Page 1 of Staging Love
Chapter One
Camilla Parkes sat in a plush leather chair at the center of the room, her back straight and her hands folded neatly in her lap. The mahogany desk before her gleamed under the soft light of the law office, its surface impeccably polished and free of any clutter except for a single manila folder. Her eyes were fixed on that folder, knowing it contained the last words her father would ever speak to her.
The air in the room was thick with tension and barely concealed greed. Camilla was acutely aware of the dozen or so people seated around her, each one a potential threat to her inheritance. They were a mixed bunch – close relatives, distant relatives she barely knew, business associates of her father's, and even a few faces she didn't recognize at all. But they all had one thing in common: the hungry look in their eyes as they waited for Mr. Greenbaum to begin reading Weston Parkes’s will.
Among the gathered vultures, as Camilla privately thought of them, sat her cousin Theresa. Even from acrossthe room, Camilla could feel the weight of Theresa's gaze. Their eyes met briefly, and she felt a familiar surge of dislike. Theresa, with her perfect posture and immaculate business suit, looked every bit the corporate shark she was. The fact that she was here, among the other hopefuls, made Camilla's skin crawl. They had never gotten along, their relationship a mix of professional rivalry and personal animosity that had only grown more intense over the years.
Six months. It had been six months since Weston Parkes passed away, leaving behind a legacy as vast and complex as the man himself. The delay in reading the will, Camilla had been told, was due to the intricacies of her father's estate and the need to ensure all legal matters were in order before proceeding. But now, as she sat here in downtown Los Angeles, watching the afternoon sun cast long shadows through the floor-to-ceiling windows, she couldn't help but feel that the wait had only prolonged her grief – and given the vultures more time to circle.
Mr. Greenbaum, her father's long-time lawyer and confidant, cleared his throat. He was a balding man in his sixties, with kind eyes hidden behind thick-rimmed glasses. "Shall we begin?" he asked. The room fell silent, the tension ratcheting up another notch.
Camilla nodded, swallowing hard. The lump in her throat felt like it had been there for months, a constant reminder of the void her father's passing had left in her life. "Yes, let's proceed," she managed to say.
As Mr. Greenbaum began to read, listing off minor bequests to various charities and distant relatives, Camilla's mind wandered to Cupid's Gifts, the company her father had built from the ground up. It was more than just a business to her; it was her father’s legacy. For decades, Cupid's Gifts had been crafting bespoke presents for couples, eachitem imbued with meaning and sentiment. From custom jewelry to elaborate surprise experiences, the company had been at the forefront of romantic gift-giving. She had grown up with the business, watching it expand into an international brand with a reputation for making dreams come true.
To Camilla, Cupid's Gifts represented everything her father stood for - creativity, passion, and the belief that love could conquer all. It wasn't just about the products and services; it was about the stories behind them, the moments of joy and connection they created. She had spent the last ten years working her way up through the company, learning every aspect of the business, preparing for the day when she would take the reins. She just hadn’t expected that day to come so soon.
Mr. Greenbaum's voice brought her back to the present as he reached a crucial part of the will. "And to my only child, my beloved daughter, Camilla," he read, and she could feel every eye in the room turn to her. "I leave my estate and my assets. I also leave her in charge of my beloved company, Cupid's Gifts, with the following condition..."
Camilla leaned forward slightly, her heart rate picking up. She had been expecting this moment, waiting to hear the words that would officially make her the head of the company she loved so dearly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Theresa tense.
"The condition," Mr. Greenbaum continued, his voice steady, "is that Camilla must be married within six months of this will being read. If this condition is not met, control of the company will pass to her cousin, Theresa Parkes-Johnson."
The words hit Camilla like a physical blow. She blinkedrapidly, certain she must have misheard. Around her, she could hear the soft murmur of surprise and speculation from the assembled group. Theresa's face, when Camilla dared to glance at her, wore an expression of shocked delight.
"I'm sorry," Camilla interrupted, her voice tight. "Could you repeat that last part?"
"Your father has stipulated that you must be married within six months to inherit control of Cupid's Gifts. If you do not meet this condition, that role will go to your cousin Theresa." Mr. Greenbaum cleared his throat. "Your father believed strongly in the ethos of Cupid's Gifts, Ms. Parkes. He felt that the company's leadership should embody the very essence of what the brand represents." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "Weston was of the opinion that the face of Cupid's Gifts should be someone who not only understood love and commitment in theory but lived it in practice. He believed that a leader in a successful relationship would be better equipped to guide a company dedicated to celebrating and fostering love."
Camilla set her jaw as the implications of her father's decision sank in. The room around her buzzed with whispers and poorly concealed excitement at this unexpected turn of events. Her mind raced, processing this information while acutely aware of Theresa's triumphant smirk. She knew she had to respond, to show strength in the face of this challenge, but the shock of her father's stipulation left her momentarily speechless. Marriage? Within six months? And if not, Theresa gets the company? Her mind reeled at the absurdity of it all.
She was all too aware of how others saw her - Camilla Parkes, the ice queen of LA's social scene. At 32, she was known for her striking beauty: tall and slender, with sharpcheekbones, piercing green eyes, and long, dark hair that she usually wore in a sleek ponytail. Her wardrobe was a carefully curated collection of designer pieces, each one selected to project an image of confidence and success. She was the woman who always had it together, who could command a boardroom as easily as she could a charity gala. And how they loved to hate her for that.
Right now though, Camilla felt anything but in control. Her carefully maintained composure threatened to crumble as the implications of her father's will sank in. She’d never been one for serious relationships. Her focus had always been on her career, on proving herself worthy of the Parkes legacy.
She took a deep breath, and then, with a confidence she didn't feel, she let out a short, incredulous laugh. "Well, in that case, it's lucky that I got engaged last week, isn't it?"
The room fell silent for another moment before erupting into a flurry of whispers. Theresa's triumphant smirk faltered, replaced by a look of disbelief. She let out a derisive snort. "Oh, please. You expect us to believe that?"
Camilla turned to face her cousin, her green eyes flashing with defiance. Theresa had a point. Camilla never dated and there was no reason for anyone to believe she was engaged. She painted on a smile to buy herself some time.Think, Camilla. You’re good at thinking out of the box. What’s your story?
"It's true, Theresa,” she finally said when an idea formed in her head. “My girlfriend asked for my hand, and I said yes." She turned back to Mr. Greenbaum, her voice steady despite the rapid beating of her heart. "I still think it's ridiculous that it's in the will, but as it won't affect me since I plan on getting married in the coming six months, I suppose it's just as well."
People gasped and Camilla felt a little smug. This was brilliant and quite convincing even if she said so herself. No, she wasn’t gay, but her family didn’t know that. She could have been in the closet for years, right? Hiding her sexuality until she was forced to come out because of her father’s will. That would explain why she’d never introduced anyone to her fiancée.
“Girlfriend?” Theresa's eyes narrowed, clearly not buying the story. “Please. You’re not even gay and besides, where’s your ring?”
“My relationship is my private business,” Camilla said. “I wasn’t planning on coming out – that’s why I don’t wear my ring to work or during family affairs, but it seems I have no choice.” She shrugged. “So yes, I’m gay. I have a girlfriend and we’re getting married in April.”
"Well, isn't that convenient.” Theresa’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Congratulations, Camilla. I'm looking forward to meeting this woman at the family Christmas gathering in Aspen." Her lips curved into a challenging smile. "She is coming, right? Considering you're engaged now?"
Camilla felt a moment of panic, but she kept her face carefully neutral. "Of course she's coming," she replied smoothly, meeting Theresa's gaze without flinching. "She wouldn't miss it for the world."
The tension in the room was palpable as the two women stared each other down. The other attendees watched with bated breath, sensing the underlying current of hostility between the cousins.
Mr. Greenbaum cleared his throat, breaking the standoff. "Well, if there are no further questions, I believe we can conclude the reading of the will."
As the meeting began to break up, Camilla felt theweight of the lie settling on her shoulders. She had six months to make good on her claim, or risk losing her family legacy. As she gathered her things, she caught Theresa's eye one last time. Her cousin's expression was clear: the game was on, and Theresa was ready to call Camilla's bluff.
