I have made certain changes to make sure that the book is better for you readers. So, if you read this book a month ago, nothing much has changed; only a few chapters are gone, but they do not matter. Keep enjoying, I love you all.
CAMILLA ~•~ I took the first cab I could find and made my way back home. Well, not exactly home since I lived with Freddie, but you know what I mean. All through my journey, I found myself looking back more times than I ought to. As though mister Ivan's house would appear from the blues and I would be called in once more. Yes, he was a complete and absolute jerk, but something was deeply wrong with him. His case was not that of induced depression or a lost soul that needed saving. He needed all the help he could get, all the help that he had refused in the past. He must have paid a fortune to get all those doctors to give him their time of day, and again, he was very famous. But, if they were not able to help, who did I think I was? The cab halted in front of Freddie's apartment and I slipped out of the car and walked sloppily in my block heels until I got to the front of the door. I leaned against the wooden door as my hands skimmed through my bag, in search of the house keys. I w
CAMILLA ~•~ The drive back home that afternoon was pleasant, even though I fought hard to keep my thoughts from raging. I stared out of the open window and enjoyed the afternoon scenery of Los Angeles, California. There were so many things I loved about this city, but the my favorite part was the beach! So, I tried to distract myself with thoughts of the warming sand and waves of water washed over the sea shore, but none of that was able to calm my troubled mind. Ivan Holloway needed help, and I had to be the one to help him. Yes, I knew that I did not know the true story behind the disappearance of his wife, but I knew it was more than enough to send anybody, no matter how strong, spiraling towards the edge of a cliff. Most times, like in mister Ivan's case, the victims allowed themselves to jump off that cliff, fearing redemption, and seeing it as pain. This was my second chance at redemption, and I would be damned if I let it slip out of my hands without a fight. I was going to
CAMILLA ~•~ Freddie leered at me like I was crazy. Perhaps I was crazy, maybe there was something wrong with me. Maybe I did need the help of a psychotherapist and psychologist such as myself - no! Better. That night, I managed to close my eyes and retire to sleep after much thinking. I did not know what I would do. Freddie only let me have my way because he knew I would do so anyway, but, how could I change mister Ivan's mind? It was clear that the man did not like me, and his butler gave me cold shoilders except it was overly necessary for him to be polite. No one in that house liked me. I did not dwell my thoughts on that, I could not. Immediately I woke up the next morning, I hurried over to the bathroom and took a clean, thorough shower, and scrubbed as hard as could. I got dressed in a casual pair of black jeans, and a white sleeved shirt. Don't…do not look at me like that. I was fired anyway, there was no need to dress overly formal when all I was going there to do was tr
CAMILLA ~•~ I cleared my throat to interrupt him. "Actually, you are wrong. I did get the message." I blurted out and his dark eyes narrowed on me. "So, why are you here?" Yes, why was I here? I swallowed hard on my saliva, to dry my throat and calm my nerves. It didn't work. I heaved a sigh and began to speak. "Please, I really need to see mister Ivan. It is important that I speak to him about something and I really need to…" "What? You have gotten a taste of a millionaire and you cannot return back to the slums?" He cut in. My eyes widened in that instant. Mister Italian was crossing all possible lines. But, I did deserve it for showing up unwanted and uninvited. I shook my head, to shake off all the thoughts of pushing his old back against the wall and bursting into the house. Not completely, anyway. I kept that option incase things got out of hand. "You do not understand. I really want to help him, I can help him." "He doesn't need you help. Please, leave the promises
IVAN ~•~ I thought of asking her to leave, to find something better to do with her time, energy and resources, but immediately decided against it. An idea flashed through my mind as I thought quitely. It would be nice to waste her time for a month and let her go with absolutely nothing. She wanted to play ball right? We would play then. "It's a deal." I spat out. I could see the glaring relief on her face, the joy, the esctacy. How did someone offer to work for free for a month? I had more money than I could spend in my life time, but I could never work for free, unless it was for charity. Was I a charity case to her? I scoffed instantly. Not at all. She did not even have the funds to be charitable to herself. So, what was in it for her? "Thank you so much mister Holloway, you would not regret this!" By God, she was bubbling with so much excitement, I could almost pity her. "We would start tomorrow. I would…" "We start today." I spoke again. I noticed the brightness i
CAMILLA ~•~ He was hallucinating, and he needed my help. "Mister Ivan?" I called out the first time, but I got no response. "Mister Ivan?!" By this time, I was already across the room, seated beside him on the arm of his couch. He threw his head back against the couch and closed his eyes. My heart pounded against my chest, my pulse raced, heartbeat picked up an insane pace. I was not going to screw this up again. I cupped the back of his head with my right palm and tapped his cheeks hard with my left. Desperation and urgency, all etched in my concerned gaze. "Ivan, I need you to stay with me. I need you to…" I tapped both sides of his face again. I was beggining to get very scared. I could not have been passing out on my account. I felt the skin of his neck, it was still warm, thank you Universe. I tapped his cheeks again, this time, harder than I had done before. "Ivan! Please!" The faces of everyone I had ever failed flashed through my mind in that instant. I could see my
CAMILLA ~•~ "Highway to hell!" "Highway to hell!" I turned to Freddie and chuckled, leaning against the window slide of his Toyota Camry. He had bis dark shades on, a blue and white floral patterned shirt and grey Nike shorts. The man was a sucker for all things Nike, and Vans too. California's breeze swept past my face. My hair would have flown with it like the girls in the movies do, but it was wrapped in a tight pony tail above my head. And Freddie, helped me do my edges. Yes. My best friend was weird. He was singing - no, pardon me - screaming along to the song blasting from his stereo. I twirled my beaded bracelet around my left wrist as I turned back to him. "Highway to hell!" "I'm pretty sure that's not what the song says." I cut in. He looked away from the road and locked eyes with me. "Bitch I know this lyrics like I know you." I watched with amusement as he stretched his right hand towards me, showing me his palm. "Like the back of the palm." I scoffed and looked a
CAMILLA~•~ Freddie banged his door shut, matched away from the car, stormed into the house and still banged that door shut again. I sat still in his car and watched him from my window. What was I supposed to say? What was I to do? And why the hell was he acting like my boyfriend? On the third thought, I pushed my door open and followed his pattern - leaving a series of doors shaking behind me. He paced about in his living room, hands stroking the beard on his chin. When I stepped in, he took one long and silent glance at me. My nerves caused me to tuck my hands into the pocket of my wet shorts. "You seriously cannot be considering that offer." Here we go again. I rolled my eyes and looked around the room, before landing my eyes on him."Well, I am." "Why? Why for fucks sake?!" "Because I need the job!" I yelled back. He pulled back by a few feet, stepping away from me. A bitter laugh escaped his throat and my eyes narrowed on him. "You just said this afternoon, that you offere