Chapter 3 Back in a dream

"Hey, what's wrong?"

A familiar voice broke the silence in the executive hallway. I startled and instantly turned toward the source of the voice. In a panic, I roughly wiped the tears from my cheeks with the back of my hand, then hurriedly forced a faint smile in front of the man I knew very well as Lio-Javier's personal assistant.

"Hey, Camila? What are you doing here?" Lio asked in surprise as soon as he recognized me. He remembered me because we'd exchanged greetings a few times when he'd visited our house on business for Javier.

"Well, Lio. I was just about to deliver this financial report to Mr. Javier's office," I explained in a slightly hoarse voice, holding up the thick folder I'd been clutching tightly the whole time.

"Do you work here now?" he asked, making sure he wasn't seeing things.

I nodded slowly, trying to act as natural as possible. "That's right, I just started working in the marketing division today," I replied.

Lio just nodded in understanding as he reached out to take the folder from my arms. "Oh, I see. Well then, let me take these documents inside for you. I happen to be free this afternoon-want to grab lunch with me?"

Hearing his invitation, I immediately shook my head quickly. I didn't want a single person in this office to know about my relationship with Javier. To maintain a safe distance, I'd decided not to get too close to anyone at work-including my adoptive brother's own personal assistant.

"Thanks for the invitation, Lio. But I think I'll just have lunch with my friends," I declined as politely as possible before saying goodbye and heading back downstairs.

****

That evening, the atmosphere at the Villareal house felt different. The dinner that was usually warm had turned into a theatrical performance that tormented my soul.

"How was work today, dear? Did everything go smoothly?" Mom asked gently during family dinner.

I smiled sweetly, trying hard to put on a face that showed I was very happy with my first day. "Fine, Mom. Everyone on the marketing team is really nice and has been guiding me," I replied calmly.

"Oh, Camila's working? Where does she work?" asked Adriana, who had surprisingly joined us for dinner at our house that night.

"She works at Javier's company, Adriana. Today was her first day as a marketing staff member," Mom explained proudly.

I just gave a faint smile while nodding politely toward Adriana. Behind that smile, my chest still felt tight and an excruciating pain gripped me every time memories of what happened in Javier's office that afternoon replayed in my head.

"Honey, why didn't you tell me?" Adriana cooed, wrapping her arm around Javier's as he sat next to her. "But I actually stopped by your office earlier. If you'd told me, I could've dropped by to say hi to Camila too."

Javier set his spoon and fork down on his plate with a loud clatter. He glanced at me briefly with an unreadable expression, then turned his gaze back to Adriana. "What for? She's there to work, not to play," he replied coldly as he immediately stood up from his chair. "Come on, let me take you home now," he said again in a firm, baritone tone that brooked no argument.

"Ugh, but I still miss her. I just got back from France, honey," Adriana complained, pouting playfully.

"That's why you should get married soon, so you can be together every day," Mama teased them with a little laugh.

"I'd love to do that as soon as possible, Auntie. But it's Javier who's deliberately dragging his feet," Adriana complained with a pout, her eyes glancing at Javier, who stood stiffly beside the table.

"That's why, if you want to get married, quit your job as a model. I don't want you to still be busy traveling back and forth overseas after we're married," Javier cut in firmly, demanding his future wife's full commitment.

"But I've already signed a contract, Javier."

"I can pay the full compensation to your agency," Javier replied casually, flaunting his boundless financial power.

Mom nodded in agreement. "What Javier said is true, Adriana. Javier can definitely cover all your living expenses without you having to work hard anymore. Instead of exhausting yourself chasing a career, it's better to focus on getting ready. Not to mention if you get pregnant later."

"Okay then. I'll give you lots of grandchildren, Auntie," Adriana exclaimed cheerfully, once again wrapping her arm affectionately around Javier's before the two of them stepped out toward the car.

Those words instantly made my chest feel even tighter. Lots of children? That means... they're having sex often, right? My mind immediately ran wild, imagining Javier touching another woman's body the same way he did in my dream. Jealousy and disgust mingled together, making me nearly choke on the pain in my heart.

****

"Ah... yeah, I love your touch, Javier. Touch me here... deeper, Javi..."

I was rambling again on the bed. In my subconscious, Javier's lips were once more tracing the surface of my skin, delivering an addictive, burning sensation. His hands moved slowly yet insistently, squeezing my breasts possessively while his lips played over my sensitive areas with such skill and tenderness. I loved every intoxicating inch of his touch.

"Javier, I want you. I want to get pregnant with your child...," I whispered in my dream, begging him desperately to position himself on top of me and unite our bodies.

But just as I felt the sensation of union so real on the brink of ecstasy, my eyes suddenly flew open.

I was gasping for breath, staring at the pitch-black ceiling of my room. My heart was pounding like a war drum, disrupting the rhythm of my chest as it rose and fell, gasping for air. Damn! I'd had another erotic dream about him-for the umpteenth time.

Feeling my throat parched and burning from the intensity of the dream, I decided to get out of bed. The wall clock read two in the morning. Usually I sleep soundly until morning, but tonight the image of Javier had completely thrown my entire nervous system into disarray.

I walked very slowly and carefully through the darkness of the house toward the kitchen. I needed cold water as soon as possible to cool my brain, which was boiling with frustration. Once I reached the refrigerator, I immediately grabbed a large bottle of mineral water, opened it hastily, and drank it right there in front of the open fridge door, letting the cold vapor wash over my flushed face.

But as I turned to head back to my room, my body froze instantly. My heart nearly leaped out of my chest.

Javier was standing there, right in the darkness of the kitchen doorway, staring at me intently. And what was far worse, the man wasn't wearing a shirt at all. He was only wearing thin cotton pajama bottoms, exposing his broad, broad chest, his solid, muscular stomach, and the perfectly sculpted contours of his muscular body-the result of regular exercise.

Under the dim glow of the refrigerator light, I swallowed hard. Instantly, the memory of the hot touch from the dream that had just faded a few minutes ago suddenly replayed in my head, overlapping with the real figure of the bare-chested man standing before me now.

Damn it! Why did he have to show up at a time like this? my inner voice screamed in panic. The silence of the night suddenly turned incredibly tense, thick with the pent-up sexual tension between the two of us.

****