A CONTRACT OF NEMESIS Camilla was a bundle of nerves when the restaurant manager told her that someone wanted to have a word with her. "Who." She asked, grossly aware that she knew no one in New York. She had not been able to make friends due to her work schedule and communication problems. The little time she had was spent on herself. "Mr. Ethan. He is in my office now.” the manager replied "Mr. Ethan! I have not done anything wrong. Have I?" Camilla replied, astounded. "Why does he want to speak to me?" she asked. "I have no clue." The manager screeched. "But you better behave yourself. Or else your job is gone. He is one of our best customers and I don't want you screwing that up." Always threatening me with this godforsaken job. Camilla mumbled under her breath. "What did you say?" "Nothing sir." She grinned. "Good. you better tame that mouth of yours when we get to the office. Get rid of the apron and tidy up your hair." Camilla did as she was asked, and when the manager
MEETING THE FAMILY It took Ethan over twenty minutes to arrive at Camilla's home. It was all shabby: the building, the parking lot- in fact, the entire street. It looked to him as if the entire apartment building itself had not been painted for years. The windows, if they depicted the interior of this place, showed a lack of care as well, since many sported no drapes. The curtains Ethan did see were torn and stained. Camilla had been waiting for him beside the grocery store on the down floor of her apartment building. When she saw him she hesitated, unable to decide whether to walk towards him or wait till he noticed her. Luckily for her, he noticed her almost immediately and signaled her to come to meet him. "Get into the car." He did not bother opening her door for her. "This place is a dump." "Yes, l know. No need to rub it in" Camilla replied with a straight face. "Why do you stay here, considering how dangerous the environment is?" Ethan marveled, he would not be caught
YES; I DO. MAYBE NOT Camilla Could feel the beads of sweat break in her forehead and her palms felt cold and wet. She tightened her hands around the bouquet that she was holding. If circumstances were different she would have taken time to inhale the lovely scent that rose from the petals in her hands. From where she was standing at the center of the door to the cathedral, she could see her soon-to-be husband Standing tall in all his 6-foot frame at the altar waiting for her; she had to admit that he was a sight for sore eyes. The melodious sounds from the piano keys rang inside the church signaling that it was time for Camilla to march forward towards the altar and her groom. As soon as she started the long walk down the aisle alone as she had insisted on, she felt her heart pound faster with each step she took. She began to perspire, her mind racing back to her past. The betrayal felt so recent even though it happened five years ago. She felt faint and her heart started to
TRAPPED "Take it easy on the drink." Gaius chided his wife. "You don't want to do something you would later regret." He said through gritted teeth. "You are such a joy killer, today is our wedding day, so we are supposed to be merry and have fun." Fiona laughed and gulped down another glass of campaign. Gaius shook his head "Just drink with caution okay." "Oh! Please stop, will you? Look at your friend and his bride, I wonder what he saw in her." Fiona smirked "It's his choice, mind your business." "I want to dance, let's dance Gaius." "We just finished dancing our first couple dance," Gaius replied getting irritated "Well, I want to dance again." Fiona was already getting out of her chair, she walked past Gaius and went to meet Ethan.``Care to dance." She held him by his hands and started leading the way to the dance floor. Ethan looked at his friend as he was taken by surprise, Gaius only grinned and shrugged. "It's just a dance." he mouthed to his friend "Spanish Guita
A CALL HOME On the first ring, her mother answered and it took all of Camilla's willpower not to start crying even though tears filled her eyes. "Hello, mother." "Oh, my darling, hope you are well?" The voice was breathless with worry. "I am fine, mama. I wanted to hear your voice and also to tell you that I…that I wedded today." "Yes, I remembered. I believe it all went well." "Yes, it did." "Are you happy?" Camilla was not expecting the question and for an instant, she did not know what to say. She heard her mother crying and fought back her own emotions. She waited, knowing that her mother would need a few minutes. "I'm sorry." Camilla's mother gasped "I have missed you so much, sometimes…sometimes I wish I had insisted you stay here with me." "I miss you mum and your earlier question. Yes, I am happy." Knowing it wasn't true, her mother wiped her tears. It was a strange land and since she could do nothing, it was easier not to know. Still, it made her want to weep. S
MORE RULES Ethan started walking toward Camilla, she retreated backward as he drew closer to her. When her body hit the wall she knew there was no escaping him. Ethan trapped her in by resting his palm on the wall, leaving no space between them. "And who said you can make rules in my house, Camilla." He gave her a hard stare, he could feel the warmth of her breath on his face. Camilla's lashes flickered, and she could feel her skin cover up with goosebumps. "No touching." She blurted out. "Please." She added. "And if I refuse." Ethan sneered, he bent his head and sniffed the nape of her neck. She smelled good, too good. He acknowledged to himself. Camilla swallowed hard, she felt her head spin, however, she could not tell whether it was from lack of food or was it her body reacting to his closeness to her. "Cat got your tongue," Ethan asked and at the same time, he trailed his tongue along her long neck. Camilla opened her mouth to speak but no words came out and she shut it
It was just a few days after their wedding and Camilla was already bored. Ethan had forbidden her from resuming her work at the restaurant, "everything you need is in the house." He told her when she complained. "What if I get bored, I am not used to staying idle." "Watch N*****x or any other show on tv. What is that popular soap opera common with Brazilians?" Ethan appeared to be thinking "yes. Watch Telenovela." Ethan replied and walked out on her. Camilla was frustrated by his behavior, even though she enjoyed Theresa's company it was still not who she was, she had worked almost all her life since becoming an adult. Camilla was an early morning person, she was usually awake as early as five in the morning. But since she married Ethan and started sharing his room with him, she had no choice but to sleep in. And would wait till he leaves the bed for the bathroom before she gets up herself. Camilla would then go to the kitchen for some coffee, she loved adding cinnamon to her c
Camilla was restless after Theresa's comment about having a child someday. She knew in America, children could tell their parents to mind their business, but that was not the way she was raised, her mother would smack her if she did something like that, especially to her mother-in-law notwithstanding the circumstances behind the relationship. The only time she forgot to think about the conversation was when the kids came back from school and she told Sophie that she watched Barney and friends with grandma. The little child squealed her heart and Sophie forgot about her problems for the time being. The rest of the day was spent in her bedroom and she only came down for dinner before retiring for the night. She was still awake when Ethan came in, showered, and slid inside the duvet. She was torn between telling him about his mother's hope and whether not to. At last, she decided to totally forget about it. It was normal for mothers to start thinking about grandkids, especially after
EMMA IS HAVING A BABYEmma and her siblings saw less of their father because he was never at home even though he had been trying to change in the last months after his wedding to Camilla. Emma understood the reason for his backtracking, it broke her heart to see Williams and Sophie yearn for their father all over again and this time it was her fault.“Don't blame yourself.” Her grandmother chided her. “Your father has a lot going on, his absence has nothing to do with you.” But Emma would not be convinced, she knew her father too well; she had brought this pain to the whole family, and she was not a good example to her younger ones. Emma also observed other things. She noticed how her grandmother looked at her and was convinced that it was disappointment written all over her face. However, she carried on with her pregnancy, what was done was done and there was nothing she could do about it. She made up her mind to thrive for her baby and to be happy no matter the difficulties facing
RUNNING AWAYEthan believed that he had failed as a father to his children. He reckoned that his obsession with his pain made him forget how to be a father. Alone in his room, he cried for the wife he lost too soon, for his negligence towards his family, and for his young daughter, who was only a child and was now pregnant.He was also very angry. Emma should have taken his advice and gotten rid of the pregnancy, it was just a simple and safe routine. He wondered why she changed her mind, or if Camilla was the one who convinced her against his will. He was getting angry just thinking about it, he stood from the couch where he had been crouched over in thought and paced his large room. Does his young wife have a hand in this? did she manage to make his daughter disobey him, did he underestimate her influence over his children, especially his eldest child?There was only one way to find out. He stormed out of his room and went in search of the devil that betrayed him. She was nowhere
REGRETSChad Made love to Emma again, this time it was easier to penetrate and keep thrusting into her. Even though Emma experienced some discomfort, she found the sex more pleasurable than the previous one. She even had an orgasm before Chad released into her again. They lay beside each other panting and sweating after the sex was over. After some minutes, They went to shower together; it was already getting late and Emma was worried that her father might get home before her, if it was just her grandmother she would make some excuse and her grandmother will let her be, but her father would enquire to know more about where she had been and she was not ready to divulge such information.Chad also wanted her gone before his father arrived. His father was not amused by the number of girls he brought home.“Your body count is off the chart.” His father had reprimanded him just two weeks ago. He did not want his father to reveal his lifestyle in front of Emma. He knew Emma loved him just
RIDE HOMEEmma sat at the back of the car thinking about her life and how she had wrecked it. She could not believe that she was carried away by Chad's charm and good looks. Now she is single and pregnant and her father hates her. She wanted her mum so bad, if she had been here she would not be in this situation. Resting her back against the seat she heaved a long sigh and felt Camilla's hands rub her shoulders. Camilla, her stepmother. She had hated the idea of her marrying her father, but now Camilla was the strength she needed in her dilemma, the young woman had comforted her and never judged her since she told her about her pregnancy. Her father on the other hand had been moody since finding out, if looks could kill, she would already be dead from the dagger shooting out of his eyes towards her.It had been a silly mistake on her part, the warning signs were there but she overlooked it all because she enjoyed the attention and popularity being with Chad gave her. Her naivety w
The tension in the car as they rode to the hospital was nerve-wracking. Emma had stopped crying, she just sat quietly beside Camilla in the backseat and tried not to think about what she was about to do. Emma knew her father was still seething, she could tell from the way he jammed on the horn of his car and how fast he rode. If he meant to kill them all then so be it, her life was already ruined.But could she continue to blame Chad, her dad did, and everyone in her family did but she blamed herself more. She could have read between the lines, and seen the red flags. However, she had been more thrilled to be dating the most popular kid in school who showed interest in her and thereby threw all caution to the wind. Her negligence has cost her; here she was going to the hospital to get rid of the bastard as her father put it, and Chad was nowhere to be found, he might be up someone else skirts, he could be having the best day of his life or worst he could be frolicking with Melissa his
THIS IS NOT HAPPENING On the elevator ride down, Ethan reflected on everything that had happened, on one hand, was a willing Margaret that had the body of a goddess. On the other hand, was Camille, she was also beautiful, homely and his children seemed drawn to her. He had a plan, to hire a bride, get married so his mother would stop pestering him, and after five years divorce her. Well, the plan seemed to be falling apart, not only was he drawn to Camille, but he was also being faithful to her. He could not make this up and it was getting on his nerves. Cheating your spouse was wrong but he wouldn't be cheating if the bride was for hire, yet here he was leaving the flat of the most gorgeous woman he had ever met who was minutes ago begging him to screw the hell out of her, she had been so wet and so ready. He palm-butted his face in disgust. Even if he wanted to, he doubted that Margaret would be willing anymore not after he had rejected her not once, but twice. What am I goin
STRAYINGEthan took a long gulp of his scotch, it was what he needed. Even though he was fully aware that it was his favorite mix, how she knew he liked it remained a mystery, a part of him wanted to get out to avoid further entanglement with her while another part of him wanted to be wild, have fun without a care about who gets hurt. He was still contemplating whether to flee or stay when Margaret came back into the living room wearing next to nothing.He knew his mouth hung open on seeing her, but he could not close it. He stood transfixed as she walked toward him and stopped in front of him.Margaret smiled at him "you like." She swirled allowing Ethan a better view of her body."I have to leave now," Ethan said, he gulped down the remaining drink and stood up from the chair. "I am sorry."Margaret was surprised, she held him by the hand and met his gaze. "Why." She was irked by his behavior."I…I forgot." He shook his head as if trying to recollect "I can't do this Margaret, am so
Camilla looked on as Theresa and Emma cried in each other's arms. She felt sad with her own emotions, and thoughts of her mother overwhelmed her. For an instant she felt jealous, it had been long since she felt any real human touch around her, she missed her mother so terribly, she missed her hugs, her warmth, her smile, even her scent. She wanted to go back to Brazil and be with her mother. It was better than being invisible in this foreign land but she could not, her mother had forbidden her from being irrational with her decision, she could not go home because she would lose what she had worked so hard to get. Even though being with her mum was all she wanted, she knew her mother would be more heartbroken if she failed than if she never sees her again. Gathering herself together, Camilla waited for Emma and Theresa to calm down and when they finally composed themselves, Theresa reached out to Camilla and hugged her too. "Thank you," Theresa said with a smile. Camilla was confuse
PREGNANT Camilla was not sure why Emma asked for her, even though they had never been close, there was mutual respect between them. However, she had noticed that there had been a subtle change in Emma, in the last two months or so, she went from calm to wild then subtle. Camilla was suddenly worried, and hurried her step, when she hit Emma's door she waited a bit before knocking and was asked to come in almost immediately. "Hi." Camilla locked the door behind her and waited, this was her first time in Emma's room and even though she was invited she did not want to overstep her boundary. "You can sit over there." Emma pointed to a yellow couch. Camilla walked over to the couch and sat down, many thoughts flowed through her mind as to why she was called. She watched the young lady fidget with her hands. She looked worried and must have been crying, from how puffy her face was. "Is everything okay, Emma," Camilla asked. Emma shook her in no. "What is the problem?" Camilla asked.