It's a deal

CAMILLA
~•~
I cleared my throat to interrupt him.
"Actually, you are wrong. I did get the message." I blurted out and his dark eyes narrowed on me.
"So, why are you here?"
Yes, why was I here?
I swallowed hard on my saliva, to dry my throat and calm my nerves.
It didn't work.
I heaved a sigh and began to speak.
"Please, I really need to see mister Ivan. It is important that I speak to him about something and I really need to…"
"What? You have gotten a taste of a millionaire and you cannot return back to the slums?" He cut in.
My eyes widened in that instant. Mister Italian was crossing all possible lines. But, I did deserve it for showing up unwanted and uninvited.
I shook my head, to shake off all the thoughts of pushing his old back against the wall and bursting into the house. Not completely, anyway. I kept that option incase things got out of hand.
"You do not understand. I really want to help him, I can help him."
"He doesn't need you help. Please, leave the promises miss Theodore, I would hate to call security on you."
I narrowed my eyes on the man.
So, this was how we wanted to play the game? He was not going to make things easy for me right? Very well then, it was time to take the bull, by the motherfucking horns.
I stepped away from the foot of door and held on to the railings of the small stairs. Then, I did the only thing that crossed my mind in that moment.
"Mister Holloway!" I screamed at the top of my voice. All my pent up frustration, all my anger, all my desperation, everything that I had in me displayed itself through the urgency of my voice.
I could feel the butler's eyes bore holes into my skin, but I paid him no mind.
"Miss Camilla…"
"Mister Holloway! I know you can hear me! Just give me a chance to speak to you, please!"
"Miss Camilla, I would suggest you get away this instant…"
"Mister Holloway! I won't take five minutes of your time, I swear! You just have to…"
"Miss Camilla!"
Above the both of us, the sound of window creaking open was heard. The next pair of eyes I gazed upon caused my knees to weaken.
Icy blue eyes stared down at me. Both of them had sleep bags underneath, and I could sight the sleep marks at the right side of his face, just above his dark blonde beards.
The butler also heard the window open. He stepped away from the door and pushed me to the side.
"I am very sorry mister Holloway. I tried to tell her to leave, but she…"
"Bring her in."
I loved the way he spoke. He did so as though he did not use any effort, yet, his voice was the most powerful and intimidating I had ever heard in my entire life.
It came with being rich, I guess.
The butler sent me a rock hard glare, before he stepped into the house. I did not need to be told, I followed him behind.
I kicked the door close behind me, and we walked further into the house. We approached a door, and the elderly man pushed it open and stepped into the room before I did.
I was welcomed by the therapeutic smell of fresh paper and congested books. Huge shelves stood at three corners of the four cornered room, leaving space for only the window. The room was at least twenty feet tall, and a chandelier hung from the center of the roof. In the middle of the room were three luxurious leather couches, stationed around an oddly shaped glass furniture.
"Have a seat. Mister Holloway would be down with you in a minute."
I did not need to look at the man again. I found my way to the chair and settled into it. Mister Holloway appeared from behind the butler before he had the chance to turn.
I rose up from my seat immediately. The scent of his rich Arabian cologne filled the room and overwhelmed my own senses.
What was it about this man that kept me on my ten toes.
I stared down at my feet. I was really standing on my toes!
"You have five minutes, your time starts now." He spoke calmly, as he stepped into the room. Clad in a black bathrobe, with pyjamas shorts underneath, the hair of his legs slipped gracefully against his skin. His disheveled hair only made him carelessly handsome. So intriguing without any effort.
I cleared my throat and began to speak.
"I have an offer."
He relaxed into the couch in front of me. He crossed his legs and placed both hands beside him as he corked his head to the left.
"What could you possibly have to offer me?"
"My services, for free." I spat out.
This time, his left brow popped up. I sighed and shook my head. Yes, I know how that sounded.
"For a month! I mean, give me a month. A chance to help you, for a month. In that month, you do not have to pay me…"
Somebody, stop me, please.
"... I would offer my services to you for free. But, you have to be willing to cooperate with me, cause that is the only way it would be fair. If I do not manage to help you in this one month, I would leave, and never return."
His eyes swept over my appearance. It was then I regretted dressing so casually. I knew I looked like a rag amongst his expensive furniture.
"And if you do?"
I heaved a sigh, before I spoke again.
"I would leave and never return as well."
An akward thirty seconds of silence followed. All I could hear was the sound of my heart beating against my chest, and the wailing of my thoughts.
Alas, he sat up straight, placed both legs on the ground and leaned back further into his seat.
"It's a deal."
My eyes brightened, and my heart soared with joy.
11
IVAN
~•~
"Mister Holloway!"
The voice not only rang an alarm in my ears, it slipped into my dream and interrupted my thoughts. The only place I could be with my daughter, Tina, was in my dreams. The voice had taken it away from me for today, and I hoped to the universe that it was for an important reason.
My eyes flew open on their own accord and I rose from my bed reluctantly as I strolled to my window.
"Mister Holloway! I know you can hear me! Please, I really need to speak with you!"
My eyes narrowed at nothing in particular. I did recognize that voice, even though I had heard it just once - yesterday. I sighed, shook my head and pushed my window blinds open. I peeked my head outside the window and found her there.
Her dark hair was wrapped in a messy bun above her head. Her slim legs clad with a tight pair of black jeans, and her lean shoulders were evident from the with long sleeve shirt she wore. Her eyes were already on me, it was impossible to pretend I didn't see her.
Who cares? I could always ask Antonio to call the security on her and send her out of my front porch, but I did not.
For some reason, I wanted to see her. And her resilience? It was interesting to watch.
"Bring her in." I said to Antonio, and turned my back away from her instantly. I retired into my room and sat back on my bed. I massaged my forehead with my lean fingers and looked up at my aquarium. My coloful fishes always gave me peace.
After some time, I rose up from my bed, threw on my bathrobe and walked out of my room. I knew she would be waiting for me in my study, that was the only place Antonio would ask her to wait. I found the door of my study open and I stepped into the room.
There she was, leaning against my couch.
My eyes landed on her and she rose up immediately.
"You have five minutes, your time starts now."
I relaxed into the couch in front of her and watched in silence as she uttered the most ridiculous thing I had ever heard from the mouth of a sane adult American.
SHE WANTED TO WORK FOR FREE!
First of all, I did feel insulted that she had thought it wise to use me as an an experiment. I did not know what she had in mind, but one thing was certain; this woman was crazy, and that was to say the least.