The Secret Marriage

Chapter 5: Green-Eyed Devil

It was Saturday morning and Lana decided to do a whole shift to earn extra money. She had a quick shower and put on her uniform. Her hair was tied into a bun. It has been a while since she had a good night’s sleep and there has never been a time she didn’t second-guess her decision. Every night she would have imagined different scenarios if she did not choose this path or if she had stayed and let Kevin explained himself. Probably life would be different or she could be sleeping on a soft mattress instead of the flat ones that she slept on.

The pace of the cafe was busy on that day. Lana understood why this place was always lively. The interior had a nostalgic feel to it. Like how the walls covered with flowered wallpaper; the comfortable booth that allows families and friends to chat facing each other; and not to mention the smell of newly baked bread that was delivered there every dawn.

She was not particularly skilled in making coffees yet, so she received the important task of cashiering and clearing tables. There are many types of patrons. The fussy customers who would order drinks with plentiful of requests, the rude ones who would throw their bill on the counter, and the nice ones who said thank you and good day.

It would have been great if most of them were nice, but that was not the case in the cafe. This time of the year, the students had unfriendly faces on them, thanks to the upcoming finals in the next two months. Which made it dawn on her that she had to be studying for them too. 

Lana realized it is already 9:00 pm. She had been walking and standing for almost 10 hours. Despite doing this practically every day, she couldn't help feeling the ache on her calves. The cafe had quietened down. Mona, the manager, was teaching her the art of preparing a vanilla latte. It was hard, and no matter how much Lana tried, she couldn't seem to draw the leaf shape with the milk broth. It was her fifth cup and the leaf looked more like a fish's skeleton. 

"You know, you have to drink all those five cups of lattes, right?" asked Mona. Lana looked at the cups. Even though the cups were small, there was enough caffeine in there to keep her up all night.

The entrance bell rang but Lana didn't bother to look up as she was concentrating on her sixth attempt at latte art. She poured the espresso into the cup and then added steamed milk. With a swift smooth movement, she attempted to form a leaf shape. 

“A latte for Cam,” said Mona. Just in time, her latte art looked adequate enough to serve to the customer.  

"Done!" Lana bragged. It was an achievement for her. She showed it to Mona before dinging the bell and shouted, "Latte for Cam!" and went back to start chugging the lattes that did not meet Mona's standards. After she finished drinking a cup, the order was still on the pickup counter. 

"Latte for Cam?" she asked again. This time, Lana looked around the cafe for 'Cam'.

Lana gasped when she saw the familiar intense green eyes watching her from across the room. Cameron was relaxing on the chair and holding his phone. In front of him was the back view of a woman. She was wearing a black blazer and a black skirt. Lana took the cup of latte and brought it to his table for an opportunity to give him a piece of her mind. 

"Are you stalking me?"

Cameron being there was not a coincidence. His sources informed him of Lana’s whereabouts and her status. It amused him that the girl he assumed was pampered and entitled was working her ass off to meet the month’s end. 

Lana looked at the familiar woman who was sitting across the table. She was a professional-looking woman, formally dressed and smiling at Lana. 

“Yes, I’m stalking you,” confessed Cameron. He did not want to beat around the bush. It had been a while since Lana rejected his idea. He gave her two weeks tops until she gave up, but it had been three months since then. Cameron decided to take matters into his own hands and corner Lana until she agreed. 

“How did you know I worked here? Wait, how did you know I worked at the club before? Did you put a spy on me?” Lana looked around her for someone who acted suspiciously. There was no one around that fits the bill. 

"What an i***t," said Cameron. 

"Funny hearing it from an ass like you,” retorted Lana, attempting a comeback. She had expected him to be angry or at least conjure up another one of his annoying responses, but he was ignoring her, drinking the latte that she delivered.

"Disgusting!" he said after a sip. Lana was fuming; she had put a lot of effort into making the latte. 

“It's not my fault that the taste doesn't suit your rich taste buds.” 

"Please, take a seat Ms Sage," Sara, tried to intervene in their bickering. Lana declined as she’s still on the clock. "Don't worry. I will ask Mona's permission on your behalf," she insisted, not backing down. Lana gave up and took a seat. 

Cameron leaned towards Lana, holding his palms together and rested them on the table. Lana caught a whiff of his signature smell and blushed. She remembered their encounter back at the club.

Cameron’s piercing eyes concentrated on hers. It was the first time he had seen Lana’s face clearly. It was dark back then, and he did not have a chance to look at her properly in her father’s office either. She was much more beautiful than he expected. He could see a future where he could wake up to her face every morning.  

"I'm tired of this game you're playing Sage," Cameron speculated, breaking the intense atmosphere between them.

“Games? You thought I was doing this to play 'games' with you?” Lana was baffled. She wasn’t doing this for him at all. “I’m sorry to break this to you. Everything I do in my life has nothing to do with you.”

"I understand that it's hard," he said. "It's hard to be married to a fine man such as me and not tell anyone."

"You're full of yourself, aren't you? You are indeed good looking, but don't you think you are a little bit too desperate to chase after me?" Lana asked. She didn’t know that Cameron was in the same situation as her. 

Cameron scoffed, "I'm not chasing you, Sage. You’re not my type. I like a classy woman which you -" he paused, looking at Lana’s attire, "- are not." 

Lana’s right eye twitched. It’s an indicator that she’s outraged.

"Then why the hell are you here?!”

“I’m a man of honor, and unlike someone, I respect Charles and Philip. They are my role models,” said Cameron. It was partly true, but the main reason was that he was in the same predicament as her. He would not confess his weaknesses to her yet. 

“Don’t act as if you know me, Mr Hotshot. You know nothing about me. So, I suggest you f**k off this instant.”

“Ah, a language that suits you.”

“f**k YOU. The wedding is OFF. Leave now.”

Cameron chuckled,  “The marriage is still on. You don’t get to decide anything. I can do whatever I want, Sage. I can make you marry me within this month.” 

“Try me.” Lana didn't believe that statement. Only she could decide what to do with her life and she would not give in to him.

“I’m a gentleman, Sage. As much as I would enjoy seeing you suffer for the next few months, I will save you from your future misery by giving you an overview of all the things I would do to you.” Cameron paused and continued after observing Lana’s furious expression,  “The company that you’re interning at only hired you because you are a Sage. You will never be valued at that office.” The company had been giving Lana miscellaneous tasks, as they thought she was just working to past time.

Lana wanted to interrupt but was stopped by Cameron. “Buying this café will only make a small dent in my account. Lastly, the rundown motel that you are staying at will be demolished with just one call. You can’t escape me. Wherever you go, I will destroy your glimmer of hope. Give up.”

Lana couldn’t believe her ears. She was wavering to Cameron’s threats. His words could not be taken lightly. However, Lana stubbornly thought he couldn't be doing that throughout her whole life. He would eventually stop when he got bored. 

“Are you threatening me? If you are then I would like to see you try,” dared Lana. 

Amused by Lana’s strong will, Cameron laughed. She’s probably one of the girls that could stand his pressuring intimidating aura. 

“Stop being selfish Sage. You’re not looking at the big picture. What will happen to your little friend, Rick? Poor, poor Mona, losing her job at the age of 50. It would be hard for her to find another job at her age.” Cameron was aware that he would win the argument; there’s no way Lana could refuse after his threat. 

”Please, be my guest. I have made it this far and you are not going to make me stop now.”