Pleased To Meet You

Awaken, my love!

Meanwhile in Barcelona, I was head director of my father's company, living with my husband Pierre. In a way I had it all but something didn't feel right. After my accident, anything could bring back a memory. I would trigger every time I got into a car, kissed Pierre or stuff  Giovanni and I used to do. My dad never told me what happened before the crash and I couldn't remember why I got distracted while I was driving. Some parts were missing but maybe one day I would find out what went wrong. At the moment I was close to my dad  even though I still felt like he needed to control everything about me. How I felt, how I lived, everything but I used to think "he just wants the best for me, right?"

Pierre suggested to live in France and I was glad to join him. I mean, I did love my dad but I needed a bit of distance and as I wanted to take everything to France I had to get the rest of my stuff at my father's house. I went there to get it and entered my old room. I looked at it with such sorrow. I could feel how sad I felt living there and at the same time I couldn't remember a thing. When I was looking for some old pictures I remembered I had put them in a bow, so I started to look around the house. I found a backpack at the top of my closet and it was pretty heavy. I assumed it was mine, so I opened it to see what was inside of it. The bag was filled with pictures of me and this guy I couldn't recognize. I saw one after another but I didn't know about any of these. I read some of the letters that the guy had sent me and it finally got to me. I started remembering everything. About Italy, Giovanni, little Luca. My dad has separated me from him and I crashed because I was trying to go back to Italy after arguing with my dad.

All this time I thought my dad was trying to be the good guy but he was evil and manipulative. I was crying and I could hardly even breathe. My dad had fixed my life the way he wanted and I just let him do it.

I went to Christine's and asked her to tell me the truth. She told me that my father threaten her and she was so afraid of him that she went with it. Everything I had lived for the past four years had been a lie. Pierre had a deal with my dad. He offered him a promotion and a massive amount of money with the condition that he needed to pretend like he was my long time my boyfriend, so I could completely forget about Giovanni. I send a package to Pierre's house with my wedding ring, divorce papers and a letter saying that I knew about the deal. He later called my dad but I already had taken my things out of his house and left to Alessandria to look for the love of my life. Maybe it was too late but I had to try and find him.

When I arrived in Italy I went to Donatello's to see if he was still  working there. I only saw Lucy so I asked her about Giovanni.

Camilla: Lucy! Thank god I found you. I finally left that living hell--

Lucy: Camilla, what are you doing here? Are you bored of your precious life? Did your fancy husband turn out to be not what you wanted?

Camilla: What? no. Well, actually he's an idiot and he had a deal with my father but I came here to look for Giovanni.

Lucy: So, now you want to beg Giovanni to take you back? Damn, Camilla I didn't think you were so conceited and careless.

Camilla: What are you talking about?

Lucy: I'm talking about cheating on him and not even answer the phone to break up with him. You just cut him out of your life. What the hell is wrong with you?

Camilla: Lucy, I know you don't like me. You've never liked me but you gotta believe what I'm about to tell you.

I explained everything to her and it seemed Giovanni had told her that he was capable of doing anything to get to me so she believed me. She said that he had moved to Rome and now he worked in very fancy restaurant. She gave me his new address and for a moment I hesitated. I didn't know if this was really a good idea to see him after all these years. Nevertheless, I needed to explain everything to Gio. When I got to his house I knocked on the door but no one answered, so I waited for him. It was getting dark and I was falling asleep. I closed my eyes for a second but Giovanni didn't arrive until the next day. On the morning someone touched my shoulder to wake me up. When I looked up I saw Giovanni. I stood up really quickly and said nothing. It felt like I was meeting him all over again.

Giovanni: What are you doing here?

Camilla: I was looking for you. Hi...

Giovanni: What do you need? I gave your dad his money back years ago. 

Camilla: No, it's not about that. 

Giovanni: How do you even know where I live?

Camilla: I talked with Lucy. She told me you were here, so I took a train and I got here yesterday. 

Giovanni: Is that why you fell asleep in my front door?

Camilla: Yes! Giovanni, I need to tell you something-

Giovanni: What is it? It must be really important if you flew all the way from Barcelona.

Camilla: I'm sorry I didn't contact you before. You won't believe what happened to me.

Giovanni: Try me but hey, let me guess. You went back to Barcelona with your dad and then you realized you didn't care enough about our relationship, so after  ayear together and six months of texting and sending out letters you cheated on me with Pierre Jacques and now that you're married, you think you can do the same to him with your old pal, stupido Giovanni. Well, you know what? I'm not interested. 

Camilla: That's not what happened.

Giovanni: Well, I don't need to hear your bullshit excuse four years later. It's too late to explain. 

Camilla: Giovanni, my dad found out about the letters and he got angry and started yelling at me. He said awful things to me, so I left. I wanted to tell you I was coming back home but I got distracted on the road and got into a car crash. I hit my head pretty bad so I couldn't remember anything . My dad hid all the stuff that could remind me about you and told me Pierre was my long time boyfriend, he even threaten Chris if she didn't go along with his lies. I didn't know you existed. Giovanni, you think that after everything that happened between us I would cheat on you? I loved you and I still do but the accident and my father made me forget about us.

Giovanni: I don't know if I should believe any of this. I don't know you anymore, Camilla. I waited for you but you hurt me. I mean, it's been too long, now you tell me a very convenient story and you think that you can undo what happened? I'm sorry but life does not work that way. 

Camilla: I know! I'm telling you the truth, I still have the scars if you need proof.

Giovanni: I don't need to see them. I-I believe you. I know your dad is capable of anything and I did receive your call that night. It all matches up. I believe some of that.

Camilla: Thank you-

Giovanni: But it's too late, you know. I have a new life and I can't just drop it all for you. 

Camilla: I know and I understand. I just wanted to explain everything to you.

Giovanni: Well, thank you. I appreciate this.

Camilla: One last question. Ypu don't have to answer if you don't want to but, do you still love me?

Giovanni: Yes and I hate feeling like this because I'm engaged to someone else. 

Camilla: Right. Uhm- I hope everything goes well and I'm very happy for you. I'm going to stay for a couple of days until I figure out where to go. Thank you for uhm- listening and understanding. This is my new number if you ever want to talk.

Giovanni: Thanks. How long will you be in Italy? 

Camilla: I don't know yet. 

Giovanni: Why don't you stay here?

Camilla: I don't think it's a good idea. I've suffered enough for a while and seeing you with someone else it's just painful. I should go.  

Giovanni: Now you get how I felt.

Camilla: You sounded just like my father... funny. Goodbye, Gio. 

Giovanni: Bye.

I had lost my chance. I had lost the love of my life and I thought it was over forever.