Miss Secretary Takes Charge Chapter 63

    
     Everyone felt awkward at Camila’s introduction as they did not expect her to bring it now. Ryan looked alarmed, so he turned towards Henry, who was observing Julie’s reaction.
She casually smiled, “I am Juliet Rozana” ignoring Camila’s tagline. Camila was testing the waters, since Julie did not react much to the fact that she is Henry’s ex, she thought they might not have a romantic relationship, still, she did not want to drop the case as Henry was not the type to bring some random girl to his friend’s wedding. He is a private person who doesn’t get along with anyone easily or prefer a stranger into his personal space. So she decided to provoke both of them someway to get their real face out if they were masking it.

     So what are you doing? “Camila asked Julie.
“I am working as Mr. Kingston Secretary. She said proudly.
“What?? You are his PA?” in a disapproving tone, giving a cheap look.
“So, what’s your point Miss Woods? You feel disgusted because I work as a personal secretary or working for Mr Kingston?”
Julie turned the tables in a snap of her finger. Camila was flustered to know that Julie had cleverly dragged her into the trap, where, she would be painted bad, whatever she replies would be considered disrespectful that too in front of Henry.
Ryan came forward and said,
“If tasting your own medicine had a face”
he put his hand over Camila’s head and other below her chin as if putting her on a frame. Everyone laughed at it.

    Julie added, “And if you ask me to switch jobs with any of the best jobs in this whole wide world, I would still proudly choose to be Mr Kingston Secretary, because I consider working for this wise businessman is itself a treasure. He is undoubtedly a great human being and a perfect gentleman.”
“Woah girl! Beautifully said” Amanda clapped. Camila turned red in embarrassment and left to the washroom to save her grace.
“Don’t know why she is behaving like a bitch today” Jane shook her head about Camila’s behaviour.
“She ate that and left no crumbs, perfectly suits you” Amanda gave a hi-fi to Julie.
Gia, who is a paediatric pulmonologist said,
“I am passionate about my job, too, Julie love her Boss, the way I love my little patients” she teased her. Julie blushed at that.

     Henry silently observed everything with a light smile like watching your favourite person, perform flawlessly and being appreciated for how good they are at their work. He took his phone and texted Julie,
“That’s my Sassy. Sexy. Secretary”
Julie turned red instantly and smiled at him. They have started eating and Camilla joined them in few minutes. The boys made fun and changed the mood. Julie passed the stuffed clams and oyster dishes to Henry. Camila said,
“Don’t you know that he doesn’t like shell foods?” She yanked the plate back from her, to make Julie feel insecure for not knowing about Henry’s choices. Julie’s face fell suddenly and felt very bad.
“My preferences has changed”
Henry said firmly marking his stand, indirectly hinting at Camila and gestured for the plate. Ryan smirked at his friend and served extra potion, which made Henry give him a warning glare for using the opportunity at the wrong timing.

    Camila’s thoughts gone back to the time when she first met Henry in a cafe introduced by a mutual friend. He was very reserved and talked only to few of his close friends. She always found him reading magazines or business books, even when his friends would be playing around and chatting. She was intrigued by his quiet personality, so she would sit with him and initiate talks. After a month of meeting him regularly in the university grounds or outside with his friends, she expressed her interest to date him. Henry did not have the idea, but she persuaded him to give it a try. They have become the talk of the university and Camila liked being identified as Henry’s girlfriend and felt like she had accomplished something great by breaking the ice and making Henry to consider a serious relationship with her.

     After a month or two, Henry could not see her more than a friend and he decided to give up trying. Henry said,
“Let’s drop this idea of dating, I cannot see you as my girlfriend since I don’t feel the connect between us” Camila was shocked and she had suddenly pulled him in for a kiss. That was a quick one,
“See you kissed me back” she said with a hope.
“That’s because I am a man and given my age I would go for it when you kiss me first, it can lead to sex too but it would just be another one night stand with no emotions involved. I am not talking about the physical need, it’s all about the emotional connect. I would like to find love and lust in the same person. I believe that if you have a connect with the person, physical intimacy falls naturally, you don’t have to force it” Henry took a dig at her for forcing the kiss. Camila was very hurt. She had always boasted that she had made the introvert, handsome Henry Kingston, who was not easily approachable, fall for her and made him agree to date her, but it had all crashed in a second. She was frustrated that in spite of having relatively good personality and beautiful body why did he reject her and how did she fail to impress him.

      Though they have dated for a short span, Camila had the ego hurt for being rejected. She had been curious to know who will he fall in love with that is better than her and on what grounds he is going to find her attractive. Today, finding him with a girl on his personal trip and moreover, he being defensive of her, surged her jealousy and envy to a different level. She couldnt pacify her burning annoyance. She sat next to Henry, while he was watching something that Ryan had shown on his phone.
“I will set this as my wallpaper, the look on his face gives me so much pleasure” Ryan joked.
“Guilt pleasure” Henry corrected.
“Or should I post with a caption, if getting hit by your own weapon had a face?” Ryan laughed.
“What’s that? show me” Camila asked curiously.
It was the picture of Sr Kingston while giving the award to Julie in the UN event.
“Is this Juliet?” She asked and Ryan nodded.
“United Nations award?? For?” She was thoroughly shocked. Ryan clicked on a link in his phone and gave it to her. It was an article about Julie, her nomination for the Youth Award and how remarkable her service was to the society. Camila realised that Julie is not some random girl who can be fooled easily, she is smart enough and prudent to win such a prestigious award in this age.

     Henry noticed that the girls were giggling and Julie was almost comfortable with them. Nolan called them all for a volleyball game. Amanda made sure to place Julie and Camila on the two corners, anticipating crazy stunts may be pulled by Camila given her attitude since her arrival. The boys and girls enjoyed the game when the score was equal Jane called off the game to end it in a happy note. The boys complained that it was cheating, so they all decided to go cliff diving, although the girls hesitated, the boys convinced them to try the adventurous act for the thrill.

     Henry was on a call, when he came back, Julie was wearing a safety Life jacket and followed Jane and Gia.
Nolan called, “Henry Cliff diving” he motioned him to hurry up.
Henry nodded and waited until the others walked ahead. He pulled at the belt loop of Julie’s shorts from the back to stop her from walking with them. She yelped and tumbled a bit, but Henry securely held her by waist.  Camila who came out, changing her dress, stopped in her tracks shockingly, looking at their intimate position. She eavesdropped their conversation,
“Where are you off to? “Henry asked Julie holding her comfortably.
“Cliff diving?”
“Actually, you know it is risky as you are a non swimmer”
“I have this jacket” She said innocently.
“It’s a high altitude cliff, chances of getting injured are high too, unless you have an extraordinary breath control and practice, it’s not safe to try this extreme sport”
She looked quite upset.
Henry felt bad, “okay, we will go some other time to a low and a non-risky cliff. I will take you”
He coaxed with her as he burst her excitement bubble. She looked little unconvinced, but agreed to him.
“Let me stay with you” he said.
“No, no, that’s okay, I will be fine” she smiled. Henry waited but she encouraged him to go and have fun.
“There will be a small collection of books in the cabinet, take a look if you want to read” she shown a thumbs up. He had blown a quick flying kiss and ran off. Julie smiled at his cute antics and looked for the books.

     Camila came out witnessing a different Henry who seems so excited to talk with Julie, like a teenager around his crush. The jealous part of her mind dictates her to create some ripple in their smooth relationship. Camila knew that she has to attack her tactically by hitting at her emotional weakness, if not, Julie may smell her intention. She kept thinking and joined the others. All of them were jumping off from the cliff on to the teal sea and it was entertaining to do with the friends.

     After sometime, Camila excused herself and came back to the house and found Julie reading in the lounge chair.
“Do you miss the fun?” She asked in a sympathetic tone. Julie just smiled.
“I used to try the small cliffs initially,over the years, I have become a pro. To be frank, cliff jumps are meant for the strong willed people, not for the weak hearts” She  provoked.

     Camila walked in to give her some time, she tried and attempted to shake her resolution so that her mind would be in a conflict and it would be easy for her to persuade. Once Henry knew that Julie had gone for the dive against his words of warning, he would definitely be mad at her and it would lead to argument and misunderstanding between them.

     Camila noticed that Julie was absorbed in thoughts. She casually sat in another lounge chair applying her sunscreen.
“Why do I have a feel that you wanted to surprise Henry by showing him you are strong enough to do a cliff dive?” Julie still remained quiet.
“If you insist, I shall help you. It’s like jumping in a swimming pool, all you have to remember is hold your breath until you come out of water”.
She waited, “Alright if you’re afraid, let’s drop it” She got up to leave.

     “No wait” Julie called out. Camila celebrated in her mind as the fish has caught the bait.
“Yes?”
“I want to try, but..”
“You have the safety jacket, you won’t drown. What else you worry about?”
“That’s right! let’s go” Julie said enthusiastically.
Camila gave her instructions and let her do in the small cliff. Three times of jumping gave Julie all the courage to go little higher. Just then Camilla received a phone call when Julie took to a higher cliff for jumping, she did not know that clips on her jacket slightly came off on one side while climbing on a rugged rocky cliff. Due to the force of jumping, the clip fully came off. Camila was busy on the phone while she casually turned to check on Julie, it was only the safety jacket that has been floating on the surface, Julie was nowhere to be found.

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