Caught on camera

Addison hurried upstairs, kept the books and changed into a fresh set of clothes, on his way out down the corridor he sighted his dad from the slightly opened door. Don Carlo laid heads down on his desk.

At this, Addison’s heart jerked in fright. What happened to him? He worried as he dashed in only to see the old man sleeping soundly with his eyeglasses hung below his straight nose and partly on the book he was possibly reading before he slept off. His shoulder-length mix of grey and brown hair sprawled on the side of his face.

Addison puffed a breath in relief taking a glance around.

The study was indeed a study: spacious, with a number of carefully arranged bookshelves, maps, record books, desktop computers and other gadgets.

Addison went behind the desk, lifted his dad off his wheelchair with strong arms around his back and paralyzed legs. The old man's sleepy eyes fell open,

“Addi?” He asked in a husky tone that bore an unsaid joy.

“Dad, I’m taking you to your room.”

The old man smiled back to sleep as he was placed on his king-sized bed,

“Good night son.”

Addison placed a white duvet over him and quickly went downstairs to get the wheelchair.

Life was a fucking bitch, a cruel master, a blood sucking beast. Once upon a time, Don Carlo was a vibrant and active man. He lived a life without regrets, basking in his achievements. He was one among the richest and most successful businessmen in Portugal. Having a chain of businesses, from 5-star hotels to malls and large plantations. He lived life to the fullest, enjoyed everything money could buy including women. Travelled the world.

Now here he was, stuck to a wheelchair after the accident a year ago.

Everyone thought he would not survive it. Some reports even claimed he died with no heir and no legitimate child. However, life gave him a second chance as he woke up from a 6-months-long coma. Thus, the search for his estranged wife and son began.

Addison was that son. After 20 years of being apart, erasing every trace of his existence in the Goncalo family. Addison was informed of his dad’s condition and the need to take over the family business. Therefore, 5 months ago, he abandoned life in the British Royal Navy to begin a new one as a businessman, a son and a brother.

Addison was pulled into the mesh of his hideous past and soon secrets that could change his life forever.

On getting to the study, his eyes caught the monitor which displayed CCTV footage from all corners of the house including the gazebo. He had never bothered to watch the monitor but the girl seated in filthy clothes caught his attention. Despite, the dirt and sweat she was beautiful. He found himself smiling as he watched her picking and eating the apples hungrily. He was amused by her; the way she looked around like a little thief before taking the apples made him laugh even more.

He had seen her more than once but in very different situations. One thing that remained unchanged was the innocence and pain he saw in her eyes. Whatever made her depressed and troubled made him shuddered. He was strangely drawn to her and the urge to protect her grew strong the more he stared.

The first time she saw him was at the Edmundos but he had seen her more times than she could imagined.

He had to stay for coffee at the Edmundos' even when he was in a haste. That day, he had pretended to be jogging when in fact, Keren was the real reason behind his visit to the Edmundos residence.

Not once did he forget the charming smile that masked her pain. She reminded him of someone; the person he tried to forget.

Twice, she was in his nightmare, drenched in tears and lost in the darkness of the night. Here she was again, and his heart skipped to see her so close yet so far.

After taking the wheelchair to his dad's room, he went to the kitchen and a maid was on hand to help him.

“It’s alright Maria. I can manage.” He opened the refrigerator.

The aged maid beamed with a questioning look in her eyes. Never has he been to the kitchen. Weird, she thought and the two other maids cleaning one side of the large kitchen peeped over their shoulders.

He filled a small basket with 6 balls of apples and a wrap of chocolate cake. Then he left straight to the parking lot without Keren's notice. Perhaps she was carried away or she could not see through the murky garden.

He had an idea, something to spice up the evening.