CHAPTER 7

CAMILLE

‘Dad huh?’.

‘Pete isn't that old either, you could use a few years on him’ i texted back.

After pulling into the estates garage, Keisha drove out again to go get some groceries and I went in alone.

I got out of my clothes and took a quick shower and changed into a tube top and small shorts.

I got in the kitchen and made some popcorn for what I would believe was an interesting night with Aurelio.

There were two notifications from him and I smirked and posted the pics from earlier on my I*******m, tagging it as one of the best times I've had this week.

Immediately after the post a message came in from Aurelio and I laughed and buried my face in my pillow.

‘He could have very well been my elder brother' the first text read, which was an exaggeration because Aurelio looked older than Pete.

‘He could find someone his own age, anyone with eyes would realise you're too young’

I laughed after reading the message, he sounded jealous to me but If I pointed that out, he'd coil back into his shell and I'd be a fool to let him slip out of my hands after he willingly came to me.

‘You call this the best time?, it's a lame excuse for a date, a children's picnic would fare better than this’ his last message read in reference to the picture I posted.

‘It seems you're the only one with eyes, everyone seems to think I'm mature except you’ I texted back.

I munched on my popcorn as I awaited his message. Keisha poked her head into our room with suspicious eyes trained on me.

“What are you doing all alone?” She asked.

I shrugged and pointed to my phone and popcorn and she came in fully.

“It's so unlike you to willingly stay here all by yourself without calling me a million and ten times, what are you hiding from me?” she asked with a pout propping down on the bed.

“Trust me it's nothing” I answered as I received a message alert and I quickly snatched my phone, only to pause at Keisha's questioning stare.

“Fuck, yes, it's something, and I promise I'll tell you all about it tomorrow” her gaze remained the same and I groaned.

“Pretty please” I added and she smiled and stood up taking off her clothes.

“I'm pretty sure this has something to do with Aurelio” and I nodded.

“Okay, I'll take a bath and then make dinner” I nodded back to my phone.

‘And I bet he doesn't know, no principled man would be frolicking with a nineteen year old’ I read.

‘I'll be twenty soon, and past legal age, I'm considered an adult, it's not my fault age seems to be a major requirement for being mature to you’ I texted back.

In a few minutes my phone screen brightened up and the familiar water drops signaled the arrival of a new message.

‘Fine, let's believe you're one, what experience do you have?, you were a virgin till I met you’

‘i choose to be a virgin and it has nothing to do with my age and what the fuck is experience? I'm more experienced for my age’ I texted back.

I re-read the message a million times and it sounded just like one of those many people who thought I was dumb just because I had a wealthy father.

Aurelio thought I was dumb or probably a daddy's girl who knew nothing about the real world and that hurt more than any ill mannered word someone had ever said to me.

When he didn't text back, my fingers moved across my letters and I sent the message before I could stop that feeling of insecurity from creeping up my throat.

‘Do you think I'm dumb?’ I texted adding to the last message.

‘If you weren't you'd realise that he wants nothing more than what's between your legs and of course you'll give it in a heartbeat just because he's being a sweet man’.

I read his reply more than a thousand times in my head and wished he was right in front of me, I wished to explode in anger in front of him.

Even without being here, he managed to make me feel stupid and small and I hated him for it, how well he was able to control my emotions.

With enough anger to burn down a house, I was typing angrily, I wish I knew how to bruise his ego as he bruised mine, but I didn't and so I did what I knew best.

I would push the blame.

‘If that's what you tell yourself each night before hitting your bed, then I hope you die of blue balls, because without constantly reminding yourself I'm nineteen, you would have had me bent over the table in your study by now’.

I threw my phone away and screamed into my pillow, it wasn't enough, it just wasn't. I wanted to hurt him back.

“Are you okay?” I pushed the pillow away from my face and looked at a worried looking Keisha who was wrapped in a towel staring at me.

“I'm fine…” I answered.

“You're crying” Keisha stated and I touched my face. I cleaned the tears away quickly and got out of bed.

“I need some air” I picked my phone and without waiting another minute, I was out the door. I walked for what would have been hours and my feet started to feel a bit numb but I kept going.

My phone rang endlessly and I looked at the caller ID, this was the seventh time Keisha was calling and I picked up.

“dove cazzo sei? (Where the fuck are you?).

I looked around and It looked strange and a fear tightened my stomach, though I lived in this estate, I barely knew who my neighbours were and I always drove my car, which meant I'd never gone this far away from the estate.

“i don't know, I…I don't know” I admitted, looking around and nothing looked familiar.

“Did you even realise you were half naked? And now you don't know where you are? Can you be any more careless Camille?” Keisha yelled over the phone

I looked down at the tube top I wore, that covered mainly my breast and the shorts that exposed the curves of my ass. I looked more like a prostitute.

“Can you come pick me, my location is on” I said softly and I heard her sigh.

“Try not to stay where there are no lights and people, you know what? just hide somewhere, I'll come get you” Keisha said and the sound of her car came to life in the background.

“Don't end the call either” and I nodded even though she couldn't see me.

“How could you be so careless Camille, you were fine a few minutes ago the next you're roaming Italy naked” Keisha said and I remained silent.

A few minutes later, Keisha's car pulled over and she opened the door from inside for me, I got in and pulled my leg up to my chin, resting my head.

Keisha said nothing more, a contrast to a protective and worried Keisha earlier.

We arrived home and she got into the bathroom and quickly ran a quick warm bath and held my hand to the bathroom.

“Thank you” I whispered as she gently washed my hair, scratching my scalp and I sighed in defeat.

“What's happening?” She asked softly.

“I've never felt such anger before, Keisha, he doesn't want me and…he thinks I'm dumb and too young and I don't want him to see me that way…what should I do, Keisha?”.

“Aurelio?” She asked and I nodded and sniffed.

“Common girl, just cause he was your first doesn't mean he has to love you, it's just your emotions playing with you…and trust me someone who will love you like the princess that you are will definitely come” .

“It's different Keisha, it's…” I racked my head for the word to describe how Aurelio made me feel, just thinking about him was enough to set my mood for the day.

Right from that day we met, getting him out seemed impossible, I tried to get him out of my system but nothing worked.

“Camille, we find out about ourselves everyday and trust me it's just a new you you're finding out about, it doesn't mean anything” Keisha argued.

“He's not worth it, Camille, do you realise how much you've acted up since I heard the name Aurelio?” Keisha asked and I sighed.

“I'll microwave your dinner once I'm out, so don't sleep off okay” and I nodded.

****

I usually spent Saturdays lazying around, reading, sleeping, watching a movie, name it but this particular one felt like I was set for a funeral.

Keisha left early this morning, and thinking about it now it was quite weird, she seemed to have a lot of places to be lately.

Aurelio never replied to my message and I wanted to believe I had hit his sore spot too, that would be my only saving grace for today.

My phone pinged and I looked at it and it was a message from dad.

‘Are you still asleep?’

‘Good morning Papa'

‘I'll call you, In a few minutes’

‘Sure’.

Papa never called for no reason, he always wanted something from me if he called and I wasn't going to like whatever he would be asking of me.

I just hope it's not some creepy party he will be dragging me off to.

I accepted his video call the moment he called and I was met with his old wrinkled face, and I smiled.

“Come stai principessa? (How are you princess).

“Va bene, papà" (fine papa)

“How's Keisha, haven't seen her around, I hope she's not avoiding me?” Papa asked and I laughed.

“Ofcourse not, let's talk about you, you look so tired”.

He sighed and stood up and walked to his drawer taking out some files.

“I almost forgot about these” he said almost absentmindedly and I rolled my eyes. Did this man ever register rest in his brain?

“Take it easy papa, you know it's bad for your health, have you talked to doctor Dora this month? I asked.

He chuckled and scratched his beard and I knew he had forgotten, and I wondered just how many months he'd skipped his medication.

“You know what pops, I'll be in control of your sessions with Dora from now on” dad nodded and broke into a laugh.

“Your mum will be so happy to see you taking care of me”. I nodded with a soft smile.

“She would”.

That feeling of guilt and sadness shadowed me completely at the mention of my mum. I hated myself till this day. I killed her, it was all my fault and nobody could convince me otherwise.

“Why'd you call me papa?” I asked, changing the topic and also cutting the soft silence that had settled between us. He must have been thinking of mum and it made me feel a lot worse.

“We're having brunch today, I should have told you earlier but it skipped my mind, but please come over and bring Keisha too, I haven't seen that girl in ages” he said, chuckling softly and I smiled.

"At least it's brunch we're having and not one of your gross parties” he threw his head back in deep laughter and I joined him.

“I'll reserve my comments until you're here, it starts by eleven” I nodded and he ended the call.

I lazed around the house, waiting for Keisha, her phone kept going straight to voicemail and worry soon pricked my heart.

‘Where are you Keisha? Dad wants us over for brunch and it's almost time’

Maybe she was driving, with that thought I went upstairs and took my bath, picked out a soft yellow sundress that stopped knee length and had a high slit.

The door closed, signalling Keisha's arrival, a moment later she was in my room, without turning to her I was already telling her about brunch.

“What happened to you?” I asked, taking in her disheveled state, her hair was scattered, and not to go by the small bruises on her neck.

“Are those love bites?” I asked closing the space to get a closer look at her neck, Keisha put her hand out to keep me at arms length.

“Stop prying” a blush tinted her cheeks and she bit her bottom lip,my eyes widened in realisation.

“Keisha, what is wrong with you?” I yelled and she laughed and rushed to the bathroom.

***

Of course we were late as hell, and Keisha was dressed like a mummy, since she tried to cover the bites, she refused to hide them with makeup and I think that was crazy.

But maybe I understand because I didn't cover the love marks Aurelio gave me either.

“Here she comes” I bent my head down and Mrs Olga laughed.

“I'm so sorry papa, but it's Keisha's fault” I defended and dad looked at Keisha and she raised her hands in surrender and papa laughed.

“You two are something else, how have you been Keisha? Your dad has been asking about you lately” dad said.

“By the way, say hi to Beatrice and her husband” my heart must have stilled before I even turned to notice them sitting there.

My eyes found him, and I looked away immediately, his eyes remained, boring holes into my head.

We took our seats and dad continued his conversation with Keisha. Mrs Olga came around and asked if she could serve and I shook my head, scanning the variety of food on the table.

From eggs benedict, scrambled eggs, omelets, quiches, Pancakes, waffles, French toast, pastries, fruit salads, bacon, sausages, ham, smoked salmon, salads, sandwiches, and roasted potatoes, pasta.

Dad was watching his alcohol intake, so there was no alcohol, just different fruit juice and coffee and wine but one thing was missing on the table, there were no sets for making my favourite mimosa drink.

I called Mrs Olga over and asked her about it, and she chuckled.

“Your papa said it'd make a bad impression if you were drinking alcohol” she whispered and I swear I nearly screamed.

“Are you okay, Camille?” Beatrice asked and I looked at her, and smiled back at her tightly before my eyes wandered to Aurelio who was looking at me too.

The brunch started with dad and Beatrice chatting away, I and keisha got lost in our own conversation while Aurelio sat there like an outcast.

I looked at Beatrice who looked more than pleased talking to my dad, leaving her husband lost on the table.

A sharp pain shot through my hand and I turned to Keisha.

“What are you thinking about, you keep spacing out” she said softly looking around the table.

“Nothing,” I answered.

“I was saying Beatrice' husband is a creep, he's been staring at you all along with his wife right next to him” she whispered and I turned to look and sure enough, his eyes caught mine and I looked away.

“You're overthinking it, I'll go make some mimosa for myself” I said, without waiting for Keisha to say anything I was off, walking back to the house.

The house was empty, and it felt oddly refreshing to be alone. I picked out the finest champagne we had and luckily for me we had fresh oranges.

I made the drink in a minute and pulled a stool so I could sit, since I made four glasses, I took the first three in a rush, I didn't want them to go flat before drinking.

I took my time with the last, a minty scent with something like lavender engulfed me and I turned to look behind.

Aurelio was behind me, upon seeing him I returned to my drink, drinking every last bit of it.

“Why are you here?”

“I don't know” he answered and pulled out a stool and sat next to me.

We sat there in tense silence.

“i’m sorry about yesterday, I…” he trailed off and I looked at him with raised brows.

“You realised i was right?” I asked.

“Maybe” he answered.

“It's very complicated Camille, for me it is, I don't want to cheat on Beatrice but you just make it very hard for me”.

“Me? I make it hard for you? What exactly is wrong with you?” I asked, my voice louder than normal.

“You blame me for cheating on Beatrice?”.

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

“This is just crazy” he muttered.

“No you're the crazy one and the moment you realise that, maybe you'll hear just how fucked up you sound” I yelled and got up.

“Camille, wait” he grabbed my hand pulling me into his parted legs, his hand wrapped around my waist pulling me closer to him.

“I'll ask you something Aurelio, and I want you…to tell me the truth and I promise…I swear I'll never, ever cross your path again” my heart thumped hard and fast, quickening my breath as Aurelio’s eyes searched mine.

“Are you happy with her?”. His eyes searched mine before looking away, I put my hand under his chin and pulled his face up and looked into his eyes.

“Camille, don’t. Don't do that”.

His voice was soft, almost a whisper, nothing like the Aurelio who'd command the room with a word and I nodded.

He didn't need to say anything, I understood him perfectly. I licked my lips and his eye quickly followed to my lips.

I saw the silver chain on his neck with what looked like a skull pendant, I traced my fingers on the necklace and pushed the button and it let loose immediately.

I looked at him and it didn't look like he was going to protest, so I unbuttoned his shirt just enough to see his hard solid chest.

His fingers dug into my waist and I gasped, gripping his shoulder blades.

“Cazzo” (fuck) he cursed in Italian and man did he look sexy while saying that? Yes he did and it made me damn wet.

“Come here” his hand gripped my hair bringing me closer untill his lips touched mine lightly, his tongue gently licked my lips, that had to be one of the most sensual things someone had done to me.

His lips caught mine in a dance of dominance, he spanked my ass and I gasped, and he smirked against my lips.

He pulled away with a satisfied smile on his face and I slapped his shoulder, making him chuckle.

“What's going on here?” The speed at which I untangled from Aurelio, Usain bolt would absolutely be jealous.

Keisha stood by the door way with a surprised look that said ‘what the fuck?’ and a shocked look that said ‘did I just see wrong and that’s not someone's husband.

“Um…I was making mimosa and…and Aurelio was just leaving” I looked at Aurelio and he nodded, and greeted Keisha as he walked out leaving Keisha’s mouth wide open.

It surprised me though, he didn't look scared like I thought he would, he looked calm like nothing happened at all and we weren't just caught in each other's arms, well at least I'm thankful it wasn't his wife or Olga.

“Aurelio?” Keisha asked her tone almost a whisper.

“Like, Aurelio? That Aurelio? The one Aurelio, is that the Aurelio?” She asked, and I could literally see her processing everything while pointing to the empty door which Aurelio walked out from and I nodded.

“You have to be kidding me, Camille” Keisha laughed still shocked I guess.

“You know what? Your dad thought you were gone too long and asked me to check up on you” I nodded.

***

“Please tell me you're just joking with me and you are not sleeping with someone's husband”

I propped down on the bed and took out my shoes, dropping my bag.

“Camille?” Keisha called and I sighed.

“Yes, yes and yes, okay? Yes, it was Aurelio I slept with and I didn't even know he was married when it happened so please forgive me” I yelled.

Keisha looked even more surprised, her mouth hanging open, I knew she wanted to say alot but everything was just so shocking she couldn't form words.

“Fine, but that's it, you didn't know he was married and it's not your fault he's a cheating cunt, so that ends it, no more Aurelio” Keisha said.

“He's not a cheat” I defended.

“So what do you call sleeping with someone who is not your wife?” She asked.

“That man is older than you and in a state to take advantage of you, and plus he's married and you're just a little girl and have no experience with these type of men, so trust me when I say there's nothing worth chasing”.

I knew Keisha was right, somewhere in my now messed up head, I knew she was right but at the thought of Aurelio, nothing seemee to be wrong.

He wasn't happy with his wife and he just carried away, fuck, I was even defending him against myself. I sighed and a ran a hand through my hair in frustration.

“I can't fight it Keisha, I can't fight that terrible attraction I have towards him and as much as everything seems so wrong, it doesn't seem so to me” I answered.

“You can fight it and you will because I forbid you from ever seeing him ever again”.

“You can't do that” I refuted.

“Don't make me call your father, Camille,” we glared at each other and tears threatened to spill, I picked my phone and bag and stormed out of the house.

It had never happened before. Me and Keisha arguing to such lengthy where she threatened me using her role as my guardian.

I never went against her, she was my friend, my sister and dad trusted her to be with me and we'd never gone this far.

Fear pricked my heart, at what more I could do to redeem myself for wanting Aurelio even though I knew he wasn't mine.