Chapter 5: Goosebumps

 

Camille

The Bennetts were once an enviably happy family.

Mr. Bennett was a renowned entrepreneur, Mrs. Bennett a picture of gentle beauty. And their two sons, Gabriel and Matthew, had enjoyed lives of privilege since childhood, both strikingly handsome. Girls would steal glances as they passed, some even daring to approach them.

When my mother and I first arrived at the Bennett estate, we were housed with the other staff in a bungalow at the back. My mother took care of the animals in the yard, and I often helped with the feeding – a few alpacas, some horses, and several lambs.

They were Matthew's pride and joy. He spent nearly every day in the yard, playing with them. I was in charge of feeding, cleaning, and bathing them. Matthew and I grew closer soon.

He was nothing like Gabriel. Gabriel was aloof, with a hint of world-weariness, while Matthew was warm and friendly, always talkative. He could spend hours in the yard with his animals... and me.

At Matthew's urging, Mr. Bennett generously sponsored my tuition, allowing me to attend the same school as them – something I'd never even dared to dream of.

From then on, I was with the brothers constantly, going to and from school together. Those three years were the happiest of my twenty years.

I thought I could finally escape the suffocating past and start a new life. But three years later, Mrs. Bennett died in a car accident, and my happiness came to an abrupt end.

A year later, Matthew was also gone, his death eerily similar to his mother's.

Everyone believed Mrs. Bennett's death was connected to my mother, and Matthew's was blamed on me.

I couldn't defend myself, couldn't prove my innocence.

No one would believe me. They saw me as a vixen cub brought by a master seductress.

Even though I'd done nothing, I was drowned in their venomous stares.

But I genuinely respected Mrs. Bennett, and I adored Matthew...

For seven years, I lived in anguish and grief.

I cried myself to sleep.

In my dreams, the joys and pains of the past mingled. Matthew's laughter, his scolding, and the way he clutched his head in pain when his illness struck, played on repeat in my mind. I woke up sobbing, tears soaking my pillow.

A large hand slid down my shoulder, across my breast and waist. I jolted awake, but before I could cry out, my mouth was covered.

"It's me."

The familiar voice sent shivers down my spine. I instinctively tried to move away, but forced myself to stop.

The lights turned on on. The sudden brightness made me squint. A moment later, I could see the man sitting on the edge of my bed. He was watching me silently, as if admiring a piece of art.

"Another nightmare?"

His voice was gentle, filled with concern and affection, but all I felt was fear.

I fought back the panic, quickly sat up, and replied respectfully.

"Yes, Mr. Bennett."

Harrison reached out, lightly touching my face with a soft smile. "With me here, there's nothing to fear."

I kept my head down, my lips pressed tightly together, and remained silent.

His fingers traced the line of my cheek, and he said wistfully, "Camille, you look more and more like your mother."

I nodded stiffly. "Yes, that's what everyone says."

His hand moved to my neck, caressing the pearl necklace I'd somehow put on.

"This necklace...it was your mother's, wasn't it?"

A chill spread through me. I nodded, barely suppressing the urge to flee.

"Yes, she left it to me."

He chuckled. "She used to wear it. I remember..."

Harrison’s hand glided over the pearls, his fingertip lingering on my collarbone, gently caressing it.

Fear crawled up my spine, making the hairs on my neck stand on end. My hands gripped the edge of my skirt, desperately trying to swallow the scream rising in my throat.

"I...if you don't like it, Mr. Bennett, I'll take it off...I'll throw it away..."

He suddenly laughed, lifting my chin with his hand. His face turned abruptly cold. "What happened to your forehead? Did Gabriel bully you?" His voice was deep, laced with a chilling sharpness.

My heart tightened, and I quickly explained, "No, no, it was when he was teaching someone else a lesson. I accidentally bumped into a bottle he'd smashed."

Afraid he wouldn't believe me, I added, "If he'd wanted to hurt me, my injury wouldn't be this minor."

As I spoke, I worried about the mottled bite marks on my neck. Had the concealer covered them? Or had it rubbed off on the sheets or clothes?

I just wished the light was dimmer, much dimmer.

Harrison stared at me for a long moment before releasing my chin. His hand slid down my neck, coming to rest on my breast.

In an instant, the hairs on my body practically stood on end.

My nails dug into my skin as I struggled to suppress the fear rising within me.

"Regarding the assignment at the docks, I've arranged for Gabriel to take you. What are your thoughts?" His voice turned gentle again.

"The docks?" I asked, surprised. In the study earlier, he hadn't mentioned what the task was. I tried to recall the conversation, anything to distract myself from the fear and disgust.

"Yes, you're going to the docks to receive a shipment. Camille, you're one of my guy. It's time you started getting involved in my core business."

I lowered my eyes and said softly, "I'm afraid I'm not capable enough. I might mess things up."

Harrison leaned down, his tongue flicking across my nipple, and chuckled. "Camille, you need to have more confidence in yourself. You manage the nightclub so well; I'm sure you'll get the hang of the docks quickly."

I endured the suffocating disgust and replied, "Mr. Bennett, I'll do my best."

Harrison's mouth left my breast, and he lifted my chin again, placing a satisfied kiss on my lips.

"That's a good girl. Consider it a gift."

With that, he turned and left.

The thick scent of alcohol mixed with cigars churned my stomach.

Goosebumps spread across my skin.

I fled to the door, fumbling with the lock as I leaned against it, gasping for breath.

I wiped my lips with the back of my hand in utter disgust, then ran to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and submerged myself in the warm water, scrubbing my skin raw.

On the bedside table sat an exquisite box. Inside, there was a necklace with a massive pink diamond.

I'd seen the design for this necklace in Harrison's documents a few days ago; he must have just acquired it from an auction.

I scoffed, tossed the necklace back into the box, and lay back on the bed, but sleep eluded me.

Harrison was incredibly wealthy, with interests in real estate, medicine, hotels, entertainment...but that was far from all.

His true source of wealth lay in the businesses I hadn't yet been exposed to.

Harrison was nothing like the mild-mannered, respectful, and refined man the media portrayed him to be.

On the contrary, I often witnessed his violent, cruel, and even inhumanly dark side.

On the surface, he treated me like a pet, showering me with material possessions.

But in reality, he'd more than once held a gun to my head, making me lay myself bare while he watched with a cold smile.

I was like a rootless duckweed, utterly powerless to resist. I couldn't escape, only sink deeper into self-loathing.

I'd lived these dark, hopeless days for years.

Until today, when I saw Gabriel for the first time in six years.

He was like a ray of light that pierced my world, cutting through the dense darkness.

I couldn't go on like this.

I needed to uncover the full extent of Bennett's operations. Only then would I have a chance to escape his control.