Chapter 5

Camila

The taste of cold lemonade filled my tastebuds as I gazed over the beach. It has only been a week since we've been in Italy, and it wasn't all that bad. Elijah wasn't a total scum as I thought, but I will never let my guard down. He's a Camorra, I never trust one, except Mira, you can't not trust Mira, she's one in a million and will most definitely fight for your trust.

As I sat under an umbrella scene, I gazed at the couples enjoying their trip, they looked in love, there was even one couple feeding each other. There was feeling inside me that so wanted one of them to choke, lucky bastards. I was stuck here with a man I rarely even liked, let alone to be in love with and they're just flaunting their love in the air.

Italy was definitely a place of romance, maybe we could've gone to a less romanticized place. But knowing our families, they just had to pick a place where there would be a lot of paparazzi and publicity, and if Italy wasn't the place, maybe it was Paris, but they definitely had to choose Italy.

"Hello there" a smooth voice says from behind me.

I turn to look at the person, the man gave me a smile and walked around to stand before me. He was shirtless, facial hair and bald, he looked like a drug dealer, not gonna judge, but he did.

"Hello"I say sitting up in my chair.

"Don't you look beautiful, all alone?" he asks taking my hand and planting a kiss on it.

I held back every urge to kick him, why did I have to be so calm all the time. My grandfather really knew what he was doing raising me.

"Actually-..."I start but was cut off by another voice.

"Alberto, I see you've met my wife"Elijah says walking up to us.

I hadn't even seen where he walked from, he just happened to appear. He walked to us and stood next me, he put his arm around the chair in an overprotective gesture. He was soaking wet, which meant he went for a swim, I was wondering where h went since it was nearing nighttime.

"Oh, so this is the beautiful flower who stole the heart of my dear friend"Alberto says taking my hand again and kissing it.

Elijah noticed my discomfort and took my hand in his politely. I didn't retort or say anything, I just sat there, admiring the view of the man before me, he had a splendid composure, a very well timed six pack and a muscular frame. He did look like a drug dealer, he also looked like a ruthless killer, but in the weirdest, sweetest way, now those are the kind of men I aspire to run from.

"It was nice seeing you Alberto, but we have reservations for dinner, I'll see you around"Elijah says helping me up from my chair.

I didn't even notice he was trying to get me up until I was on my feet, I was so infatuated in the scene before and my thoughts, I hadn't realized.

"Oh, well then, I'll see you"Alberto says waving us off.

Elijah made sure to pull me close to him as we walked away and toward the way of the staircase. I was about to ask him a question but he beat me to the answer.

"He's a drug dealer, one of the most ruthless in Italy, he knows who are, he just tried to mark you"Elijah says in a low voice as he strode us up the staircase.

He made sure to keep his arm around me as we went up and once we made it up to the hallway, he took the card from me and opened the door to our room. He put me in first and then walked in and closed the door, making sure to lock it.

"I guess I owe you then" I say watching as he let out a relieved sigh.

"For saving your life?" Elijah asks chuckling.

"Although it wouldn't have been that bad, could've been better than what I'm going through"I say shrugging my shoulders.

"What exactly are you going through?" Elijah asks gazing up at me through his wet hair.

The black strands now almost shielding his eyes. I got a little lost in the green orbs as we stared at each other, I tried to look away but I only ever found myself being pulled again into them. He just sat there on the couch, his hair wet and dripping, he was completely shirtless only wearing beach trunks, I kind of see why he was a must have item by ladies, he wasn't all bad looking.

He finally cleared his throat and looked away, causing heat to sneak up to my face from my neck. Why are you blushing Camila!?. He's just another rich man, you've been through his kind before, you'll survive this one.

"We've got dinner reservations, so get cleaned up"Elijah says getting up and dismissing our previous gazing competition.

Without another word, I walked to my room and started to pick a me choose and I was going to wear. We've had many dinner reservations since we've been here, mostly reserved by our parents, but one and two were from Elijah, at least he cared enough to not want me to starve to death.

Reluctantly, I settled with a white dress, it suited the scene and the windy air. I remember buying it once, Mira and I had planned to go to the beach and I bought it but I unfortunately chose something else to wear. At least I remembered to pack it just in case, not that I had anything planned for our supposed honeymoon.

"I suggest you keep your eyes on the bottle, Sir"Elijah says to the waiter pouring my champagne.

"Very sorry Sir, but your wife is quite appealing to the eye" he replied now focusing on pouring my drink.

"Thank you, I'll make sure to leave a review about your eye catching superpower"Elijah says and I kick him under the table.

"Thank you, don't mind my husband, he's just a bit worked about our trip"I say politely as I smile at the boy.

The waiter smiles at me but then turned to Elijah, the two had a glaring contest before I kicked Elijah again and caught his attention. He shot me a look as they boy walked away.

"You enjoyed that little attention didn't you?" he asks picking up his glass and taking a sip.

"He's just a boy, he probably won't even remember me"I say rolling my eyes in annoyance.

"Right, now back to my proposal"he says putting his glass down on the table.

Oh right, Elijah wanted us to at least get along for this whole marriage sham. Give the people what they wanted, I really couldn't care what the people wanted, but he hasn't done anything wrong or ever insulted me in anyway so I might as well agree.

"Fine, I'll try to get along with you as best as I can"I say throwing in the towel.

"And no witty remarks?" he asks with a cocked eyebrow.

I don't reply, instead, I took a long sip from my glass and then downed it.

"Let's just have dinner and finish a few bottles of champagne"I suggest raising my empty glass to him.

He eyed me unsure but still nods in agreement, I really hope we get along, at least we'll trick the public enough and the Seniors, as I've learned, this was also a big deal for Elijah and his company. He needed the sham to kick start a new project, I wasn't that heartless, I can maybe help him out. Just a tad bit.