Chapter seven

Camilla POV 

It's been two days since my encounter with Reece. I was really wishing to meet him again.

"Shut up Camilla." I inwardly scold myself.

Ashley and I had just finished our shift, it was 3:20 p.m, and we're watching Titanic. Believe me when I say, I cry every single time I watch it.

As I glued my attention to the movie, I heard my phone buzz from the table.

"Good day, Mum." I greeted lazily.

"I have some important issues, we need to discuss." she said curtly.

"Are you busy?"

"How much do you want?" I asked, already impatient.

My step mum never called to ask how I was fairing. Money was her only desire, especially since the exchange rate was high over there.

"Camilla, that's no way to talk to your mother. The pain I went through taking care of you and your siblings when your father died”

I zoned out from her words as her dramatic side surfaced.

"Sorry, okay? Now what do you want?" I asked as politely as possible.

"Tony just finished his business course in college and graduated with distinctions. You can look for a job over there for him?" She suggested.

She really thought this through, even calculating how much money she can get if my brother is with me.

"I will think about it."

I said as the doorbell, my source of escape,  rung.

"Someone is at the door. Bye mum." I cut the call.

Looking for a job here for Tony won't be hard but giving my mum the satisfaction of drilling out pocket dry, hell no!

I walked over to the door, looking through the door peep hole.

OH MY...

"Ash, Ashley." I whisper shout, and she looked at me confused.

I mouthed 'REECE WALKER'. She didn't need to think twice before she arranged where she messed up. 

She ran upstairs to her room, probably to get changed, leaving me to face this on my own.

I slowly opened the door.

"Good afternoon." I smiled politely. 

"Good Afternoon, hope I am not disturbing anything." Reece eyes traveled to the TV

Titanic was in view, and Jack was drawing Rose naked. 

This just HAD to be the part playing now.

"Not at all. Please come in." I noticed Reece was not dressed formally in a suit and tie but rather in jeans and T-shirt.

He took a seat as I quickly changed the movie. I looked up at him as he smirked, clearly amused.

Ashley ran downstairs dressed in a yellow short gown. She composed her self when she noticed Reece was looking at her.

"This is my best friend Ashley. Ashley you know who this is." I introduced the two.

He reached up to shake her hand and kissed them. The raging blush on her cheek was more than a beet root.

"It's really nice to meet you." he told her coyly. 

"PERVERT!", My inward thoughts growled.

Ashley took her seat, probably wondering why he was here.

"I'm really sorry about those pictures of us that leaked and spread the wrong information. But the good thing is none of them got a perfect angle of you." he stated as he laughed at the last part.

Gosh, his smile.

"It's nothing, whereas no one can ever guess it was me."

"But I would love a favour from you." 

"You said something about babysitting. I would love if you could help me babysit my daughter."

I glanced at him amused.

He wanted me to babysit his daughter that all nannies rejected?

Ashley told me everything about them this morning, and she didn't even try to hide her enthusiasm when she mentioned his name.

"I ......"

I tried to speak, but he cut me short.

"I will triple your pay." Reece said quickly.

"You don't know anything about me and you want to keep your daughter in my safety.." I wonder in disbelief.

He handed me a wrapped file. 

"I know everything about you."

I opened it to see all my information.

So that's how he knew where my apartment was.

"So what do you say? Yes or Yes?"

I looked at Ash as she checked Reece out shamelessly. 

"I will think about it." I said, not wanting to accept it quickly and regretting it later.

"Don't think too much. If you accept my offer, come over to my company and tell the receptionist to direct you to my office. If she refuses to let you in, tell her my last name, Griffin. She'll let you in through the gold elevator." he explained.

I nodded, smiling.

"You really look good on that red outfit of yours." he complimented me as he headed towards the door.

"I will be expecting you. Goodbye Ashley."

I watched as he walked out and eloquently got into his car.

Seconds later, Tobias zoomed off.

Immediately I looked around the surrounding and sighed a deep sigh of relief that no one saw him.

"You're really lucky, but hope you know his kid is a really big headache. He fucking complimented your crop top and leggings." she babbled and squealed.

"I have to write shipping names for you guys. You fit perfectly!"

I smiled wryly, wondering how the conversation spun in this direction. 

Is it bad that I like the fact that he actually checked me out and complimented me?

"Aaaaaargh" I screamed and switched the television back to titanic

*****************

The wind gusted and trees swayed above me as I rushed out of the cab, heading to Mrs Audrey home. She called me pleading if I can look after the kids for the night. Nanny Nosita has a mild heart attack. 

Rain stung my cheek as lightening flashes in the sky. 

Arriving at the house, I use the spare key given to me to unlock the door.

“Cee “ Darien and Holland ran to hug me. They were always afraid of lightening. I notice tears on their cheek as I led the to their room

“Is Nana going to be alright?” Darien asked afraid the worst has happened

“She is going to be fine. We just need to pray and God will heal her” At first I didn’t think they heard me, but then I saw Darien reaching for his bible and Holland jaw quiver, followed by a welling of tears in her eyes. I didn’t make a sound at all trying to put myself together. He hands the Bible to me as we read psalms and prayed.

“She told us that one day she will go up to the stars and watch over us. Cee, I don’t want her to go yet” Holland held my cloth crying as I pat her back reassuring them Nana was alright. I tucked them in after they fell fast asleep. There was a clock on the wall alongside their bed. 1:25am

I reached for the landline dialing Mrs Audrey cellphone. It rang for some time before she finally answered 

“How is she doing?” I asked almost immediately as I hear sobs and whispers of her husband soothing her. 

“We haven’t heard anything from the doctor. She is still in the ER”

I pressed my lips together, staying silent. Nana is a very strong woman, pray God give her much strength and heal her divinely

“How are the kids?” 

“They are fast asleep. Don’t worry about them. I will make sure they get to school tomorrow morning before I go to work” I assured them

“Thank you” she said 

“We have something to tell you later on”

“Okay, Give Nana a kiss for me when you see her, Tell her we love her” I say as I hung up. Praying she receives the message. 

I go up to their room, watching as they slept peacefully. I sat on the couch close to their bed watching them so if they woke up I will be there to put them back to sleep but my body betrayed me. I drifted into the darkness.