Explain Yourself

“Don Morano,” Jax called, entering the bakery. Alessandro instantly felt hot. He saw Camilla raise a suspicious eyebrow. 

“Wasn’t he calling you?” Camilla asked warily.

“Me? Hell no!” Alessandro exclaimed, with wide eyes. “My name is Alessandro Cookies,” he laughed awkwardly, hoping not to blow his cover. “Hey, did you call me?” he asked Jax with narrowed eyes.

Jax, sharp witted, caught the cue, “Oh, I’m sorry about that, sir,” Jax corrected himself,“I just spoke to my old friend, Morano, and it slipped out of my mouth.”

Alessandro shrugged, “See? I knew it was a tongue slip.” He lied and Camilla nodded slowly and turned to her phone. 

Alessandro excused himself and walked to Jax with Camilla eyeing them cautiously.

“It is very important. Our men were..." Jax started, but Alessandro cut him off.

“We will deal with this later. Just act normal for now and talk about the dinner reservation I have with Ruby,” Alessandro replied quickly. Jax nodded, and he went back to Camilla.

“I had him do a little task for me,” Alessandro smiled.

“That’s fine!” Camilla exclaimed and went back to her phone.

“Your dinner reservation is ready, sir,” Jax said carefully.

“Oh! I hope I am not keeping you at all,” Camilla stood up quickly. 

“No, it is fine,” Alessandro replied. “I was going to ask if you could escort me to a shopping mall. I wish to shop for a date. I know you’re busy here, but I would appreciate it if you could come with me. Only a woman can tell what a woman truly wants.”

***

Disappointment coursed through her veins. She was beginning to like him, but it turns out he already had a date. She could say no to him, but he had just invested a hefty sum in her business. What if he retracts it?

“It’s not a problem,” Camilla replied dryly. She locked up her shop and when she twirled an audible gasp escaped her lips when she saw their ride. She was thankful Alessandro was in front so he didn't see her shocked expression. He would have instantly known it was her first time to enter one. She threw on a mask of composure on her face, biting her inner cheek to prevent her face from breaking into a smile. She needed to act like a sophisticated lady, one that he could trust with the amount he invested. The thought of him asking for his money lurked in the dark side of her mind and she was not about to let the opportunity slip pass her.

Alessandro's driver was already standing outside the door, so he opened the door for her and she got in. Alessandro was already inside the car.

Even though she was blown away by the car's interior and plush leather seats, she kept her act. 

Jax followed closely behind them in another car as they drove to an exotic mall in the heart of the city.

The air between them was stuffy with awkward silence. They stole glances at each other at intervals until Alessandro broke the silence.

“What do you think would make a great gift for my date?” He tried to start a conversation.

Camilla turned to him, “it depends on how long you have been dating–”

“I'm not dating her.” He interrupted her, “We just met. This is the first time I'm taking her out. I just wanted to get her a nice birthday present. Maybe lipstick, clothes–” he stopped when he saw her shaking her Head in disapproval.

“No. It is too early for that. If you are really Into her, maybe have a picnic, see a movie together or just something to spend more time together and if you don't want to commit you could do a box of chocolates and maybe a handbag.”

“A box of chocolates and a handbag works.”

“Okayy.” Camilla said, biting her inner cheek to restrain her amused laugh. “How did both of you meet?” Camilla asked, curiosity swimming in her eyes. “And I hope I am not being too nosy. Tell me honestly.”

“No, you are not nosy,” Alessandro replied. “In fact, I love people who are chatty. It is a long ride from your bakery to the shopping mall, and a short chat with a business partner shouldn't hurt.

“Then tell me how you met her,” Camilla pressed.

“I can’t give you explicit details, but it is the same lady that saved my life. From there, we met up again, and she requested to have a dinner date.”

"Are you sure the lady is the one that saved your life?" Camilla asked warily, and he nodded.

"I'm sure. Any problem?" He raised an inquisitive brow at her, and she shook her head.

"No, there is no problem."

This was the last thing they said to each other until they got to the shopping mall. All through, Camilla managed to convince herself not to tell him. She had no evidence to convince him.

On getting to the shopping mall, Alessandro waited at the counter of the women's store while Camilla went to the handbag section to get one. 

She looked through the bag section and a nice black hermes black bag caught her eyes. She brought it over for Alessandro to look at and he nodded in approval and gave it to the saleswoman on the counter alongside a small, red rectangular box.

He paid and gave Camilla the box and Camilla stared at him blankly, “what is that?”

“Just take it first,” he persuaded.

Camilla took it from his hands carefully and opened it. She felt a cold tremor slither down her spine when she saw a very identical necklace to the one that hoodlums had torn from her neck. This was no doubt the original and it cost no small money.

“I can't take this,” she attempted to push it back into Alessandro's hands but he closed it.

“It is a replacement for the one those morons tore,” he said and Camilla opened her mouth to speak, but he raised his hands to stop her. “You are keeping it.” He said in a curt tone.

Camilla attempted to speak again but his narrowed eyes forced her to keep it sealed. He led the way out of the exotic shop. He got the chocolate box and both of them walked to his car.

“Where do you live?” Alessandro asked.

“Just drive me to the pastry shop,” Camilla replied. She was hiding an important fact from Alessandro. If he knew, he might feel pity for her, and she didn’t like pity.

“I will drive you to the pastry shop and your house after,” Alessandro offered..

“No, I will find my way after. My friend wants to meet me at the pastry shop, and we will spend a lot of time chatting. You can’t wait that long.” Camilla lied. Taking this excuse, Alessandro nodded and did what Camilla wanted. He dropped her off and went, but unknown to him, Camilla slept in her bakery. Just from the little time she had spent with him, she could tell how generous he was. She didn't want to be a burden to him.

The driver drove them back to the bakery. He watched her enter her bakery before he drove off to a restaurant.

***

“I am so sorry for arriving late,” Alessandro apologized. “I know I should be the one waiting, not you.”

“It doesn’t matter as long as you let me in on what you’ve been up to,” Ruby feigned a smile, hoping he had not been with another woman.

“I was in a bakery downtown earlier,” Alessandro said, “It was at the bakery we first met. You buy cupcakes there too, don't you?” 

“Yeah…. Yeah… I… uh…I do.” She stuttered, trying her best to steady her voice, “I visit there once in a while,” Ruby was beginning to feel beads of sweat on her temple. She didn't want him to know she had worked there. And what the hell was he doing with Camilla? “Did you get the cupcake?”

“Yes I did,” Alessandro smiled. “I spent most of the time chatting with the lady in charge.”

She felt her stomach tie itself In knots, “You mean Camilla?” she asked.

“Yeah, I think that is her name. She is a lovely lady. She talks intelligently too, and she has excellent taste,” Alessandro said with a smile still dancing at the corner of his lips. 

Ruby only stared at him blankly, as lead blocks of pain were stacked in her chest one after the other. Camilla was not about to steal him from her. She won't let it happen.

“Happy birthday!” Alessandro exclaimed and brought out a cake. “Camilla made this, and I brought it over specially for you. It looks delicious, doesn’t it? I was in awe seeing it, and I became an investor right away.”

“You mean you invested in her bakery?!” Ruby snapped.

“Yup!” 

“It sounds like a terrible idea to me,” Ruby mumbled and Alessandro's features tightened.

“And what do you know about business?"

"I might be wrong. I don't know so much about business." She corrected and saw his features relax a little, "On a second thought, I think it's a fantastic idea. Her cakes are superb." She said with her fists clenched under the table.

“I thought so too. Then let’s get our meal,” Alessandro called the waiter and they made their order. Alessandro seemed like an intelligent guy to her, and she had to be careful. Since Camilla had captured his attention, it would take no time for him to realise what was missing.

Right there, Ruby worked out a plan. Somehow, she had to break their connection before it got taut. She had to do this to protect her relationship with Alessandro.

“Why did you change your perfume?” he interrupted her thoughts.