Chapter 3

Present

“Sad and depressed, I forced myself to move towards my home. Everything was gone. I once again lost to Scott Martinez. I was to die a tragic death at his hands, and he was on his way to accomplishing it. I would soon give up and beg for mercy at his feet. It was impossible to believe I was falling in love with him. All he wanted was my life. He had already snatched all I had owned once in my life. In his eyes, I could see a thirst for revenge. No matter what, he would never leave me alone. It was my dream to leave the country with my siblings, but I didn’t have enough money. 

“Cami!” My attention was immediately drawn to Natalie who was running toward me. A wave of panic swept through me when I saw her tearful eyes and stained face, as though she had been crying for hours. 

“Nati...” I walked toward her and grabbed her shoulder to stabilize her as she was trembling uncontrollably. “What happened?”

“Clarence...” she swallowed, tears still streaming down her cheeks. 

“What happened to Clarence?”

“He…he has overdosed on drugs.”

And I froze, watching her with my rounded eyes. It took me a while to understand what she had said. “What do you mean by overdose?” I exclaimed, suddenly panic hit me hard. 

“He is in the ICU.” she broke into tears. “He has been using it for a year and I’ve tried to tell you but he threatened that if I tell you then he would reveal my truth.”

“What’s your truth?” I asked even though my mind had stopped working. 

“I’m three months pregnant,” she whispered in her wobbly voice, peeking at me through her wet eyelashes. 

My jaw flexed, and my hands clenched into fists. “Natalie!”

“I’m sorry, sis…” she flinched. 

“You know what it means? You’re well aware of our family condition but still…” I gritted out, charging at her. 

“I…I’m sorry…” she stuttered, lowering her gaze. “It just happened.” She gulped. “You won’t kill my baby, will you?” she said and my eyes popped out. 

“Why are you saying this, Natalie.”

“You…you killed him, didn’t you,” she whispered monotonously. 

 “I…I…” I breathed, and suddenly my feet quivered with anxiety. “Let’s go and see Clarence.”

In less than half an hour, we arrived at the hospital and found my brother in the ICU. He was in critical condition. The doctor informed me his brain had been damaged and he required immediate treatment. Initially, I told him to begin treatment right away, but the lack of money made it difficult. A thousand dollars were needed to save my brother’s life. My brother would die if I couldn’t arrange money. 

“What do we do now, Cami?” Natalie asked. I could see the same fear on her face as I had on mine. We couldn’t lose our baby brother. 

“I don’t know,” I mumbled emptily. 

“We require money!” she said impatiently. “You told us that father left us a secret fund, didn’t you?”

“It was a lie!” I snapped. “It was a pure lie. I don’t have a penny, I even lost my job because of that Scott Martinez.”

“We’re here because of your fault. You caused us to beg for money and a job at every single place. You killed his twin brother and made him a monster. Now he wants to kill us alive.” Natalie choked. “It’s all your mistake, Cami. You’ll be responsible if anything happens to Clarence.”

“Natie…” I whispered, hurt by her words. “Do you even know what you are saying?”

“We would have been better without you, Cami. I hated to have a sister like you. You’re a cruel and heartless bitch…” 

Before she could complete herself I slapped her hard enough to bring her to her senses. “Please, stop it…” my voice was thick and filled with pain. “I will not let anything happen to Clarence even if I have to put my life on the line.”

********

As I stood outside Scott’s studio for six hours, I pleaded with the guard, “Please let me in.”.

“You need to make an appointment, ma’am,” he said. 

“My time is limited so please, let me in.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“If you tell him my name he’ll recognize me.”

“Are you kidding me?” Guard scoffed, eying me from head to toe, displeasure sweeping over him. “Are you sure you are where you should be?” 

From behind me, a male voice said, “What is happening?” I looked behind me to see the man. “Camille.” Archie blurted out when he recognized me.

After seeing him, I felt relieved. He was the only one who could help me at that time.

“Are you alright?” he asked, checking me over. 

“I’m not fine,” I said with a sigh. “I want to meet Scott immediately.”

“He won’t meet you, Cami,” he said with a look of disappointment in his eyes.

“Please…” I pleaded.

Taking a few moments to think, he nodded. “I can try though.” 

“I would appreciate it.” I forced a smile. 

He nodded at the guards and they quickly let us inside. Archie led me into a room and gestured to the couch. “Wait for a moment, I’ll be right back.” 

The dark hardwood floor, the concrete walls, and the expensive furniture intrigued me as I settled on the couch and examined the room. My eyes caught the picture, so I got up and walked toward it. I shivered when I saw him. Samuel Martinez was the twin brother of Scott Martinez. He had the same electric-blue eyes, pale complexion, and chiseled face. I clutched the frame in my hand, feeling burning rage inside me. He had destroyed my world. 

When the door swung open I was startled. “Cami, what are you doing?” Archie asked as he eyed the frame in my hands. “Scott wants to see you in the studio.” Putting the frame on the table back I gave him a nod and headed towards the door. “You’d better not go there,” he said quietly and I paused, but didn’t turn to him. “He’s got something nasty planned for you.”

“I do not care,” I snapped before making my way toward the studio. Taking a deep breath I stepped inside. I almost fell to my knees to my feet when I found the entire crew watching me intently. 

“Welcome, Miss Davidson.” Scott sneered. He was sitting behind the monitor. “We’re delighted to see you again.”

I glanced at Maura who was sitting next to him smirking.

“I’m willing to do anything you ask me.”

“Sorry…” Scott Martinez. “Can you repeat it?”

“I’m ready to do anything,” I shouted angrily. 

“Remove your clothes.”

Panicked, I exclaimed, “Excuse me.”

“Take off your clothes and lay down on the bed.” he pointed to the bed in the corner of the room. 

“And then…” I whispered. 

“We’ll film  your intimate scene.”

“I can’t do this!” I spat and stepped back.

“Then you may go, Miss Davidson,” Scott said calmly and gestured to the cameraman to stop. 

“Could there be a second option?”

Scott narrowed his eyes at me and my heart skipped a beat. “No, Miss Davidson.”

“Okay, I’m ready to do this!” A sharp breath escaped my lungs. 

“Good,” Scott smirked in victory. 

Slowly raising my hand I removed my t-shirt and then my jeans exposing my ungroomed body. My cheeks darkened with humiliation as everyone watched my naked body. I was standing just in a bra and panties. Scott leaned against his chair, looking comfortable. 

“Shall we start, Miss Davidson?” 

I nodded and walked over to the bed. 

“Daniel…” Scott called out to someone and a man appeared next to me in just a pair of boxers. 

My eyes went round when the realization hit me hard in my chest. “I’m not going to shoot with him!” I hissed out and panic struck me when he stepped closer to me. 

Suddenly, his images freshened in my head. He was slapping me, choking me, and hurting me. I was screaming, and trying to break myself free from his steel-like grip.

‘He won’t love you!’ He smacked my cheeks hard and made my lips bleed. ‘You ugly bitch!’ He ripped my panties and thrust inside me. I cried out in pain. I fought, screamed, and shouted but no one came to my rescue. He took me like an animal, ripping my inner soul. Samuel Martinez was not only brutal but barbaric. 

I tried one last time to get away from him but it only caused me more pain. He grabbed a knife and sliced my shoulder brutally. Blood started to soak the sheet but it didn’t make him stop. He brought his mouth to my shoulder and licked my blood like a beast. ‘Scott bleeds your heart and I bleed your body. Isn’t it interesting?’

‘Samuel, stop it, please…’ I choked. ‘I won’t tell anyone, I swear I won’t tell anyone. I’m pregnant with your baby...please stop it.’

‘I don’t want this baby!’ He growled in my face and gripped my jaw. ‘Do you get it? I don’t want this bastard.’

‘I want this baby!’ I retorted and he grabbed a knife and stabbed it right into my stomach. 

I jolted when someone touched my shoulder and pulled me back into the present. I turned my head to see the same naked man lying next to me on the bed. I looked at Scott, Maura, and other crew members who were watching us with amusement. Archie was standing in the doorway, looking frustrated. 

“Action!” Scott called out before cameras, lights, and mike focused on us. 

The man started to hover over me and gave me panic attacks. My breath shortened, my heart pounded and every muscle in my body shivered with anxiety. I had never been with any man after Samuel. He had left me scarred. I raised my shaking hand and moved it down to the man’s abdomen. He smirked and caught my ear in his mouth before chewing it erotically.

“Closer!” Scott commanded and he got closer to me, preventing me from breathing. 

He let out a fake groan which made me nauseous. I flinched when he caressed my breasts and my stomach and my thighs. Once I tried to follow his suit and touched his body but it only caused me to panic. 

When his hand went between my legs I didn’t think twice before shoving him away from me. “I don’t want to do this!” I jumped off the bed before heading towards my clothes. 

“Stay the fucking where you are!” Scott ordered which made me cringe. Getting to his feet he moved toward me. His eyes explored my body and for a moment they flicked something different other than hate. The way he was gazing at me made me feel breathless. 

I frowned when he started to unbutton his shirt. His eyes were on me while he was undoing his clothes. My knees weakened when he took off his shirt and approached me. His raspy breath fanned my head as he stood tall in front of me, shirtless. Each line on his body was defined and profound. I had seen his body before in movies but had never seen it in person. For five consecutive years, he held the title of the world’s sexiest man. 

When he grabbed my forearm and threw me onto the bed, I yelped out in pain. “What are you doing?” I asked quietly.

“Shoot!” he commanded his crew, ignoring my question. 

When he kissed my neck, I was left breathless. As his firm chest touched my stomach, my toes curled in anticipation. I waited for a panic attack, but it didn’t come. I looked into his eyes again. Although he hated me, I adored him. I loved him so much that sometimes I forgot who he was. He was the man that every woman dreamed of. His kindness was unparalleled. While he wanted to help, he never wanted to show the world how much he cared. 

His erection rubbed against my thighs, causing me to gasp. Stunned, I stared into his eyes and amusement danced in his eyes. 

“Don’t worry this is not for you.” He ground himself against me harder, breathing rapidly. “Unbutton my jeans.” He ordered. My hands moved down, unbuttoning his jeans as I swallowed hard. “Remove them.” 

I took them down. He grabbed a blanket before throwing it on our bodies. I was feeling a different kind of comfort in his arms as he was lying next to me. “I’ll enjoy torturing you, Miss Davidson,” he whispered in my ear and fisted my hair before tilting my head toward him. His eyes burned like hot lava. “This time you won’t be spared, sweetheart.”

********