Chapter 6

Ondina

No!" Ondina woke up screaming. Tears streamed down her face. She jumped as she seen a figure of a man appear next to her bed side.

"It's ok. Your safe." The figure said. Immediately Ondinas vision cleared and dark eyes were looking right back at her.

"Do you remember me?" He asked.

Ondina nodded her head yes. How could I forget you? Her breathing started to steady and the panic started to subside. Seconds later, the door flew open causing Ondina to cling onto Raphaels hand.

"Oh, Onny!" Camille ran into the room tears running down her face.

"I'm the worst friend in the world! Here I am waking up to the best sex I had in years, and your in here!" Ondina looked at Raphael then back to camille, still holding onto his hand.

"How'd you know I was here?"

"Someone answered your phon-"

Camille’s hand shot to her face and covered her mouth as she made eye contact with Raphael.

"I said that out loud. Didn't I." Camille muffled through her hands. Relaxing, she extended her hand out to him.

"Hi, you must be the one who answered the phone. I'm Camille you can call me camie." Clear embarrassment displayed across her face.

"Raphael Lahsen."

"Are you shittin me?" Camilles mouth fell open in awe.

"I beg your pardon? "

"She means are you for real?" Ondina spoke in a raspy voice causing both Camille and Raphael to acknowledge her. His attention immediately fell on her.

"Would you like some water?" He asked. Doing that sweet thing he does where he seems genuinely concerned. Ondina nodded her head yes. Raphael pressed the nurse button; within seconds a nurse was in.

"How ya feelin miss Sommerfield?" A nurse whos name tag read Savannah said in a country twang.

 

"She would like some water and possibly something for her throat. She can barely talk." Raphael stated. Taking charge like he's done once before.

"No problem." Savanah exited the room.

"So what happened? Did he rape you?" Camille asked as she sat on the end of the bed.

Shock crossed Ondinas face. Sometimes I really hated the lack of filter Camie had. Raphael cleared his throat. Ondina tried speaking, but that only brought pain, causing her to place a hand to her neck.

Camille has always been so straight forward and out spoken, but knowing that didn't make it any less embarrassing.

"While you were dancing, this guy offered me a drink." Ondina started. Her throat became thick with saddness.

"I know I shouldn't have taken it... but I was stressing from work and I wanted to loosen up." Raphael sat on Ondinas right side of the bed and placed his hand on her back. It brought comfort to her.

"We were dancing and.... " without warning, tears exploded down her face.

"Oh onny, no..... don't cry." Camille whined with tears now flowing down her face as well.

"I was looking for you and then next thing I know he's on top of me in the back of a car. Hitting me... choking me...and... and." Raphael rubbed her back while Ondina sobbed.

"I'm a horrible friend!" Camille said.

"No you’re not. You couldn't have known."

"But I shouldn't have made you drink and just left you like that."

"You didn't make me drink. I chose to and it was my fault. I'm the one who dra-"

"Don't say it was your fault. It was that sick bastards fault. I'm sorry I didn't get to you sooner." Ondina and Camille both gazed at Raphael.

"Thank you for being there. I honestly think he would have killed me." Ondina said.

"Yeah. Thank you. For saving my best friends life." Camille said. She always have to be known. Ondina annoyingly thought to herself. That brought a smile to her face.

"So... He did rape you?" Camille asked the same question in the exact same soft tone she did when they were younger.

Before she could respond, Savanah entered the room, water in hand, an a tall Indian man behind her with a clip board and oversized eyeglasses.

"Hello miss Sommerfield, I'm Doctor Rashid." He introduced himself; eyes never leaving his clipboard.

"I just have a few questions I need to ask and information I have to discuss with you." Eyes still on the clipboard, he licked his index finger and flipped through the forms he had infront of him.

"At this time, I will ask if your guest can leave the room?" Releasing his gaze from the clipboard, he made eye contact with both Raphael and Camille.

"We'll be in the waiting room if you need us." Camille said. She leaned forward and gave Ondina a big hug, then quickly regretted it when Ondina let out a groan.

* * * * * * * * * *

Raphael

"So......" Camille said while we walked down the hall, leading to the family waiting room.

"Yes?" I replied.

"Oh, nothing..."

I studied her. She reminded me of my little sister. Raven also lacked a filter when one was needed, and was too curious for her own good. I knew there was something she wanted to say but was holding it in. She occasionally glanced over her shoulder at me while we walked down the hall. Finally nearing the doubled doors to the waiting room, Camille turned to me, causing me to halt.

"Thank you again. For saving Onny.... She always seems to find trouble..." Camille turned forward, and continued into the room.

"Just doing what anyone would have done." Reaching a sofa near a window in the left hand corner, I wait patiently as Camille chose her spot closest to the window.

"Where we come from, no one would have done that."

"Oh, so you and miss Sommerfield are from the same places?" ‘Did I really just say places?’

"Miss Sommerfield?” She mocked me. “Yeah. We've been friends sense we were practically in diapers." Suddenly interested in her conversation, I continued further.

"And where are you both from exactly?"

"Maine." Camille says looking out the window.

"Really? What part?" I ask pushing the conversation.

"Rockport" Camille replied.

"What brought you two to New York?"

"Well, I'm an actress, and Ondina is a writer. New York seemed to be a good place to start for me and I needed a roomate to help with rent so Onny was the only person I could imagine living with."

"I suppose New York would be a good place to start." A big smile broke across Camille's face.

"I bet you know alot of celebrities. You should help an aspiring actress out."

"Well I would, however, I have never seen your work. Therefore, I cannot recommend you." Camille's face lit up.

"So you would recommend me if you seen my work? OMG! What's your email? I'll send my portfolio and everything!"

What have I gotten myself into? I pulled out my notepad from the inside pocket of my suit jacket, and jotted down my email address.

"Please, don't give that out to anyone?"

"Are you kidding me? I'm gonna show everyone I know!" Sarcasm smothered her statement. That made me smile.

Camille freely spoke of her dreams of winning an Emmy, and I let my mind wonder to current investment deals I have to close and meetings I have yet to schedule. In the middle of mentally arranging different angles I could use to persuade my possible business partners into a partnership with me, my phone rang.

"Excuse me one moment." I said to a now silent Camille, and exited the waiting room into the hallway.

"Lahsen. " I answered.

"Mr. Lahsen, I know you said to clear your schedule for today, but Mr. Buffett is here. He said it's important."

"Let Mr. Buffett know I'm on my way."