60:Sleep Mother.(THE FOLLOWING MORNING)Kate walked into the Guevara’s house after waiting at the car park for about 30minutes, she went into the building when she didn’t see Camille come out.“Oh Ms Kate. Good-morning,” Irene was the first to greet her, Kate responded with a smile and searched around.“Are you looking for ma’am Camille?” Irene quickly asked when she noticed Kate kept looking around.Kate nod, “Yes. Is she still asleep? It’s past 9, I’m afraid we might be late to work,” Kate replied.“Didn’t she tell you? She left the house early this morning and yeah, she told me to tell you that you should take her car to the office, she will meet you at work,” Irene informed her and Kate mouthed an ‘o’, then a message popped into her phone.“Oh, she’s just messaged me. I will head back now. See you by noon,” With that Kate walked out of the building, she went back to car park. She unlocked Camille car and in a split seconds, she zoomed out of the premises.It hasn’t been 5 minute
The early morning sun streamed through the large windows of Camille’s office, casting a bright light on the window. This has always been her favorite thing to watch Yet today, that warmth felt suffocating, not after her father had said those words last night.‘How could he ask me to marry someone else?” Her voice was below a whisper.Camille eyes ran to the wristwatch ‘10:30?’ She mumbled and pulled out her phone to reach out to Kate.She went back to her seat, “She should have gotten here by now, isn’t it?” She dialed her number. “Come on, pick up,” she muttered to herself, tapping her fingers nervously on the desk. When the voicemail message kicked in again, she suddenly felt nervous,,Kate has never ignored her calls before, Just as she was about to text Kate, her phone buzzed with an incoming call.An unknown number, “Who…” She muttered but picked it up anyways.“Good day, I’m calling from an accident scene. Am I speaking with an acquaintance of Kate Robert?” The frantic voice o
Few weeks had passed since the tragic loss of Kate,. The Queensway Company was still adjusting to the void left by Kate's absence. Camille, determined to move forward, had employed a new assistant, Emily. However, the transition wasn't as smooth as Camille had hoped.Emily, though eager to please, seemed to struggle with managing Camille's tight schedule. Mistakes were made, and appointments were delayed. Camille's patience was wearing thin, and she found herself growing increasingly frustrated with Emily's ineptitude.One particularly chaotic day, Camille's meeting with a potential investor was delayed due to Emily's lack of preparation. Camille was furious, her anger boiling over as she paced back and forth in her office."This is unacceptable, Emily!" Camille exclaimed, her voice stern. "How could you not prepare for this meeting? Isn’t that what I employed you for?! You wasted close to 3hours organizing the material! How can you be so careless?!” Camille yelled.Emily looked crest
Camille stood outside Xavier's house, her heart racing with anticipation. She had been thinking about him nonstop since she found out she was pregnant, and she couldn't wait to share the news with him. She had been looking forward to this moment all day, imagining the look of joy and surprise on his face when she told him.As she stepped out of her car and onto the driveway, she felt a sense of excitement and nervousness. She had been to Xavier's house many times before, but this time felt different. This time, she was carrying a secret that would change everything.She walked up to the door and rang the bell, her heart pounding in her chest. She could hear the sound of footsteps approaching, and then the door swung open."Good evening, ma'am," the housekeeper said, a warm smile on her face. "Welcome to Mr. Xavier's house."Camille's smile faltered for a moment as she realized that Xavier wasn't home. "Oh, hi," she said, trying to hide her disappointment. "Is Xavier in?"The housekeep
# 64(A Week Later)The encoded text message buzzed on Tiana’s wrist communicator, a tight knot forming in her stomach. "Cafe Antoinette, 14:00. Urgent. Guevara connection confirmed." It was short, concise, and sent by Sparrow, her most reliable informant.Cafe Antoinette was a place for clandestine meetings, whispered conversations, and the kind of discreet observations Tiana excelled at.She spotted Sparrow in a shadowy corner booth, his face obscured by a worn fedora.Tiana slid into the booth, her movements fluid and controlled. "Sparrow," she greeted, her voice low and even. "What have you got?"Sparrow nodded, his gaze darting around the cafe. "Guevara. I dug deep, Tiana. Deeper than I ever wanted to go.""Just give me the facts," she pressed, her patience thinning.He leaned forward, his voice a raspy whisper. "Leonard Guevara. He wasn't always the polished philanthropist the city sees.“"Get to the point, Sparrow," she urged.He took a deep breath, the air rattling in his ches
(Following Day)The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the winding streets of Maplewood. A slight breeze rustled through the trees lining the road as Camille sat in her car, fingers tapping nervously against the steering wheel. Her heart felt as if it were performing a delicate ballet, pirouetting between anxiety and overwhelming joy. Nothing was going to stop it today, “I’m going to tell him we are having a baby,” Camille mumbled as she run her stomach sweetly.Camille’s mind raced as she replayed the conversations she had rehearsed in her head. The way she’s going to bring the news to him.Taking a deep breath, she straightened her posture and turned the key in the ignition. The engine purred to life and zoomed out of her house, she felt joy bubbling forth in her chest as she drove toward his house, taking the winding roads lined with endless trees, her heart as light as the fading dusk..**Xavier wore his usual apron and flip the cooking pan like a pro he w
Camille rushed out of Xavier’s house, the lingering warmth of their conversation still buzzing in her veins.Her car tires screeched making an abrupt stop at the driveway of their building, She came down from the car and went inside, tears still in her eyes.“Dad!” Camille called as she burst through the front door, her voice echoing through the empty home. She hurried down the hallway, her footsteps quick and determined.Leonard, was in his study, surrounded by sketches and blueprints. He looked up as she entered, his brow furrowed with concentration before melting into a warm smile. “Camille! You’re home early, didn’t you say you will be back by noon? ” he said, setting aside a roll of parchment.“Dad, I need to talk to you.” She snapped ignoring his concerns. Leonard leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. “I see…Judging by the way your forehead streams out sweat, is it something serious?”Camille paced the small room, “It’s about Xavier’s parents! Are you by any chance involv
# 67Diego drag his feet into the house…his face swollen due to the nonstop tears after Shania has been cremated.He stared at the urn, the smooth ceramic surface reflecting his own hollow face. Grief threatened to drown him, a suffocating wave pulling him under. But he wouldn't let it. Not yet. Grief was a luxury he couldn't afford. Not until he found Tiana.‘Tiana.’ He growl under his breathe. If only he knew that name would be a curse, he would have never allowed her into this house. Diego stood still in the house, his eyes ran to Tiana’s room.He marched there, in a fit of rage, he kicked the door open, “Fuck it! That sly bitch run off!” That was the word that came out of his mouth when he noticed Tiana is gone, all of her belongings has been wiped out.He walked out of the room, a mournful sound echoed the emptiness in the house. His mother's absence was a tangible thing, a silence that had settled over the familiar rooms.The house felt smaller now, colder. No one is coming t
(THE FOLLOWING DAY)The muted sounds of the hospital buzzed around Xavier as he use wet towels to clean Camille’s hand and foot. “Remember that special recipe I recreated for you? I’d love to try it again….and you have to wake up if you want to taste out of it, Camille,” He added talking to Camille who laid on the hospital bed.The antiseptic scent mingled with anxiety lingered in the air, heavy and unyielding. Xavier finished cleaning her hands, he sprang up on his feet so he could discard the dirty water but just as he stepped out, he met Diego on his way out."Xavier," Diego's voice punctuated the silence, a low murmur that pulled Xavier from his spiraling thoughts. Diego approached cautiously, his face lined with concern.“Diego,” Xavier responded stiffly. “Give me a minute, I’ll be right back,” Xavier told him and went off to discard the water, he came back in a minute.“Here. I got you sweats and under-wears. Mike told me specifically to bring this to you, he said you haven’t
The sterile scent of antiseptics and the harshly fluorescent lights filled the hospital corridor just as the stretcher Camille was on came in, “Emergency!” The person pushing the stretcherShouted, the doctors ran to the stretcher.They had tried the CPR, the frantic effort of breath and rhythm, but her heart line on the machine had remained steadfastly flat.He clenched his fists, willing himself to hold back tears. “She will pull through,” he whispered to himself, as if belief alone could will life back into her limbs. “She has to.”Xavier wanted to follow them when they started pulling her towards the surgery room, a nurse stood in his way, “Please wait outside,” The nurse instructed and he nod, his hand and forehead getting sweaty.Xavier sat hunched over in the waiting area, his hands clasped tightly together, knuckles white with tension. “She-she has to be okay,” His voice failed him.Xavier paced the shiny linoleum floor, his footsteps barely making a sound against the echoing
(THREE HOURS LATER)(An Unknown Warehouse)The slightest glimmers of awareness prompt in Camille's mind as she slowly emerged from the clutches of darkness. It took a few moments for her disoriented senses to catch up with her surroundings. She blinked several times trying to adjust to the harsh lights that flickered above her.“Where—“Her heart raced as panic gripped her. She was tied to a chair, her wrists bound by coarse rope that dug into her skin, almost causing a reaction on her skin.When she finally titled her head up, In front of her stood two figures, Tiana and a guy she can’t describe.The realization of her predicament crashed over her like a running truck—she had been kidnapped."Welcome back to the land of the living," Tania taunted, her voice a silky yet sharp melody that echoed in the silence. "I was starting to think you’d sleep forever. Did you enjoy your little nap?”“Let me go, Tania,” Camille managed, her voice hoarse. She thrashed against her bindings, the ropes
(TWO DAYS LATER: The Wedding Day)Xavier thrust his phone down onto the passenger seat. His hand tightened on the steering wheel glancing through the rearview to see if he’s got any message, the screen lighting up with countless missed calls and messages that went unanswered. Truth be told, Camille had blocked him and has been discarding all chances to see him.,His car halted at the hall Camille’s wedding is taking place.Sean, in his white texado suit waited outside with a vip access card, his eyes lightened up when he saw Xavier’s car. “I thought you won’t make it,” Sean told him.Xavier nervously swallowed the lump in his throat, “Thanks man, I owe you everything—including my life,” Xavier told him, he took the vip access card from Sean and walked into the hall.——————In the bridal waiting room, Camille fidgeted with the delicate lace trimming of her gown. Seated among her bridesmaids, the morning sun penetrating through the half opened curtains did justice on her face.She feign
# 73The following morning broke bright and clear, yet Camille’s heart felt shrouded in gray clouds. She had woken from a restless sleep,After a shower and a hasty breakfast, she found herself standing before her maid, Irene, who was dusting the shelves in the living room. Camille watched Irene for a while before approaching her, she had been at Camille's side for years, almost a sister figure, and Camille felt an immediate regret for their earlier argument. “Irene, can we talk?” Camille called, Irene briefly turned and greeted her as usual.Irene has distanced herself from Camille ever since the heated argument with Camille the other day.“Of course, Miss Camille,” she replied, her voice soft and understanding. Camille took a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing as she spoke. “I’m really sorry about how I reacted yesterday. I let my emotions take over, and I shouldn’t have snapped at you like that. You’ve always been so kind to me, and I appreciate everything you do.”“Yeah, I kno
{NEXT DAY ———HUSTON VILLA}Xavier stood before the mirror, his reflection staring back at him. He slipped on the tailored suit jacket, the fabric hugging his shoulders perfectly. He adjusted his tie, the silk knot sitting precisely at the base of his neck. A crisp white shirt complemented the dark hue of the suit, exuding confidence and sophistication. “The car is ready, sir,” Mike announced behold while Xavier simply give him a nod as a reply, Mike left after. He picked up his phone and was about heading out when his phone buzzed loudly, a solitary intrusion in the silence that enveloped him. He glanced over, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. An unknown number flashed on the screen, sparking a bit of curiosity— Who is this?Despite his instinct to ignore it, his fingers betrayed him as they reached for the answer button.“Hello?” he answered, his voice steady yet tinged with reluctance. “Oh! I never thought you’d pick! Anyways, Xavier, it’s Tiana.” Her voice, sultry and dangerous,
FEW DAYS LATER- RUN Wedding GownsCamille inhaled deeply as she stepped into the boutique, she looked around at the wedding gown displayed and her heart leaped, “Beautiful,” She mumbled touching one of the dress.“Do you want that? We can get it for you,” Sean's voice broke through her reverie, filled with eager enthusiasm.The smile he wore was infectious, but Camille’s heart remained a stone. “No. Anyone is fine by me, it doesn’t really matter,” She denied and walked into the fitting room.Maybe what she said was a lie. She wanted to wear that pretty gown but not with Sean.They were guided through rows of dazzling gowns, each more extravagant than the last. As they reached the fitting area, the seamstress—a petite woman with a twinkle in her eye—beckoned Camille toward a shimmering ivory dress. It was magnificent, a visual feast of lace and silk that shimmered with minimal embellishment.“Wait until you see how it looks on you,” Sean beamed, his gaze fixed on the gown. “I bet you’l
# 70(Guevara’s Villa)Camille came down from the stairs with a suit case, her father whose face glued to the morning news turned to her, “Oh, you’re set for your trip?” Leonard asked and Camille nod.Leonard stood up from the couch, ascending to her give her a peck, “I hope you have nice trip, eat good food okay,” He retorted and Camille nod in agreement. Camille descended to the driveway, the driver was already waiting for her, “I will drive myself, Mavis. You can go,” She instructed the driver.The driver obliged and handed the keys to her, “Have a nice trip,” With that he left, Camille got into the car and zoomed out of the Guevara’s premises.She had told her father, with a sincerity that almost felt real, that she was on a business trip—but should she call that a lie?In just about four hours, the car stopped at a small hospital away from the city and hopefully she wouldn’t find anyone around here.She had booked a week of appointments with Dr. Metzger, her obstetrician.After
# 69(A WEEK LATER)-Queensway Company.Camille was just strolling out to her office when Emily met her on the way, “ There you’re, I’ve been trying to reach you,” Camille asked “I’m sorry ma’am, I’ve been adjusting to the new location the new investors sent,” Emily announced, Camille raised an eyebrow.“They’ve changed the location? Where now?” Camille asked. “HV Lounge. It’s a five minute walk down the street. Mr Alan said he wants to survey that lounge and he’s meeting someone there as well,”Emily explained while Camille folded her hand into a fist.“Shit!” She cursed while Emily looked at her with concern. “Everything okay ma’am?” She asked but Camille shook her head.“Nothing. It won’t be nice if we delay our investors on our first meeting,” With that Camille walked off, Emily trails off behind her.Camille and Emily arrived at the HV, a modern building that housed the architecture museum, Her heart raced as she entered the lobby, taking in the polished marble floors and th