Somewhere Between Time

Time Stop 3

She deposited her staff uniform at the hotel security when Nancy, the manager, called her.

"I apologize for this Cam, but could you just come with me for a moment?" She nods and smiles at her.

"Is there anything wrong, Ms. Nancy?" She worriedly asked of the manager, who was aware that she would be unable to stay late at the hotel.

"Are you with Marhia at the Presidential suite yesterday?" She nods. "I wonder why the guest is looking for you."

"Me?!" She was taken aback when she heard that. He has no cause to look at her. Is it because he noticed her staring at him?

"Yes, you," the manager said. "And he knows your name, by the way."

What the?!

"You have to go upstairs and meet him ...."

"But I'm about to depart and won't be wearing my uniform," she explained.

"How lame your reason, young lady," she remarked, smiling. "He ordered me to invite you to see him after your duty, therefore it's understandable that you're not wearing a uniform. It may only require a few minutes of your time."

Even skeptical and nervous, she got on a lift to the Presidential Suite. She first takes a deep breath before pressing the doorbell.

She checked her watch while waiting for the door to open. If she fails the exam, Raffy would undoubtedly criticize her again. She hasn't failed anything yet, but her pal considered having more than five mistakes on the exam to be a failure.

When the door opens, she takes a deep breath. The only thing he's wearing is a towel wrapped around his waist. He's giving her a scowl.

"Yes?" he asked.

She crinkled her nose as she saw the animosity on his face.

"My boss told me to come up because you were looking for me?" She inquired since she is unsure if he is looking for her based on the expression on his face right now.

"Uumm .... no," He responded after a long glance at her. "Were you the maid yesterday?" He asked her, and she wasn't sure if she would nod, but she did in the end. "However, I'm not looking for you.... I'm looking for Cameron Legaspi."

"My name is Cameron Legaspi," she said, drawing another line across his brow. Yes, she is concealing her true identity by using Legaspi instead of Villegas, but just at the hotel where she works. But at her school, she is still a Villegas.

However, the man shook his head. "That is not possible. Cameron, the woman who came to my room and offered me bed service, has beautiful red hair......"

Marhia? She thought but that would be impossible as the woman is married. Though she looks young because she's sexy and beautiful but she's in her thirties.

She took her identification and showed it to the man to silence him. Ivan glanced at her and the ID for a moment and couldn't believe she was telling the truth.

She irritably yanked her ID back. "As far as I can tell, it's a mistaken identity. I'd better get going. Please excuse me, "She turned around, but the man still has her arm!

"How about you do the bed service for me instead?" He smirks and her eyes widened.

She pulled back her arm, irritated. "I believe there is a major misunderstanding here, Sir." She turned to face the man and raised her eyebrows. She will not be intimidated by this man's stature and social standing. The f*ck he is! "First and foremost, I am not the one you are searching for. Second, we do not provide bed service here. Third, I do not allow anyone to touch even a single strand of my hair," she watched how he lifted his brows and the smirk that played at the corners of his lips, but she didn't care. "Fourth, you're disrespectful, and finally, you're an as*hole!" Then she turned and dashed to the elevator before she scratched the guy's face, but before she stepped inside, she heard the guy's loud obnoxious laughter!

"Baliw!" she murmured to herself. She's really pissed right now and she doesn't have any crush on him anymore! Nakaka-two strike na sa kanya ang lalaking iyon ha! First, he called her a maid. Secondly, the jerk thought she was offering bed service!

When she reached the manager's office after three warning knocks she immediately went inside.

"What happened, Cam? You're so red!" Immediately stood up to give her water.

"That bastard! What does he think of me ?! A pimp!" Furiously she said.

"W-what ?!" Nancy asked surprisingly.

"You have to check what Marhia did," napakunot ito ng noo sa sinabi niya.

"Marhia ?!" Naguluhan ito bigla.

"Yes. He's bringing up the subject of bed service." She is required to report it. Empire Hotel will not be contaminated because of one employee's inappropriate behavior, whether that employee is close to her or not. She's not going to let it happen.

"Bed service!" apparently Nancy is unable to believe it. "Do you think that Marhia is capable to do it knowing how she loves her husband! And for Pete's sake, Ivan is almost the same age as her younger brother!"

"He's searching for a redhead woman that provided him with bed service! You must speak with her because I do not want my father to become engaged in this. You know I'm not going to put up with it in MY hotel!" She made it clear to the manager that she owned the hotel.

She gets to her feet and looks at the pale-faced manager. "I assure you that my father will not hear any of this, but I would appreciate it if you could look into it as quickly as possible, Ms. Nancy. I don't want to cause any trouble in the hotel, especially now that I'm here." As the woman nodded, she swiftly exited the room.

She closed her eyes and counted to de-stress her body. He can still see his irritating face! That man has guts!

She was thinking about Marhia as she walked towards the employee exit. What is the reason she......

She stopped walking and covered her mouth. She recalled what the woman said to her, that she wants to take the autograph of that man. But in payment of what? The service in bed?

Oh my God! I would never do that! She shudders at the mere thought of it. She will not do that in her life, not ever!

She moaned as she looked at her wristwatch and realized she was an hour late. On the side of the hotel, she waited for a taxi. Her parents insisted on buying her a car, but she refused. Having her own home and no utility expenses would suffice. She can provide for herself and others.

She's been there for fifteen minutes and is still waiting for a cab. As a taxi pulled up across the street, she grinned. She was about to cross the street when she noticed the people getting out of the automobile. Her heart also stops beating.

It is Louise, holding a small boy, around two years ........ and Alex, with a girl, same age as the boy. He took the baby bag from her as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Her knees tremble as she watches the couple enter the hotel. Her eyesight became fuzzy as tears began to fall down her cheeks. When she looked down at her hands, she realized she was shaking violently.

She sat on the sidewalk and sobbed silently. She is still in pain, more so than the last time. Seeing Alex with Louise, it appears that they do not need her presence in their lives. Because he appears to be in good spirits with the woman he truly adores.

She hugged herself as she knows that no one will help because she knew that no one will care.

Even when a car stopped in front of her, she didn't lift her head. She bent and continue crying.

"Cameron?" She heard a man call to her, but she didn't move a muscle. "Cameron Legaspi?"

When the person didn't hear back from her, the automobile drove away. She has no intention of looking up who owns it. But then she felt someone sit next to her and heard him curse again.

"Tell me who made you cry and I will give him a good punch on his face!"

When she lifted her head, she saw Ivan's dark face. But when the guy saw tears speckled on her face, the darkness immediately disappeared.

"Cameron ........" hold her face then wiped the tears using his thumb. She saw pity in his eyes.

Before the young man can speak, she patted his hand and immediately stood up. She took advantage of the surprise on his face because of what she did and quickly run away from that place. She doesn't want to see the couple again. She's still not yet ready.

She huddles the crowd while still hugging herself. It's better for her to walk towards her house. Probably, she'll be tired by then and immediately get to sleep.

Because she did not want to think about anything. She will not allow anything or anybody to sway her. Not now.....not yet.

But when the right time comes, she will return to reunite with them.

To Alex and her twins.