Protect Me Not

Chapter 12

Mary's suite was filled with warm scented air. The essence of her lingering perfume was still evident in the air. Mary's vulnerable state made Camden's invite into her suite that much easier for him.

"Please let me help you get comfortable on the couch here while I take care of room service that should be here any minute," he explained.

"Phew... ok," Mary said all while slumping down onto the couch trying to get the room to stop spinning.

Camden carefully pulled her shoes off and placed them neatly beside the couch. Just when he placed a throw blanket over her legs, he heard knocking at the door.

"I'll attend to the door, you just relax," he instructed.

Mary was feeling very relaxed and quite pleased with the way Camden was taking control, but in a good way. It was nice and welcoming to be waited on from time to time Mary thought. Not having to worry about a single thing is exactly what she needed to ease her mind of all her thoughts. She closed her eyes, if only just for a moment. Enough time to allow the room to stop spinning.

When Camden came back into the sitting area, he found Mary fast asleep on the couch. With not a moment to loose, Camden quickly fetched Mary's cell phone and glanced over her recent text messages. With nothing too enticing to continue the snoop, Camden made his way over to Mary's purse. Surprised by the amount of cash she had in her pocket book, Camden took only a few bills. Just enough to cover the cost of lunch and a bit more keep him happy for the moment.

"Jackpot!" he whispered to himself.

For a very well to do business woman, she sure doesn't keep her bills tidy, he thought. Knowing how successful Mary was with her brokerage firm, Camden didn't anticipate his target to be such an easy catch. For Camden, it was always a rush to pursue a victim who had it all together. Knowing he was collecting secret rewards without his victim's knowledge or without much effort on his behalf seemed to activate his dopamine levels giving him a high that drugs couldn't supply.

Camden's a very intelligent man. His many degrees that once hung on his wall proved that to be true. His love for the wild side always took precedence in his life. He found it more fun and personally rewarding to do things the unconventional way. Camden was successful in his practice, only his personal rewards and profits were not obtained through the traditional methods. Thrill seeking was what always brought Camden to the table quickly. When Camden was younger, his parents would always joke about his wild ways but never feared his antics because he always proved to them that he was still on the right path to a successful adult life. His law studies proved his commitment to building a respectful career but his fast life and easy women always drifted his direction in life. The sudden and tragic accident that took the lives of his parents seemed to straighten him out for a short while. Initially, Camden fell into a depression and turned to alcohol and drugs to ease the pain of his new orphaned life. The constant parties with women and drugs allowed Camden to forget about his pain for awhile. Soon enough, his inheritance was spent and his party friends found somewhere else to hang out. Camden was left with nothing and he knew it was time to start all over again, and he did.

With Mary still asleep, Camden left her suite as quiet as he could making sure the door behind him closed completely. He knew exactly what he needed to do next and it would be perfect for his next planned outing with Mary.

When Mary finally woke up a few hours later, she could still feel the effects of the alcohol she consumed. Slightly confused, she got up off the couch and wandered over to her cell phone that was sitting on the kitchenette counter. She noticed the untouched food there as well and thought better of it to just leave it sit there. After all, she wasn't even sure how long it had been sitting out. Based on the sky colour and lack of sun shining, Mary could only assume she slept for a few hours. Indeed, when Mary observed the time on her cell display, she knew her assumption was correct. Surprisingly, she felt somewhat refreshed and less anxious minus the slight pounding still resonating in her head. A round of drinks seemed to be what the doctor just might have ordered after all. It had been years since Mary allowed herself to indulge in an afternoon of careless activities and countless cocktails. Her new found freedom from her over scheduled appointments and demanding clients felt liberating and refreshing. It felt good to be out socializing, laughing and being mindless of responsibility and expectations. Mary opened her window and stood with her arms stretched out to her sides, breathing in the cool fall air. Perhaps a mental health day was really all she required to get a better grip on her constant visions of her haunting past. After all, she hadn't even thought of Richard all day. Feeling rather giddy and impressed with her current upbeat mood, Mary decided a few more cocktails where in order. Not wanting to make the same mistake as earlier today, she knew she must eat first. Making her way downstairs to the hotel restaurant would be her first priority.

The lounge was beautifully decorated with the season's colours and masterfully crafted flower arrangements strategically placed around the room creating focal points and a warm ambiance. Mary chose an empty table that boasted the perfect and impressive view of Yorkville Avenue. If there was anything Mary enjoyed doing by herself, it was people watching. She found people to be strangely enticing with how they act and react to situations and scenarios. Her street level seating choice gave her ample opportunity to observe the early evening foot traffic. Mary gracefully ordered an assorted terrine along with an impressive choice of a vintage red wine to start. She wanted to be careful not to over indulge, especially because she was on her own. Mary was alone, by herself, unescorted and feeling rather lonesome. She realized she had never been unassisted in life before. There had always been someone there with her to walk through life with. It hadn't always been a pleasing road to travel but a road with companionship nonetheless. Just as Mary sat comfortably contemplating her friendship choices and the repercussions that followed, her uncontrollable and interfering recollection of her Richard days came pouring through. Not wanting to fall apart in the swanky lounge, Mary quickly occupied her thoughts with her earlier encounter with Camden. He was the perfect distraction for her, exactly what she needed. Her fun filled day of shopping and socializing was what her soul seemed to crave even though she felt rather embarrassed that she drank too much. Reminiscing about the day's activities had Mary thinking she should place a call to Camden to let him know she was okay. Thanking him for being such a gentleman and getting her back to her suite was something she should have done the moment she woke up. With that thought, Mary dialed his number from her cell.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hey! Camden?" Mary questioned.

"Yes, it is he," he responded.

"It's Mary" she stated.

"Mary! Yes, how are you?" he asked with concern.

"I'm fine, just fine," she answered. "Hey listen, I'm really sorry for what happened earlier," she explained.

"Don't even worry about it Mary," he assured her.

"I do worry about it Camden," she continued. "It's not my normal behaviour to pound back cocktails pre lunch hour and then pass out."

With a slight chuckle, Camden expressed his lack of concern for her behaviour and promised not to hold it against her.

"What a relief," Mary declared. "I want to make it up to you."

"There really is no need to make anything up to me Mary," he assured her. "It's nothing we all haven't done one or two times in our life."

"One or two times?" Mary expressed. "People do this more than once?" she joked.

"Believe it or not, I just did it last week. Clearly it wasn't planned but sometimes our judgement gets a little clouded and we forget how to act responsibly."

"Responsible I was not!" she added.

"Let's not make a big deal about it and chalk it up to a little mishap," he bargained.

"I like your way of thinking," Mary admitted. "My whole life I've always tried to do the right thing and follow all the right rules. Really, just to please the people around me I guess. It feels really good to not have to do that once in a while."

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained!" he continued.

"Hey listen," Mary said. "I'm at d/Bar in the lounge at my hotel having something to eat. Would you like to join me?"

"I was not expecting that, but yeah! Sounds great," Camden accepted with great excitement in his voice.

"Okay then, I'll see you soon?" Mary asked.

"How soon is now," he exclaimed. "I happen to have a very special something for you too and I am positive this something is going to put you in complete relax mode."

With a nervous laugh Mary couldn't help but wonder what he could have possibly got for her.

"A spa retreat package?" Mary childishly guessed.

"You'll find out soon enough, eager one," he claimed ending the phone call.

Mary could feel her anticipation escalate with every waiting moment. She could never resist a good surprise.