Chapter 4
Camila did a quick freshen–up. It was already late in the afternoon when someone dropped a post in the side gig group chat: (Upscale restaurant opening tonight–urgently need a violinist. $2,000 for the evening. DM if interested]
There were over two hundred members in the chat, with all kinds of specialties. Compared to pianists and guitarists, violinists were far fewer, though quite a few still jumped at the offer. With such good pay, there was no way Camila was letting it pass
Soon enough, the poster started asking applicants to send over violin videos privately
Camda sent one Jasmin had filmed of her playing. Less than ten minutes later, she got a reply that she was chosen. But the poster sent another message with a note of hesitation: [The show starts in an hour. Can you make it!)
Camila: Send me the location.
She checked it and quickly replied: [I be there in thirty minutes.]
The poster responded: [Cool If your performance goes well, there’s a $700 bonus waiting for you
That made the total $2,700 for the night–more than what she made in a whole month working part–time at the music studio.
Camila thought. No wonder it’s a high–end restaurant. Definitely lives up to the name:
She threw on a change of clothes, grabbed her bag and violin, and headed out..
She arrived ten minutes earlier than planned. The restaurant manager, spotting her striking looks and graceful presence, Et up immediately. “Mc Bateman, would you be interested in working with us long–term? I’ll pay you double the going race
Tempting as it was, Camila hesitated. “Aside from playing what else would be expected of me?”
She wasn’t naive–nothing in this world came free. No matter how generous the boss looked, this wasn’t charity and there had to be strings attached.
The manager could tell she was sharp. He gave a tight–lipped smile. “Sometimes we might need you to entertain clients and have some drinks with them. But don’t worry, our guests are all respectable people. They won’t cross the line”
Camila considered it for a moment and then replied. “Can I think about it
“Of course. You can let me know aber your set
“Alright”
On the way there, the restaurant manager had already sent Camila the evening’s seclist. She glanced at, took it in with ease, then slipped into the white chiffon evening gown the restaurant had prepared and wore light makeup before heading to the stage.
First up was a solo violin piece, followed by a few ensemble numbers with the band Everything was going smoothly–until a certain someone
walked into the restaurant,
very guy in the room had their eyes fixed in one direction.
That person noticed how almost every
Curiosity piqued, he turned to look and his eyes widened the second he saw who was on stage playing the violin. “Holy crap. Am I seeing things, or is that Camila Bateman
It was Carl Anderson–Noel’s younger brother.
He ow Camila standing on stage with her violin, dressed in a flowing white chiffon gown that huged her slender waist. Her delicate, beautiful face was touched with light makeup. Under the dim moody lighting, she looked almost ethereal
Her movements were graceful, her presence otherworldly. She looked so stunning and elegant that it took his breath away.
Carl rubbed his eyes hard a couple of times, thinking maybe he’d imagined it. But no, it really was her. And the shock hit him hard. He thought. “Wait a second. Is that really Noel’s ex–Bancée The girl who’s more like a nanny to him!
Camila, standing there radiant and dazzling, booked Eke she’d walked straight out of a dream. She was absolutely stunning and looked nothing? the Camila he remembered
w the was Sure, the old Camila had been pretty ton, but it was a kind of beauty that lacked spark, like something muted and quiet. Not like now–now glowing mugnetic, alive with confidence
Chapter L
What truly shocked him, though, wasn’t just the transformation. It was that Camila, fresh out of a breakup, should’ve been wrecked–heartbroken. downrast, barely holding it together. Din instead, here she was brighter than ever.
Carl glanced at the men nearby Every one of them was staring at Camila, totally entranced, like moths to a flame. The way their eyes followed her was like they were about to stick their faces to her just to get a little closer,
Carl thought, Damn. If Noel sees this, he’s gonna lose his mind.
Then something clicked in his brain, and he took off running. He had to find his brother–he had to tell him that since the breakup, Camila hadn’t fallen apart. She’d leveled up. And she was living her best life
Carl slammed open i
the private room door with a loud bang, the noise making everyone inside jolt and look up
Noel, who was having dinner with some business partners in the adjoining restaurant, scowled as he saw Carl barge in “Carl what the hell? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
Carl was still in college, at that age where recklessness came standard. His mom, fed up with him loating around all day, had pushed Norl to get him some cushy desk job at the company,
So today, when Noel came out for dinner with some business partners, Carl had tagged along too. Not that he had a clue about business–two drinks in, and he’d vanished without a trace.
He’d wandered around for a bit, started getting hungry again, and spotted a restaurant next door that looked like it was doing good business. Just as he walked in to grab a bite, he’d seen Camila, playing the violin..
Wanting to do the right thing he’d come to tell his brother. He hadn’t expected to get scolded for it
A linde annoyed, but knowing this was too important to hold back, he stepped closer and lowered his voice. “Noel, I saw Camila at the restaurant.”“”
Noel arched a brow, smug and dismissive, a knowing smirk tugging at his lips. “And here I thought she had some spine this time and wanted to drag it out a few more days. Guess she couldn’t stand it anymore already crawling back to me.”
He was still pissed about what had happened in the private room that night. Camila had gone off in front of his friends, humiliated him with those cold, curting words.
Noel thought, I was planning to let her sweat a little longer and teach her a lesson. But since she’s clearly realized her mistake, I might as well throw her a bone.
He softened his expression a little and said in a p
“Huh?” Carl blinked. “Forgive what?”
“What do
you
La patronizing tone, “Fine, let her up. I forgive her
nean what? Noel’s face turned sour. “Camila, obviously
“But she’s not here to ask for forgiveness, Carl said flatly.
“No way,” Noel shot back instantly. “Why else would she
the show up at 11
the restaurant like this if not to make up with me?
Carl gave a dismissive look “First of all, I never said she was in this restaurant. She’s new door–on stage, playing the violin. You should’ve seen People are rating it up. And the men are practically drooling over her
Then he added, more seriously, “Noel, I think Camila really means to break up with you this time. She’s not just throwing a tantrum. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be out there performing, knowing full well how much you hate seeing her on stage”
Noel said with certainty. “Then it’s not her. You must’ve seen wrong
He’d made it clear to Camila that since she was his girlfriend, he didn’t want other men staring at her. So ever since they got together, she’d practically stopped performing, especially in places like restaurants. To him, it was barely a step above street performance.
Carl shrugged. “Come on, even if my eyesight sucks, I wouldn’t mistake someone standing right in the spotlight. If you don’t believe me, go take a look yourself
to him. He froze mid–step and
Noel shot up without thinking and made straight for the door. But just as he reached it, something occurred to narrowed his eyes at Carl, suspicious “Wait a minute. This isn’t some setup you and Camila cooked up, is it?”
Carl froze for a second, not quite sure what Noel was griting at
Noel questioned, “Did she put you up to this? Did she tell you to come over here and get me all worked up so I’d go looking for her!”
Carl just stared at him, completely dumbfounded. The illusion he had of his brother shattered right then and there. “Damn, Noel How did I never
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121 PM t
Chapter 1
realize how full of yourself you are?
You’ve got one foot still stuck in your ex’s life. drove scheming? Man, that’s next–level shameless”
Your
girlfriend away with your crap, and now you’re twisting everything like she’s the one
Noel’s face darkened instantly. But just as he was about
ut to say something.
- g. Carl couldn’t be bothered anymore. He spun on his heel and walked off.
“Believe what you want. I’ve said my piece. Just don’t come crying to me later when it all blows up in your face, Carl said.
Noel barely kept his anger in check as he pulled out his phone to call Camila, only for it to go straight to voicemail, She’d blocked him.
His already tense
se expression twisted darker. For the rest of the dinner, he couldn’t focus, barely paying attention, his eyes flicking toward his phone again and again.
By the time the meeting wrapped and his assistant escorted the last client out, Noel grabbed his coat and strode toward the restaurant next door.
It was already II pm, and the place had closed for the night. He flagged down a passing staff member and asked, “Where is your violiniu?”
The waiter blinked, caught off guard, and then instinctively pointed. “Right there”
Right on cue, the musicians were clocking out, heading backstage in a group.
Noel’s gaze locked onto a slim figure carrying a violin. His eyes immediately widened.
A rush of fury exploded in his chest. Without thinking, he stormed forward and grabbed her arm. “Camila, you’ve got some nerve performing in a place like this-
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