Chapter 23 Calling a Truce

"You can say what you want, but I need to understand him… I mean if I don t how can I make help him?" Ella was desperately worried about Dave. At the rate he was going I pray he doesn t work himself to death before he gets the chance to even enjoy his wealth. She thought

"That guy I saw doesn t need help; he looked fine to me… I mean literarily" he smiled

"You don t understand josh. Did you know he s been carrying so much guilt around him since like forever?"

"What does he have to be guilty about?" Josh asked nonchalantly, hardly interested in Dave s personal life. But since his sister is worried about him then it s his job to alleviate her anxiety and it starts by listening. And that s what he was doing even though he s not comfortable with discussing Dave.

"Well, for one, killed my father"

Josh squirmed in his seat. "He did what? That s a serious allegation"

"It s not an allegation, it s the truth but it doesn t matter. Dad was always brutal to all of us but especially to mum. He was at the verge of killing mum when Dave hit him on the head. If he hadn t done that mum would have died that night. But it s still unfortunate that mum still died. And Dave never forgave himself for any of it."

Josh was dazed with all the information. Not a topic he would chose for a lunch with a girl he likes so much. But he seriously felt sorry for Dave and Ella and even their Mum. He now understood why Dave would feel the way he does, If Ella was right about her psychoanalysis of him. "My admiration of your brother just went up another notch."

"Yeah, I know but the truth is I don t know how to help him, because he wasn t even aware I knew all along, and that s the scariest part" Ella sighed worriedly.

"If I know anything about you, it s that you are smart, Ella. And that s how I know you will figure it out." He squeezed her hand on the table.

Ella gave him a mushy look, batting her eyes playfully. "Awn, that s a beautiful thing to say Josh. Thank you. Now let s get down to eating lunch. Sorry for boring you with my family matters."

He looked at her with tenderness. They ve only met but they have established a solid friendship. And Josh was really cool with that. "Anytime Ella" he smiled.

***

It s been a couple of weeks, since Brenda chose to leave the house. He was sorry but not about what he did to Dave. They said desperate times call for desperate measures. Lewis thought as he reclined in his chair. Only unfortunate that what he was preventing from happening had finally happened. He discovered who Dave was and he didn t want him associating with Brenda, giving his reputation with the Campbell. He had thought it was only a puppy love what was going between them all those years ago. So he did some not so honorable things to separate them. But what choice did he have? Brenda had always thought him an ideal father; and they always got each other after her mother passed on.

Now he heard from his informant that Dave is the owner of the Hotel, Brenda was staying in. Dave has robbed him of his Business and now maybe his daughter too. But it s just a matter of time he will find a way to defeat Dave Campbell at his own game, just like he did his illiterate father all those year ago. All I have to do was to wait for the results of the primary elections to be out. If I won, it will be a first step in getting all that belonged to me back. For now I have to dig out everything about Dave Campbell. The more weapons, I have in my arsenal, the more the assurance of victory. He thought as he put a call through to Greg. He rubbed his chest, by the time he was done with all these mess; he should devote attention to his health. His doctors told him to take it easy and slow, and he s trying to do just that. Hopefully his daughter might see reason and come back home to him too.

***

Some minutes later Lewis heard the sound of Greg s car in his drive way. He s the only link to his daughter. Brenda wasn t picking his calls. Maybe Greg can help him. he wants to know his Brenda was doing alright. He called the security man to direct him upstairs in his study room, since he didn t even have a housekeeper any more.

"Greg it s very nice to see you. Come on in and have your seat" Lewis invited cheerfully.

"Are you alright? You look a little pale" Greg observed as he took his seat, admiring the well furnished office.hit was his first time in Mr. Lewis make shift home office and he was impressed. But he was also not impressed with his host s appearance. He wasn t looking like his dashing younger looking self. He looked every inch his age at this moment.

"I ll be alright, I just need to tidy up a few things." He smiled.

"Have you by any chance heard from Brenda?" he asked looking a little embarrassed to be asking Greg about the where about of his own daughter. He felt need to explain "We had a little argument and she left the house" he sighed dejectedly.

That must be it! Greg thought, he happened to know that Mr. Lewis world revolve around his daughter "I m sorry to hear that, but we haven t talked in a while too."

Lewis was surprised "I thought you guys were getting along"

"I thought so too, but that was before." Greg looked disappointed because he knew how much Lewis wanted the both of them to be together. Unfortunately, he might not be able to fulfill his wish. "I asked her to consider taking our friendship to the next level, and boom! She shut me out." Greg was pensive then as if realizing something he added "You know thinking back now, it must have to do with that hotel employee. There was something between those two since the day they met."

Hotel employee, don t tell me Brenda has a thing for some worker in the hotel?"

"I think so Dave or … yes that was his name. He introduced himself as Dave Campbell one of the executives."

"Only he s not an executive but he s the executive. He owns the hotel." Lewis nightmare was confirmed.

"I knew there was something about him. There was an air of authority he commanded, and I almost admired him for it." Greg confirmed to Lewis. "But how Brenda took an instant liking to him… I mean she wasn t the kind that … you know what I mean"

Yeah, she s the prim and proper when it comes to guys, but never with Dave Campbell. She was always all over him coming to his defense. Lewis gritted his teeth in anger. "Oh, how I tried to separate those two."

"You know him?" Greg asked surprised.

"Yes, I know him and that s why I need your help." Lewis said to Greg with a calculating look on his face.

Greg s got the feeling he was about to be thrown in the middle of something he wouldn t like, giving the look on Lewis face.

***

Brenda enjoyed her stay at the hotel. She was treated like royalty but it s time to move out. It took a little longer than expected but her place is finally ready. Dave was a good spot al through her stay. She was right. The warm and kind Dave she knew all those years was somewhere inside of the cold man he portrayed himself to be. He must be well respected here because everyone listened to him. Dave told her that his Boss was a very brutal guy who wants everything perfect which was why he had to work hard to please his boss if he wanted to keep his job. "I have a feeling I won t like this boss of yours when I finally meet him" Brenda remembered saying to him. She was so sweet treating her like a special guest. But she was sad because he was proving himself to be a man of his word, which did not bode well with her. Why does he have to be so honorable? She thought out loud as she placed her boxes on the bed. He treated her like she was royalty he dared not mess with, though she had caught the longing in his eyes several times.

She will miss this place, this suite that became her home in the past weeks. She started removing her things from the walk-in closet. She was sad but also excited about having her own space. She has decorated to her taste; Dave helped with selecting the furniture. She didn t want to bother him but he insisted and in fact given her a contact of the furniture company who gave her a discount. She must say that Dave was a master of his craft. She remembered him saying "he wouldn t be a good hotel manager if he knew nothing about furniture and interior designs." Brenda was so happy that they finally have their magic back. The only thing was she wanted… No scrap that… she needed the seducing Dave back, not this honorable and disciplined man he has become.