LIES & GAMES

　　Camilla struggles to keep a straight face as things turn against Jessie. She wanted to turn the event against Camilla but now, her plans had backfired. Jessie wanted to expose her secrets to Peter. She wanted to plant doubts in his mind but the heavens were against her. Peter didn't want to hear a thing she said.

　　"Do you want me to starve?" Jessie screeches. "Ethan told you to take good care of me and this is how you plan on fulfilling his wishes? I am going to call him right now and he'll put you in your place!" She yells, moving away from them. As she strides away, she brings out her phone and types away as fast as a racing car on a track. When she is done she places the phone against her ears.

　　"Hello! Ethan!" She screeches as she takes a turn to the corridor down the dining that leads to the bedrooms. "Damn, it Ethan! Pick up!"

　　Camilla burst out in laughter. Jessie got exactly what she deserved. Nobody tries to drag Camilla Louisa in the mud and remains unscathed. It's either they both fall or one does and Camilla is never the only one to hit the ground.

　　Their food finally arrives and they settle into it in peace. Mary and her team have magical hands in the kitchen. Whatever they do is always so good, no wonder Jessie wanted to cry when Peter told her she won't be eating. The baked rice and chicken, taste like something from out of this world.

　　As if jinxing the evening by thinking of her. Jessie returns with a long face, dragging herself to the seat. She picks up a place and serves herself. She then starts eating like someone who hadn't seen a decent meal in ages. Camilla covers her mouth to keep her laughter within her. If not for Peter that is still on the table with them, Camilla would have mocked Jessie so much, she will live to regret it.

　　"I need to go to bed now." Camilla is already full and she excuses herself so she can go laugh at Jessie to her heart's fill in her room.

　　"Are you full?" Peter asks raising his brow. There is a ghost of a smile on his face too but for courtesy's sake, he keeps from laughing.

　　"Yes, I am. Good night." Camilla squeaks, scampering to her feet.

　　"Good night,"  Peter says wiping his own mouth as Camilla retreats to her room. He still needed to talk to her about Lisa Maur but first, he needs to put Jessie in her place.

　　"So, what did Ethan say?" Peter asks Jessie as soon as Camilla takes the turn to the corridor.

　　"Huh?" Jessie grunts raising her eyes from the plate-like she isn't there.

　　"Ethan? You called him a while ago to complain about my starving you..." Peter reminds her. He says his words one after the other like he is talking to a child.

　　She swallows the large morsel of food in her mouth and her eyes drop back to her plate. "He didn't pick up my calls," she whispers.

　　"Oh, that must be sad. Why don't you try again in the morning?" Peter asks mocking her.

　　"Laugh all you want. Ethan will return one day and he will deal with you!" She barks, shifting her plate further down the large table so she isn't facing Peter anymore.

　　"Or return to send you away from here? You never know..." Peter tells her.

　　"I will not listen to you. You are only jealous because Ethan can have his girlfriend in here and you can't!" She snarls shoving a large spoon of white rice into her mouth.

　　"That's where you are wrong. You are the jealous one and you know why..." Peter demands getting up from his seat. "Because the girlfriend in question isn't you but someone else," Peter says and walks away from her.

　　Jessie feels like a large house has been thrown on her body and her lungs constrict for air. She is gasping in anger as Peter's words play in her head.

　　'...the girlfriend in question, isn't you...'

　　"No!" Jessie screams knocking off the plates on the table. "Ethan is mine!"

　　Nobody was going to take Ethan away from her!

　　*

　　Camilla gets to her room and goes to the bathroom to wash her face. The day had been long and eventful but hopefully, nothing bad happened. So far, Peter hasn't come to question her about Lisa.

　　There is a knock on her door and her heart drops to the floor. She has once again jinxed her night by thinking about the wrong person, Peter. She prays he isn't the one but her sixth sense tells her, he is the one.

　　She takes a deep breath and opens the door and there he is staring straight into her eyes like a detective.

　　"May I come in?" He asks.

　　She gulps down her fears and he opens the door wide open for her to come in. "I hope I am not in trouble, " she says laughing awkwardly.

　　"No, you are not." He simple says. He stands by the door, folding his arms behind him like a true detective.

　　Camilla feels her heart about to fly out of her chest. She has been caught! She is going to jail!

　　Calm down Camilla, you can handle this- she tells herself.

　　"I saw your friend outside the gates," Peter says watching her every moment.

　　"My friend?" Camilla asks choking on her words, though she is scared, she tries to act confused. "You found a friend of mine?"

　　"Camilla you were with her in the garden..." Peter could not understand why she was acting confused when he was certain Lisa Maur had come to see her.

　　"Peter, I was alone in the garden. I wasn't with anyone, " Camilla lies through her teeth. Though she doesn't want to, she has no choice. If she accepts the truth, she might be sent away from the Estate and she needs to remain so she can get enough money for her father's bills.

　　"So you are saying you didn't meet up with anyone today?" Peter demands again.

　　"No, I didn't." She says with a shrug like it was the most natural thing.

　　"Camilla, you can talk to me. If you are starting to regain your memory back it's nothing to be worried about. It's actually a good thing."

　　Camilla summons up a toothy smile and flashes it to Peter. "I know Peter and more than anything, I want to remember."

　　Peter furrows his brow, wondering if he made a mistake. Yet he finds no clue. Lisa Maur had Camilla's scent all over her. It's either Lisa is a thief or Camilla is a liar, he will have to find out the truth. "Okay, if you say so. But promise me one thing..." He trails.

　　"What's that?" Camilla says as her hands start getting sweaty.

　　"If you start remembering even the slightest of things, do not hesitate to tell me, you understand?"

　　"Yes, I won't. Thank you," She says the last phrase with sincerity. Peter has been nothing but kind to her. He defends her when Jessie is acting up. It hurts that she has to lie to him but it is the only thing she can do to survive in this cruel world.

　　Peter gives her a small smile before reaching for the door, "alright, you should have some rest now. Goodnight!"

　　"Good night!" Camilla whispers pushing her door closed.

　　She moves to her bed and lays on it. Till when will she continue lying to everybody? What is she going to do? It hurts her that she has to live like this but what can she do about it? She needs the money!

　　She closes her eyes to let sleep take her away and just when it starts reaching out to her, her phone rings out. She checks the caller and a warm smile comes to her face. It's Ethan.

　　Hello?" She answers in a sleepy voice.

　　"I am sorry, did I wake you?" Ethan says, worry lacing his voice.

　　"No, I was just about to sleep. How are you?" She asks softly. Ethan has a way of making her feel better when she thinks she has reached her limit. He makes her want to be a better version of herself.

　　The line is suddenly quiet and she fears he has hung up already. She really wanted to hear his voice to ease out all of her stress.

　　Maybe he didn't hear her. "Hello?" She repeats more urgently.

　　"I am doing just great." His voice is husky and tired, yet somehow Camilla finds it soothing to her ears. It is like a lullaby pulling her to a place of rest. A place where she will not have to steal or lie ever again. A place where she can live her life and hope that nothing will ever go wrong again.

　　"That's uhm, good news," she says sniffling a yawn, his voice finally pulling her to sleep.

　　"You should go to bed, I will speak to you in the morning," Ethan whispers and she panics. What if she gets caught tomorrow, will he still talk to her?

　　"You're sure, you'll call?" She asks in a small voice.

　　"Of course, I will..." He says and that's all the assurance she needed.

　　"Good night then," she whispers as her eyes start fluttering close.

　　"Good night, Camilla."

　　Camilla doesn't know if it is healthy to play these games of the heart with Ethan but each time she talks to him, she can't deny the joy her insides feel. It is like a natural pull that lures them together every time. Sometimes she wishes she can just give in to it.