CHAPTER 4

CAMILLE

“What's this video of you fighting in a restaurant, Camille?” I sighed.

“I didn't fight with her papa, she just made a rude comment and I stood up to her and besides I paid the customers there not to leak the video, I don't know why this is happening” I answered.

“You paid? Camille we own up to mistakes not pay them off, this is so terrible Camille, you're on almost every social media handle” papa said and took a seat.

“I'll sort that out papa, take some rest okay”

“How can I rest when my own daughter is being dragged all over the news?” he asked.

“Camille, you need to understand that you are part of the Barone enterprise, everything you do or say affects the company”.

“And this right here is not a good look on the company, on me, people see you as a replica of me and if you go around behaving like this what do you think they think of me?” I sighed and nodded.

“I'm sorry papa, It won't happen again” he looked away and reached for a glass of water taking a sip.

“Maybe I actually spoil you too much, “ he muttered.

“Why weren't you with Keisha in your apartment when I called?” he asked suddenly.

I…I…had to do some shopping” I stuttered, he ran his sharp eyes over me and looked away.

“Shopping, dressed like that? And without your car?” He asked” I bit my lips as I looked at the oversized shirt I wore and thankfully it covered all the hickeys and hand prints or else papa would be worried about something more than just the shirt.

“Keisha seems to be giving you too much freedom,” he said.

“Come back home for now, we'll see if you're fit to go back to your apartment after this dies down” I nodded and he pressed the telephone to his ear and asked the driver to take me home.

Papa was calm which meant he was angry and angry papa was not nice papa and I wondered how people managed to think I was being spoiled by him.

Yes, he had his days but once he got mad at any of my behaviour I would have to lay low until he was okay.

A body guard followed behind me as we entered the private elevator only my papa used.

I was escorted to the red Rolls Royce outside and I got in, finally relaxing. Aurelio must have been shocked by my sudden leave and I didn't even get a number or anything.

“Fuck” I muttered as the car roll out of the car pack.

***

“What did your papa say?” Keisha asked and I sighed.

“I got scolded,” I answered.

“I'm so sorry Cam, it's all my fault” and I smiled at her.

“Papa is just angry at the moment, you know how he gets” I said, nudging Keisha.

“What about the club, where were you and where did you come back from?” Keisha asked and a blushed crept up my cheeks.

“I passed out with a handsome stranger” I said, my voice small.

“Oh my gawd, tell me already” Keisha screamed and I laughed.

Keisha's mouth was wide open when I finished telling her everything.

“You can't be serious” I shrugged and showed her the hickeys on my neck and the fresh hand prints on my thighs.

“Dear goodness” she gasped.

“What got into you? I would never in my wildest dreams think you'd just let a random guy pop your cherry”.

Heat crawled up my throat and I began to fidget with my oversized sweater.

“He isn't random,” I muttered.

“You're defending him, just how good was he that you're defending him” Keisha asked, the look of surprise clouding her face.

I shook my head and smiled falling back into my pillow.

“He's so dreamy Keisha, I wish to meet him again” I said softly, closing my ears to drown Keisha scream.

Days passed by and papa had calmed down a bit not to frown at me at breakfast or dinner.

Aurelio still managed to sneak into my thoughts as many times as possible, God, I didn't go a day without thinking about him and that night.

I wondered if I would ever see him again, or maybe I could look for him but that would look so creepy but regardless I still entertained the thought of him.

I was just so obsessed.

Keisha dropped by when she could, she was allowed to come here but I wasn't allowed to go back to my apartment nor attend university, dad was able to quell the drama online also compensating that witch for any losses caused.

I was happy he didn't ask me to apologise to her, I wouldn't have either ways and I believe papa knew that.

“Remember Beatrice?” Papa asked, breaking the silence and I shrugged.

“The one I talked about, that's really good in business management and statistics, I'll be having her and her husband for dinner tomorrow, she's a wonderful lady and I believe you'll learn a lot from her rather than dragging hairs at restaurants”

“Dad, I told you I didn't even touch the girl” I said, giving him a pointed look and he shook his head.

“You believe me, I'm sure you do” I said cutting my chicken.

“That's an accusing comment” he said with a light smile and I pouted.

“Poor Camille, she's all alone” I said in a weary voice and he laughed and nodded.

“I'm serious Camille, you could learn a thing or two from Beatrice, it'll help in your studies also and it's also a way of prepping yourself, you'll have this company all to yourself one day” he said.

“I'd rather do something that's mine,” I answered.

“This is yours, Camille,” I nodded.

“Daddy’s sheltered princess, I'll never be more than that name, I'll think about taking over when you've got your head all covered in grey hair” I said and papa laughed.

“That'll be a long time, and besides what are the odds that it'll be completely covered when I'm old?” He asked.

“Trust me, you'll still be crawling to your office with a broken back” papa threw his head back in a hearty laugh.

“I'm glad you're home princess” I smiled and raised my glass to his, making him chuckle.

***

My ears were hurting due to how many times papa mentioned Beatrice, he called a million times to remind me to make something really nice.

“I've never seen papa so enthusiastic to have someone over, if I didn't know better I'd say he was hitting on the woman” I said and Mrs Olga laughed.

“I think she does her work well, that would be the only reason why he's so close to her, you know how your papa gets when he works with partners who understand him very well” I nodded.

“I can't wait to go back to sleep” I murmured, if papa hadn't been so hell bent on reminding every hour, I might as well have pretended to have forgotten about it.

I didn't want to sit and listen to boring business talks, I've heard enough of it in college to last me a life time.

“Beatrice seems to be a nice lady, she's been here before for brunch, you missed it since you had a class tat morning” Mrs Olga explained.

“You're papa should be back by now, why don't you go get dressed too, the guest will be here anytime minuite from now.

I returned to my room and filled the tub with hot water, added my body wash and simply basked in the feeling.

Screw those guests. I was taking my goddamn time.

***

“Still not here? Are you sure the are coming papa? I asked and settled into my seat.

Papa stayed silent, his eyes trained on the newspaper in his hands, I had read that newspaper earlier today apart from some company that was going out of business.

“Buying the Roman company, what are the odds that It'll be back to what it once was? I asked, that got my Papa's attention.

“True…the management did a terrible job with the company and they've suffered loses that eats into the company's assets, bringing it back to it's former glory would be investing with no clear head” papa said and dropped the newspaper.

“I'm still thinking of buying it though, it's got machineries that our company would put into good use” he continued and I nodded.

The door bell rang as Mrs Olga arranged the food on the table.

“I'll go get that” I said and walked to the door, finally, angel Beatrice was here.

I opened the door and was met with a young woman around her thirties, she had her hair in a tight bun, flawless face and bright red lipstick.

She wore a black flower print gown that passed knee length which she covered with a jean jacket and paired it with nude heels.

The dress would have been better without the jacket, it seemed she was the uptight type. I smiled and she she presented a bottle of wine which I accepted and thanked her.

“I'm Beatrice, you must be Camille, nice to finally meet you” she said in smooth English, extending her hand for a shake which I took.

“My husband is coming, he had a bit of trouble parking the car, could you hold the door a little while, hope you don't mind” she asked and I nodded.

She passed into the house while I held the door waiting for her supposed husband.

Heavy footsteps approached the door and once within the censor, the bright light turned on.

“André will be glad to help park….” Words died in my mouth when I came face to face with none other than Aurelio.

His face mirrored mine as we both stared at each other.

They had to be some mistake somewhere, I was probably thinking too much about him I was seeing him during broad day light.

“Camille?” .