บท 17: Chapter Seventeen
Carmen's POV:)
Today I was meeting Michael's dad and I was a nervous wreck. I was utterly devastated by my plight now. I was caught in Charles trap and I wondered how long he'd had me in mind for this plan of his. I'm suspecting he staged my arrest too to pin me down. Now I had to dance to his tunes no matter how bad it was cause I could never ruin my own sisters life.
"If the plan doesn't go well and you make my uncle suspect you in the slightest I'm gonna sell your sister far away where you'll never find her"
Michael came to pick me that afternoon by two o'clock and we drove to his father's house. It was a long drive of silence which was hardly noticed as I turned the music of his car loudly and insisted we open the windows. I put my hand out to feel the wind and he stared at me once in a while.
He turned of the music and I sharply turned at him withdrawing my hand and he wind up the window.
"Let's get our story straight"
I pay attention to what he's saying.
"If dad asks how we met just say we met at some seminar"
"Okay!"
"Just okay won't you spice it up a bit"
"I can't contradict the plan you have in mind " I said.
"Alright. Are you feeling okay ?"
"Yeah I'm alright"
I wanted to crawl into a hole and just cry to sleep.
We got to the house and it was a mansion surrounded by greens and there was a sparkling green lake by the side. This place felt so cozy. Who would be stressed out staying here.
Michael led me into the house and it was beautifully furnished and his dad must be a fan of paintings as fine art works graced the walls. Staring at the paintings I could tell each painting had a deep meaning to it. There was one of a girl with haunting eyes and her head bent to the side. Ah eloped so soulless but yet her eyes felt real and as I walked past and turned the eyes were still staring. We past the parlor which was lovely with antique tables and sofas. This house would surely cost a fortune.
We went to the parlor upstairs and his father was there seated on a rocking chair with his glasses on. A machine bag linking his chest was next to him and his breathing was audible. He was drifting off to sleep but drifted back awake when he noticed our presence.
His eyes blinked and he had big eyes so I was a bit shaken and he pierced me a menacing glare. He had that domineering vibe and together with his machine stuff next to him, I felt could transform to a machine gun and he will shoot me down at any moment but then he smiled which was really spooky and I nervously smiled back.
"Relax !" Jenkins said seeing how tensed I was. " Come in" all the while I stood staring, Michael was looking at him and when I looked up at him he smirked.
Charles never told me about the machine and I don't even know what it was for. It could be an air filterer right cause rich people like those. Michael also didn't tell me about it.
"Yeah" I said. I can't ruin this first meeting. I can't give him a bad impression of me. Someone's future was at stake now. I entered the parlor with Michael and we sat on the sofa next to him. Michael had me take the seat at the closer edge to his father. What if this man detects that I'm a scammer and they bury me here, where nobody but Charles and Mark know I am. I was risking my life here and my body began to shake.
"What would you like to eat ?" Jenkins asked looking me in the eye, I'm sure he's watching my every move.
Actress mode please turn on.
"Anything is okay for me " I replied gathering courage.
"Camila calm down" Michael patted my laps and I looked up at him and I actually calmed dow. I drew strength from him and the nervousness slowly died down.
"Michael excuse us I'd love to have a chat with her" Jenkins said and my fear heightened.
"Oh...ok" Michael said glancing at me with a smile and exited the room.
My eyes pleaded with him and his twitched back that it would be okay. He left the room and my eyes averted back to his dad.
"What's your name ?"
"Uhm...I'm Car...Camila Rodrigo...nice to meet you" I startled almost revealing my real name.
"I'm James Jenkins...his dad...don't let my appearance scare you that is if you have no secret to hide " he smiled.
Secret !
"Yeah.." I chuckled staring at the bag.
"Does my heart bag give you discomfort?" He observed.
"No sir It's just catchy and my eyes keep drifting off to it" I said. Oh it was an heart bag, thank God I didn't bluff out about it being an air purifier.
"Yeah that's how it is and I like your honesty. The fact that you're not totally ignoring it like other people try to do is really cool"
I nodded
"What does your father do ?"he asked. The interrogation has begun.
"He has a factory that makes furnitures" i respond.
"Oh an industrialist...that's good" he said, looking impressed.
"And your mom ?"
"She's an housewife "
"Hmmm...do you plan to be like her ?"
"Not really...I'll work for a while and then focus on having a child "
"Okay why not make a baby first then work ?"
"That order sounds nice too"
"Yeah so how did you meet my son ?"
"We met on a cruise ship a month ago " I was about blurting out like the fool I was then I recalled the story Michael told me earlier on. This man was putting me under tension right now.
"We met two years ago at a seminar and we clicked from there and started dating"
"The way you said that in a rush felt like you were reading from a script" he said and my eyes had widened now with my heart in my ears thumping loudly.
My worst fear was being buried alive, will that happen today ?
"Oh you didn't get my joke" he chuckled.
I breathed and then I laughed.
"Didn't you find it hard dating a guy for two years without meeting his dad "
"I was cool with the casual relationship " I replied easing up.
"What work do you do ?"
"Hmm I work as my dad's secretary "
"Okay then that's good now why do you like my son ?"
"Dad come on your interrogation is too much" Michael said busting into the room and sitting next to me.
"I want to get to know her better ?" His dad replied.
"He has a good heart despite the playboy life style he's showcasing. A rich guy like him still dines at a bed and breakfast despite being capable of renting out a five star restaurant...he's cool" I said to his dad.
"Okay let's have dinner"
"Yeah"
The maids brought in the food which filled the entire table. There was grilled meat, tomato soup and salad. Then cake as dessert with sparkling red wine. The food looked so yummy but I had no appetite. Ever since yesterday I haven't been able to eat properly. I played with the food, took some sips of soup.
"Don't you like the food " Michael asked.
"Are you on a diet ?" Jenkins questioned.
"No I do like the food and I'm not on a diet, I've just had no appetite lately"
"Are you sick? " Michael asked.
"No.." It would be disrespectful to not eat on the first dinner date with his father. I forced myself to finish the soup and had a few bites of the steak. The wine easily slid down my throat and I craved more but I can't misinform his father that I was an alcohol lover which I wasn't. Circumstances just made me crave alcohol.
Jenkins retired for the night after the dinner and it was just me and Michael.
"What's up Camila ?" Michael asked and I could see worry drawn on his face.
"I'm good just have some lady problems "
"Oh okay. Should I take you home now ?...I mean the hotel" he said understanding what I said.
"Yeah sure"
We left the house and entered his car.
"Why don't you stay with your parents?" He asked during the drive.
"Being around them drains me emotionally and I don't want that. I'd rather be away"
"Oh but you know you could be a source of support to them" he said.
"I doubt that"
"Was you house ceased ?"
"Yeah"
"When do I get to meet them so I can start settling the debt "
"Tomorrow would be great"
"Okay that's cool. I'm so not used to seeing you this dull, hope you're better tomorrow "
"I hope too" I lay my head in the window watching the trees as we drove by. It was gonna be really late before I reach the hotel and I was sure I'd have to see a certain disgusting face when I got there.
Later on we got to the hotel and Michael escorted me in to the elevator.
"Should I join you up? I give good massages that can ease the pain"
A smile cracked on my lips...this guy just had his way with words.
"I'll thankfully decline"
I entered the elevator and reaching my floor the door was unlocked....
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