Chapter 6

• Lorenzo's POV.
• "Nothing much?" she said again with a quiet smile.
• I knew something was weird about that smile. So strange. So difficult to put together.
• She turned to me and pushed her hair behind her ear. "Would you mind, sir, if I send these medicines to a doctor friend of mine in the city?" Her voice was soft and careful.
• I made a confused face. "Why?"
• She smiled again. Her eyes looked calm. "Just to make sure your mother has the right medicines. Sometimes the problem is the body, sometimes it's what we give the body, you know?"
• My chest felt tight. "Do you think someone has been poisoning her?"
• "I didn't say that," Amara said quickly. "But it's better to be sure. It could be her body fighting sickness, or maybe a bad reaction to the medicines. It won't hurt to check."
• She paused and then said, " I won't push it, if you do not want me too."
• Before I could say anything, high heels clicked across the floor like gunshots.
• "I'm back, babe!" Camilla's loud voice crashed into the room like a storm.
• I hated when she called me that. "Babe."
• I had told her a thousand times not to. She never listened. Camilla has a way of painting everything to make the world know we are having something serious.
• Not now. I wouldn't deal with her drama, not when my mother was still sick in bed.
• Camilla came in like she owned the place. She always did. Her smile looked fake. Her eyes looked around the room like a bird hunting for food. She moved toward me, trying to kiss me. I gently pushed her back. She made an angry sound and turned toward Amara.
• “Camilla.” I let out trying to conceive as much as possible how angry I am. “How many times have I warned you not to wear this …” I pointed to her heels while still maintaining my composure on the phone.
• "Oh, my bad." She pretended to gasp and rolled her eyes. Then she stared hard at Amara. "Who's this?"
• I didn't look up from my phone. "Who?"
• "This thing," she said. Her voice sounded mean and nasty.
• I looked up and met Amara's eyes. She quickly turned back to my mother, pretending not to hear.
• "She's not a thing, Camilla," I said firmly. "She's taking care of my mother."
• Camilla's lips twisted up like she tasted something bad. "Whatever. I'll be waiting in your bedroom."
• "Mine? What for?" I asked. My voice was sharp.
• She crossed her arms. "Are you kicking me out?"
• "Camilla," I growled, "go wait in your room. I'll come."
• She didn't move right away. Instead, she walked over to Amara and leaned in close. She whispered something mean in her ear.
• "I know that you are fucking him, but I promise you won't enjoy your stay. So welcome to hell."
• "Camilla!" I yelled. "Get out of here before I lose my patience."
• "Sorry, Boss Lorenzo," she said in a mocking way.
• Finally she left.
• I could hear the sound of her heels disappearing as walked out of the room.
• Amara stood like a statue.
• Her lips were pressed tight against each other.
• Her eyes were laced with tears. I knew she was close to shedding one.
• “Sh…” I moved close to her and patted her on her back. “She can be that naughty sometimes. Don't pay attention to her charade.”
• Her eyes met mine. There were tears there that she was trying not to let fall. Damn. Her silence said more than words ever could.
• I watched as she carefully emptied some medicine capsules into a clear plastic bag. She handed it to a maid. Then she sat quietly by my mother again, like nothing had happened.
• Few hours later.
• I walked into my room.
• The lights were off, but soft candles lit up the corners. The air smelled like vanilla. Water was running in the bathroom.
• I turned on the wall light.
• Camilla stood in the middle of the room - with no clothes on. Her underwear, toys, and everything else she used to control me were scattered around like decorations for a twisted party.
• She came toward me, slow and trying to be sexy. Her fingers reached for my tie, touching it down to the knot.
• "What do you want now?" I asked. I was tired.
• "Shh..." she whispered, putting a finger on my lips. "Daddy, I need you tonight. I miss you."
• She quickly rushed to like a prize to be won.
• Shirt ripped off. She pushed me against the wall.
• Her well manicured fingers slid down my chest to my belt.
• My breath momentarily seized.
• Thankfully, I caught her mid-way before she could go further. I am not in the mood for this.
• "You think I care about sex right now? When my mother is lying there, sick?" I snapped.
• I pushed her gently to the side and walked toward the door.
• "oh! I see” Camilla replied with a low tone mixed with anger, “you think I care less about your sick mother?"
• At this point I was tired. I was tired of exchanging words with Camilla.
• All I wanted for her to stop this sexual charade. To let me be.
• "What do you want? Money? Cars? Vacation in Dubai?" I turned around and stared at her hard.
• She grabbed my arm before I could leave. I sighed and pulled out a cigarette from my pocket. She lit it for me. Smoke went up around us.
• Then she dropped the big news.
• "I'm pregnant."
• I froze.
• "What did you just say?"
• "We're having a baby," she said. Her voice was quieter now. But I saw her watching me, reading my face. She knew it wasn't going to go the way she wanted.
• I bursted into laughter. A deep, bitter one. It enveloped everything in the room.
• “We?”
• "Common Camilla! You must be kidding."
• Camilla's mouth fell open.
• "What?" Slipped out from her lips.
• "I never told you I wanted a baby!" I snapped.
• Silence filled in the room like heavy fog.
• "You and I know where we stand," I said. My voice was low now. "You're here for fun. Nothing more."
• Her face twisted up. She was sweating. The veins in her neck were popping out. She was breathing hard. Angry. Broken.
• "Lorenzo..."
• "Don't interrupt me," I barked. "This was always a business deal. That's why I always pay you handsomely for a job well done."
• What about the rift?” I asked
• “What rift?”
• “Don't pretend that you and my mother are best friends?”
• You and I know her stance concerning her choice of woman for me, if one day it clicks into my head to settle down.”
• “Oh! There we go again.” Camilla clapped back with tears rolling down her cheek.
• Never will I be emotionally driven by that.
• "You're acting this way because of that thing!" Camilla cried, pointing toward the door.
• "Don't you dare talk about her like that!" I exploded. "She deserves more respect than you ever showed anyone."
• "Oh, I see now," she whispered. "It's true."
• She started picking her clothes off the floor, talking to herself.
• "I heard the rumors... that you've been sleeping with her."
• I laughed again. "So now you believe gossip?"
• "You've been having sex with her, haven't you?!"
• I clapped my hands slowly. "Good job. Even if I was, it's none of your business. I earned my choices."
• Then I turned to leave. Her words stopped me.
• "You've got spies in this house telling you lies?" I growled. "I promise to find them and deal with every single one the right way."
• Camilla fell to the floor, crying harder now. Screaming. She looked like a woman who had lost everything.
• "Is this how you want it to end?" she asked. Her voice was cracked and broken.
• I opened the door. My hand was on the handle.
• "Get rid of that thing," I said coldly. "I'm not part of it."
• I slammed the door behind me.