A Nanny For The CEO

Chapter 3: A New Life

Camila’s POV

I had little cash, with what I had in my pockets, I was ready to distance myself from the people who supposedly love me because they are my "family."

A part of me was missing, there was an emptiness in my chest that couldn't be filled with anything. My older sister is the person I love the most, Clarisa represented everything I wanted to be when I turned thirty.

She and my father were everything to me, which is why their bad actions have affected my life. I'm sure this scar will be so deep that I will never be able to heal it.

I was in a difficult moment, I don't have a place to go without having to give explanations. I don't want to go to a relative and tell them about the raw experience I just had at home; it embarrasses me just to think about it.

Tomorrow, first thing in the morning, everyone in Barcelona will know that Rodolfo Wellington's daughter's wedding was canceled. I don't want to be here when that moment comes; I don't want phone calls from curious people wanting to know what happened.

"God! Why is this happening to me?"

I kept walking to the train terminal, took my cellphone out of my pocket, and threw it into a small fountain that was there. I wish I were my cellphone and drowned, although the lump in my throat is so big that it doesn't let me swallow; I didn't need to jump into a river to feel that life was grabbing me by the neck and squeezing tightly.

This terrible feeling, I wouldn't wish it on anyone.

The money I had was enough to buy a ticket to Madrid. I wanted to go further, but I have no way; I have to think that I have to pay for a hostel or a medium category hotel for at least a few days while I figure out what I will do next.

"Miss, it leaves in five minutes, be ready."

"Thank you very much."

The woman at the ticket office noticed my shattered face, it was swollen and all irritated.

"Do you need help?"

"No, I'm fine," I replied with the most forced smile of my life.

If human beings had the opportunity to go back in time once in our lives, I would go back to the night I met Jonathan. Just thinking about him hurts my chest, the pain is so strong that it feels unreal.

At twenty-six years old, I thought I would have my life figured out, I thought I had met the perfect man; that we would finally have a home, that we would have our children running in the garden with our dog Flopi, that... Oh! It hurts just to remember how I had idealized it.

Being a Wellington in my city was synonymous with having a "solved" life. Many people know our story; we are a focal point in Barcelona. My father and his previous generations are wealthy, he has many businesses and companies that make him stand out among people.

We were respected and included in all kinds of social events. It was in one of those important events that I met Jonathan Müller.

I arrived at the train terminal in Madrid, despite being early morning, there were people walking around. I was nervous about not being sure where I should go, but deep down I felt that I would be fine. Despite being from a wealthy family, growing up in luxury, having people at my service; I was self-sufficient.

Most of the hostels I entered were occupied. I didn't stop and kept walking, I won't give up, I won't go back home, even if I have to sleep on the street; I won't go back home.

I entered a medium category hotel, it was my only option.

"Do you have a simpler room? It doesn't matter if it's not air-conditioned, it doesn't matter if..."

"No, miss, this is the one we have available."

I took the bills out of my pocket, discreetly looked to see how many nights it would cover. I counted the coins and with a few euros left over, it was enough for one night.

"That's fine."

I have no alternative, tomorrow is another day and I'll figure it out.

I didn't sleep all night, the feelings kept tormenting me, my mind took me to the most beautiful memories with my sister and my ex-partner, that's why it hurt. I knew that my next days would be terrible, I went from having a planned future to being alone in a room smaller than a sardine can, thinking about what I will do to make money.

The other day, exactly at 8:00 am, nostalgia was at its peak, supposedly at that time my wedding ceremony would be taking place; the one I had planned for months, but now it was all in the trash. I wondered if they canceled the decorations, the food, the music; if they called the church, if they canceled the photographer, everything that was ready for what would have been my happiest day.

At times, I regretted going to that apartment, if I hadn't, I would be calm, I wouldn't have so much suffering, I would be as happy as I was before; but then, I scolded myself, it was the right thing to do; it was better to feel the pain now than to live deceived for the rest of my life.

I spent the whole day locked in my room, I wasn't hungry, I wasn't thirsty, I just wanted to die; I was lying in my bed, staring at my shoe as if I would find answers in that trance.

I saw the time on my wristwatch, it was almost six in the evening, it was time to get off my ass and figure out what to do with my life, I needed to leave the hotel and think about where I would spend the night that was breathing down my neck.

I left the room keys at the small reception, announcing my departure. Those nerves and doubtful thoughts returned to tell me: Are you sure about what you're doing? Why don't you go back home? What will you do now? Where will we get money? Why don't you call dad?

I shook my head to get them out of my mind, I won't go back to that place, I already lost the love, the trust, and the peace I had there.

I stepped outside the hotel and heard a woman talking.

"We need to find a housekeeper today, I can't believe Julia just left like that! How irresponsible! She's so irresponsible!"

"Ms. Martin, do you want me to search our database for an available girl?"

"Yes, call someone, but they have to come today, I need them now!"

That's what I need, I didn't hesitate to turn around and talk to the woman.

"I can do it!" I said approaching her.

"Give me the job, I can do it."

The woman looked at me from head to toe with curiosity.

"I'm Camila, I'm twenty-six years old. I have no experience in cleaning, but if you tell me what I need to do, I'll do it, I need the job."

"Where did this woman come from?" the lady asked, looking at her staff.

"Listen, Camila, we're in a hurry, that's why I'll say yes to you, but if I find out tomorrow that you're not up to the task, you'll have to go on your own way."

"Thank you, thank you so much."

The woman is the sister of the hotel owner, she has been managing it for a few years. That day I had a place to stay, I was working all the time, but I was sure; I also kept my mind so busy that I would forget, for moments, what was breaking my soul. I appreciated that the other girls were kind to me, they explained how to do some things.

"It's your first time working in cleaning, right? Look at those little hands, look at that beautiful hair. Where are you from, girl? What are you doing here?"

"I need a place to stay," I replied.

"You'll be fine here, of course, as long as you do your job well and there are no issues with the guests, you won't have a problem with the lady."

Hotel Martin became my new comfort zone, the other ladies helped me by teaching me a few things, I didn't know how to use a simple mop, a vacuum cleaner, but I learned very quickly; they celebrated every time I could do something right.

Ms. Martin let me stay at the hotel, I started to have money, a place to sleep, and a new group of people around me who, unknowingly, helped me carry immense pain.

"Fourth week, Camila Wellington. Here's your payment."

Ms. Martin was in her office with the envelope of my fourth payment in her hands.

"Thank you, Ms. Martin."

"Don't thank me, your willingness, your eagerness to learn and move forward, drive you every day to do your tasks well. You deserve your money."

I felt happy, yes, I was thrilled because I had learned to sweep and mop, to fold clothes, to do chores that I had never done in my life. I was earning my own money through my own efforts.

During this month away from home, I started to become a different person, I didn't hear from my family anymore, I isolated myself from magazines, press, news, everything.

I didn't want to torment the tranquility that I was starting to gain by bringing back memories of people who hurt me.

I started to have an appetite, something inside me was healing because I couldn't fall asleep after long hours of crying, I fell asleep due to exhaustion from a long day of work.

The next morning I got up as usual, I took a cold shower to wake myself up completely. I took my uniform off the hanger, a light gray dress with white collar and sleeves, along with a white apron that had a name tag with my name, Camila W.

"Camila, are you ready?"

"Yes, just a little more."

Lauren kept knocking on my door.

"Wait, I'm almost done."

I put on my shoes and tied my hair up in a ponytail.

"What's the matter?" I asked when I opened the door.

"Ms. Martin wants all of us at the reception, we have an urgent meeting."

The two of us walked quickly, fixing the knot of my apron along the way.

"What's happening?"

"I don't know, but she wants all the staff downstairs."

We arrived at the reception and found her there, the rest of the women who worked in cleaning were already there.

"Ladies, good morning. You're probably wondering why I called this meeting."

We all looked at each other's faces, frowning.

"I just received information that an important person will be arriving at the hotel to stay, they will be here in an hour, and I want someone to go to the Premium room and change all the sheets and curtains, request fresh flowers, change the lights, create a pleasant atmosphere, change the setting. This person is very important and we need them to have a good impression of Hotel Martin."

I furrowed my brow upon hearing that, What is an important person doing in a mid-range hotel?

"I need that person to be well received and attended to, okay? I want them to feel at home. Is that clear?!"

"Yes, Mrs. Martin."