He punched the wall in frustration, his eyes red from the tears thr_@tening to fall.

“How can I let myself be carried away again,” he gripped his hair painfully, regretting everything that just happened.

★★★★★★★

NEXT MORNING; RUIZ MANSION ★

The knock on the door disturbed Camila’s sleep. She struggled to get up from bed, holding her stomach in pain as she reached for the door.

“Good morning, ma’am. I hope you had a good night.” A maid’s smiley face welcomed her. “Mr. Ruiz sent me to remind you to start packing. He said you both are leaving today.”

Camila checked the calendar on the wall. She hadn’t kept track of the days. It was Saturday, and Alejandro had told her they would be visiting their family today.

“Alright, I’ll be down in an hour,” Camila said to the maid, who nodded politely and excused herself.

Camila went to the bathroom to have her shower. She h@ťěd this time of the month, but she managed to get clean and put on a lazy outfit. After spending some minutes packing the things she would need, she went downstairs to join Alejandro for breakfast.

For the first time, he was eating something other than drinking coffee. When he saw Camila, his gaze darkened.

“Why are you dressed like that?” he asked with a gloomy expression.

“Can we not do this now, please?” Camila tiredly sat down, dragging some pancakes towards her, but she couldn’t eat.

“Why are you not eating?” He questioned, concern evident on his face.

“I’m not hungry,” Camila mumbled.

“You’re never not hungry in the morning,” he called her bluff.

“And since when do you care?” Camila looked annoyed.

“Tell me what you want to eat,” Alejandro ordered.

“Nothing,” Camila sighed.

“You think I will really let you leave here with nothing in your stomach? Do you need me to ask the maids to make fresh pancakes?” he kept insisting.

“It’s not the pancakes. When I’m in my time of the month, I don’t really crave food. My stomach is torturing me right now, so can you not!” Camila snapped, standing up and leaving the dining room.

Alejandro stayed quiet for a while before calling the head maid over.

“Yes, Mr. Ruiz?” Lucy respectfully approached him.

“What do you think my wife would eat while she’s on her period?” he asked.

Lucy looked stunned by the question. She never imagined Alejandro ever asking this or speaking to her so calmly.

“Sir?” she was taken back.

Alejandro frowned. “Did I stutter when I asked you that question?”

“I’m sorry, sir. When women are on their time of the month, I don’t think they need to be stressed. They just want to stay in bed, and they mostly have a sweet tooth,” Lucy explained.

“If that’s so, then I want you to get treats for my wife,” Alejandro ordered, and she nodded politely, going to do as he said.

Alejandro took more sips of his coffee before standing up. He took his phone from his pants pocket and dialed a number. After some minutes, he went to Camila’s room and found her lying on the bed, fully covered.

“If you’re not feeling too well today, we can go another time. Is that okay?” he asked gently as he sat on the edge of the bed.

Camila stared at him silently.

“What’s wrong?” his brows furrowed.

“Why are you being nice to me? Is everything alright?” she couldn’t help but ask.

Alejandro sighed. He wanted to reply, but Lucy entered, holding a bag containing the items Alejandro had instructed her to get.

“Here are your treats, Mrs. Ruiz. I also got you a belly massager in case the pain gets worse, some painki||ers, and some extra tampons. If you’re hungry, use the phone on the stand to call us, and what you want will be served to you in bed,” Lucy said politely.

“Thank you, Lucy,” Camila took the bag from her.

Alejandro watched her bring out the things Lucy had bought for her. The only thing he could recognize was the chocolates.

“What else is there about women that I don’t know of?” he asked, picking up the belly massager.

“If you start being attentive, you would know,” Camila scoffed, taking the massager back from him.

“Wh@ťěver,” Alejandro mumbled. “I called my grandparents and informed them we can’t make it today,” he said.

“Why?” Camila gave him a questioning look.

“You’re not in the right shape. You are even struggling to stand up from the bed,” he said matter-of-factly.

Camila rolled her eyes and picked up a chocolate. She tasted it and closed her eyes, Mõ@ɲing at the sweetness.

That sound went straight to Alejandro’s groin. He tried to ignore it, but she kept eating the chocolate and Mõ@ɲing, even going as far as licking the stains off her fingers.

His body was begining to react now.

“Keep doing that, and you won’t like the outcome,” his voice was gruffy while he flashed her a warning look.

Camila opened her eyes to meet his darkened gaze. She cleared her throat, forgetting he was still there with her.

“You’re still here?”

“You want me to leave so you can keep molesting the chocolate?” he asked instead.

“You-” Camila was speechless.

“Tell me something, wifey. The chocolate or my Ç0çƙ deep in your throat. Which is sweeter?” His wild question took her by surprise, and she wished it didn’t affect her.

Her cheeks grew pink. “How… What…” She didn’t know how to reply to him, and luckily, his phone rang, saving her.

He checked the caller and stood up.

“If you need anything, call the maids. Anyone who gives you a hard time, then report to me immediately,” he informed her before leaning in to place his lips on her neck and walking away.

Camila touched the spot on her neck where he kissed her and pouted her lips. Why does he keep doing things to her without trying? She thought to herself.

★★★★★★★

MARCUS GLOBAL VENTURES ★

The claps of the clients echoed through the boardroom as a member just finished his presentation.

“We have come to the end of the meeting today. We meet again tomorrow,” Rafael announced before standing up and leaving the boardroom.

He went to his office to find Ximena sitting in his swivel chair, rolling it around. A smile formed on her face when she saw him.

“Baby, I’ve been waiting for you!” She flew from her chair into his arms, giving him a deep kiss on the lips.

Rafael did not reciprocate the kiss. Instead, he pulled her back.

“What are you doing here?”

“You’re seriously asking me this? Since when am I not allowed to come visit you?” She looked irritated by his question.

Julian entered the office, holding a file.

“Boss, here is what you asked for,” he said, dropping the file on the table.

“Julian, escort Ximena out. I’m not in the mood for her today,” Rafael ordered his assistant before he could leave.

“You’re kicking me out? Is it because of Alejandro Ruiz’s wife?” she asked angrily, and Rafael’s gaze darkened.

“Send her away now and call to inform me the next time she steps foot in here,” Rafael rolled his eyes before going to his chair.

“You’re such an an*mal, Rafael! After everything I’ve had my parents do for you, you’re kicking me out for some married woman?” Ximena complained as Julian dragged her out by the arms.

“She’s not even prettier than me!!” Ximena shouted again until her voice could no longer be heard.

Rafael did not mind anything happening. He took a picture of Camila on his table and caressed her face and lips. He couldn’t help recalling her at the event party, her smile, her gown, and how it showcased her curves and cleavage perfectly. But then the image of Alejandro returned, holding her by the waist with a possessive look.

“That son of a Ɓîtçh,” he cursed, clenching his fist.

💍💍 TBC 💍💍