Chapter 4

Camilla's POV

"Camilla, my office, now" Jack gritted out and marched back into his office without closing the door

"Fuck" I swore under my breath as I walked past Diana who was watching me with a look of pity along with the rest of my co-workers.

I stepped into Jack's office and shut the door behind me before slowly turning to face him

He was leaning on his desk with his arms folded across his chest as he watched me intently

"Good morning, Mr Monroe" I greeted and he narrowed his eyes at me

"There's a clock behind you, Camilla. Look at it and tell me what the time is" he uttered and I sighed tiredly

"I know that I'm late, Mr Monroe there's no need to do that"

For some reason, my patience with him felt like it was barely hanging on by a thread today and would snap any second now

Maybe it was because of the throbbing headache caused by my over indulgence in alcohol last night along with the rigorous activities performed on the handsome stranger's bed.

My breath quickened slightly at a distinct memory of the handsome stranger's hot mouth all over my skin while I moaned and writhed in pleasure

Jack Monroe's voice snapped me out of my steamy flashback, drawing me back to the present

"Oh really?" He snorted "Well, I'm glad you know that. Now, are you going to explain why you walked in here looking like what a cat dragged in?"

I had to blink twice to remember what I had said that he was replying to

"Yes, I'm sorry but I-"

He cut me off "I can fire you for this, you know. When I gave you permission to get off early yesterday it was under the condition that you would be here on or before 8AM today so what the hell is this? Do you think I'm a joke or what? Do you not want this job anymore? If that's the case then you should just say so!"

I didn't know what came over me in that moment but I suddenly felt fed up. It was like something in me suddenly snapped

I scoffed harshly and his eyes widened

"Did you just.....scoff at me?" He asked with disbelief laced in his voice

I looked him straight in the eyes as I nodded "Yes I did and you know what; I fucking hate this job and I'm fed up with you leering at me, trying to touch me and making advances towards me when you're aware that it makes me uncomfortable!"

He huffed in incredulity, like he had no idea what I was talking about "What the hell are you saying? Who has been making advances at you and trying to touch you?"

"Don't act all dumbfounded, Jack. I know you know what I'm talking about and I also know that you've noticed how your advances make me uncomfortable. Every time something as little as your hand brushes against mine, I feel like scraping my skin off!" I screeched and his eyes widened in a mixture of horror and shock before they narrowed in anger

"I see, I didn't know I disgusted you that much, Camilla"

"Bullshit, Jack" I scoffed harshly "Of course you knew, you just didn't care"

He inhaled sharply "Well if I disgust you so much that you can't even stand normal human contact with me; why are you still working here?!"

I maintained direct eye contact with him as I replied "Why else would I put up with all your shit if it wasn't for the paycheck?"

A small wave of nausea washed over me and I shut my eyes tightly as I pushed it back. When the feeling finally stopped, the throbbing in my head that was once mild resumed with fuller force

I groaned as I ran a hand over my face "I was putting up with all of it because of the money but you know what?.......fuck it. I don't care about the money anymore"

I turned towards the door and Jack barked out a harsh laugh "Yeah, you SHOULD leave and on your way out, stop by your desk and pack up all your stuff. You're fired!"

I paused in my steps and turned back to him with a deadpan look

Was he that dumb that he didn't realize what I meant when I said I didn't care about the money anymore?

"I beg your pardon? YOU'RE firing ME?" I asked slowly, pointing at him first and then tapping my chest

He smirked "Yes, you heard me. You're fired, Camilla Parker"

I chuckled dryly "Well, that's absurd"

His face scrunched up in anger "How the fuck is that absurd? I'm your boss and I said you're fired so pack your things and leave!"

"You can't fire me" I uttered calmly which angered him even more

"Oh yeah? I can't? Why the hell not?!" He yelled

"Because I just quit like 10 seconds ago" I answered curtly and his jaw hung open in shock

"See you never, Jack Monroe" I uttered with a smirk before striding over to the door, yanking it open and walking past all the shocked faces of everyone in the office who had no doubt overheard over conversation.

I walked up to my desk without sparing anybody a glance. I pulled out a white box from underneath and began filling it up with all the things on the desk that belonged to me. Among them was my second phone which I had bought to use as my 'work phone' and I always made sure it was powered on and fully charged

Diana appeared by my side with bulging eyes "Camie, what do you think you're doing? You can't quit, that's a really bad idea!"

I sighed deeply as I shook my head, while continuing to pack up my things "No Diana, I can't stand it anymore. I'm tired of it all, tired of this office, tired of HIM!"

Diana also shook her head negatively "No, Camie. You're not thinking straight, this is a spur of the moment thing. Just.....Just sit, calm down and then go back into his office and apologize. It's really not too late"

I tossed the last item into the box before lifting and slowly turning to meet Diana's wide and imploring eyes

I smiled faintly at her "Thanks for the concern, Diana but really, it's fine. I'm leaving for good, bye"

I turned on my heel and began heading towards the exit with the box in my grip. I reached out with one arm and was about to push the heavy glass door open when Diana's voice made me pause

"What will you do now? How will you support yourself?"

I closed my eyes briefly and opened them with a sigh before slowly turning my head towards where she stood in the same spot beside my former desk

"I'll figure something out" I answered with a small shrug and a faint smile but the worried look on her face deepened. I turned away from her, pushed the door open and strode briskly into the empty elevator

I exhaled deeply when the elevator doors closed and leaned on the wall with my eyes staring upwards

I wouldn't let that look on Diana's face deter me

I had put up with jack Monroe and that job for as long as I could. It was time to move on

I closed my eyes with my head still leaned against the cool wall of the elevator and began to imagine a better life with a better job when a low buzzing sound interrupted my daydream

I opened my eyes and peered down at the box in my arms, my brows furrowing slightly when I saw it was my work phone buzzing with an incoming call from an unknown number

I stared at the phone until it stopped ringing and the screen turned black again. I figured there was no need to take work calls anymore since I didn't work for Axia Cosmetics anymore.

I got off the elevator and swiftly exited the building, stepping out into the bright, late morning sun outside. The streets were not as busy, since the working class population were already at their various workplaces by now

I smiled slightly, I couldn't remember the last time I had been out in the city by this time when the roads were so free

My work phone began buzzing loudly again and I sighed in annoyance before balancing the box on my left arm and then using my right arm to grab the phone

I swiped the answer button and raised it to my ear, ready to snap at whoever was calling to stop bothering me but the words died on my tongue when a curt, female voice rang out from the other end of the line

"Good day, am I speaking to Miss Camilla Parker?"

I blinked severally "Er....yes, this is she. How may I help you?"

"Hi Miss Parker, I'm Rosalie calling you from St Andrews Hospital. We've been trying to reach you through your personal line but it hasn't been going through. I'm calling to inform you that your mother, Mrs Milena Parker has been admitted into our hospital"

It was as if the whole world stopped at that very moment and the only sound I could hear was the sound of my heart beating rapidly

"Miss Camilla? Are you still there?"

Everything suddenly snapped back into place, the sounds of people and the streets resumed again

My mother was in the hospital

She had been admitted into the hospital for.... what?

Could it have something to do with my dad?

"Y-Yes I'm still here, what happened to my mother? Why is she in the hospital?"

"She fainted while working and her coworker tried resuscitating her but it didn't work so they had no choice but to bring her here and after we ran some tests on her, we decided she needed to be admitted. I can't tell you why over the phone, you'll have to come down here" the woman replied and I nodded quickly in agreement even though she couldn't see me

"O-Okay, I'm on my way there now!"

I hung up and ran closer to the street, flagging down a taxi wildly. I didn't even wait for the taxi to stop properly before I hopped inside

"Take me to St Andrews Hospital!" I cried in a breathless voice to the driver who looked at me through the rearview mirror and arched a brow, probably wondering why I was looking homeless and insane

I couldn't blame him though, today was turning out to be one of the worst days I had ever had

The driver put the car in drive and effortlessly weaved into traffic. Twenty minutes later, he pulled up in front of the towering white building with "ST ANDREWS HOSPITAL" written boldly on it and I practically threw the fare at him before proceeding to haul myself and the box out of the car

I raced into the building, barely dodging other people and skidded to a stop in front of the reception desk where three women dressed in matching dark blue suits sat on different sides of the round marble desk

The woman I stopped before flinched slightly at my sudden arrival, she opened her mouth to say something but I cut her off

"I'm here to see my mother, Milena Parker. She was admitted here" I gasped out breathlessly

The woman's face softened in recognition "Oh, yes, Miss Camilla. I'm Rosalie, the one that called you"

I nodded, unable to speak through the knot in my chest as she typed something on her computer's keyboard before looking back up at me

"Your mother is in ward 4, room 16" she had barely finished speaking when I was already off to find the room, people and patients jumped out of my way and stared at me like I was crazy but I didn't care

I just wanted to get to my mum

I was halfway to the room when I remembered that I had left the box containing all the things from my work desk at the reception counter

Well, it was too late to turn back now, I would just pick it up later.

I rushed into room 16, totally frazzled and out of breath. My eyes widened slightly when I saw my mum lying on the hospital bed, her skin as white as a sheet and her eyes half open

She blinked in my direction and her eyes also widened "Camie, honey Is that you?"

Her sweet and soft voice that sounded so weak and frail clawed at my heart. My eyes welled up with tears as I forced my legs to take me to her

I reached for her hand and held it in mine as I peered down at her pale face

"Yes, momma. It's me, I came as soon as I heard. Momma are you okay? How are you feeling?" I asked her in a trembling voice and she tried to wave her hand dismissively but failed

"I'm fine, sweetie. They shouldn't have bothered you, I'm sure you were at work. I just got a little dizzy while I was doing my normal duties at the Cameron's because I didn't eat last night and this morning as well"

I gasped softly "What do you mean by that, momma? Why haven't you eaten since yesterday?"

She clicked her tongue "Because I just wasn't hungry, I had no appetite"

My brows furrowed and I leaned in closer to her "Was it dad? Did he do something again Did h-he...."

She cut me off by gently placing a finger on my lips "No Camie, it wasn't your dad. Nothing happened"

I pressed my lips together, not eager to believe her. She had always lied about my father not hitting her when I was younger and still living with them, though I understood that it was probably because she was trying to protect me then but now I was an adult and she didn't need to hide such things from me

"Momma, are you telling me the truth?" I asked her in a low voice while staring into her light green eyes that were so similar to mine

She stared back up at me "Yes, I'm telling you the truth sweetie"

I heaved a sigh and relaxed my tense form, deciding to believe her

A soft knock came from behind us and I turned to see a young man dressed in a long, white coat

He walked further into the room "Sorry to interrupt but I'd like to speak to you in private, Miss Camilla"

I arched a brow at him "Are you a doctor?"

He smiled slightly "Yes I am, if you would please follow me to my office so we can talk and give your mother time to rest up"

I sighed "Alright then, let's go" I turned to my mum who looked like she was fighting to keep her eyes open "Get some sleep, momma. I'll see you later"

*****

I followed the young doctor into his office and he offered me a seat in front of his desk which I gratefully sank onto, feeling totally worn out

I laughed breezily when I saw him watching me "Sorry, I know I look like a mess but today has been a really bad day for me so far"

He smiled sadly as he rested his arms on his desk "I'm afraid the news I have is about to make your day a lot more worse but I'll just say it"

I scoffed and opened my mouth to ask him what he meant when the next words he said made the air catch in my throat

"Your mother is sick, and it's cancer"