Chapter four

Camellia wiped his kiss off her lips. Hatred bloomed in her eyes as she lay on his bed. 

"I'll never forgive you for this," she said, her voice laced with anger.

Alejandro's eyes looked down at the petite figure on the bed. He leaned against the doorframe, his gaze unyielding. 

"... For kissing my fiancée?" he asked, his tone icy.

Camellia wasn't going to answer him. Her brain raced with thoughts on how she could escape him. She couldn't live with him anymore. She had to leave before her wedding night, before he truly claimed her.

He moved closer to her, his fingers holding her chin, forcing her eyes up to his. "Listen, Camellia... You are no longer with your father. After our marriage, you'll become a Ricci."

She wanted to spit in his face. "I would never marry a man like you, Alejandro."

He laughed. "You aren't marrying a man like me, dear Camellia... You are getting married to me."

Camellia let out a sarcastic laugh. His eyes changed, his grip on her chin tightened. "Camellia... Don't test my patience."

His warning sent shivers down her spine. His voice went dark, low. "... I'll step on all your toes. You'll have no other option but to obey me, Alejandro."

Camellia barked, refusing to succumb to the fear stuck in her throat. His laughter sounded scary. "Naive, little Camellia... It's just one shot I'll need to send you away. One shot, and I never miss. I would never take you back to your father. Quit dreaming."

Camellia's hair stood on end. Her heart pounded against her ribs. He was threatening her, that was the Alejandro Ricci she had heard of – the cruel man everyone knew.

He smiled softly, noticing how his words had affected her. Finally, he had passed on his intended message. "From now onwards, you'll do exactly as you're told, Camellia. You'll be my good, little fiancée."

She laughed out, her laughter throaty and bitter. "You'll never make me do anything I don't want to."

Alejandro's eyes shone with dark excitement, his lips parted, forming a wicked smile. "Oh, Camellia... I think I already have," he said, his voice low and raspy.

Camellia felt like punching him. Her face grew hotter, a combination of rage and shame flushing over her cheeks. She knew exactly what he was talking about – the kiss they had shared earlier. A kiss that turned her head inside out, sent stars to the back of her head, though she hated to admit it.

She wanted to scream at him, to yell, scratch his face with her artificial nails, but she couldn't let him see how humiliated she felt. She simply refused to give him that satisfaction.

Alejandro traced his fingers down her jawline, his dark eyes traveled down, falling on her lips. His thumb parted her lips, brushing against them. Camellia paused, her heart beating in her chest. Was he going to kiss her again? Oddly, she didn't draw herself back; she caught his eye, holding his gaze.

Alejandro pulled back. An order escaped his lips, his voice cold, detached, and emotionless. "Get up, Camellia."

His tone was sharp. Camellia wished she could pluck his eyes out of their sockets. She hated the way his voice sounded when he was dishing out orders to her. But worse, she hated herself for wanting him to kiss her again.

"We are hosting a night party. The guests will be arriving soon. I want you downstairs in ten minutes, looking stunning, like something I'll like to flaunt around..." He made to leave. "... And put on a black gown."

Camellia felt the anger bubbling in her throat. 'Like something I'll like to flaunt' – his words ignited a flame in her; she wished she could murder him, rip him totally apart.

Her voice was silent. "I am not your trophy... You can't flaunt me about like I am one."

Alejandro's eyes grew darker, his expression hardened. "I own you. I can do whatever I fucking want with you, Camellia."

Camellia's eyes fell on the wolf's figurine on the table; she wished she could pick it up and slam it right on his head. But she knew she couldn't. Right now, she had no choice.

She climbed off the bed, her eyes locked with his for a moment. "I'll play the part," she said. "The part of your obedient fiancée." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. 

"... But never would I... even for a freaking second be truly yours."

Alejandro smirked, his dark eyes didn't waver, even for a bit.

 "... We'll see about that, Camellia." 

Immediately he said that, he turned, walking out of the room. Camellia couldn't tell if he was amazed or angry. He was really confusing, especially to her. 

Camellia took slow steps towards the bathroom. Her hands brushed against the booby pin tucked in her trousers. She smiled cruelly. 

Something she knew was that she would escape, no matter how long it took. When she did, she was going to make them pay, all of them. 

Alejandro Ricci, Luca Moretti, and Mateo Greco. 

The three names rang in her head as she freshened up. After she was done, she came out clothed in her towel. Her eyes went through her dresses, 

"Black, he said?" 

She stared at her reflection, a petite figure in a marine blue night dress. In her own little way, she was going to make Alejandro mad. Provoke him so much that he'll never want to see her face.

 "Camellia?" Alejandro yelled from downstairs, his voice sounded impatient. 

She took a deep breath. Slowly, she took her steps, strolling down the stairs. Each step she took was relaxed, like she was deliberately refuting his orders. 

"I'm coming," she replied, her voice obedient. She walked down the stairs. 

This was a part she had to act if she wanted to survive, she told herself.

 Soon, she was going to reclaim her life, but now she had to obey him till she found a way to flee, run away from him.

 All the eyes turned to her, all the elites had their eyes on her, but his gaze felt different, familiar. She could guess who he was before she turned. 

His eyes met hers, his blue eyes lighter with the rays from the light above. He smiled, mouthing, 

"Fancy seeing you here." 

She groaned angrily, "You fucking brought me here, Mateo."