Chapter Twenty Eight

Bella's POV

"Let's try that one more time, ay? Mercedes, your left hand goes on his shoulder and same with your right. Caden honey, both hands holding her waist like you own it and please maintain an emotional eye contact. Act like you're in love. Just imagine you're already in the wedding and your life depends on it. Let's go!" Miss Evelyn, the CEO of black diamonds said in her beautiful French accent.

"Greg! Shoot!" she yelled and the shoot started. I hated pictures and there I was in front of a camera with flashing lights and gorgeous effects.

"Now, I need you two to practice your kissing scene. Let it be slow, smooth, intoxicating and long. Really long. I need it to be long. Just do it exactly how you would tomorrow at the wedding, but a bit more perfect, ay? Go!"

"Wait, wait, wait! Please hold on. Must we actually do that? I mean, must we?" I asked, panicking and hoping my lips didn't go through the torture of meeting his.

"Yeah, we need to. This is the wedding of the century. Don't you understand? And the kissing scene is the most important part of this because immediately you two smooch tomorrow at the wedding, all billboards in L.A will pop your wedding and everyone will see it. It's gonna be epic, as in, billion dollar wedding! It's gonna be in the news, newspapers, radio, everywhere, so it has to be really good" she smiled and then checked some files her secretary brought in, with little whispers here and there.

"But - " I started, trying my best to avoid a kiss with Mr. Perfect over there.

"Except you want to cancel the contract?" she raised a brow and brought her glasses down a bit, dramatically.

I rolled my eyes and was about to argue when a voice interrupted.

"No, no. There would be no cancelling of any contract. She's up for it," Mamasita interrupted and shot me a really dirty look.

"Right, Mercedes?" she asked with an evil smile and teeth snapped together. She acted more like an enemy than a mother and it had got me wondering.

"Right," I replied and took my position again.

I looked up at Caden and stared at him. Surprisingly, he didn't have his smirk on. Total shocker. He just looked at me and turned away from the sound of Miss Evelyn's voice.

"So, where we we? Aha - the kissing scene. Let's continue. Caden Darling, grasp her waist and sweetheart, hold both cheeks. I mean, place both hands on his cheeks affectionately and then the kissing scene commences. Is that okay?"

"Yes it is!" Mrs. Kensington and mamasita chorused in a hurry.

"Okay," She smiled.

"Shoot!" she yelled.

"Wait a minute!" I stopped again.

"Ughhhhh! What's it now? Mademoiselle, I don't have all the time in the world. I also have a photo shoot with the President's daughter so please stop making the job harder than it is," she yelled in frustration.

"Just a moment," I mumbled.

"Excuse me. I'll talk to her," Papi said and came over to me, grabbing my hand and we left the room.

"Pumpkin, what's the problem?" he asked with affectionate eyes and a worried face.

"I don't know, papi. I don't think i'm ready," I replied, anxious.

"Why? Is it Cameron?"

My pulses stopped. I could feel my throat run dry. My heart ran out of beats, my eyes froze, my lips quivered, a shiver ran down my spine and I kept shaking.

How did he know about Cameron?

"C - Cameron, papi?" I managed to ask with a stutter.

"Yeah, I know dear. You still love him?"

I didn't think I was doing the right thing. Mercedes loved him and he loved her, not me. Not Arabella. I couldn't steal him away even if he thought I was Mercedes. It would've been really unfair. But in that situation, I didn't really have an option, did I?

"Y- yes papi," I nodded.

"Should I call off the wedding?" he asked with a sigh. He looked stress. I didn't want to ruin it all. I just had to do the needful.

I shook my head slowly before speaking up.

"Don't worry papi, I can handle it," I smiled.

He patted my cheek and dragged me in for a hug. "You're such a sweetheart. I love you,"

"I love you too," I replied and we withdrew with grin's on our lips.

"Let's proceed?"

"Sure," I nodded and we went on to the rehearsal room.

"So, is she ready?" Mamasita asked papi.

He nodded with a smile and winked at me. I nodded and went on to the stage for the shoot.

Mamasita sighed and watched me as if she was gonna kill me the second I made a mistake.

"Okay, Mr. President. I am so sorry. Be there in an hour," Miss Evelyn said and hung up the phone with a sigh and a look at me.

"Ready now, queen of all?" she asked sarcastically with a sigh.

I nodded. "Ready,"

"Are you sure?" I heard Caden ask me.

Why did he care? I thought he hated me. He did hate me, actually.

I just nodded and he placed his hands on my waist. Slowly, I slid my hand to his cheek and he pulled me closer. My heart raced and I couldn't help my anxiety.

"Go!" she yelled and.....smooch!

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Oh, what a hectic day!" I groaned and slumped my body on the comfy couch.

"I'm famished!" Caden added and slumped on another couch, staring heavenward.

"I'll just cook up something for you both," Miss Banks offered.

"No, Banks. Just get a bowl of nice strawberry ice cream up to my room. I'll be waiting," I sighed and stood up, headed upstairs.

"Sure, ma'am," she nodded and went off to the kitchen, getting her heels off.

"Ice cream? Is that your dinner?" Caden interrupted my footsteps to my room.

"I don't know how its any of your business. I'm tired," I continued with my steps and walked into my room, lying on the bed and heaving a loud Sigh.

A message came in from Mercedes's phone.

Tired and stressed, I stood up and rummaged through my purse for her phone.

It was a message. A message from Cameron. I was damn tired and I couldn't meet up with him. I was afraid he would adopt me and we were going to run away. It just couldn't happen.

See you in the Chinese restaurant downtown, 10pm. Don't be late.

Chinese restaurant? I hated Chinese cuisines. Plus, I was still afraid of what he was capable of. I didn't know.

After much thought, I finally decided to go. He really loved Mercedes and wouldn't do anything to hurt her, as far as I was concerned.

Just for the sake of Mercedes. Just for her sake.

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

"Hey!"

"Hi!" I replied, cringing a bit from the smell of tomatoes. I was allergic to tomatoes and last time I ate tomatoes, I spent a week in the hospital.

I gave a smile a shot and and grasped my purse tightly, trying my best not to throw up.

"You made it," he smiled and revealed those beautiful dimples.

"Yeah!" I nodded and walked forward, heading to the table. Our table.

"You look - " he shook his head and chuckled a bit.

I looked down at my clothes. An electric blue body hug with black flats and white studs. I went with a casual look, just to avoid all suspicions of any sort.

"I look what?" I asked, curiously waiting for his reply.

"Stunning! You look really gorgeous," he walked over to me and grabbed my hand, helping me to the seat. I sat down and he returned to his seat opposite me with a never ending smile on his lips.

"Thank you," I replied and he just shrugged away his "you're welcome".

"I hope you're hungry because I prepared our favorite. Tomato pasta and macaroni, with spiced meatballs,"

Tomato? I could not eat tomatoes at all. I didn't know why the night got worse.

He opened the bowl and that annoying smell mixed with hot air just blew my face, landing it in a cringe I couldn't control.

"Are you okay?" he asked, standing up.

"Uh huh!" I nodded and tried my best to not take that smell in.

"Dig in!" he whispered after dishing mine into the plate, setting it before me and smiling, awaiting my comment.

"Uhm - " I fidgeted, staring at the food before me.

"Dig in!" he said again with that smile that just made everything look easy.

"I - "

"You should eat. Tell me how it tastes," he said again, rubbing his palms together.

I thanked God he changed his mind about the Chinese restaurant. But I regretted it still.

"Cameron - " I started.

"Yeah?" he asked, staring at me.

"I actually can't. I mean, I can't eat right now," I lied cowardly as my eyes cried out for his reply.

"Why? You loved tomatoes. Remember? Its our favourite!" he said again and smiled cheerfully.

"I'm full," I lied again as I couldn't stand the smell any longer.

I could already feel the itching in my throat and my stomach wasn't in approval. I could die right then.

Lord!

Author's Note.

Thank you all so much for reading. It means a lot to me.

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PaulyQueen.