Driving Me Crazy

Chapter 57

My blood is already rushing to my head, anger shaking my body as I watch my girlfriend and my best friend flirting shamelessly across the room.  My fists clench as my cousin Kayla comes to stand next to me.

"She's prettier than you described her." She says.  "Why haven't you made your move yet?"

I remain silent.  An internal battle between staying put and marching over there to break up their little flirt fest, raging inside me.

"Shawn?" Kayla asks.  "What's wrong?"

All I can do is point in the direction of Camila and Connor.  I see her eyes follow my finger in the moment that Connor leans down to kiss Camila's forehead; like he owns her or something.

"That's it!" I seethe as I go to take a step towards them, but Kayla holds me back.  "Don't Shawn, you'll make a scene."

"I don't care!" I bark.  "He's taking what's mine."

I hear her chuckle behind me.  "Look again Shawn."  Of course, in the moment I choose to look, Camila is on her tip toes, leaning in to kiss Connor on the cheek.

"Really Kayla? Look again!" I growl at her.

"She's walking away Shawn; alone.  Connor isn't following her.  You don't know the whole story.  Besides, Connor knows I'm your cousin.  If he's really your best friend, he probably just helped you, and not hurt you." She add quietly.

I turn to chase after her when Mario's booming voice stops me dead in my tracks.  He goes on about taking my career from me and blah blah blah.

I whip around violently. 

"Don't you think you've done enough?  I may have very well lost the love of my life because you couldn't bear to see your daughter happy with someone like me.  Let alone happy at all!" I shout, flailing my arms in the air.

"You want to take my career from me, that's fine!  I don't care!  I have nothing to lose anymore; you made sure of that! All I want and need is Camila!" I growl at him.

Turning on my heel, I go to storm out of the room when I run into a small body.

"Umfph, I'm so sorry!" I say, holding the small being in my arms as a familiar warmth spreads through my body.

Camila.

"Camila, how nice to see you sweetie." I hear her dad call from behind my back.

Camila still in my arms, steps back and flips her father off.  "Wish I could say the same Mario." She bites as she turns to walk off.

"Camila....Camila!" I call after her.  "Camila please." I beg.

She whips around, her chocolate brown eyes burning holes into my skin, her white dress making her look angelic as an unrecognizable look overtakes her beautiful face.  Her body stiffens.

"What Shawn?  Stand here and listen to you bicker with Mario?  I don't think so." She crosses her arms over her chest allowing me to take her in from up close.  Her heeled boots hitting her just above the knee, her white dress complimenting her tanned skin as her black teddie underneath peaks through.  She looks hot; couple that with her pout and I'm trying very hard to not just grab her and take her against the wall.  Take what is mine.

"No Camila, I'm asking for a chance to explain." I plead.

"Say one word and it's over Mendes." Mario threatens; still behind us.  My fists clench again as I keep my eyes on Camila, praying she stays.

"What else could be over Shawn?  What is he talking about?" Camila questions.

I remain silent.  I don't want to do this here.

"Say something Shawn!" She screams.  When I don't answer, she whips around, the train on her dress fanning out behind her.

"No! Not this time!" I say as I gently grab her arm and drag her with me to the center of the room.

She's struggling in my grip, but I turn to her; my eyes pleading.  "Please Camila.  Stay." I say with finality in my voice.  She looks at me with some fight still behind her eyes, but doesn't make a motion to move.

Grabbing a wine glass from the waiter walking by, I clink my ring against it.

"Excuse me.  Can I have everyone's attention please?" I yell over the crowd.  Hundreds of heads turn to face me; most I know, some I don't.

Taking a deep breath, I center myself, turn back to Camila, giving her a small smile before turning back to the crowd.

"Thank you all for coming tonight.  As you know I've been offered an incredible opportunity to go to Monaco to continue my recovery.  A chance to get back into a car again." I pause, meeting Connor, Niall and Emma's eyes in the crowd.  "All thanks to the incredible Mario Cabello." I say, motioning to him in the crowd as everyone claps.

I hear Camila huff behind me.  She isn't happy, I know she's not but I need her to stay.  I turn to look at her, my eyes conveying that I'm nowhere near done with this speech.  A hint of something sparks in her eyes and I know in that moment, she's not going to run.

Turning back to the crowd I continue.  "All my life I've been chasing this dream, admiring this person.  Mario changed racing for me.  He was my inspiration; the reason I got into a car in the first place; so when he proposed this opportunity, I didn't think I could say no." 

Staring Mario in the face, "What I didn't know is that his words didn't meet his actions.  He promised me my girlfriend, the love of my life; his daughter Camila, knew what was going on and was going to be behind me 100%.  He told me Monaco was the "next logical step" and that this was a huge part of his own recovery.  How could I not take this opportunity?" A devilish smirk crosses my face.  "What some of you may not know is that Mario Cabello is a coward.  He hurts the people he loves.  His 'promises' to me, are some of what separated me from one of the only good things in my life." I say, walking back and forth across the floor.  "What you don't know is that my girlfriend didn't know about Monaco.  That me leaving was just as much a surprise to her as it was to me when she broke up with me."  I pause, looking back at her; giving her a weak smile.

"I still love her.  I always have.  When I found out that Mario played me; every choice I made seemed like the wrong one.  Every attempt to fix things, he crushed.  Just like my dreams; and his daughters heart." 

Leaving the comfort of being so close to Camila, I walk closer to Mario. 

"What this room doesn't know about Mario Cabello is that just five minutes ago; he was threatening my career; promising to end it, if I went after what I truly wanted."

Staring him right in the face, a confident smile on my face; my mind made up.

"You can ruin me; or die trying Mario, but I'm not going with you to Monaco.  I love your daughter and I choose her.  I will always choose her." I say. Turning back to my girl, I look at her with sincerity, "Camila, baby, I'm so sorry for the pain I caused you." Giving her a look that says we are far from done discussing this night and what's happened between us.

Turning back to the crowed and the man trying to ruin my life "And Mario, you can take it all away from me; but I highly doubt that will be a problem after the room hears what you just had to say to me."

Smirking at him, anger flickering in his eyes, I turn to my man Cez across the room.

"Cez my friend.  Play the tape."

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Ohhhh what's on the tape?