18. Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Camila Flores
I have never experienced an earth-shattering event—until now.
This kiss wasn’t just a kiss. It was a promise. A bond. A deal has been sealed.
“Marry me, Camila,” he whispers, his voice steady but urgent. “Allow me the honor of giving you the world.”
He exhales slowly, and I look at him—really look at him. All I see is honesty. An honest-to-God good man.
“Yes.” The word escapes me before I can even register it.
His eyes light up. “We need to get you a ring.”
I chuckle at the urgency in his voice.
“But wait—I still have questions. There’s so much to talk about.” I try to stop him from walking, but it’s useless. The man is on a mission.
“And we will. But we can do it with a ring on your finger.”
I simply follow him. There’s no point in denying what my heart is telling me.
For some reason, I trust this man. The last time that happened, I ended up with Ava. And she’s the most precious gift life has given me.
Nothing will go wrong this time around. I just know it.
Vicente drives like a character from Grand Theft Auto , and we get to Old Bond Street in Mayfair in no time.
As soon as he helps me out of the car, I pause to think for a moment.
Is this really what I want? Is this what is best for me? For Ava?
Doubt creeps in, but the moment I see his face, I know I’d rather live and make mistakes than simply let life go by as a spectator.
“Lead the way.”
He takes my hand, and we walk gingerly through the endless row of luxury stores. Each one is more impressive than the last. The window displays gleam under the city lights, a world far from mine.
Then, when we reach a turquoise storefront, I gasp.
Suddenly, I feel like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s —a girl who always thought shopping at places like this was only for the rich and famous. A girl who, not long ago, was juggling two jobs to support herself and her daughter.
And now that same girl is about to get engaged with one of the richest men on the planet.
This feels right, though. For once, I’ll trust my heart and live in the moment.
“Welcome to Tiffany’s. How can we help you today?”
A very pretty, very blonde woman greets us the moment we step inside. The store is just as beautiful as in the movies. This is surreal.
“I would like to purchase an engagement ring for my fiancée. Could we use the private room?” Vicente asks, handing her a business card.
It’s black, thick, with golden lettering—designed to make a statement.
The moment she reads his name, her smile widens.
“Of course, Mr. Godoy. Please, follow me.”
We’re taken to a small room at the back of the store. A small table covered in green velvet sits in the middle of the space, with two fancy-looking chairs on each side. The walls are lined with shelves, displaying endless necklaces and bracelets—each piece more stunning than the last.
Vicente pulls out my chair, and I mouth, ‘thank you’ with a smile. He winks—effortlessly sexy—and takes the seat next to me. As soon as we’re seated, a man wearing a black suit comes out of a hidden door.
“Good morning, Mr. Godoy. Ms.,” the man says, glancing at us both. “How can I help you today?”
Vicente unbuttons his jacket and makes himself comfortable in the chair.
“We’re looking for an engagement ring for my fiancée,” he says, nodding toward me.
I beam. For the first time, I let myself feel it—I am proud to be a part of this man’s life.
“Very well. Should I be mindful of a budget?” the man asks.
Vicente shakes his head.
I immediately press my fingers on his forearm, but he just pats my hand, placating me.
“Is there a style you’re going for?” the man asks with a nice smile.
Vicente and I lock gazes. Without looking away, he says, “Surprise us.”.
We remain like that, his hand covering mine, an unspoken connection passing between us. I feel like I could look at him forever and never grow tired. He’s a mystery I want to solve.
The man returns with a box covered in black velvet. “Here we have some of the most unique rings in the store.”
The moment he places it on the table, I gasp. These rings are huge.
“Anything that catches your eye?” Vicente asks. I open my mouth to speak but hesitate, then simply shake my head.
He frowns. "Is there anything in particular you don’t like?” His voice is calm—just curious.
“The rocks are obscenely big,” I whisper, and he laughs. I press my fingers against his forearm again, and he calms down.
“I agree, they are big. But that doesn’t tell me if there’s anything about these rings that you like.”
I glance at Vicente, who watches me with curiosity. then at the jeweler, who’s simply observing the scene—neither judging me nor sporting a scowl. Feeling a little more comfortable, I start inspecting the rings.
Even though I’m not a fan of the oversized diamonds, I do like one with a thick rectangular shape.
“I think this shape is pretty. Also this one,” I say, separating two rings from the rest.
Vicente’s gaze fills with pride. He shifts, resting his arm on the back of my chair, which makes him seem even bigger. Stronger.
“Oh, you have good taste, Ms.,” the jeweler says with a smile.
“Flores. My last name is Flores,” I add.
“Beautiful. It means ‘flowers,’ doesn’t it?”
I nod with a grin, and he picks up the box. “I’ll be right back with some other options in emerald and Asscher cuts. You seem to have a classical and timeless taste, Ms. Flores.”
As soon as he leaves, Vicente leans closer.
“I agree with him. You have excellent taste,” he says against my neck, sending a jolt of electricity through me.
“Vicente, I’m sure there are a million cameras here. Besides, we haven’t finished our conversation.” I try to put some distance between us. As much as he turns me on, I need to do this right.
“Oh, you mean your inquisition?” he teases with a smirk. I roll my eyes but can’t hide the smile that forms on my lips.
“Alright, what do we think about these?” The jeweler returns, this time with six rings displayed on the velvet tray.
My eyes immediately land on a gorgeous ring. Although the rock is still big, the setting makes it look more normal. I glance at Vicente and he raises a brow in question.
“I really like this one,” I say, pointing to the ring that caught my eye.
“Great minds think alike. That one is perfect for you,” Vicente says, reaching for it.
My breath hitches the moment I realize what he’s about to do. He takes my left hand and slides the ring onto my ring finger.
It’s a perfect fit.
As I watch the diamond sparkling against my skin, I can’t help but think of Ava. Will she see this as a blessing or just another one of my mistakes?
For her sake, I need to make this work.
He traces small circles over the ring with his thumb, and despite starting this as a fake arrangement, I feel it—this is real. This is really happening.
“Oh, great choice, Ms. Flores. That is a six-carat emerald-cut diamond mounted on three rows of baguette and round diamonds. It’s definitely a classic, statement piece.”
“We’ll take it,” Vicente says, without hesitation.
The jeweler claps once, clearly excited. “Excellent. Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
As I shake my head, Vicente adds, “Actually, yes. There are a few more things we need.”
By the time we leave, Vicente has bought more jewelry than I ever imagined owning—ring, bracelets, earrings, even a necklace for Ava. He never once asked about the price, as if it didn’t matter.
As we make our way back to the car, he asks, “How much longer do we have before we have to pick up Ava?”
I check my watch. “Two more hours.”
He grins. “Do you want to grab a bite so we can continue with the interrogation?”
I chuckle. “Yes, please. All that jewelry shopping left me exhausted. And I didn’t even spend a pound.”
“Get used to it, Camila. I’m going to spoil you rotten,” he says, placing a kiss against my knuckles.
I’m not sure if I can ever get used to this. Vicente seems so certain, so steady.
But me? I’m just holding on, hoping everything turns out for the best.