54: You know me?(NEXT DAY)Camille was just opening her eyes, a yawn followed. “Where-” She quickly sit upright on the bed, her eyes quickly did a search of the room, her eyes came across a very familiar portrait on the wall, “Isn’t this Xavier’s guest room?” She mumbled.She rub off the duvet from her body and just as she was about to get down from the bed, the door opened and a lady walked in, with two other ladies behind her. “Oh, you’re awake ma’am,” The lady exclaimed.Camille raised an eyebrow probably demanding for an explanation, “What’s happening…”“I hope you had a great night. I go by the name, Hilda. I’ve been personally instructed by Mr Xavier to help you with your bath,” Hilda announced and Camille jaw dropped.“I…I can take care of my bath, I don’t think there’s a need for you people to do that,” Camille said and added woth a weird smile but the lady at her front wasn’t buying it.“I’m sorry ma’am but I’m afraid mr Xavier will chop off my head if I don’t do as he instr
[17-YEARS AGO]- July 7, 1996.10 years old Xavier moved around the mansion happily, Ronald Huston, his father came out of his room with car keys, “Daddy!” Xavier shrill running to his father, his mother appeared behind them.“Surprise, surprise! Xavier, guess where you we are going next!” Jessica Huston bent to his level patting the bubbly Xavier’s hair. Xavier was already giggling and jumping here and there.“What’s it, I’m curious!” He mumbled “The new robotic car is out, we are heading out to get it for you, you’ve always wanted it,” His father replied and Xavier jumped up“Yay!! I can finally boast to Ethan at the next door! Yay!” He exclaimed, with a pat on his hair again, they both left.…Few hours later…Xavier was just heading out with a clay pot of flower, happily he was about placing it over the counter when her father personal assistant came to break an unrealistic news to him.The clay pot fell from his hand, his eyes shimmered with tears. His head shook in denial, “It…it
56: She’s my daughter!—Rodrigo Villa—The Next MorningTiana was just stretching out of her room when she saw a lady passing hee with a bowl of warm water and towel but instead she shrugs her shoulders and stroll down to the kitchen.The maids there left whatever they were doing and bow down to respect her, “Good morning ma’am,” They all chorused while Tiana looked around searching for her mother-in-law.“Where is mother? I haven’t seen her since I woke up…wait, she didn’t come to wake up today,” Tiana asked.“She’s still in her room. She told us she had a mild headache…” One of them replied to her and that made Tiana remembered what she saw earlier. “Oh! Poor mother, I will check up on her,” Tiana laments going back to Shania’s room. The lady with a bowl and towel came out and Tiana was about going in when the lady blocked her path.Tiana furrowed her eyebrows, “And what’s the meaning of this, young lady?” Tiana snapped at her. “Ma’am instructed me not to let anyone come in…exce
57-Something tacky—Queensway Company—Camille was just returning back to her office after a long meeting, her butt landed on the couch, “Get me cheesecake, I’m so hungry!” Camille said to Kate who was checking her schedule.“Okay ma’am,” She added it to a list. Camille suddenly sit upright and cleared her throat.“I’ve got any call?” Camille asked and Kate nod.“Yeah. The new CEO of 4Nine called.” Kate replied but Camille’s face fell like she was expecting another person.Kate noticed that, she twitched her lips, “Were you expecting someone else?” Kate asked as she looked at Camille with keen eyes.Camille let out a nervous laugh, “Hehe, who would I possibly expect if it’s not business partners? You joke too much,” Camille quickly said and pick a random magazine on the desk.Kate chuckles and adjusted the magazine back to the right position, “Seeing how you turned the magazine upside down means you’re hiding or guilty of something,” Kate told her.Camille avoided her gaze and looked
58- I must sleep with you!Xavier came back few seconds later, “I’m sorry I took long,” He mumbled and they both continued the food.Few minutes later after they were done eating, the lady came back later, “I’ve prepared the couple room, kindly follow me,” She instructed and Camille raised her eyebrows.“Did you book a room as well?” She found herself whispering to Xavier, Xavier simply nod.“Yes. Let’s enjoy the night,” Xavier winked at her then stood up following the lady behind.Camille swallowed the lumps in her throat, “What’s he going to do to me?” She whispered but followed quietly.“Here,” The lady hand a gold key to Xavier, “Have a wonderful night rest,” With that she walked out.Xavier opened the door and urged Camille to walk in but she stood at the door way, “W-what are we going to do? I—” a kiss on her lips shut her up completely.Xavier slowly pull away, “We are not doing anything princess, I won’t do it if you don’t give me a go ahead so, relax and rest,” Xavier whisper
59-I don’t approve! The cab stopped right at the front of the Royalle Restaurant, Tiana came out of it and rushed into the hotel after paying the cab man. Camille was already waiting for her at the lounge so immediately when she walked in, Camille went to her.“Here, take him out of this place!” Camille gave her the key to the room, she had locked Diego inside. She was about turning away when she sudden remembered something and said, “Don’t ever make me call you like this again!” With that Camille left.In a fit of rage, Tiana marched to room number 13 as stated in the gold key Camille had given to her. On getting there, she met Diego on the bed with his shirt opened and his trouser zipper down.Tiana folded her hand into a tight fist, “You ungrateful fellow! All you care about is yourself and that stupid business!” She yelled then pull him up from the bed, Diego sober up a little. His eyebrows drew a firm line, “What are you doing here?! Where is Camille?” He asked looking around,
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
(THE FOLLOWING WEEK)Camille sat at the waiting room, her breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of Tiana. Camille had decided to visit her today but TianA was totally different, the once-vibrant woman she’d known now looked like a shadow of her former self. Dark circles clung beneath Tiana's eyes, and her skin, usually radiant, now appeared hollow and sallow. Her hair is a total mess.“How have you been, Tiana?” Camille called softly, that was then Tiana lifted her gaze, only to meet Camille’s.“What do you want, Camille? You’re the least person I’d thought of seeing today! ” Tiana’s voice was flat, echoing with the weight of unspoken pain.“Not like I’ve got a choice? But I felt like if I don’t say these words to you, I might never fight peace too,” Camille said, resting her back against the chair. . “You look... exhausted.” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “You can’t keep going like this. You need to find peace too.”Tiana laughed, a harsh, manic soun
After weeks of camping her at the hospital, Camille was finally home. Her small heels clicked on the floor as she stepped into the main building, spreading her hands wide into the atmosphere, her nostril recognized the sweet scent of her home. God knows she has missed this!“You miss home…that much?” Xavier asked behind her, she turned. “Yea! I missed it! So much!”“Camille!” the excited voice of her father reverberated through the house. His figure moved swiftly towards her, arms wide open as if he were preparing to catch her in a warm embrace that had been too long in coming. “You’re finally back! We’ve missed you so much!”As he enveloped her in a bear hug, Camille felt all the worry and fear that had clung to her for so long begin to melt away. She returned the embrace with equal fervor, her heart swelling with joy and relief. “That’s so random coming from someone who visited the hospital everyday…” She teased.Then she heard a sound from behind, she turned. Irene was already i
————————Camille's eyelids fluttered as consciousness slowly seeped back into her weary mind, and she blinked against the harsh glare of the fluorescent lights above. Her blurry vision adjusted, she caught sight of familiar faces anxiously waiting by her bedside. Xavier's eyes, usually so full of life, were clouded with worry. He reached out instinctively at the sound of her shallow breaths, his hand gripping hers with a mix of relief and fear. “I’m here, I’m here. You survived, my queen.” He had mumbled happily.Beside him stood her father, his expression a blend of worry and gladness. His expression became something comforting to Camille, she was not alone.Then her eyes caught the doctors standing beside her, for some minutes, the doctor examined her thoroughly before turning to Leonard, “She’s fine now. All she needs is to respond quickly to the treatment,” The doctor explained.“Thank you Doc.”“If there’s any issue again kindly reach out to me as soon as possible,” With that t
(2 DAYS LATER)Days passed in a blur of paperwork, phone calls, and late-night strategy sessions. Xavier made sure Leonard was out of jail in no time, Theo and his brother has been arrested and put behind bars with a desirable sentence each.Xavier waited outside of the prison in his car, his gaze were fixed on the prison gates, “When-” before he could even say a thing, Leonard stepped out of the prison.He adjusted to the bright light that shone upon him. When last did he see the atmosphere so bright? One or two weeks ago?Then he spot a white car outside. Xavier came down from the car, Leonard’s eyes glimmered as he approached him. “Thank you, Xavier,” Leonard mumbled, a tiny smile on his lips.“There’s no need…just consider it as something I should have done. I’m glad everything went just as I hoped,”Xavier said, apprehending the intensity of the moment.Leonard nod, got into the car and drove away.And—the rest of the ride to the hospital was practically in silence.————————Xavi
June 27, 1996, THE GUEVARA’s Holding.“How can you tell me we lost to Ronald Huston?! Why the hell did you about the investors!” Leonard snapped at Theo smith, his personal assistant.Leonard ran his hand through his hair, frustration sets in, “Have you suddenly lost your tongue? Didn’t I warned you about this?” Leonard yelled.“I’m..I’m sorry, I thought I could double the profit shares higher than the Guevara. I’m sorry sire,” Theo apologized immediately—he’s on his knees.Leonard shook his head, “Sorry? I’ve just lost 15million dollars! Sorry can’t apprehend what you just did. You’re Fired! Fired Theo!” Leonard announced giving Theo an heart attack.Theo ran up to Leonard trousers, “Please, don’t fire me. I swear, I will pay back with everything but don’t fire me, my mother is at the hospital…She’s currently sick…I need still need this job to keep footing the hospital bills,” Theo quickly said but Leonard has already made up his mind.(Hospital)Theo stopped the cab when it got to t
(NYC PRISON)- The following day.(MALE PRISON)“Good morning sir,” Kenneth muttered to Leonard who was led by the two guards to the visitation room, a large room with inmates who has one or two people visiting them. Leonard finally sat, the guards stepped back but their glances felt like a warning to all of them, keeping a close watch on them.“Did you find him? Tell me you find him already,” Leonard asked immediately he sat. Kenneth swallowed and presented a file on the desk for him.“Ethan Smith, 45years old. Missing for about 3years now-““What does it have to do with me? Just tell me where Theo is! He’s the one who can testify…I need to get out of this cramped place, 25years is not a joke!” Leonard protested in anxiousness, Kenneth. “This was the driver of the truck. He’s the one driving the truck the day of the accident. We have to find him if we must find Theo, it happens to be they are siblings,” Keneth announced while Leonard rested his back against the chair.“Fuck it! Who
(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