Her eyes scanned the names of the shops in the street and she was shocked when she saw her brand name elegantly signed with lots of sparkly light around it.The facade was colored pink and purple. It highly contrasted with the other storefront signs there.“That must be my shop,” she pointed at it, and she could see the awe that fell on Allen's face when he saw it.Her eyes scanned the street along her store. She could see a flower shop, a wine shop, and a bookstore. Perfect complimentary stores right next to her store. No competition in sight. Well thought out by Alessandro. She hopped out of the car and onto the sidewalk. A lot of people were going to and fro places. There was a large traffic of people. This was a strategic location indeed.Her shop door was a glass door with white panels. There are also white panel glass windows on each side of the door. She unlocked the bakery with her key and walked inside. Allen followed closely behind her with the designer bags in hand.The sp
Alessandro walked into the shop in a Charcoal Gray Suit paired with a burgundy coloured tie. Sleek and modern. Camilla ran to him and threw her slender arms around him in a tight embrace. Alessandro hugged her back stroking her hair and drinking in her scent of moss and cedar.When Camilla released him from her tight embrace, she drew back a little and looked up at him, “thank you very much for the shop. I love it so much. It is such a perfect fit for me. I really appreciate your effort,” Camilla expressed her gratitude and fell into his broad arms again. Allen began to feel hot bile rise up his throat.“You are welcome,” Alessandro told her while stroking her brown silky hair again, not bothering to spare even a glance at Allen whose laser eyes were burning on Alessandro's left hand that was wandering on the small of Camilla's back. It should better not go lower than that, he warned in his mind. A brazen heat of jealousy washed over him and his patience snapped. He cleared his thr
“I'm… I'm Camilla's Friend,” Ruby stammered, “I just came to pick something from my bag,”“You came to pick something from your bag?” Allen eyed her warily and a cold tremor slithered down her back.“What is going on here?” Camilla came into the room.“Nothing much,’ Ruby responded quickly, “I have to go!” she briskly walked inside the bakery.Allen walked in putting the breakfast packs on the table, “Where is she going?” “She wants to use the restroom. Is there any issue?” Camilla asked, walking to the Counter.“I don't know, but there is something odd about her. I don't like her,” Allen said slowly.Camilla looked at the batter and it looked untouched, “If it were someone else I'd say that you were too fast to judge, but she can be cunning just be careful around her.”Allen nodded at her words.“You got the food?” Camilla asked, the pang in her stomach intensifying.“You bet I did.” Allen handed her one of the breakfast packs and she took it to her table and chair.“We should eat i
Ruby lay on the massive bed in her room, drowned in thoughts. Is this really worth it? Did I just destroy my friend's life again? What if I confess what I have done? Would she still forgive me? Questions buzzed in her mind. Guilt gripped her.I have gone too far with this. I can't go back now.Since I started it, I might as well finish it.A knock on her door yanked her out of her grim daze. She checked the door. It was the maid.“Mr Alessandro just came back to the house.” The maid informed her as requested.“Thank you Natalie. One more thing. Just let me know when he is done with his food.”“OK ma” Natalie left.It was time. She got up from her bed and headed for her shower. She undressed and put on the shower.What if Alessandro finds out? God knows he will show no mercy. Should I risk it?She took a bath, tied her towel around herself, and came out. Her phone rang; she sat on the bed and picked it up from the cabinet beside the bed. The number calling wasn't saved on her phone.
“I love you.” Allen's proclaimed beads of sweat forming on his forehead.The proclamation fell like several lead blocks on Camilla's head.The room suddenly became stuffy. The air between them, thick.Her shoulders felt heavy.She felt like running away, but Allen wouldn't exactly appreciate that. He wants an answer immediately, judging by the way he looked at her. What was the use of delaying it? It won't change the response, will it? But she doesn't want to break him. She knows what it feels like to love someone and not to be loved back. It hurts. A lot.She leaned into the table, holding Allen's clammy hands in hers tightly. “I'm grateful that you feel this way towards me. Allen, please forgive me, but I can't.” Immediately after the words left her mouth, she saw Alessandro's shoulders slouch and his face fall. “I'm sorry if I unknowingly led you on, but this is not about you at all. Nothing is wrong with you. You are a great person. You are nice. You are caring. You are everythi
CHAPTER 1 “You know we shouldn't be here.” Camilla spoke as she scanned the party scene from the loft.The party lights pulsing, the music thundering through the speakers, had everybody dancing and grinding against each other. Each face clad with a mask, the waiters were not an exception as they weaved through the tight crowd, trays held high.“Party pooper,” Ruby snorted, swirling the contents of her glass. “Don't act as though you work harder than everyone here. Not as though you have somewhere important to go to tomorrow.” She took a sip, then added with a hint of venom, “Just that miserable bakery of yours that has never made us a dime since we started it.”“I'm not a party pooper.” Camilla shot back, bristling from the jab. Some things are just more important than others.”“You are a killjoy.” Rub retorted, looking away from Camilla, her eyes scanning the crowd, “Not to think that we might meet a rich guy that could change our lives forever, and we wouldn't have to work aimlessl
“The Donatello's must be the ones behind my attack. I rejected their deal, and now they want me dead.” Alessandro mused, taking a sip of his steaming black coffee.While Salvatore, his uncle, took another calming puff of his Cuban cigar.“You just took over the family, Sandro. You need a show of strength.” Alessandro laid his steaming coffee on the side table and reached for the inner pocket of his blazer. “Yeah, that, but I need to handle something first.” He pulled out the student ID card from his pocket, motioning it to his bodyguard, “Track this lady down.” He ordered, and burly Jax nodded, taking the card from him.“Okay, boss,” he responded and walked out of the room.***At the other end of the city was Camilla, standing behind the counter with Ruby sitting idly on the chair in the bakery.“I can't believe you lost my college ID,” Ruby whined, and for the first time all morning, she looked away from her phone. “Why are you so careless?”“Careless?” Camilla scoffed while pressin
To hell with Camilla and her shitty desserts! I'm rich! Ruby screamed in her head, not wanting to draw attention to herself.Who is this guy to just sign away a hundred thousand dollars for appreciation? She fumbled with his business card and typed his name on the search engine, “Whoa, that was Alessandro Morano?" She palmed her mouth. “The head of the Morano mafia family? Shit! He's got serious money. Sounds like my perfect man.“Shopping time!” She squealed and took an exotic ride to a designer shop.When she got there, she didn't waste any time, and she called Alessandro, and after four rings, he picked up the phone.“It is Ruby, the lady from earlier today.”“Oh, Ruby,” he replied, “by the way, that cupcake of yours is amazing," he complimented, and Jax, who was still by his side munching on the cupcake, agreed with a thumbs up.“I'm glad you like it,” she said, sipping on the wine she was served. “I just wanted to tell you that I didn't save you that night because of money. I sav
“I love you.” Allen's proclaimed beads of sweat forming on his forehead.The proclamation fell like several lead blocks on Camilla's head.The room suddenly became stuffy. The air between them, thick.Her shoulders felt heavy.She felt like running away, but Allen wouldn't exactly appreciate that. He wants an answer immediately, judging by the way he looked at her. What was the use of delaying it? It won't change the response, will it? But she doesn't want to break him. She knows what it feels like to love someone and not to be loved back. It hurts. A lot.She leaned into the table, holding Allen's clammy hands in hers tightly. “I'm grateful that you feel this way towards me. Allen, please forgive me, but I can't.” Immediately after the words left her mouth, she saw Alessandro's shoulders slouch and his face fall. “I'm sorry if I unknowingly led you on, but this is not about you at all. Nothing is wrong with you. You are a great person. You are nice. You are caring. You are everythi
Ruby lay on the massive bed in her room, drowned in thoughts. Is this really worth it? Did I just destroy my friend's life again? What if I confess what I have done? Would she still forgive me? Questions buzzed in her mind. Guilt gripped her.I have gone too far with this. I can't go back now.Since I started it, I might as well finish it.A knock on her door yanked her out of her grim daze. She checked the door. It was the maid.“Mr Alessandro just came back to the house.” The maid informed her as requested.“Thank you Natalie. One more thing. Just let me know when he is done with his food.”“OK ma” Natalie left.It was time. She got up from her bed and headed for her shower. She undressed and put on the shower.What if Alessandro finds out? God knows he will show no mercy. Should I risk it?She took a bath, tied her towel around herself, and came out. Her phone rang; she sat on the bed and picked it up from the cabinet beside the bed. The number calling wasn't saved on her phone.
“I'm… I'm Camilla's Friend,” Ruby stammered, “I just came to pick something from my bag,”“You came to pick something from your bag?” Allen eyed her warily and a cold tremor slithered down her back.“What is going on here?” Camilla came into the room.“Nothing much,’ Ruby responded quickly, “I have to go!” she briskly walked inside the bakery.Allen walked in putting the breakfast packs on the table, “Where is she going?” “She wants to use the restroom. Is there any issue?” Camilla asked, walking to the Counter.“I don't know, but there is something odd about her. I don't like her,” Allen said slowly.Camilla looked at the batter and it looked untouched, “If it were someone else I'd say that you were too fast to judge, but she can be cunning just be careful around her.”Allen nodded at her words.“You got the food?” Camilla asked, the pang in her stomach intensifying.“You bet I did.” Allen handed her one of the breakfast packs and she took it to her table and chair.“We should eat i
Alessandro walked into the shop in a Charcoal Gray Suit paired with a burgundy coloured tie. Sleek and modern. Camilla ran to him and threw her slender arms around him in a tight embrace. Alessandro hugged her back stroking her hair and drinking in her scent of moss and cedar.When Camilla released him from her tight embrace, she drew back a little and looked up at him, “thank you very much for the shop. I love it so much. It is such a perfect fit for me. I really appreciate your effort,” Camilla expressed her gratitude and fell into his broad arms again. Allen began to feel hot bile rise up his throat.“You are welcome,” Alessandro told her while stroking her brown silky hair again, not bothering to spare even a glance at Allen whose laser eyes were burning on Alessandro's left hand that was wandering on the small of Camilla's back. It should better not go lower than that, he warned in his mind. A brazen heat of jealousy washed over him and his patience snapped. He cleared his thr
Her eyes scanned the names of the shops in the street and she was shocked when she saw her brand name elegantly signed with lots of sparkly light around it.The facade was colored pink and purple. It highly contrasted with the other storefront signs there.“That must be my shop,” she pointed at it, and she could see the awe that fell on Allen's face when he saw it.Her eyes scanned the street along her store. She could see a flower shop, a wine shop, and a bookstore. Perfect complimentary stores right next to her store. No competition in sight. Well thought out by Alessandro. She hopped out of the car and onto the sidewalk. A lot of people were going to and fro places. There was a large traffic of people. This was a strategic location indeed.Her shop door was a glass door with white panels. There are also white panel glass windows on each side of the door. She unlocked the bakery with her key and walked inside. Allen followed closely behind her with the designer bags in hand.The sp
Immediately after she collected the key to the shop from Alessandro, she walked to her room.Once inside, she put it in her shoulder bag and picked up her phone from the cabinet in excitement to call Allen. After two rings, Allen picked up the call.“Allen, Alessandro got a new store!” She screeched once, Allen; she could hear shuffles on the other side of the phone.“What!” He gasped.“We are no longer at the former location. We are now in the heart of town,” she announced, and Allen felt his chest grow heavy at the news. He should be the one doing that for her, not Alessandro. He should be the one making her happy. “Wow… Congratulations,” he struggled to keep his voice energetic and even.“I want you to pick me up tomorrow so we can go there together. Can you do that for me?” She asked, sitting on her bed.“Sure, I can. When should we leave?” he asked.“Is six A.M. okay with you?”“Six A.M.!” he intoned.“Yup. You don't know how bad I want to see that place!” She said in a shrill vo
Dusk had stained the sky, and they were supposedly having their last family dinner. A different one. Unlike every other family dinner, Alessandro had convened this one due to the ill health of the original convener, Salvatore. While they dined, he himself dined in the clinic.Camilla had been nervous about the dinner. She knew the family meeting was never called for a flimsy reason. There must be something of importance that Alessandro had wanted to share to call the meeting. The thought stitched in her mind made her skittish about the meeting.Ruby was somewhat delighted at the invitation to the family dinner. She called it the last supper between the three of them.Alessandro the convener had called the meeting, so they could dot all their I's and cross all their T's before they went their separate ways, but the clinking sound of the dishes filled the air. He seemed to have forgotten his agenda, lost in the creamy and spicy world of mashed potatoes and steak. He was not the only on
“I'll tell you about it, but this is not the right place to do so.” He excused himself, his eyes fixed on the road as he refused to meet Camilla's narrowed gaze.“But you are going to give me all the details I need to know when we are having breakfast, right?”“If you insist.” Allen gulped again. At this rate he will not be needing to drink water as his spit should have been more than enough to keep him hydrated.The atmosphere In the car plunged into icy silence save the soft romantic music that was playing in the background. Fifteen minutes later they were at the diner.The diner door chimed softly as they stepped inside. A wave of warmth washed over them, a comforting blend of sizzling bacon and sweet syrup. The air was thick with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and buttery pancakes. Soft jazz music played in the background, setting a mellow tone. The booth they chose was tucked away in a quiet corner, draped in red vinyl. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a golden
Barbara yanked the door open with a deep frown on her face. Her narrowed eyes raked over Camilla from head to toe and Camilla swallowed hard. “Who the hell are you?” Barbara screeched.Camilla's breath caught in her throat, “I'm… I'm Camilla,” she stuttered and Barbara's eyes widened, her face growing red in anger. Before Camilla could utter another word, there was a resounding smacking sound and Camilla staggered backwards at the impact of the slap, almost feeling lightheaded.She clutched to her throbbing cheek as she stared at the old woman, her wet eyes glinting in confusion.“Camilla!” Alessandro screamed, jolting past his grandma and holding Camilla who had not quite recovered from the smack.“Why the hell did you do that!” he bellowed, “she had nothing to do with this.”“She has everything to do with this. If not for her you wouldn't be saying no to Chloe!” she yelled before shifting her gaze to Camilla, “Young lady, Let this be the last time I see you with him or else you will