Benedict Campbell.
1296 Words
" Joey, we will die before we let him take you from us again." My mother said as she took the phone.
" Mother, he will let you see me. He has nothing to lose now. I'm going back to him.
His threats are all empty now. Now that I am...I am.." I started to cry.
Charles was my love, I only wanted to be with him. Now I was alone.
My whole world was crushed. I have no reason not to go back to my husband.
He would care for me the best he could. I said goodbye to my parents and called my sister telling her my situation.
" Jo, no...Charles loves you, what did he say about Manuel finding you?"
" Brea, Charles left me at the restaurant and called me a liar. I tried to tell him about Lana, he refused to believe me."
" Jo, pack now, we will run away. He won't find you in Africa." She said.
" No Brea. He will never let me go. I am his property. I'm fine. Promise you will stay away, do not let him near you guys or Sophia."
She promised. We both cried ourselves to sleep.
The next day there was a knock on my door. It was Manuel.
I opened the door and let him back into my life.
He stayed in the doorway.
" I can't believe this. I thought it was a trick. I expected the authorities to be here." He put his hands in his pockets nervously. I've never seen this side of him.
"What is the point in that. You said you will kill my family, my little niece. I know you don't lie about these things."
I put my hands in front of me for him to tie me up and get angry again.
Manuel stood there, rubbing his neck. He was looking so tired.
" Everything has changed wife. I am working for Ian and the Americans to take down the s*x traders.
I'm no longer living in Mexico. I have a home here in Texas.
I'm done being Manuel Ortega. My new name is Benedict Campbell. I want a real life with you, on your terms. Arturo is handling my affairs in Mexico."
" You did all of this for me?" I smiled as I began to move towards him.
" I was way out of control, you made the right choice to run from me, I made so many mistakes. I'm sorry."
I took another step towards him. He took a step back.
" No, I'm not going to touch you Josephine. I promised your father everything would be on your terms. I had to agree. He's a nice guy really, your mom's a trip though."
I nodded in agreement.
"Ben, did you get your own room?" He nodded, "two doors down."
"Do you want to take me out on a date for dinner tonight. I want to be romanced this time around, like alot of romance."
He grinned. "Yes maam."
I nodded, turning red. I was blushing. He left me to get a nap in before our date, he said that he hadn't slept in 24 hours.
_____________
I called Brea and told her everything.
" Do you believe this?" She was worried.
" I think so. I mean...I'm going to make him pay for everything. I'm not letting him off easy. Real change is never easy or simple. I need to test him I think."
Brea agreed.
Around 6 pm there was a knock on my door. Ben was standing there holding some flowers.
" For me?" I smiled.
He shook his head.
" For Sophia. I want her to know that I never meant anything I said about hurting her.
I could never hurt a little child. I was trying to hurt you. I did a good job at that."
I looked at him with new eyes.
" Benny, I never told her you wanted to hurt her. I did believe you though. She doesn't know anything about you. But thank you, I will get these to her."
He looked down and waited for me to join him.
I took my sweater and put it over my arm.
" Where to husband?" I asked him, sure he wanted to take me to his room.
" Well, I'm not your husband anymore, Manuel is dead. I'm just a new guy that saw you in Monaco and felt his heart explode at your beauty. I love your new darker hair, and those glasses are cool."
He took my hand. "Is this ok, I mean to hold your hand?"
I squeezed his hand.
" I am feeling so light. So free Ben." I started to cry, trying to hide my tears.
I walked ahead of him.
He saw the scars on my upper back, just above my dress line.
I saw him frowning.
" I forgot about your scars." He said.
I turned to face him.
" Are you embarrased to be seen with me then?"
" No, Jo...just the opposite. I'm not sure you should be seen with me." He shuffled his feet, looking nervous again.
I pulled him in for a quick kiss.
" Ben, we need some therapy."
He touched my lower lip.
" Anything. I just want to be with you. Any terms. I swear it."He said in a soft voice.
" Oh f**k it!" I said, as I pulled him in and kissed him fully in front of the whole world.
" Let's go back to my room." I said between kisses.
He shook his head, pulling me out of his embrace
" I'm romancing you, I made plans for us." He grinned like a little boy.
" Oh, ok. I've never been romanced before. I will play along."
Ben pulled me into a coffee shop. He ordered me a cappuccino with a heart.
" We are going to dinner at Cipriani Monte Carlo, princess Grace's place."
We sat down to chat.
" Why didn't you kill Ian after he tried to kill us?" I wondered.
" I was only thinking of you when I found him.
He thought I was going to kill him, but I told him my heart. I was a total wreck.
We struck up a deal. He would lead me back to you, I would help him with his CIA business."
" I see, what about your kids then?"
"I am working all that out. Josephine, I'm giving everything up for you.
The same way you gave everything up for me, I mean I forced you to do that, but...I want you to love me.
I mean to really love me. Not because you are mine and I made you love me."
I just realized we had been conversing in Spanish the whole time.
" Manuel, I think I need a bit of time. I mean, the things that I went through, well...it's been a horror really."
" I'm Ben now, please. Manuel is dead."
He passed the first test, he did not blow up at me wanting time.
We finished our coffee and walked to the fancy restaurant.
I held hands with Ben as we entered the large dining room. It was beautifully decorated with white table cloths, pink flowers and large bay windows.
Our waiter came with some champagne. He filled my flute and then some for Ben.
He covered his glass. " No thanks. I'm sober." He smiled at me.
" Sober, what's that?" I laughed as I drank a sip.
" I am not going to hurt you again. If I'm drinking, I can get mean. Plus, your father is sober. I want to support him, maybe bond us together."
I put my glass down and stood up.
- Writer
