CHAPTER THREE

CARTER'S POV

As usual, I knew I was going home to some peace and tranquillity, but this time around, I was wrong. 

I got to my room, undressed and went under the shower. I was still bathing when I heard someone scream. At first I thought it just was my mind, so I continued bathing. It wasn't up to 30 seconds when I heard another scream, accompanied by loud sniffles.

I jumped out of the bath tub immediately and made for my bathrobe which was hung on the door of the bathroom. I wore it and ran out of my room as the wailing became louder, which helped me locate the source. Camilla's Room.

My heart thumped really fast. I hope she hadn't injured herself. On getting to her room, I opened it without knocking, and what I saw shocked me. I saw a Brunette lying face flat on the floor, crying so painfully that her whole body vibrated as she wailed.

I didn't know why, but I felt so sorry for her. Whatever might have been the reason for such sorrow must have been so serious. She was still oblivious to my presence until I touched her shoulders which made her flinch and quickly turned to see who the intruder was.

She was beautiful even in sadness. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her whole face looked swollen. 

"Who are you?" She asked with her cracked voice.

"Who I am isn't so important at the moment. What's important is why you're so sad" I really don't know why but I felt so sad for her.

After a long while of silence, and her looking at every other place but my face, she exhaled deeply and finally said a word

"I lost my Dad"

"Oh my!" I exclaimed. I definitely didn't see that part coming. "I'm sorry. So sorry for your loss. When was this?"

"This afternoon" She replied,

"This afternoon? How come I didn't hear anything about it?" She gave me an interrogating look. "Yeah. Just incase you are thinking, I'm McCarter Spencer" Her breathe hitched immediately. 

"You're ......" she tried talking but I interrupted.

"That asides. So you've been crying since afternoon?"

She said nothing, which I took as a 'Yes'. Then I did something I never knew I would have done.

"I look pretty messed up too, you know. Had to jump out of shower because there was a damsel in distress" I felt good when she chuckled. 

"So my dear Mila, go in and have a bath, and wash off this sad face. I'd also go finish up my business okay?" I pointed at my partly foamy body. "Then I would prepare something for us to eat. I very well know you haven't had anything to eat since today." She nodded and stood up from the floor where she previously sat.

"I'll just quickly have my bath." she calmly stated, and I took that as my cue to leave

"Alright then"

I went over to my room, cleaned myself up and went to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and quickly scanned through, looking for something I could quickly prepare and then voila! I saw eggs. I quickly made scrambled eggs and toasted some slices of bread.

As soon as I was done setting the table, she walked in, looking less sorrowful and more presentable. I took note of her pale skin and a few beauty spots on her face. She just stood, looking neutral. 

"Well don't just stand there. Come over and have a seat" 

She nodded which made me wonder how much longer she was going to keep nodding to every single thing I said. She slowly made her way to the table and sat down on the seat next to mine. Honestly, she wasn't acting the way I had imagined her to be. I imagined an unnecessarily noisy spoilt teen, but on the contrary, this one was way reserved. Or maybe her father's death was probably taking a huge toll on her.

Not to sound uncaring or heartless, but her father's death was expected. The old man had been bedridden for 5 years and there was no improvement. Honestly I knew he wasn't going to make it, but just didn't know the exact time he was going to die.

8 years ago, my father, the previous CEO of Spencer Conglomerate had been proposing a merger deal with Mr Edwards, when his company started failing. It collapsed completely when he became bedridden, a year after. 

2 years down the line, I graduated from college and took over all of my father's businesses and investments. I followed up the merger proposal, which Mr Edward refused a lot of times, but finally agreed this time around, with such a preposterous condition, which my father didn't mind at all and it was no surprise to me.

I looked towards the lady by my side, who hadn't touched her meal yet. I looked between her and her plate and gave her a questioning look.

"I should eat?"

"Are you really asking?" I chuckled in utter surprise.

"Oh? sorry" she said, to my surprise. Was this girl really so.... arrrgghh! What was the right word? Unnecessarily nice? No, 'nice' wasn't the right word. Errrrm....never mind.

She put a slice of bread into her mouth and took a bite, and unconsciously moaned, which made me smile. She went ahead to take some eggs into her mouth, and smiled.

"Let me guess, you had been so busy crying, that you forgot to eat something since Noon?" I asked, to which she nodded.

"Look, I am sincerely sorry for your loss. But the earlier you come to terms with the fact that you wouldn't be seeing your father again, the easier for you to heal. I know your heart is broken because he's the only blood related family you have, but you'll be fine on the long run" 

"He's not the only one I have" She said, and it made me confused.

"Who?" I enquired.

"My Father. He's not the only one I have. I have an Uncle. My mum's Older brother. Uncle Matthew. But he lives in Italy" She calmly replied as she picked some pieces of eggs with her fork.

"Ohh I see. That's a relief. We can always locate him once you're ready.

"Yes. Thank you" 

"For?"

"For being a shoulder to cry on. I'm grateful"

"Oh?! It's the best I can do. You're welcome."

After we were done eating, she took out the dishes, while I cleaned the table.

"Goodnight" she said, almost inaudibly.

"Yeah, sleep well and don't cry anymore" I said. She forced a smile and walked out of the dinning room, headed upstairs to her bedroom.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

MILA'S POV

He had asked me not to cry anymore and I had smiled, hoping not to, but the moment I got to my room, I looked around the room. There's was only one person in it, and that was me. In a matter of seconds, I felt the loneliness creep in and I realized once more, that my Dad was dead. I couldn't control the tears that came flowing out of my eyes. I quickly laid on top of my bed and muffled my sniffles with my pillow. I didn't even know when I slept off, still in tears.

For 2 weeks, I repeated the routine of waking, eating, crying and then sleeping off. And unfortunately for me, Carter never asked of me or came to see me after the first time we spoke. 

Yesterday night, I cried, and then at some point I cleaned my eyes, telling myself it was enough. I looked at myself in the mirror, and I noticed how much I had emaciated. I looked really thin, with sunken eyelids and very visible eye bags. I could clearly see the depression in my clavicle, it could hold some amount of liquid. 

Today, I told myself that I had mourned enough. I went into the bathroom, soaked my self in the bath tub filled with warm water. I stayed in for a while, before I came out and scanned through my wardrobe for a nice dress to wear for a walk. I finally picked out a yellow sundress which matched perfectly with my coffee brown hair and Black orbs. 

I took my hand bag, the little cash I had on me, and my Sunglasses. I walked down the staircase to be greeted by Miss Felicity.

"Good morning Madam" 

"Good morning Felicity!" I grinned, and she looked at me weirdly.

"Any problems?" I queried and looked at my dress "is something wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"No Madam. You just....you seem so bright and in a good mood today" She said, smiling this time.

"I can't be sorrowful for the rest of my life now, can I?"

"Definitely not Ma"

"Good" I smiled. I'll be out for a walk. The sun is perfect for that today. She nodded, then I walked out of the house.

It was already 5pm in the evening, and I real enjoyed my self and my own company. I honestly haven't had a good alone time for a long while now. It felt wonderful and peaceful.

I walked into the gate and looked up at the mansion which towered above me. Carter's home was really beautiful, I must say. I walked to the door and twisted the door knob open, and there was Carter in the sitting room, going through his tabloid and munching on some chips as well.

He looked up and saw me. 

"I had been trying to reach you. You got me worried"

I paused for a while. Was this dude seriously saying I got him worried? Wasn't he the person who made me feel all better, and disappeared for the past two weeks. He never even bothered to come to my room say 'hi'. So much for being worried! I hissed subconsciously.

"I went for a stroll....and I lost track of time. I'm sorry" 

"Hmmm" he exhaled "Thank God you're fine. I haven't been around, I had a business trip, and it was quite urgent, so I wasn't able to let you know before leaving. How are you?"

I smiled inwardly. A little part of me was happy that he actually cared. 

"I'm fine. Feeling a whole lot better. How was your trip?"

"My trip was fine. It was more of a business conference. Made new business associates and strengthened bonds with my previous clients"

"Sounds like fun" I said.

"If this sounds like fun to you, then you must have been really bored here"

"You don't know half of it!" I chuckled. But I am better of here than at Claudia's place, I thought.

"Well, I'm sure you haven't been everywhere in New York City. Would you love to eat out?"

"Yeah?!" I said rather too excited.

"Wow! Excited much?" He laughed. "I'll just shower and get dressed" 

"Yeah, me too" I smiled running or practically flying up the stairs. When I got to my room, I chided myself for feeling so free around this guy who was pretty much still a stranger to me. 

I was already sitted on one of the Sofas, patiently waiting for Carter, while I watched Tv, half interested in whatever they were talking about.

"Tell me you haven't been here waiting?" 

Carter said as he came down the stairs. Honest I didn't know why I was so comfortable around someone I really detested a few weeks ago. 

"I have" I muttered.

"Sorry to have kept you waiting. You should have come knocking on the door of my room"

"I...I really don't know your room."

"Oh really?"

"Hmm" I nodded a 'yes'

"Alright then, let's go" I walked to the door, and he followed behind.

The Chauffeur was already waiting for us outside. He opened the door for me and closed it behind me, then walked over to the other side of the car and got in. 

"Manuel, Grape view"

"Yes Sir"

We drove for 25 minutes before getting to a 3 storey building with 'GRAPE VIEW' boldly written on it. We alighted the car while Manuel drove to the parking lot.

Carter and I walked into the restaurant and it was so beautiful.

"Beautiful!" I whispered to myself, but didn't notice he heard me.

"You think it is?" He asked.

"Yeah sure" He grinned widely.

"Good evening Sir!" 

"Good evening to you too Arla. How's it going?"

"Fine sir" She smiled so wide I thought her lips were going to tear. Carter suddenly put his hands on the small of my back and led me to the elevator on the ground flow. I could swear I heard more than a thousand 'good evening sir' from the waiters and waitresses who saw him.

We got into the elevator and stopped at the last floor. He lead me through a few passageways until we got to the rooftop. I saw the table and two chairs already set. I looked down and got a beautiful view of NewYork. The beautiful lights, busy roads and busy people. 

We made our orders and the meals where served. We had random conversations as we ate, and slowly I felt more comfortable around him. When we were done with our meal, we discussed more.

"This is beautiful. You made a nice reservation I see, because high class restaurants such as this, would take a whole lot to reserve such a wonderful spot. I can see you are one of the most valued customers they have here. They way all the workers welcomed you" I said.

"Well, I really takes a lot to reserve this kinds of spot here, but I didn't reserve it. And about the way I was welcomed, I think that should be the normal way Employees welcome their Employer."

"Oh my!! You own this place?"

"Yes, I own this place and lots more"

"That's really nice"

"Hmmm" He nodded in agreement.

"I don't mean to pry, but what do you stand to gain from buying over my father's company? Like you are very rich already, and my father's company is really failing. You stand to gain nothing"

"I actually stand to gain something on the long run. It may not be immediately, but that's what investments are all about "

"Wowww.....so I'm like a pawn in your game of chess" I replied, a bit offended.

"It's quite funny you'd say that because I thought...." He started but I cut him off before he could finish. 

"Look it's okay. It's totally fine. I don't think we are both ready to have that conversation" I said.

********************************************

CARTER'S POV

Dinner was going really smoothly so far. I saw myself feeling relaxed around her. She was able to understand and had an in-depth understanding of most discussions we had. I couldn't even believe I was going to survive an hour with her, but 3 hours had gone and we were still talking.

Then she asked about the business deal and I became confused. She acted like this whole marriage thing hadn't been what she had always wanted. I almost confronted her with questions, but thank God she cut me off. This honestly wasn't the right time. 

"Could we getting going now? I feel tired." 

Deep down, I knew she wasn't tired, she felt bad. That was what made me confused. Thinking of herself as a pawn in our game? Something was definitely not right and I was going to get to the root of it.

"Yeah sure" We both stood from our seats and made our way to the elevator. 

The ride back home was silent for a while before she broke it.

"So are you the only one managing all your businesses, because from our discussion, you have quite a lot." I managed a smile when she asked me that.

"Yes, for now. Once my younger brother, Smith graduates from college, he'll take over some of the businesses"

"Sounds like a nice plan" she muttered.

"It definitely is" I muttered too, and we both burst out laughing. Our ride home turned out being not so bad.