Chasing Sandro: A Dangerous Obsession

Chapter 18: An Unexpected Ally

Bella sat at a small, secluded table in a quiet café on the edge of town, stirring her coffee absentmindedly. Her thoughts were racing, as they often did lately, consumed with the intricate details of her plan to bring Sandro to his knees. The project she had sabotaged was unraveling faster than she had anticipated, and soon, Sandro would be desperate. He would have no choice but to turn to her for help. Everything was falling into place, just as she had envisioned.

But as the clock ticked closer to noon, Bella felt a slight pang of unease. She hadn't wanted to meet anyone today, least of all her closest friend, Camille, who had insisted on seeing her. Camille was one of the few people who knew a bit about Bella's obsession with Sandro—not the full extent of it, of course, but enough to worry. Bella wasn't sure why she had agreed to meet with her. Perhaps, in some part of her mind, she wanted to hear someone tell her she wasn't going too far. Or perhaps she was just curious to see if Camille had any idea of the lengths she was prepared to go.

The bell over the door jingled, and Bella glanced up as Camille walked in. With her long blonde hair and casual style, Camille was a stark contrast to Bella's carefully curated appearance. Her friend spotted her and smiled, though Bella noticed a tension in her expression that hadn't been there before.

"Hey," Camille greeted her, sliding into the chair across from Bella. "You're looking... intense today."

Bella forced a smile, though she could tell it didn't reach her eyes. "Just busy. Lots going on."

"I bet," Camille said, raising an eyebrow. "You've been pretty hard to reach lately. Everything okay?"

"Of course," Bella replied, though she knew Camille could see through her lie. She took a sip of her coffee, trying to maintain her composure. "Just a lot of things in motion."

Camille leaned back in her chair, studying Bella for a moment before speaking. "You know, I've been thinking about you a lot lately. About Sandro."

Bella's grip tightened slightly around her coffee cup. "What about him?"

Camille sighed, her gaze softening with concern. "I know you're still... involved, in your own way. But Bella, I'm worried about you. I've seen the way you've been acting lately, how distant and obsessed you've become. I don't know everything that's going on, but I can tell you're spiraling. And I think you're going too far."

Bella stiffened, her pulse quickening. "I don't know what you mean."

"I think you do," Camille said, leaning forward slightly. "You've been obsessed with Sandro for months now, maybe even longer. And I'm afraid that it's starting to take over your life. You used to be so full of life, Bella. But now? You barely talk to anyone. You don't go out unless it has something to do with him. You're consumed by this... this fixation."

Bella's jaw clenched, but she forced herself to remain calm. Camille didn't know the details. She didn't know about the donations, the influence, or the plan that was already in motion. She was just an outsider, trying to meddle in something she couldn't understand.

"I'm fine, Camille," Bella said, her voice steady. "You don't need to worry about me."

Camille's eyes narrowed slightly, frustration flickering across her face. "Bella, I'm *always* going to worry about you. I'm your friend. And as your friend, I'm telling you—you're losing yourself in this. Sandro doesn't even know you exist, and yet you're throwing everything you have into making him notice you."

Bella's heart raced as Camille's words hit closer to the truth than she had expected. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her emotions in check. "You don't know what you're talking about," she muttered.

"I know more than you think," Camille replied softly. "I know that you've been helping him behind the scenes, making sure his career takes off. I don't know how far you've gone, but I can guess it's a lot farther than you should have. And now, it seems like you're about to cross a line that you won't be able to come back from."

Bella's breath caught in her throat. How much did Camille really know? She had always kept her plans hidden, but had she slipped up somehow? Had Camille pieced together more than she let on?

"You have no idea what I've done," Bella said, her voice low, a hint of warning creeping in. "Everything I've done is because I love him. I'm the only one who truly understands what he needs, what he's capable of. He just doesn't see it yet."

Camille shook her head, her expression filled with sadness. "Bella, this isn't love. This is obsession. You're trying to control his life, to manipulate him into needing you. But that's not love. That's—"

"It's what *he deserves*," Bella snapped, her temper finally flaring. "After everything I've done for him, after all the sacrifices I've made, he should be with me. I've been there from the beginning, supporting him, guiding him. I'm the one who has made him who he is."

Camille's face paled as she heard the conviction in Bella's voice. "Bella, listen to yourself. You're talking about controlling someone's life, manipulating them for your own gain. That's dangerous. You can't force someone to love you."

Bella looked away, her chest tightening as Camille's words struck a nerve. She knew, deep down, that what Camille was saying made sense. But the thought of letting go, of giving up on everything she had built around Sandro, was unbearable. She had come too far to stop now.

"I can't stop," Bella whispered, more to herself than to Camille. "I've gone too far."

Camille reached across the table, gently placing her hand on Bella's. "Yes, you can. You don't have to do this. You don't have to destroy yourself for someone who doesn't even know you're there. You can walk away, Bella. You can still be you."

Bella pulled her hand away, her resolve hardening. "You don't understand. I'm the only one who can help him. I'm the only one who truly cares."

Camille sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I don't know how to reach you anymore. But Bella, please—before you do something you can't undo, just think about what you're doing. Think about who you're becoming."

Bella didn't respond, her mind already shutting down the part of her that wanted to listen, the part that felt guilt gnawing at the edges of her consciousness. Camille didn't understand. She never would.

"I have to go," Bella said abruptly, standing up and grabbing her purse. "Thanks for the concern, but I'm fine."

Camille watched her go, her face etched with worry. As Bella walked out of the café and into the bustling street, a small part of her wondered if Camille was right—if she was teetering on the edge of something dangerous.

But that voice was drowned out by the overwhelming desire to see her plan through. Sandro would be hers. No matter the cost.