CAMERA, ARE YOU IN PAIN?

BRIA

Gabriel tried to calm me down and fed me up with another lie that he met an accident, but I knew better than that. The devil sat in a chair engrossed in checking his phone while his best man was suffering in pain.

That heartless monster!

"You! You are the reason for all this. You did this to him, haven't you?" I yelled, pointing my finger accusingly at him.

He slowly looked up at me and then put his phone down before leaning back in the chair as if he was enjoying some show on the TV.

What kind of a man he was?!

"Bria, please. Don't." Gabriel begged.

But I was not ready to listen. "No. I won't stop! I know he did this to you because you helped me to contact my family. I know ok! Maybe you made a mistake by disobeying his command. But it was not a crime worthy of such severe punishment. And I was the one who forced you to help me. So, I deserve the punishment and not you."

The devil had nothing on his face as he enjoyed the scene from behind his goggles.

"King, please. Take her back to the mansion. It's not safe for you to be here without sufficient security. And Bria, I will explain everything to you when I get better and meet you next time. But now, you have to go." Gabriel said sternly.

"No. I don't give a damn about his safety. Rather, I wish someone just put a bullet through his heart right here and now. I am not leaving you like this!" I declared.

Thank god! Adam was at his school.

I changed Gabriel's bandages, and I was glad that the devil was considerate enough to stay until then. When I was almost done, he received a call. He didn't speak even a single word and cut the call after a few seconds.

I ignored him because I was so upset with him that I would not have hesitated to slap him in the face.

But then he stood up abruptly and grabbed my wrist again.

"Don't touch me, you asshole! I am not going with you. I want to stay. I promise I will not run!"

He ignored my pleading and glanced at Gabriel.

"Quiero que vuelvas a trabajar antes de que me vaya a Italia. Y cuídate!" (spanish) (I want you to go back to work before I go to Italy. And take care!)

I only blinked, dumbstruck at him.

"What? What did he say? Which language was that? I want to know."

But again my words remained unattended and I was again dragged out of Gabriel's house and pushed into his car.

I heard Gabriel's voice before the devil shut the door. " Don't worry about us, Bria. I and Adam will visit you soon."

The ride back passed in a tensed silence, and it took every ounce of self-restraint for me to not lash out at him. But it was useless anyway.

As soon as the car stopped in front of his house, I opened the door and closed it with extra force before storming inside but not before making sure to break all the pots and plants on my way.

KING

I had no time for Fire's tantrums. I was already getting fed up with her attitude. If she didn't change it soon, then she wouldn't be alive for the next six weeks!

I drove straight to my office building, where one of my important men was waiting for me in my chamber- Andrew.

When I received his call, I left Gabriel's home in a hurry. Because this was more important than watching Gabriel and Fire's cuddling.

My blood boiled, remembering how comfortable they were with each other.

I reached into my cabin to see Andrew still standing, waiting for me.

Only Gabriel and Cameron had the privilege to take a seat in front of me. So when I gestured to Andrew for the same, the hesitance was quite expected. However, he did as I said anyways.

He didn't waste another moment and jumped straight to business, and that was why I liked that man.

"King. I have collected everything you have asked for. The pendant you gave me, it contains an advanced technology GPS tracker. It is well hidden in the large aquamarine-coloured gem. I looked for the person who has made it but no one had done that work in the last ten years. The design is unique and so is the device used in it. So it must be the work of some expert. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything more about that pendant."

Yes! He was talking about Miss Maxwell's precious necklace that she claimed was her mother's last memory. When I carried her into my room that morning, she kept clutching to it. I had noticed her fiddling with it every time she experienced any strong emotions.

When I took a good look at it, something about it made me suspicious. So one day, I slipped into her room when she was getting the shower. She had the necklace removed and placed it on the dressing table.

I still recall that possessive look in her eyes when I returned it to her. She thought she had lost it and took the whole house in her head.

But not in my wildest dreams I had thought about this secret of that pendant.

Interesting!

"Last time I couldn't find much about her. But this time I tried with her guardian. His name is Benjamin... Benjamin Lachat." Andrew continued.

"He adopted Miss Bria Maxwell officially when she was four years old. Since then he had also adopted six more kids who live with them in their property. He has a very clean record so far. No police case, no fines, no challan, nothing. I enquired about him in the local area but he interacts with very few people. And every one of them don't know anything personal about him or his family. They all had only good things about him to tell. No grudges, no fights. Personally I find it very strange to maintain such a clean record. And the most interesting thing..."

I waited for him to continue.

"The person who has to feed, and look after eight people have not once taken any loan in all these years. Not for daily expenses, not for education and not even for starting a cafe. He doesn't have any record of another employment except a part-time job for a year or two in the beginning, right after he officially adopted Miss Bria Maxwell. In short, their source of income is a mystery as their cafe can't provide for their all expenses. I have a doubt that the cafe is just a pretence!"

He passed me the file he had prepared on that pendant and Benjamin Lachat. I took a good look at it before nodding my head.

"Keep me informed if you find anything else."

"Yes, King. Now I shall take my leave." He stood up and headed to the door. Before he opened the door, I called him.

"Andrew... you know the drill. You don't disclose any of this information to anyone else than me. Except for Cameron and Gabriel but only when the time allows it."

"Yes, King. You have my word for it." He nodded his head with respect.

Andrew left, and my eyes fixated on that file.

What secrets you are hiding, Miss Maxwell?

When it all began, I didn't have any idea that this game of mouse and cat would take such an interesting turn.

And I was ready to win that game!

*

*

*

We were having breakfast when I noticed the empty chair beside me. I glanced in Nora's way, and after spending years with me, she knew I was looking at her. She softly shook her head, and I got the message.

I let the topic go and began eating. But as expected, Miss Maxwell had something to say about it just like every other thing.

"Nora, where's Camera?"

Nora answered calmly. "He is not feeling well so he skipped the breakfast. You concentrate on your food, Bria. It will get cold." With that, she excused herself.

I ignored their conversation and concentrated on the food on my plate. Lately, I needed extra energy than I ever needed all my life because of someone!

"King!" I looked up, hearing Cameron's voice.

The man looked no less than shit, but I couldn't blame him.

Before he continued, the little parrot opened her big mouth.

"Good morning to you too, Camera!" She said in sarcasm.

Hearing Cameron's voice, Nora rushed out of the kitchen, and when she heard Miss Maxwell, she tried to warn her to stop.

But the girl didn't know the meaning of 'stop'.

"Why are you standing there like a mannequin? Sit down and eat your breakfast." She poured a glass of juice and placed it near his plate.

"I am not hungry." Cameron's voice came hoarse, and I knew that he was crying all night without getting any sleep.

"Nora told me that you are not feeling well. What happened?"

"Nothing."

"You did not sleep last night?"

"It's none of your business!"

"Do you need any medicine?"

"No"

"Do you need to see the doctor?"

"No"

"Then have this juice at least."

"I told you I am not hungry!" He raised his voice, making her jump in surprise.

To be honest, she asked for it!

She shouldn't have pushed him over the edge.

I expected her to retort back, but her face softened as she looked up at him with concerned eyes. "Camera, are you in pain?"

Why she didn't understand to keep her nose out of the places where it didn't belong!