Camila

"So, you mean to tell me that Antonio didn't get angry when you told him you want to do things your way?" I nodded my head as I took a sip of my drink. Rina and I decided to meet the next day, which was Sunday. But the sole meeting was with Derek. He had finally replied to my text after snubbing me for days. I don't blame him. I don't really know what his reasons were. So, I can't jump to conclusions fast.

Rina's eyes squinted at me as if she didn't buy what I told her. "Are you sure you heard him clearly?" She asked.

"Come on, Rina. I was also surprised. But you won't believe what he told me afterwards. Guess." Rina adjusted her sitting position. I was also shocked. His agreement didn't come on a free platter after all.

"Shoot. I don't like guessing." She said, rolling her eyes on the accord.

"He's assigning a bodyguard to me."

"What!" Rina jolted up. "Bodyguard for what? Is that man for real? Why can't he allow you to be in peace?" Rina bombarded. Her anger was visibly dimmed.

Funny enough, when he mentioned a bodyguard would be assigned to me, I couldn't bring myself to utter a word. I had a hard time processing the fact that our agreement turned out to be give and take. Subsequently, he accepted that I can do whatever I want in the house, he pushed through another direction by bringing the bodyguard thingy.

"Well... that's what I'm seeing. But he can't disrupt my peace, Rina. Not anymore."

"What do you have in mind?" She countered, sitting back down.

"Hello, ladies." Derek appeared from behind me and grabbed his seat.

"Hey Derek." Rina waved. "You finally decided to show your face after snubbing Camila."

Damn! Did I forget to mention that Rina says whatever's in her mind without thinking.

"Hey Derek." I uttered with a light smile. I don't want us to be awkward around each other because of what happened. I could see the look on Derek's face. It indicated he was still thinking about that night.

I took a deep breath before speaking up. "Look Derek, I don't want you to look at me differently because of what happened. I don't want our friendship to sever because of a mere misunderstanding. I don't want to lose this." I emphasized, pointing at the three of us.

"I'm sorry about that night," I said honestly, dropping my gaze down.

Derek heaved a sigh. "Are you done?"

My head snapped towards him in question. "Look, I'm not angry at you. The reason why I didn't reply to your text was that I was caught up with work. And that piece of meat can't come between a friendship that has been there for years. Never."

My lips curved into a smile. I thought he was angry at me. Derek is someone I consider not only a close friend but also a brother. "You calling him a piece of meat shows you weren't shaken up by his actions," I teased.

"Trust me, I was. I nearly pissed my pants."

Rina burst into laughter, a hearty one. Derek shot her a glare in return. "That man has a dangerous eye. Now, can you fill me in on how you got married out of the blue and also ended up marrying that scary man?" Derek leaned forward.

Rina and I exchanged glances. "I will fill you in," Rina suggested. It would be better. Because thinking about it leaves me with nothing but anger and a mix of regret. Yes, I shouldn't have agreed to it in the first place, even though there weren't many options at that time.

"So..." Rina started.

"Oh Camila, I didn't know you're going through a lot." Derek pulled me in for a hug, tears glistening in his eyes.

Rina rolled her eyes as she watched us. Derek is the most emotional one among us. Little things made him cry. Derek cried a river when his girlfriend broke up with him, and he's too soft. Comforting Derek for the heartbreak wasn't easy, though. Derek and his girlfriend had been together for more than two years. When all of a sudden, she decided to leave him. Funny enough, they were planning their wedding together. Since then, Derek had his heart locked into his job.

Funny how love can make you childish. Make you do crazy things. And that same love can destroy you.

"I'm fine, Derek." I muffled out, running my palms over his back. I think he was now the one getting the comfort, not me. "Let me order you something." I said as we broke free from the hug.

"Seriously Derek?" Rina charged, seeing the way his eyes were red from the tears.

"Mind your business!" He snapped. I waved at the waiter.

"What do you want to drink?" I asked him when the waiter approached us.

"I will go for sparkling water."

"Are you still taking sparkling water?" Rina questioned.

"Yes. You have a problem with that?"

Rina shook her head and rested her back. After the waiter had taken Derek's order, I turned to the two. "Can't you guys stay in peace for a day? A minute will do. You two are always arguing."

"There's no peace for the wicked-hearted." Rina replied back.

"You mean you're wicked?" I raised a brow, an amused smile curving up my cheeks.

Rina's eyes slightly widened before she rolled her eyes. "Antonio is the wicked-hearted. Right, we were discussing that earlier before Derek came in. What do you plan on doing regarding the bodyguard stuff? Because having someone watching over you is suffocating."

"What are you guys talking about? Which bodyguard?" Derek leaned forward.

"Antonio is assigning her a bodyguard." Rina answered.

"Damn that man. What exactly will he achieve by suffocating you?" Derek's sparkling water arrived, and he took a sip.

I went silent. Rina and Derek don't know what I was planning on doing. "Say something, Camila." Rina prodded again. I found myself reaching for Derek's sparkling water and took a sip of it. Then leaned back in my seat.

"I'm using his decision against him," I began.

"Say it in a more understandable way." Rina hissed.

"I want to disrupt his peaceful life. To make him regret assigning me a bodyguard. And to make him regret allowing me to do whatever I like in his house. That is my plan." I confessed. Derek blinked his eyes in confusion, while Rina gave me a smile, or rather a smirk. She understood what I meant.

"I know I'm a bad girl. But I didn't know you're worse than me." She winked.

"Wait... I don't get you, Camila. What if you put yourself in trouble? You know Antonio is a powerful man. The marks on your neck are still visible." Derek explained worriedly.

"You-" I interrupted Rina from talking. "I know you're worried about me, Derek, but I don't think I will get away from Antonio if I don't take a step."

"The step you should take should be a positive one, then."

"Meaning?" I shot him a confused look.

Derek took hold of both my hands. "Camila, don't allow his behavior to confuse you."

"I'm not preaching to her!" Derek hissed, throwing a glare in Rina's direction. The two will never get better at arguing.

Derek turned his focus on me. "Listen, Camila, I'm not trying to stop you from doing what you want to do regarding your plan. What you guys told me about Antonio had really left a bad impression of him. Because that isn't the way to handle a woman. And that someone you got married to. However, what I want you to understand is, Antonio Di Salvatore lacked a family upbringing. He is doing what he was taught since childhood. And like you said, you can't escape from him if you sit idle. Defying him will put you in more trouble."

I chuckled when he paused to sip his drink before taking a sharp breath. The only thing Rina was doing was throwing him her glare and rolling her eyes.

"What Antonio needs is someone to show him the meaning of life. And you are the only person to make that possible." Derek voiced out. The way his voice came out slowly made me look at him.

He flashed me a smile. "I don't want to see you sad. If Antonio could kill someone for you, trust me, you're important to him. He just doesn't know how to express himself."

"Like you."

"Yes. Wait... What do you mean?" Derek spat.

"Guys, don't start, please. Let's drop the topic." I said, raking my hands through my hair. I don't know. For some reason, Derek has a point. I know deep down; I don't hate Antonio. I just don't like the way he was exerting his control on me. I am not used to his world of danger. I remembered whenever I stared at him, I see something different in his eyes. Something that makes me want to dig deep and find out what's beneath.

Derek continued. "I won't say much more, Camila. It looks like Rina is ready to kill me. Just think about what I said. Remember, going against him will only worsen the situation. He can still exert his control over you even after allowing you to do whatever you want in his house."

Rina startled us by clapping her hands together and sitting upright. "I have an idea. Derek somehow has a point."

"You're finally admitting I am smart," he uttered with a smile.

"Shut it and allow me to talk." She turned to me, intertwining her hands together.

"From the way Antonio was behaving with you, going against him won't have any effect. Like Derek said, he needs someone to show him the difference between right and wrong. Because at this stage, Antonio doesn't know any better. He thinks control is the only way to lead a life. He might have been raised that way, but he needs change. And you are the only person who can make that possible," Rina explained.

"So, what we will advise you as your friends is that you should bring Antonio Di Salvatore out of the world he thinks is a good place."

"And allow myself to fall into danger?" I said almost immediately. Rina's brows creased in confusion.

"What danger exactly? Aren't you already in one if you follow the first plan?" Derek said, casting Rina a look.

"That wasn't a bad idea too. I just want her to be happy."

"Likewise, me."

"Alright, guys." I interrupted. "I've heard all that you said. I will think about it. But I won't promise you guys that I won't speak my mind if he tries to control me." I warned.

"Well, don't blame us for what will follow." And together we chuckled.

**

I stepped inside the house at exactly 6:45 pm. I won't say I was entirely exhausted since we spent all those hours talking in one place. Rina and Derek's words didn't leave my head since then. How do I start saving Antonio? Does he even need saving? I don't want to venture into something I would regret later on. Agreeing to the marriage was already a mistake I had committed.

"Welcome back, Ma'am," the maid's voice snapped me out of my trance.

"Thank you, Nelly. How is work going?" I don't even know why I was asking her such. Nelly is the only maid in the house. I wonder how she copes with the work alone.

"It's going normal, Ma'am. I'm about to start preparing dinner before Master comes back." So, he's not yet back.

I nodded my head in response. "Alright then. Get back to work." I said with a wave of my hand. I had taken two to three steps when an idea struck.

"Nelly?"

"Yes, Ma'am." She turned to me.

"Put out the ingredients, I will prepare dinner today."

"Huh?" Her eyes widened as if she wasn't expecting my outburst.

"Do as I say." With that, I sauntered upstairs. As soon as I closed the door behind me, I let out a sharp breath.

"Camila, you're not doing this for anyone but yourself. To avoid him controlling you," I assured myself before trekking to the bathroom.

By the time I had showered and changed into a new set of outfits - jeans and a short-sleeved baggy top - Nelly had already laid out the ingredients. "I don't know if I should use the house's stuff. These are yours," Nelly confirmed.

"It's fine. It's all the same. Do we have chicken in the house?"

"Yes."

"Alright. Bring it out and marinate it. I will start with the sauce."

"Alright, Ma'am."

I patted my body. I had left my phone in the room. I needed it to search for a list of things to do with chicken. I didn't want to make a normal chicken sauce or grilled chicken. I wanted to make something special for a start. "Nelly, let me get my phone from the room," I told her. She nodded her head. The girl doesn't talk much.

I quickly made my way upstairs and grabbed my phone. A smile found its way out of me seeing Derek's text.

"All the best, Camila! Remember, you're the key to his heart!"

Derek can be quite a cheesy man.

I didn't get to reply to him when Rina's text came through too. "I won't say much, but I know you will do a good job. Crack his head if he messes up."

Are the two together?

I typed away while walking downstairs. I started by replying to Rina. "Sure, I will. You know..."

"Ouch!" It happened so fast that I lost balance, my phone slipped, and my body slumped to the side. However, a pair of strong hands snaked around my waist just when I was about to fall. Both of my hands landed on his chest. Our faces were a mere inch away from hitting each other. Time seemed to have stopped as we gazed into each other's eyes. I saw the same indifferent emotions in Antonio's eyes.

Bring Antonio Di Salvatore out of the world he thinks is a good place.

Derek's words echoed in my head. Unknowingly, I gripped his arm tightly. "I-"

Antonio slowly hauled me back. I cleared my throat. Silence suddenly engulfed the surroundings. "My phone." I exclaimed, checking around the surrounding. I caught sight of it down the stairs. Great. When did it reach there? Probably when you lost your balance.

I spared Antonio a brief glance and proceeded to walk past him, only for him to hold me back by the arm. My confused eyes traveled from the hold to him. "Where are your shoes?"

Right. Where are my shoes exactly? How did he notice?

"I have no idea. But I will find them." I uttered, forming my lips into a thin line.

"Better do."

What did he mean by 'Better do'? Camila, calm down and get to work. Right. I was supposed to be making dinner.

Antonio released his hold on my arm. The warmth I once felt from the touch disappeared. Funny enough, I felt a pang in my chest. Antonio was about to walk away when my mouth moved on its own. "Freshen up. Dinner will be ready soon." I said and walked away without waiting for his response or to see his reaction. Not because of anything, but due to the way my heart was thumping loudly inside. I hope my decision won't be my doom later on.