CHAPTER 7
Sean's gaze flicked to Camille who was still lost in thought oblivious to what's going on.
"I'm so sorry", Sean said, his voice low and urgent. "Camille, we need to go now."
Camille looked at him, confused. "What's wrong?"
He glanced at his watch realizing how late it was. "I should get you home," he said, and Camille nodded, still looking vulnerable.
Sean quickly paid the bill, and they hurried out of the bar, the man's eyes following them until they disappeared into the night.
As they walked away from the bar, Sean's arm protectively around Camille's shoulders, he knew they had to be careful.
He didn't know who the man was or what he wanted, but he wasn't going to take any chances. He quickened their pace, his eyes scanning the streets for any sign of danger.
His car was parked opposite the dark road they stood on, she was still staggering, trying her best to find her balance. He knew he couldn't leave her here to find a taxi.
"Which way is it to your house?" He asked.
"That..." she sighed again.
"I'm not sure about that." She tapped her forehead. "I have….kind of forgotten."
He smiled and shook his head. "I will take you home."
She corked her head instantly, "But…I don't know where-"
"I heard you for the first time, miss?"
"Camille, miss Camille." She blinked her eyes repeatedly.
He noticed and convinced himself that he made a good decision to stay with her on this lonely road. She was in her vulnerable state.
"Where are you taking me to since you don't know where I stay?"
"My house." He said, as he held her hands and crossed the road not caring of her resistance and squeaky disapproval she kept uttering.
He knew his grandmother would have gotten tired of staying up waiting for him to arrive home.
His eyes were fixed on the road and the young lady beside him. She had vehemently refused to enter his car and follow him to his house but here she was, snoring loudly due to the great intake of alcohol she had.
"You know you are lightheaded, and you kept drowning yourself in alcohol." He soliloquized, as he took another sharp turn that showed his mansion that wasn't within a far distance.
The man came out of his hiding watching Sean's car drive away. He made a short call afterwards and left.
***
Sean quietly drove inside his garage, packed his car at the first lane, and carried Camille in a princess lift. His footsteps resounded at every step he took on the Italian tiles. He cursed his shoes for not being silent.
"Master." A guard walked towards him as he saw Sean entering the house.
"When did grandma go to bed?"
"Two hours ago. She went to bed very angry after she got tired of waiting for you."
He sighed, straightening his back from the pain that shot through his arm. The guard noticed it but decided to ignore it, his master didn't like anyone meddling with his business.
"I didn't park the car well, do the needful and keep the keys with you. Don't bother coming to my room to return it." He said as he climbed the stairs that led to his room.
The guard hurriedly walked towards the garage with a smile plastered on his lips. His master hasn't brought a woman home for a long time. Even when he did, he didn't carry the woman like an egg. 'This will make Grandma happy when she sees her tomorrow'. He muttered as he parked the car inside the garage and buried the keys in his pocket.
Sean managed to open the door, he hissed out of pain when Camille moved under his arm. He had carried her for some time now. He strolled to his bed and laid her down.
"I hate you, Fred. Why did you have to leave me?" She cried in between her sleep.
Sean paused and wiped the little drop of tears from her face. "Who must've hurt you so much that you even hate him in your sleep, Miss Camille?"
She snored loudly which indicated she had slept off again. Sean shook his head and left the room.
"I wonder how grandma will react when she finds out I brought a woman home." He said as he strolled to the next room in his mansion.
Just as he turned to leave, Camille's phone rang, shattering the silence. He swiftly reached for it in her purse, his hand gripping it tightly. He picked up the call worried that it might be her family asking about her where about, "Hello?"
The deep, husky voice on the other end sent a shiver down Sean's spine. "Camille," it spoke, the single word reeking of uncomfortable closeness.
Sean's instincts kicked in, his mind racing with possibilities. "Who is this?" he asked, his thumb swiftly moving to turn on the call recording, his eyes narrowing with curiousity.
"That's not for you to know," the voice replied, its tone menacing, like a dark shadow looming over them, making Sean's grip on the phone tighten.
"I want four million dollars," the voice demanded, its words dripping with malice, leaving Sean stunned.
"Four million dollars! For what? Who the hell are you?" Sean's voice rose, his anger and concern for Camille simmering just below the surface, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for answers.
"If you don't send the money, don't blame me for what happens next," the voice threatened, its cold calculation sending a chill down Sean's spine, making him feel like he was walking on thin ice.
"What do you mean?" Sean asked, trying to sound confident.
"You see, Camille has something that belongs to me. And I'll stop at nothing to get it back."
"What do you mean?"
"Send the money in three days. Believe me, you don't want to know what happens next." The line went dead, the silence that followed heavy, like a weight pressing down on Sean's chest.
Sean stared at the phone, his mind racing with questions. Who was this person? And what did they want with Camille? He glanced at Camille, still fast asleep, her chest rising and falling with each gentle breath.
His thoughts were interrupted by the notification that popped up on the phone. A message had arrived. Sean's heart sank as he opened it, his eyes widening in shock. An image of him and Cassie in the bar, laughing and chatting, filled the screen. And a short video...of Cassie, drunk and stumbling out of the bar.