CHAPTER FOUR

CARTER'S POV

"So how did you enjoy your evening?" I asked Camila as we walked towards the elevator in the penthouse.

"Actually, it was cool. I quite enjoyed myself. It's not every time I go out without being scolded or controlled..." She gradually stopped talking, as if feeling like she had said a lot. Well that was a lot, if I was to pay attention to the underlying meaning of what she said.

"How do you mean?" I further enquired. Some things she had said before and her reaction to other things that happened had really made me quite curious. There was definitely something I was missing out on, concerning her.

"Oh? Never mind" She replied looking uncomfortable and I knew better than to persist and cause her more discomfort.

We got into the Elevator and I punched the 5th floor button, as we waited in an awkward silence. I stole a glance at her as she softly tapped her foot on the floor of the elevator and wrapped some strands of her hair on her index finger. A habit I felt she exhibited when nervous. But then again, why was she nervous?

On entering into my apartment, I dropped my keys and phone on the table and waltzed into the kitchen.

"What would you love to have for dinner?" I asked

"What?!" She blurted shyly. "We just got back from a restaurant, YOUR restaurant and we had dinner" 

"Well... I just thought you wanted to..."

"Oh no, you didn't think whatever Mr MacCarter Spencer. I think you are a foodie" she giggled with a teasing look on her face. 

"Oh my!!" I said acting pained. "And to think I was considering you Miss Camilla Monteiro. I see your Dad didn't give you lessons on appreciation" I feigned hurt, but I couldn't hold it in anymore as I burst out laughing. My laugh died down when I noticed she wasn't laughing along, and I tilted my head upwards to get a better view of her face. What greeted me was a mixed look of hurt.

"Camilla did I say something wrong?" I asked, my eyes urging for an answer. She just looked deeply into my eyes for a few seconds, before she turned and left the kitchen, probably going to her room. 

Fuck! When I thought I was doing something right, I go ahead and spoil it all. Actually, when I travelled for my business trip, I couldn't stop thinking about the complete difference in the character Camilla exhibited, and what I thought she was like. 

Her calmness wasn't just because she lost her Dad, she was naturally calm, which conflicted the personality her Mother depicted of her. Hell! She even asked for permission to eat, the day I made us dinner. I wondered why I was acting so oblivious concerning the right way I should have handled the whole marriage issue. I didn't know a single thing about this girl or her family. I was really tripping big time. 

At that moment, I picked up my phone and put a call across to Pablo. 

Hello?

"Pablo, I have a job for you"

Alright. Fill me in the details.

"I want every single information you can find concerning Mr Edward Monteiro's Family. Specifically more informations about his daughter; Camilla Eloise Monteiro. 

I can definitely do that much. Give me three days tops. 

"Alright then. Thank you"

Yeah.

Seeing what I saw three days later made me surprised, to say the least. Claudia wasn't even Camilla's biological mother? Her father had been cheating on her late mother with Claudia before she died. Prick of a man. I thought. 

And Camilla had a calm and kind personality? That was what the paper I was looking at, said. Her Stepmom really did justice to her personality before me, I must say. 

Several other things were In the file I held in my hands, but one last thing caught my eyes. She was the Anonymous founder of Claire's foundation for the Orphan?!! 

That particular NGO had come into the limelight after just one year of start up, but no one had a clue as to who was the founder of the organization. And then, I found out it was Camilla? A mere teenager. But who was her sponsor? Pablo didn't include that. I was really shocked, because I expected her to blow her trumpet about stuffs like that, that's what these rich little brats do by the way.

After going through the file Pablo sent, I wasn't a fool, I could put two and two together, but how accurate could I be. I wasn't living her life. But if my thoughts were in line, she hadn't led a happy life since the death of her mother, Mrs Claire Edward Monteiro. She named her foundation after her late mother. But then again, who was her sponsor? Such a young girl, whose family were going bankrupt couldn't earn so much as to finance an NGO. Not to talk of one that stands out so.

I made up my mind that I was going to make this marriage bearable for us, atleast. The girl already had much problems as it was, there was no point adding to them. We didn't have to be in love, we could be okay as friends. I thought back to the fact that I didn't let her in on the fact that I was going on a trip, and made a mental note to myself to apologize when I got back.

Here I was now, in an attempt to butter her up, I made her feel much worse. Why couldn't I just do something right? Mentioning her father was like opening a fresh wound. I had to try and remedy the situation. The day after tomorrow was her Dad's burial, and she had to be as strong as possible. 

I shuffled my foot in the kitchen, lost in thoughts for a few minutes, before I went to my room. It didn't take long after I got on my bed, before sleep took over.

Early the next day, I quickly did my hygiene routine and dressed up for work. It was a Friday and I could spare a few hours before heading to work.

I gently knocked on the door and waited for an answer. I was about give the door a second knock when I heard shuffling of foot, and then the door unlocked a few seconds later. The second the door went inwards, opening and covering Camilla's body on the other side, I quickly walked into her bedroom, not looking back to see her. I heard the door shut close and took it as my cue to start talking.

"Goodmorning Camilla."

"Good morning Carter. Slept well?" She replied in a calm manner. I was suprised. That was a first for me. Pissing someone off a day before, and then having them show concern about you the next day.

"Ah..yes" I quickly replied. After a while and neither of us said a word, until I decided to take the bull by it horn, and speak up. "Camilla, I'm sincerely sorry about last night. I spoke out of turn by mentioning your Father, and I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to spoil your night"

I shuffled my feet on the floor as I waited for her outburst, but I saw none forthcoming. She just looked exhausted as she walked over to her bed and sat down. 

"Could you atleast say something?" I urged.

"I'm sorry Carter.."

"What?" I asked clearly confused. She looked solemn like she had done something wrong.

"I'm sorry I acted like a brat and walked out on you. You clearly didn't mean what you said in a negative way. I let my emotions cloud my judgement and acted really immaturely. Please forgive me." She completed as a tear slid down her face, which made me walk over to the bed and sit beside her, and hugged her out of reflex. I held her chin and wiped the lone tear that slid down her cheek.

"Don't cry now. You've done that a lot these past weeks" I chastised and she simply nodded.

"Would you cancel the marriage?" She asked, and I could trace the fear in her. She was scared? What was she afraid of?

"Heyyy! I wouldn't do that now. That's breaching the agreement on the contract. And I'm the one who should be apologizing and not you. I was the one who said things out of turn"

She nodded.

"Come on. Talk to me, don't just nod" She nodded again and then realized herself immediately, which made us both chuckle. I still had my arm around her shoulder, and her head on my chest. I was about saying something else when I felt my throat a bit clogged. I cleared my throat and I guess she took it the wrong way, as she swiftly pulled away from me.

"No. I wasn't asking you to leave, I was just clearing my throat, but it's fine. I will be leaving for work now, but I'll be back just in time to take us out" 

"Okay" she squeaked out looking at her laps in a way I dare to say, looked cute.

"Alright then. Enjoy your day as best as you can. I heard you love cooking, there are a few cook books and I noticed Felicity stocked up the kitchen and fridge with groceries yesterday. You could experiment one or two recipes. What do you say?" 

"Oh?!" She was smiling now, and widely for that matter. "Definitely!" She said nodding her head vigorously. I smiled and waved her goodbye before stepping out of her room.