As Frank and I continued to eat, I waited patiently for him to ask about my make-up and outfit but he didn't. I also didn't say anything to him about it. He tried as much as he could NOT to maintain stable eye contact with me the moment we began eating. It was more like, he was trying to resist the urge to look at me. I wasn't really sure though, but I could tell he didn't want to look at me for a reason. Silence crept upon us for a while, I didn't say anything to him and he also didn't say anything to me. We kept anything quietly with series of thoughts pacing 'round my mind. Mam Camila talked about allowing a true lover to touch one before marriage, that if he was good he wouldn't try anything rash. He would maintain his limit and not deflower his woman. Well, I was beginning to think she was really right the fact that Frank... after acknowledging my beauty tried as much as he could to avoid looking at me. That way, the urge or desire to make love to me won't settle in his mind.
Suddenly, Mam Camila came in with the jewelries that was found at the basement in the morning. She quickly showed them to Frank and told him to pardon her for interrupting his meal. However, he didn't seem to worry. He told her it was fine and then went through the jewelries. By reading his expression, I could tell he didn't know anything about the jewelries. We had initially thought he might have idea where it came from or if he had seen any of his parents with such kinds of jewelries.
Thus, I told him the jewelries looked exactly like the ones that Jessica and her friends messed with at that jewelry store, and that Jessica acknowledged it too and even encouraged us to involve the Cornfield Sheriff department as they were the ones that handled the case. "Jessica was here the one that came with you, right?" he wrinkled a brow at me, and I nodded my head at him in acknowledgement.
The way he asked the question, it was as if someone told him I came with someone. Was it the head of the security guards? Well, I had while on my way into the dining room saw both he and the gallant man discussing. He must have been the one that told him I came with Jessica, and he must have told him that because he caught Jessica taking pictures.
"Yes, she was the one. But she left earlier" I responded to Frank's question.
If only she was around to answer for herself. That girl would definitely be the end of whoever cared about her tremendously as she would always do things in order to get herself into trouble. She wouldn't mind about herself though, she would leave you as the person that cared for her to be the one worrying. That was one of the things I hated about her and would always hate no matter what. She had no regards for people's feelings about her.
"Okay" he said and heaved a sigh. "Return it ti the basement where you found it," he gave Mam Camila back the jewelries, "we don't know who kept it there but we will find out. I will message the head of the security guard about it, he will know the kind of trap to make. However, nobody should alert the police yet until we are certain what we are dealing with. I don't want them to come and start probing and interrogating the people here, when we also have security officials that can do that" he added.
"Okay, young master" Mam Camila gathered the jewelries and then turned to leave, but then he stopped her by calling her name. "Yes, young master!" she responded as she turned back to him. "Is there anything you would like me to do for you, sir?" she politely asked.
"Yes, please, sit" he said to my utmost surprise. Mam Camila was surprised too judging from her expression. "Sit please" he repeated, pointing at a chair which was three chairs away from me in my direction, as well as three chairs away from his in his direction. Perhaps he had something important to tell, otherwise I doubt if he would ever share a table with her even though she was a senior servant and the head of all the servants of the house. But what exactly did he wanted to talk to her about? Was it that he had more to add to the jewelry case or he knew something and would like to share with her. Something like HER being my step grandmother, or perhaps related to his parents, or the house in general.
"Okay, young master" Mam Camila said as she gently pushed the chair he pointed for her to sit and then sat on it while lowering her head. She looked shy being in the presence of Frank, I thought I was the only one that was shy.
Although we were both shy for a different reasons. I was shy because there was a strong feelings, or should I say bond between us. And because I felt a little bit exposed with my new outfit and the heavy make-up that was applied on my face which was practically a new thing to me. Mam Camila on the other hand was obviously shy because she wasn't used to sitting with the Walters Family in the dining table...
Or perhaps she had a hint about what he was trying to talk to her about. But whatever the case might be, I would have to hear what he had to say first in order to determine what exactly was the reason behind her shyness. And after the whole thing, I would like to break the news to him. The news about Mam Camila whom you knew long before me, that she was my step grandmother.
"I know you would be wondering why I told you to sit down, and I also know you don't like sitting down in the dining table when my parents ask you to..." Frank's words made me to glance at him, so it was Mam Camila who didn't like sitting in the dining table when told to? I really thought it was Mr and Mrs Walters that didn't want to share the table with her since, after all she was just a servant to them regardless of her age. Anyways, now my question had been answered. "...I am also surprised that you obeyed me and sat there, but I believe in my parents were to be around you wouldn't want to" he added, making her to smile. She didn't say anything though. It was obvious she was speechless. "Well, I called you here to offer you a deal" he apprised her.
"What deal, young master?" she asked, surprised. I also didn't know the deal he was talking about and would like to exactly what the deal was all about. I just prayed and hoped it was something she could do without any drawbacks, I didn't want to see her suffering... you know. I really didn't!
"It's about your retirement letter, the one you wrote my mother few months back" he said as he gently wiped his mouth with a napkin. Retirement letter? Was Mam Camila try to retire or something? I wondered. Judging from his words, the letter wasn't of recent. But what could be the reason behind it? Why would she want to retire from such a nice work for a person her age? She didn't even need to work, all she needed to do was to monitor the other servants and to serve as their ambassador or representative to the Walters Family.
She had a wonderful room that, even though wasn't as huge and amazing like other executive rooms owned by the Walters Family, it was still more appealing than any other room in Aunt Vicky's house. She was also being paid enough money, what was she even doing with her money when the Walters Family were the ones taking care of almost all her personal needs. When she's sick, she's treated for free by the family doctor. When she needs food, food is always available. When she wants clothes or anything pertaining to personal belongings, there was an allowance for that. Why then was shy trying to quit her job? I couldn't just understand the point at all.
And for the first time, I was disappointed after Frank's arrival. I had been happy since, enjoying dinner with him but now I felt sour in my mouth and lost my apatite instantly. Hopefully, the Walters Family would not consider her resignation letter. They truly loved her around, and it was obvious. That was why even after submitting her resignation letter for a month, they were still considering striking deals with her instead of accepting her resignation. They were really nice people.
"Oh, that?" Mam Camila smiled, talking about the retirement letter she wrote. If only I could convince her to change her mind, at least the Walters Family are trying all their best to make her happy, same goes to other workers too. They were all being taken care of exceptionally.
"Yes, Camila. I would like you to work for one more or two. Your salary will be increased and you will be taken cared of more than you are being taken cared of right now" he said, and just then she broken into tears. But tears at the moment? Wasn't she supposed to be happy? Plus the fact that it was just an offer, something she could accept or reject. "I am sorry, Camila, you can reject the offer if you like my parents and I would like to negotiate with you. See, you've been working here for years and my parents and I enjoy you service, that is why we are skeptical about letting you go. We are all trying our best to see if we could change your mind, I spoke to my parents few days ago and they told me to find a time and talk to you" – As he continued to talk, she continued ti weep – "You are really a good woman, Camila. And we respect you, we all do. We will nevet hurt your feelings or force you to do things you don't want to do. It's either we ask for your consent, or we let you be. But I believe, after all those years of kindness from us, I think we deserve to be giving second chance, Camila. Can you please tell me exactly what you want? Anything to change your mind, as long as it is within our power we shall do it for you. You just have to say it, and I promise you I will look into it"
"That's... that's not what's making me to cry" she said amidst sob. The way she was weeping made me to feel like doing the same too, but I kept trying my best in order not to do that. I knew I needed to hold my body the fact that I didn't break the news to Frank yet. If he sees me weeping too or in tears, he would wonder why and if we had any connections. Although that wouldn't be a sin, right? If he asked and I told him. But it would affect the decision he was trying to make due to the love he had for me. He would try not to hurt me, and that means granting Mam Camila's wish to resign. It might also provoke his parents, and if his parents were provoke then I might not be able to marry him again the fact that Mam Camila was my step grandmother. They might, just to punish her for not considering their offer and for not being grateful, stop Frank from marrying me. And you know, I could not afford to lose him. Not even in dream.
