M.I N.E endless Love

On the way home, Eduardo was quiet. That cheerfulness he had on his way to having dinner with his siblings was gone. He became quiet and Jenny didn’t stop passing him glances at intervals.

Camilla’s words kept ringing in his heart. She had told them that twice she was betrayed in love. The first time she had an accident she almost became bedridden.

The second time she went to jail. If she dares to think that the word love exists, she will be dead this time for real. She’s never going to believe the word love exists.

Love is only found in fairytale and is fictional. She doesn’t believe in it anymore. Despite having had a glimpse of what love was, it disappears too quickly to be real. There isn’t a difference between Love and vapour!

Those words if Camilla kept ringing in Eduardo’s head. All these happened to her because she was poor and had no one to stand in her defence.

Her foster family was poor. Who cares about those who are poor? He would give her every support she needed to see that those who trampled upon her would crawl back to bow at her feet.

But he knew that feeling called love. He didn’t understand it before he met Jenny. But after he became married to her, gradually that feeling developed in him.

He knows he loved Jenny. He was certain that what he feels for her now can only be called love. It does exist but his sister has been wounded in love, hence she doubted it.

She will never experience that again. He must see that she becomes a strong woman that cannot fall victim to any man again.

Jenny sighed audibly and asked him if he was feeling unhappy about his sister’s past? Of course he should. Every sibling will feel that about their sister.

Eduardo took her hand in his and asked “do you love me?” He smiled, a question he never asked her all these months they were married.

Jenny was dazed. He was asking her such a question for the first time in their marriage. Of course she loves him. How else does she feel so excited whenever she’s with him?

“Of course I do”she replied and Eduardo asked her if she believed then that love does exist. He believes so and is glad she does as well.

She must help him make Camilla know that it does exist. Even if he needs to employ a therapist to help her come out of her dilemma he would.

Jenny nodded and said she would try all she could. Camilla is her sister in-law after all.

The next day in City A, Rodrigo woke up with a terrible hangover. He held his head in pain, remembering that he drank too much the previous day.

He remembered everything that happened and knew he was going to have a day filled with unpleasantness. He raised himself to sit and was surprised how he ended up in that room.

He hadn’t slept in that room since the whole incident with Camilla. The last time he slept in that room was before he travelled to Spain.

He had spent the night with Camilla on that bed. How did he end up in that room the previous night? Alcohol, he can only blame it on alcohol and drunkenness.

He looked at the side where he last saw Camilla slept on that bed and touched the bedspread. He wants to blit those unpleasant memories away from his mind, but alas, they remain unmovable in his heart.

He climbed out of bed and went to shower. Getting in there, he saw Camilla’s toiletries there exactly as she had left them. He felt weak again.

When Rodrigo arrived at the office, everyone knew something was off about him. His eyes were red and he was giving a cold compressing aura.

Joel knew a lot of people were likely to lose their jobs if they made a slight mistake. At this time, everyone is expected to tread gently.

When he got into the office, every meeting was cancelled at his instructions. No visitors or investors are allowed to come and see him.

He just wants to be alone. Everyone’s documents that needed his signature should be piled up till he decides to glance at them.

Nothing seemed to be alright that day in the office. There were whispers among the secretaries and the manager of every department goes to Joel for questions rather than the President.

Joel would go in to him and ask him answers he should give to the ones who wanted it. Many of which Jeol ended up using his initiative to give the answers because Rodrigo wouldn’t answer him.

Mirabel came to check on her brother. She stepped in but as quickly as her legs could carry her, she stepped out coughing hysterically.

The entire office was filled with cigarette smoke. How was Rodrigo able to sit still in that office despite so much smoke and not cough or feel uncomfortable?

She stood outside, and watched the closed door from which she came out from. This is an early sign that Rodrigo is getting depressed.

If it was only cigarettes, it would be better. But there was a stench of alcohol in there. She glanced at Joel who seemed not to notice how she came out hurriedly.

The fellow seemed to be busy on his phone doing what only he knows. How can he feel so unconcerned about his boss? What kind of assistant was he?

“Joel, aren’t you worried a bit about my brother’s condition? Can’t you see that he is losing his mind to alcohol and cigarettes?” She asked, intertwining her fingers.

Joel raised his head from his phone and looked at Mirabel. What does she know? She never experienced so much love exhibited by her brother and Rodrigo. So she never can understand how much emotional turmoil he was in.

“Of course I can see. I am not blind at all. But you see there’s nothing I can do to save him or reduce the emotional torture he is currently experiencing.

When he fills out, he would come out with a decision. If you know what he made Camilla go through, perhaps you would have returned to your office after seeing him depressed.

Besides, that isn’t my business whatever he is going through. When I tried to warn him to treat Camilla gently considering the love they shared in the past, he frowned and warned me to stay off.

And as it is now, I am staying off. I really want to mind my business. So please Miss Mirabel, don’t get me involved with things that don’t really concern me, okay?” Joel replied flippantly and returned to pressing his phone.

Mirabel stood speechless.

Joel didn’t know when she left. When he raised his head again, she was gone. He looked at the time and it was close to lunch hour.

He didn’t wait to ask if Rodrigo would go for lunch. He went away. His job is to be his assistant and not his chauffeur, not bodyguard.

He strode off and Mirabel saw him Left from the office window. She shook her head. Her brother had crossed a few paths just to shut everyone away from his decision.

A woman he called a whore and a prostitute really affected him so much. Some day she would ask him if she indeed was what he described her to be.

But whether she is or not, she was pregnant with his child and had disappeared. Not in her home with her family, not in prison. No one knows where she is.

This Is really pathetic. But she’s worried and sick about her brother’s condition. She needed to seek help. She can’t call her mum, because that would get him furious more.

She would call her grandfather. Her mum was also living in regrets I’ve what she’s done. She had pushed Rodrigo this far and they both are grieving.

When Mirabel called her grandfather, the latter said he was on his way to the Company. Rodrigo had put off his phone and nobody could reach him.

Mirabel said okay. When she placed her phone down, she wondered what her brother was up to. She’s afraid he would hurt himself if no one comes to his aid.

She became restless. She went and tried forcing herself in, she didn’t know what he would do to himself when the bodyguard stopped her.

He said the President said he doesn’t want to see anyone. Even if his late dad comes and requests to see him, he shouldn’t be allowed in.

Mirabel was dazed. Why is he shutting everyone away from himself? Even Joel had left him to himself. This could lead to something terrible.

Mirabel’s eyes suddenly became teary. She stayed outside, by the door to his office. She was waiting. When her grandfather comes, no one would be able to stop him from entering then she would as well.

Her grandfather soon arrived and took the elevator to the top floor where the President office was situated.

He laid the foundation of the company but his son raised it but he died when the company became Large and wealthier than any other companies in the City.

That was when Rodrigo took over from where his father stopped. As Larry Campbell arrived at the top floor, Mirabel saw him and sighed.

“Grandfather, thank goodness you are here,” she said, rushing to him and giving him a hug. But grandfather Larry looked worked up and unhappy.

He really had been busy. He just left the hospital and went to the police station to do the necessary. He was contemplating on coming over to see Rodrigo after the heartbreak he felt yesterday when Mirabel called him.

“How are you dear?” He asked, seeing her teary eyes. She had been sobbing. He looked towards the door to the President’s office and saw two bodyguards there.

Mirabel only nodded. It appears seeing her grandfather made her tears give way. She pointed at Rodrigo’s office and her grandfather nodded.

As he walked to the door, the bodyguards bowed gently before the old man and told him exactly what they had told Mirabel.

But Larry Campbell smiled and said he wasn’t anyone. He was Rodrigo’s grandfather, the first President of the company.

The men exchanged glances as they stepped aside and Larry Campbell went in. Quickly, Mirabel took advantage of the time and slipped in too after her grandfather.

But Larry Campbell was surprised by what he saw. The entire file and documents were littered on the floor. They appeared to be pushed off by Rodrigo in fury.

The smoke had subsided by the stench of alcohol and cigarettes filled the air. Rodrigo just sat on the sofa, his eyes closed like someone taking a siesta.

Larry Campbell ordered Mirabel to open the windows for ventilation. On the floor were bottles of alcohol and empty packs of cigarettes.

The ashtray was on his side. Mirabel knows Rodrigo only smokes for pleasure occasionally but didn’t know he had become a hardened smoker overnight.

As for alcohol, she cannot vouch for him that he doesn’t take alcohol. But he takes it mostly when he goes to clubs or parties. But when at home, he might just pour himself a glass and that’s all.

But with so many alcohol bottles on the floor, she shook her head. He almost drank himself to death. His suit was off and the shirt was pulled out of its tucking.

Mirabel opened the windows and for a few seconds, the smoke and smell seemed to subside. Larry Campbell stood and just stared at his grandson.

This fellow was meticulous and did his things with utmost carefulness. But the sight of the unkept office made him shake his head.

“Rodrigo” Larry Campbell called. Mirabel came over and tucked her grandfather to take a seat. The old man did and she went to sit beside Rodrigo.

He didn’t open his eyes but he perceived that someone was in his office. He was heavily drunk but sensitive to his immediate surroundings.

“Rodrigo, grandfather is here” Mirabel said, taking his hand but he didn’t answer. Mirabel sniffled. Is this what alcohol had reduced her brother into?

She held his hand and gave it a soft squeeze. Rodrigo pulled his hand off and opened his eyes wearily.

Mirabel just took her eyes off in Panic. Those eyes were red. How can Someone’s eyes be so red like coal? Is this really Rodrigo who has white bright eyes?

Once her mother had teased him that his eyes were attractive like a woman’s. Is it the same Rodrigo that his eyes are like this?

As Rodrigo opened those eyes, it seemed weary for him to open them. They were not only red but heavy. He appeared weak and helpless.

“Rodrigo my son” Larry Campbell called him gently. He knew how exactly his grandson was feeling. But this was the only way he could help him, plead with him and coax him not to hurt himself.

“I know you can hear me. But I will save my talk till when you are a bit okay. But please, don’t smoke nor drink alcohol again.

These cannot give you a permanent consolation. It is temporary. You drink to forget your troubles and pain but when the effect of the alcohol wipes off, then you realise that pain is still there waiting for you to come out of the intoxicating effect.

I would advise that you stay away from the company for days until you are able to get everything back to normal with your emotions.

Because you can’t work like this. You don’t have a sound mind. Please calm yourself down and I promise to join you in any way possible to find her…”Larry Campbell coaxed.

But Rodrigo had long closed his eyes and slumbered away. He didn’t hear a thing of all his grandfather said. Thinking of what to do next, Joel arrived and stepped in.

When he saw Larry Campbell and Mirabel, he bowed slightly to the old man. The older man smiled and welcomed him.

He told him he doesn’t know what to do next. Rodrigo needs help and maybe they should take him home to rest properly.

Joel said no. He is the President and cannot be seen like this by the employee. There’s a lounge in the office, he would help him there to rest and when he wakes up, he would have been better.

Larry Campbell said okay and pleaded with Joel to look after his grandson. He said Rodrigo’s Spirit is broken and sad.

He should watch over him to ensure he didn’t hurt himself. He really pleaded and Mirabel also clasped her hands together.Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

Joel said he would try his best because he (Larry Campbell) said it. Otherwise, he would have free his arms and let him Carry his cross.