Chapter 018

"I made it clear to you, Emily. Stay away from me," Antonio hissed, his voice a low growl that echoed in the relative quiet of the outer deck. He couldn't believe she'd followed him, especially here, to Cole's party.

"And I made it clear to you, Antonio, that I don't take orders." Emily stepped closer, her faces inches from his "You can't just ignore me."

"This isn't the time or place, Emily." He glanced back at the bar, a flicker of unease in his eyes. He didn't want Camila or anyone to know about his complicated past with Emily. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, especially not tonight.

Emily glance at bar and back at Antonio. "Or is it because you're with someone else? That woman at the bar..." she chuckle like she had just piece up the puzzle. "So she's my replacement....I get it now."

Antonio inhaled sharply too exasperated to resort. But as he looked into Emily's eyes, he noticed something he hadn't seen before -  fear, insecurity. She's slipping. Could he use this?

Could he leverage Emily's insecurity to finally push her away?

The idea was tempting  He'd always avoided playing dirty, but Emily's relentless pursuit was pushing him to his limits. This seem like an  opportunity.

"So how far have you two gone huh? How long have you been cheating on me?"

Emily continue with her tirade but Antonio mind was elsewhere as He glanced back at Camila, who was still sipping her drink at the bar likes there's no tomorrow.

With what he noticed from her she doesn't seem to be someone who takes shit her confidence her sharp witt was evident even from a distance.

A plan began to form in his mind, one that could potentially free him from Emily's toxic grasp once and for all.

"Antonio are you even listening to me!"

"Antonio I'm talking to you!" Emily barked snapping him back to the present.

"Oh yeah you were." He said with smile. "So Are you done now."

Emily turn silent and Antonio knew well enough she will soon explode like tickling time bomb.

"I'm not even close to being done, Antonio. You think you can just dismiss me, smile at me like I'm some kind of joke?"  She paused, her chest heaving with rage, and then spat out the words, "You're going to pay for cheating on me, for replacing me with that...that...thing."

Antonio's smile never wavered. "She's not a replacement," he said, glancing back at Camila again. And he could guess Emily would mistake this for admiration. "She's… a distraction. A welcome one."

"You-"

He didn't let her finish.

" I don't need to be tied down to you so sign that divorce papers ASAP and let's know where we stand."

Emily lip trembled in anger  and Antonio thought it was the final straw for her to  lose little bit of composure left.nut instead she leaned closer now determined than ever.

"We'll remained a couple..." Her lips curled.."till death do us apart."

She stepped back hung her purse over her shoulder. "I'll be around but remember... I got my eyes on you."

Swiping her two fingers at him she turned disappearing into the crowd.

Antonio let out a sigh of relief, but  still on high alert. He knew Emily's parting words were not just an empty threat. She would be back, and next time, she might not be so subtle.

He turned his attention back to the bar  Camila  was still sipping her drink, her eyes scanning the crowd.

Was she trying to spot him? He couldn't tell. Antonio's lips curved into a smile as he made his way back to her.

"So Sorry about that I didn't mean to abandon you."

Camila turned to him seeming disinterested but Antonio knew better. Who wouldn't be intrigued by the dramatic scene.

Camila shrugged. "Well I don't  think  you abandoned me you had your hands full with that...woman."

Antonio raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Camila's choice of words. "That...woman?"

Camila shrugged . "Yes, the one who seemed to think she owns you."

Antonio chuckled trying to downplay the situation. "Well... just a… misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding that involved you dragging a woman outside and growling at her?" Camila raised an eyebrow. "Sounds intense."

Antonio's jaw tightened. Why did she care anyway?

"It's… complicated." He replied and tooka. Sip but then from a distance he cought sight of Emily who was having a hard time blending with crowd.

"Complicated like a messy breakup?" Camila asked, taking a sip of her margarita. "Or complicated like a 'she's-not-really-my-girlfriend' situation?"

Antonio hesitated, caught off guard by her directness. "It's… a bit of both," he admitted.

Camila nodded as she got up from the stool. "I see. Well, as long as it doesn't involve me getting dragged into the middle of your drama, I don't really care."

As she turn to leave Antonio grabbed her arm  .and spun her back around, . "Hey, wait Don't go."

Camila frown yanking his hand off her. "It's my party you don't expect to be trapped in here with you."

Antonio hesitated, unsure of how to answer. He didn't want to get into the details of his complicated situation with Emily, but at the same time, he didn't want Camila to walk away either. 

Should he just follow up with the last minute plan? Putting Camila in the middle between himself and Emily.  

Emily obsession was becoming too much to bear now it has gotten to the extent she could track him anywhere in the world. But now there's this vulnerable, subtle insecurity of  Emily he like to explore.

"Now you've zoned off seriously." Camila said, her voice now edged with curiosity. "Are you going to explain-"

"Are you in a relationship?" Antonio ask and Camila expression turn dark.

"Why would you ask that-"

"It's a yes or no question."

Camila frown in confusion but the urgency in his question compelled her to answer.

"No-"

"Perfect."