Chapter 3 III

DAMINE

It was an even better idea to pick her up instead of the driver like I had originally planned. She looked every bit like Camilla except there was something particularly demure about her. Like she was the lifeless version of her otherwise bubbly twin sister.

I loved Camilla but she was nowhere to be found and as much as I wanted to scour the earth for her, I had to get married before the deal with my investor is finalized hence the switch to the other sister.

I found it infuriating that I was overly aware of her presence. The still way she sat in the car and the steady rise and fall of her chest.

As much as I wanted to turn around and watch her, to familiarize myself with the notable differences between her and the woman I loved, I did not.

We arrived at the restaurant and I was brought out of my thoughts by this. I reached the car door and pulled it open, putting out a hand to her.

“Thank you” She murmured, her voice shaky.

There was a difference in the way she had spoken to me earlier on the phone and it was that feisty voice that had made me vaguely interested in wanting to know her.

Camilla never talked about her sister all the time we were together. She was always too absorbed in talking about herself and do not get me wrong, I loved to see and watch her talk… her eyes lighting up with delight.

Andrea on the other hand, there was no light in her eyes or maybe I wasn’t yet opportune to seeing it?

I led her into the restaurant and straight to my favorite spot, it was a place I had visited plenty times with Linda and when the waiter approached us, she had a smile on her face.

“Miss Silva, it is lovely to see you again” She said.

Andrea smiled back at her, her eyes meeting mine.

She waited however until the waiter had taken both our orders before she asked the obvious question.

“I take it that woman was familiar with my sister?”

“Yes” I responded, my eyes pinned on her.

She had blue eyes but in the dimly lit restaurant, it was more of gray with a hint of hazel around the edges, it teased my senses.

“I don’t know what we are doing” She muttered in embarrassment.

“We are getting married” I reminded her, reaching for the glass of water beside me.

“I know but shouldn’t we be looking for Camilla? This should not be happening and we do not… you do not even know me” She muttered in exasperation.

“I do not need to know you, Andrea. I only need to get married and Camilla…” I paused, taking in a deep breath. “Camilla is not available right now. I am sorry if this was not in your plans but you are going to have to make space for it right now” I declared.

It was more like an order and I could see her eyes flash as she took in the meaning of my words.

There it was, I almost smiled. The life.

“I know what I am supposed to do and I know we are supposed to get married. I guess I only thought I could reason with you as any sane humans in the 21st century would but I can see that I was very wrong” She nodded curtly in my direction, shutting me off completely.

I said nothing more; there was no need for me to begin building a relationship with her because I would never love her. She was here for one thing and one thing only and that was to be a dutiful wife to me.

The waiter saved us from further conversation with the arrival of our meal and I ate, glancing occasionally at her but otherwise, we just ate.

She pushed her plate away, reaching for a glass of water.

“I am not going to fight this marriage and will do whatever you want” She told me, her eyes steady.

I pushed my plate away too.

“I was not under the impression you had a say in the matter, Miss Silva”

“You can call me, Andrea… Damine. After all, we are going to be husband and wife”

A jolt snaked through my spine at this.

I shook my head, warning myself to not mistake her for her sister. They were nothing alike but this one… there was something about her.

“When is the wedding?” She asked.

“In two days” I told her.

“Two days!” Her eyes rounded. “You…we cannot get married in two days”

“I just heard you say you are going to do whatever I want or was I mistaken?”

Her eyes flashed again in anger and I realized with abruptness how much I wanted to see more of that flash.

No, Damine… I chided myself. She is not the one.

“I will be ready” She murmured, her tone final.

“If that is all, Mr Fel then we should take our leave. So I can get ample time to shop for a wedding dress. No one would want the wife of the billionaire, Damine Fel to appear in sack clothes now, would they?” She shot me a small smile and I could tell she was teasing, making light of the situation.

I rose to my feet, stepping out almost immediately she did so we were standing face to face with me towering over her.

She took a step back, a look of panic I did not quite understand entering her eyes before it was gone and I was left to think I had imagined her fear.

“Are you okay?” I asked still.

“I am fine” She ground out. “You startled me, is all”

“You are easily startled, Miss Silva” I noted.

“Am I? or is it that you are such a big oaf”

She turned around, walking in front of me while I resisted the urge to laugh.