Chapter 2

Camilla is back home. At night she is restless, and her mind is filled with thoughts about the photograph. What did Derek mean by saying 'no action'? How can she do nothing? The whole affair would be exposed.

Tiring, scary, alcohol and loneliness is mixed together in the middle of night. Camilla is in bed thinking. She drinks more and more. She goes to bathroom, removes her clothes and masturbates. She thinks about her husband and her lover.

Her resolve melts away. She is afraid. Her husband is an oil engineer who always works in remote oil field. Therefore, he seldom return home. If the scandal is exposed, she will lose everything.

Camilla does not want to betray Derek. But she is also a woman. She is a mother. She is a wife. She is a daughter, a sister, a friend. She is human.

Camilla decides to call Derek and tell him that she is unable to do the job.

But when she dials his number, he is not there.

She tries again. Still no answer.

Camilla is surprised that Derek doesn't pick up the phone, and wonders if something has happened.

After a few calls, she gets through to him. His voice sounds strange.

"I am sorry, Camilla," he said, "I have some important matters to attend to in my office. I will be delayed for a while. Please don't wait. Just go ahead and start working on the project."

Camilla is astonished. She is not certain whether she should speak or keep quiet.

"What's wrong?" asks Derek.

But Camilla cannot say anything. She hangs up.

Derek is the boss, and Camilla is an employee, so how can she refuse him?

She starts to get her dressed up. She puts on black lingeries with stockings and high heels. She wears a short dress that shows off her legs. She looks at herself in the mirror.

She looks like a whore. She used to be conservative and hard working but something seems changing.

She catches sight of her wedding ring, and removes it immediately.

Camilla arrives at Purly Group Headquarters.

It is an imposing building. The entrance hall is long and high-ceilinged. It looks like a church with its grandeur and solemnity. The receptionist greeting her warmly as usual but her face is stiffer than normal. She knows why.

Camilla goes directly to Derek's office, where she finds that Derek is not in. That makes her feeling nervous but she does not know why.

She goes to his office.

Then she sees a man in black suit sitting behind the desk, reading a newspaper.

His back is turned towards her.

It is Mr. Xavier.

He is her CEO.

Mr. Xavier is one of the most powerful men in the company. It is very rare that he comes down to this floor from his private office on the top floor.

"Good morning Camilla," he says, without turning around.

Camilla is surprised. She does not know how to react.

"Is Derek here?" she asks.

"No. He is out of town," replies Mr.Xavier.

"Please excuse me then, sir."

"Oh, there's no need for you to apologize, Camilla. You are only doing your job. Besides, please come and sit down."

"Thank you, sir."

She sits down next to him.

"So, what is it that you wish to discuss with Derek?"

"wanted to talk about the project proposal," she tells him, "I know that Derek has asked me to do something —"

"And so did I."

"Sir?"

"I asked Derek to give the project to you."

"Forgive me, sir, but I have no idea what you mean."

"You are right. I am going to explain myself now.

First off, I want to say that I respect Derek. He is a good man and a strong leader. And he is a smart businessman too. Whatever the reason, he is a wonderful colleague to work with."

"Yes, sir."

"Secondly," continues Mr.Xavier, "I also think highly of you. You work hard and are smart. You are a capable professional. There is no doubt that you are capable of carrying out the task."

"Thank you, sir."

"Thirdly, I consider it my duty to make sure that we have the best people working for us. I believe that the assignment must be given to someone who is moral, competent and reliable."

"Sir, I really appreciate that —" Camilla begins to sweat profusely.

Mr. Xavier is looking into her eyes with a meaningful look.

"Fourthly," continues Mr.Xavier, "I take it that Derek has told you to do something?"

"Yes, sir."

"And that is —?"

Camilla swallows.

"He told me to prepare a research on the back ground of the project." She lied.

"Well then," after a long pause, Mr. Xavier stands up and say, "I would like you to go ahead with it."

He walks away, leaving her wondering what the hell just happened.

Camilla returns to her room.

Her mind is racing.

She had no idea what was happening.