Chapter One
“Mr. Kane will be right with you, Madam,” the servant who had brought her into the parlor said.
Camila barely heard, or noticed that the man had left already. She was looking around the room with fascination, interested particularly in the art pieces that adorned the walls. Her eyes fell on one particular painting, tastefully done, and she wondered if she knew the painter. She’d been an art major in college, after all, even though her focus was mainly on photography, she still got to learn plenty about all forms of art.
Her mind drifted back to what she’d learned about the man she was about to have coffee with. A billionaire playboy, who seemed as straight laced as they came when she’d met him for their interview and hardly the womanizer the internet and rag mags had made him out to be. It was the main reason she was here, in his home. To discover the conundrum that was Samuel Kane, despite her mother’s warnings not to get involved with him. She couldn’t resist coming to meet him because he intrigued her in a way no other man ever had.
“You’re here.”
The voice came from behind her, and it was the same as before, low and deep, and even from a distance away, it made her insides tighten and her heart flutter. Slowly, Camila turned around, and she saw him. Samuel Kane, in all his glory, descending a spiral staircase as if he was some sort of prince, with one hand on the railing.
Something is different, she thought, even before she saw him. His voice sounded a lot livelier than their first meeting, too, but seeing how he looked was an even bigger surprise.
She didn’t have anything against the look he’d had on when they met last time. It was modest, but chic, though still, nothing that popped out too much. The man in front of her might as well have been a different person.
Since he was above her coming down, she eyed him from his feet, and the blue sneakers he was wearing were particularly eye-catching. His long legs were encased in dark jeans that were loose around the calves, but tight around his thighs, and she even noted a few artificial rips. The only thing recognizable on him was the white t-shirt, and over it he had a black blazer, with a blue scarf hung loosely around his neck, along with a few silver and gold chains. On one wrist, he had several leather and silver bands, and on the other wrist he had a gold watch, not to mention the silver and gold rings on his fingers.
The biggest shocker for her, still, was seeing him smiling. It was as if he’d turned from the reserved ex-soldier she’d met to a peacock, and she could feel her eyes widening and jaw dropping in her surprise.
“I trust your drive here was uneventful?” he said, arching an eyebrow, a corner of his mouth raising a bit higher, and she could feel her heart skip a beat. “You’re a bit earlier than I expected, there was hardly enough time to finish preparing, but I can't say I’m disappointed.”
After a few seconds, she found her voice.
“H-hi,” she stuttered, her face warming up even more. “Uh, the drive was…nice. Thank you for sending a car to me, but I could have found the place fine if you’d left me with directions…”
“But where’s the point in that?” Samuel said, an eyebrow jumping up, his look turning a little flirtatious. “I like to spoil the women I like, and I wouldn’t have invited you here if I didn’t like you.”
He’d already reached the bottom of the steps, and Camila could only watch as he walked even closer to her. He was so much more friendly and charming, compared to before, that she didn’t know what to do with herself. So she just stood there dumbly, watching him get ever closer, with her hands holding onto her clutch purse in front of her and her heart beating so fast in her chest, she thought it wanted to escape.
“You look absolutely amazing,” Samuel said, his voice dropping down an octave.
As if she wasn’t already taken in before, she really thought she would swoon with that low tenor in his voice. She wondered what it would feel like, to have him call her name like that, and felt her breath hitch in her throat. Even if he was just playing with her, she didn’t think she would refuse him, and she wondered if that was the secret behind the rumors, how he could be known as a womanizer and still be so popular with women.
His eyes intent on hers, he raised a hand slowly toward her, and her eyes shifted from his face to that hand. It was coming ever closer, and the closer it moved, the faster and harder her heart beat, and her breath even started coming short. Her eyelids fluttered as that hand got closer to her face. She thought he would cup her cheek, and a slight tremor went through her body at the thought of that wide, warm palm touching her skin.
Before it could happen, though, they were interrupted.
“You better not be doing what it is I think you’re doing.”
Camila startled, she even gasped out loud, as both she and Samuel turned to face the man that walked into the room. Only, Camila’s eyes widened once more as she gaped at the man that was completely identical to the Samuel in front of her. Actually, no. In look, down to the tanned skin and trimmed hair, they were alike. But the man standing in the entrance to the parlor looked a lot closer to the Samuel she’d met before, since he was dressed simply in a polo shirt, dark slacks and brown casual shoes.
Camila’s eyes shifted from the ‘Samuel’ in front of her, and the one several feet away. He crossed the space between them quickly, eyes narrowed dangerously at his twin, before looking at her with a slightly gentled look.
“Camila, I’m sorry about my brother. He can be a bit insensitive in his behavior.” Then, he turned back to his twin. “Adrien, that was out of line. I know you like playing tricks, but please leave my guests out of it.”
The twin, now known as Adrien, raised his hands up, palms out, a slightly wounded look on his face.
“I didn’t do any harm,” he said defensively. “I was only greeting her, and it’s not like I said a single lie.”
Samuel sneered. “No, just twisted the truth instead of outright telling her you weren’t me. Anyone who didn’t know us wouldn’t understand. Please don’t behave like a child.”
Camila just blinked as she watched the two of them banter back and forth, too stunned to even speak up. She did realize pretty quickly that she’d been tricked, but the fact that Samuel had an identical twin was even more shocking for her. He’d only mentioned having younger siblings before, Samuel didn’t give her this little detail.
Looking at the two of them, a thought entered her mind, and some of the rumors going around suddenly made a lot of sense. The two of them looked like carbon copies of each other, if you didn’t look at how differently they were dressed. Also, the fact that Adrien looked easier on the eyes with a smile playing at his lips, and Samuel had this dark and foreboding look on his face.
I wonder…who between the two of them has the womanizer reputation?
“I have everything ready,” Samuel said with a sigh, turning to look at her with a slight frown. “Would you like to have it here instead of the dining area?”
“U-um,” Camila stuttered when both men turned to look at her, Adrien with slightly arched eyebrows in a curious look. “The…dining area?”
She made the suggestion, because she was a bit worried about spilling something on the expensive looking seats in the parlor. Samuel gave a sharp nod, then looked over his shoulder. A servant Camila hadn't even noticed was standing there, and he nodded at Samuel then left in a hurry. Samuel then turned back to Camila.
“Everything will be set up momentarily. If you would please come with me?”
He raised his hand toward her, gesturing her to move. She was still feeling a little dazed, but she had gotten over the surprise enough that she could walk just fine, and she walked toward Samuel. He turned as she reached him and they walked side by side. She didn’t miss the fall of footsteps approaching them, and neither did Samuel as he looked behind them. Camila glanced up at his face, only to see this fierce scowl, and she looked away quickly.
The ‘dining area’ as Samuel had called it, was even more impressive than the parlor. The room was about the same size, only this seemed larger because it was more bare. There were still paintings hung up around the walls, and several large windows letting in light. In the middle of the room was a large table, enough to seat a dozen people if not more. Samuel led her to a seat, to the right side of one end of the table, even pulling out her chair for her, then took the seat at the head of the table himself. Adrien smiled at the two of them as he sat to Samuel’s left, and right across from Camila.
“Did I ask you to join us, little brother?” Samuel asked, his voice sharp, the frown that hadn't left his face deepening.
“I’d just like to sit down to something myself,” Adrien said amicably. “I was up late last night and I only got up a short while ago, so I haven’t had breakfast, either, you know.”
Samuel didn’t say more, but with his lips pressed flat together, it was easy to tell he was unhappy. The atmosphere was a little awkward, and when several servants walked in to set the table, both men and women in the same uniforms, only with the women wearing skirts instead of pants, Camila couldn’t help but be relieved.
“My brother called you Camila, yes?” Adrien said, addressing her.
Camila jumped a little, not expecting him to talk to her, and her eyes flitted quickly to Samuel, then away.
“Yes, my name is Camila Blake.”
He nodded. “You’ve probably figured this out already, but I’m Adrien Kane. It’s nice to meet you, Miss Blake.”
Camila felt her face flushed, and wondered if her coloring would ever go back to normal. “Please, no need to be so formal,” she said quickly. “Camila is just fine.”
Adrien grinned. “Then, feel free to call me Adrien, Camila. Could I serve your coffee for you?”
Even feeling awkward, and a little shy for being in the same room as not one, but two really good-looking men, Camila wasn’t sure how to reply. Not that she got the chance to.
“I’m sure Camila can serve herself just fine,” Samuel said, shooting a resentful glare at Adrien. “I would like it if you hurried up and went wherever you got dressed up for, Adrien.”
Adrien didn’t look at all put out by Samuel’s words, but Camila couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. She didn’t know him that well, but from their brief encounter, she’d thought Samuel was…nice, if a bit stiff. But the way he was acting toward his charming brother was only making her feel even more awkward. She felt like he was being an asshole, but she couldn’t even speak up and say it, since this wasn’t her house. She was only a guest here.
The not-date went on, with each of them helping themselves to coffee and some pastries which had been served with it. There was some light conversation, with Adrien mostly starting them, Camila joining, and Samuel cutting in. Her impression of him only kept falling lower. And then, in the middle of speaking more about her work, Samuel was interrupted by the ring of his cell phone, and he got up as he pulled it out of his pocket.
“I need to take this, but I’ll only be a short moment,” he said, shooting a narrow-eyes look at Adrien.
Camila sighed, feeling as if the atmosphere had completely relaxed with him stepping outside.
“I’m really sorry about that,” Adrien said.
Camila looked up and met his eyes, and he had this apologetic smile on his face.
“Oh, no, there’s nothing for you to apologize for,” she said quickly.
“I feel like I should, still,” he said with a sigh. “I can tell that my brother doesn’t want me here, he clearly wants to be alone with you, but I don’t think I can do that.”
Camila frowned, confused. “What do you mean?”
The smile on his face relaxed a bit, became more joyful, and he leaned forward over the table. He couldn’t move that much closer because the table was also pretty wide, but Camila was still mesmerized by the move.
“Because I don’t find it fair that he should have you all to himself like he has some claim,” Adrien said. “I’m going to leave when he gets back, before things get too awkward, but I would like to ask you something first.”
Her heart was picking up again, and she couldn’t believe this was happening. No way. There’s just no way.
“Ask,” she said, her voice lowered to a whisper.
Adrien grinned. “Camila Blake, may I have the honor of taking you out to dinner some time? I can let big brother have his way this time…but you should have the choice of who you want to spend time with, no? I promise to show you a good time.”
Camila bit down on her lip. They were practically doing this behind Samuel’s back, but it wasn’t like there was anything between them in the first place, so it was fine, right? Besides, how could she not be charmed by an invitation like that?
“I would like that,” she said, a small smile curving her lips, that Adrien returned with an even wider grin, and Camila could feel her heart skip a beat.
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