Chapter Eight

He locked his eyes with mine, seconds passed. I could hear his heavy and deep breathing.
"Tell me, what do you want?" I didn't know where I had gathered such boldness from, but I wasn't scared of him anymore. I just wanted to pounce on him, and tear him to shreds. Maybe that would make me forgive him.
"Cammie, my dear." His voice went from threatening to sweet. "Don't be upset about everything that has been happening, I am sorry about everything." He paused, moved a few inches closer to me, and then spoke on. "I know you wouldn't get it, but I love you. I crave for you alone, Camilla. It's not legal, but I'm attracted to no other woman like I'm attracted to you." He grew sober. By now, he was already standing next to my bed. Slowly, he lowered his butt to the bed, just like he used to whenever he wanted to have an affair with me. No sooner had he sat down, I stood and made for the door.
I expected him to shoot me, or use the knife on me. I expected him to create a scene before letting me go, but he did nothing. He sat on the bed and begged.
"Please don't go, baby. I'm sorry I had to force you to do any of this, when you didn't want to." I hissed. What was he apologizing for?
The deed had already been done. I rolled my eyes at him, and spat on the floor of the hotel. "What do you want now?"
He stared at me calmly, I could spot the lustful glare in his eyes. "I want you to come back home, I miss you. I miss your smile, I miss your hugs, I miss your voice, I miss deep kissing you, I miss caressing you, I miss rocking you, I miss everything."
"How do you even feel saying all of this to your daughter?" I couldn't help it, I spat again. But this time, it was meant for his face. I missed his face, but it landed on his polo shirt. "You disgust me."
"I know I do, Cammie. I deserve anything you say to me, I earned it. But the truth is that I still can't stop thinking about you. Images of you have been playing in my head, thoughts of how I ruined your birthday, the good times we had."
What was he calling good times? I stood at the door, his lips moved on, showcasing his oratory skills. Well, that would work on someone who doesn't know him as well as I do. He would do anything to get what he wants, but that doesn't make him a good person, he was far from one. He just had the ability to make ear pleasing speeches.
I gritted in irritation. "How did you get in here?" I finally asked to satisfy my curiosity.
"Not necessary information." He smirked. "What matters is that you agree to come with me. Didn't you notice that I didn't block you from having access to my credit card, isn't that proof of how much I love you?" I nodded my head in disapproval. There's more to love than material affections.
"If that is what you call love, Pedro… Then I don't need your love. Keep your fucking love to yourself! Use it, enjoy it, I don't need it!"
I opened the door, ready to leave, when I finally added. "Why would you tell your friend Peter Mack about my pathetic life?" I said this with tears choking me.
My father's eyes widened for a few seconds, his face had a blank expression on it. "Peter Mack?" He finally asked.
"Yes, your creepy friend with blonde beards. He came for his share of the national cake. Don't act dumb with me, Pedro. You know what I'm saying."
"I still don't get what you are saying. Camilla, I swear, I don't know what you are saying." My father looked excessively surprised.
"Stop pretending, stop lying, stop living a fake life." I threw my hands up in frustration.
I had been trying to suppress the tears all along, but at this point, it was impossible. "Just stop it! You are a demon. You told Peter Mack how you used to exploit me, right? Well, guess what? He came to do the same too. Barely two hours ago, he was at the reception. Told everyone he was my father, lied to me, and lured me away. Thank you so much for everything dad." I said the word "dad" with so much sarcasm, it was impossible for him not to get it. My voice was beginning to wear out.
"It's not what you think Cammie." I walked out of the door, and shut it behind me. I didn't want to hear what it was, he was nothing but a pedophile, and to make it more gross, it was with his only child. I was out of the room, yet to understand how he got into my hotel room.
I walked down the stairs, my hips swinging swiftly.
I ambled to the poolside, with no idea of what I was going to do next. It was insane leaving the hotel, which was the only place that was close to safe in the entire city. My hotel room was no longer safe either. My monster of a father could come back whenever he wanted, and he could do whatever he wanted. Infact, he was up there right now, doing what he wanted. I sighed. I was using my feet to displace the water, and at intervals, I threw pebbles into it.
A voice interrupted me. "Cute girl, what are you doing by the poolside all by yourself?" I looked up, and my eyes met with a lanky boy with hair that reminded me of my father. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Darling, I'm speaking to you." He said again, when it was obvious I wasn't planning to respond. I acted oblivious of the fact that he was with me, and threw another pebble into the water.
"It's not safe here. Leave before they get here." He walked down on his path, after he said that, not pausing to say goodbye.
"What do you mean I should leave before they get here?" I finally spoke to him. But he didn't stop. He paddled along the path that led to what seemed like a garden.
I got out of the water, and cleaned my feet with a towel that was by the poolside. My dress was wet, although I didn't get into the water. The pebbles that I was throwing into the water kept splashing water on me.
"Lanky boy!" I called out, he kept walking. I jugged ahead, I was trying to catch up with him. But his legs were faster than mine. A sharp bend was ahead, and he cornered into it. I hastened my steps, and tried to catch up, but I couldn't. He had disappeared.
I was panting, and breathing so heavily. My heart beat was really fast too. He had vanished before my naked eyes, and it was almost like he was never there.
Slowly, I traced my steps back to the poolside. The distance seemed farther than it did, when I was coming. The walk back was like going up a hill.
I arrived at the pool twenty minutes later, and I couldn't believe what I saw.