Chapter 1

Camila's P.O.V

"Congratulations" Mrs Porter says shaking my hand.

I nod with a small smile at her, she's just a sweet old polite lady, there was no reason to be rude toward her.

"Thank you"I replied with a soft voice, almost tearing up.

"He's a real keeper" she says, motioning to my now newly wedded husband.

My eyes watched as he greeted everyone, laughing with them as they congratulated him, he's just as fake as everyone esle around here.

"That he is" I agreed, placing my hand on her forearm.

I saw my father's eyes as they roamed over me, I looked away immediately, feeling a pound in my heart, knowing he was watching my every move.

"Will you excuse me?" I ask Mrs Porter, just as she searched my disoriented image.

"Of course dear, I understand how overbearing this must be for you" she replies patting my hand.

With a smile, I waled out and onto the balcony, the cool air welcoming me, at least outside i feel welcomed. I was away from congratulations and the hypocrisy, I couldn't believe what my life had come to, married to a man at 19 who I barely even know, well, technically I've known him all life.

Elijah Camorra, his father and mine are business patners. The most ruthless duo known to anyone, always so needy of power. It was like watching two cheerleaders fight for a pom pom, other times they were like thunder and lightening.

I'd never spoken a word to Elijah, for all those times I've known him, my parents forbid I made friends with his family. They preffered to keep us, rather me, under eye watch. I never fancied Elijah but my sister did of course, she fancied all male species.

I was so busy in my thoughts, I hadn't realized someone had walked out and stood next to me.

Who could blame me?.

My life was just handed to a man three hours ago, and yet, I am still under my family's command.

All for a stupid contract.

"Is it safe?" asked the person standing next to me.

I turn turn to look at my best friend, Mira, she looked at me with soft eyes, then pulled me into a hug. I stayed there against her as I tried to recollect myself.

"Thanks" I say moving away from her, to look at her face.

"Always, how are you holding up?" Mira asks, turning her back to the balcony and looking ahead of her.

"How do you think Em?" I ask as looked up st the stars.

Mira sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder, she gave me a pat then put her hand to her side.

"I can't believe they invited so many people" MIra says chuckling coldly, while shaking her headbin disbelief.

Shrugging my shoulders, I turned to glance at the party, I made eye contact with Elijah as he chatted up with my bubbly sister, she was grining from ear to ear like the chesire cat, anymore desperate Quinn and you'd score him.

Quinn had her hands all over his right arm, as she was most likely sweet talking him. That's all she's good at it, yet she was the perfect daughter, there are many words to desrcibe Quinn Brinx, and none of them is 'perfect'. Her silky grey dress hugged her body, falling down her chest just enough, to show cleavage, way to go Mom.

I lookec back at Mira who was also eyeing the pair,she made a face then turned her back to them, keeping her focus on me.

"You'll be moving in with him?" Mira asks nodding her head.

"I have to, our parents will be staying there regularly also" I replied huffing out a breath of tiredness.

"Yours, to monitor you I presume" she says tapping the rails with her nails.

I looked down at the pool then at Mira. She shook ger head at me but I insisted with my eyes. I kicked off my heels and climbed up unto the rails.

My mother made me change out of my wedding dress, into a partyy dress of her favor, it was a straight red dress, jewels from the heart shaped bosom to the waist, something Quinn would have rocked.

"Get down from there!" Mira says grabbing my hand.

"Why?" I ask cocking an eyebrow at her, causing her eyes to squint at me in irritation.

Mira stayed silent for a few seconds, before she turned away from me, she gestured for me to get down and I turned to look why she suddenly became silent.

My father was walikng in our direction, I immediately got down and there wasn't enough time to put mt shoes on, so I stood there barefooted, my feet couldn't be seen though, but my height wasn't as before.

My father finally reached to us, he stood there in his blue tux, looking me over with a blank expression. I so hoped he hadn't seen what I was about to do.

"Why are your shoes off Camila?" Dad asks looking between me and Mira, his eyes emotionless.

I stood there unable to speak, I didn't know what to tell him, knowing what he would do if I told him the truth.

"Her feet are quite sore, so I encouraged her to remove them" Mira says moving forward to shield me from my father's soulless eyes.

"That's awfully nice of you Mira, but I'm sure I asked Camila the question" Dad says stepping one foot closer, his voice low and demanding.

Mira cleared her throat and was about to speak again, but Elijah walked out, he stood there next to my father, eyes boring into mine. Elijah looked down and saw my shoes, then he looked at my father.

"Is everything alright Nick?" Elijah asks adjusting his tie, just like all the other rich bastards would when they were about to handle situation.

My eyes raked over his suit as I've done fifty times today, he was wearing a blank tux, he had a golden eagle pin on each white collars and also on his cuffs. His jet balck hair looking soft as always in what always looked like curls. I won't lie, Elijah Camorra was was a very handsome young man, 21 years on earth has done him some good.

"Your wife was just explaining how sore her feet are" Dad says with a retched etching across his face.

I hated him, I hated him with every being in my body, every cell both living and dead.

"I see, may I have a minute with her?" Elijah asks, glancing at my father from the corner of his eye.

"Certainly" Dad says backing away, he shot me a warning look before disappearing into the party.

Mira looked between me and Elijah, but didn't say anything, she considering leaving me with him.

"I'm sure you understood me" Elijah says to Mira, who put a hand to her chest and looked him over.

"She's not some pawn Eli, I'm sure you understand that" Mira says glaring at him.

Right, they were cousins, the pair never really got along and this contract made it even worse. Mira and I went to school together, so no one could stop us from being friends.

"And didn't she say I do" Elijah asks with an annoyed tone in his voice, narrowing his eyes at Mira.

Mira scoffed with an eye roll, she still refused to move, talk about stubborn.

"It's okay Mira, I'll be right in" I assured patting her on the back.

Mira was hesistant but still walked away, she bumped Elijah's shoulder on her way in, causing him to let out a low chuckle.

After a whole two minutes, Elijah finally spoke.

"I saw your little suicidal attempt" Elijah says motioning over the balcony.

I didn't respind, so he stepped closer, he moved closer until there was no space left between us, his cologne drilling through my nostrils. 

"It's not that easy Camila, so I suggest you buckle up for the ride" Elijah says causing me to look up at him.

This prick!.

His bright blue eyes bore into mine, I could see his cold soul, just as everyone else's in the life of business. I saw nothing more than business when I look at the people around me, it's all I've known. Business and pain, it turns you into someone you hate but learn to respect.

"You're the only one enjoying the ride once it starts Camorra, I never signed up for it" I say but I realized I actually did sign up for it, I did put my signature on all those papers, I had to, I had no other choice.

"Is that so?" Elijah asks with a smirk, he placed his index finger under my chin, then held my face in place.

"Don't touch me!" I retorted pulling my face away, only causing him to pull me in harshly, but not enough to hurt me.

He held my face in place, his eyes searching mine, he's just like everyone else, I had not one doubt or redemption feelings. He was Elijah Camorra, the son of Luca Camorra, a dreadful man in the world wealth and budsiness, but I doubt they could beat my father at the game of ruthless and pain.

"Camila, Camila, Camila" Elijah taunts in a whisper, his lips inches away from mine, his eyes roamed my face for a few seconds more, then he stepped back and adjusted his tie.

"Put your shoes on, and let's get back to our wedding party, the guests have been weary about your attendance" he says, motioning for me to get myself together.

Reluctantly, I put my shoes on. He held out his arm and I linked mine with his, we walked inside to the party, meeting bright smiles, especially from the ones who knew this marriage was just for the money.

Camila Brinx here, my life, always put in the hands of someone else.