If Love Was Forced

Chapter 5: Cranberry Vodka

"I can't believe you did that."

I said to him as we sat down at our table. "How else would they believe us?" He asked and I chuckled. "Camila, my beautiful dear!" Maria approached us wearing a violet-purple dress, with a bright smile.

"Mrs. Huxley, you look beautiful." I said to her standing up hugging her, "I see you and my son are close, I'm happy to see you both get along." She says, I glanced back at Alejandro who was smirking, ass face.

"We are," I said nodding, she soon excused herself to talk to the other guest so I sat back down with Alejandro. "Getting along, huh?" I said hitting his shoulder, and he laughed.

"I'm gonna go greet the guest," He says and I nodded, he walked yet I called out for him. "Meet me at the garden after your speech, I'll be waiting." I told him, he gave me smile and nodded, walking away.

I looked around and spotted Gretchen, I stood and approached her, "James, meet Camila." Gretchen says introducing me to the guy she was talking about, I smiled at him offering my hand to shake his.

"I'm Camila Romano it's nice to meet you, James." I told him, he stared at me deeply, I pulled my hand away awkwardly, "You look lovely," He commented and I thank him purposely, "Gretchen, Alejandro's gift, is it ready?" I asked her, "it's here in my pocket." She says pulling a little jewelry box from her pocket.

"Gracias, It was lovely meeting you, James, and I'll be seeing you later my lovely." I told them and gave Gretchen a hug. "It's my pleasure." James said.

I looked at Gretchen who gave me a wink, I rolled my eyes chuckling and walked off, the waiter offered me a drink in which I gladly took. "Camila, my daughter." I hear Dad say from behind, I turned around and smiled.

"I missed you." I told him, "I'm so proud of you dear." He tells me, I've never heard him say that before but surely it touched my heart hearing it for the first time.

I hugged him, he pulled away and we both walked over to our table where his friends sat, I talked to the wives of the rich business man, who kept going on and on about their first experience with their husbands.

Totally wasn't ready for that conversation but thanks I guess. Soon Alejandro was on the stage, "Our President and CEO of Huxley industries, Mr. Alejandro Romano, everybody! Let's greet him a happy birthday!" The announcer said as everyone cheered and said happy birthday, he walked up stage.

"I'm glad everyone is having a good time, thank you for spending my birthday with me, and please for today don't think about work, let's just have fun, like the old times." He says, everyone clapped and he soon walked back down the stage and approached me, he gave me a peck, everyone was in awe, and soon the people started to play music and everyone danced around, he sat next to me. "You seem to be to sweet today." I told him raising my eyebrow. "I have to watch my sugar intake then." He replied, my father, maria and Pietro smiled, i didn't know if he really wanted to do that or he was just putting on a show, of course, it's just for show, Camila, duh.

"I'll head over to the garden." He whispered to my ear, I nodded. "I'll follow, I'll just grab another drink." I said to him, he walked off and I walked over to the bar to grab a drink. "I'll have a Vodka cranberry," I said to the bartender, he started making my drink and I opened the jewelry box, I smiled seeing the custom bracelet I ordered just for the two of us, it wasn't like a symbol of love bracelet, don't get any ideas, I'm not like that. It was just like a symbol for friendship you know, atleast we had something to hold onto if something happens, I know he hates bracelets but I'm sure maybe he'll like this, I mean it's Cartier, diamonds all around, embellished with gold designs, who wouldn't. It was just expensive, it's special and thoughtful, well I think so, I don't know if he thinks that way.