Before You Forgot Me

CAMILA

Camila and her junior colleague Richard stood before the top 1 biggest pharmaceutical company in the USA, the headquarter of her current workplace in Georgia. TheSlyvester Inc. She gulped as she craned her neck up to see the high end of the skyscraper. She had never dreamed of coming here as all her life has been around Georgia.

"So, Richard? This is the location where the tests were mistakenly delivered too?" She turned to the intern, arching a brow.

"Yes, the call was from here. His name is Fred or something, told me to come take them back to the lab."

Camila sighed. "This was your mix up, so go collect them. I'll wait outside." She pushed him forward to the entrance.

"You're supposed to come with me. Mr Dante sent both of us here." Richard pouted.

"Nope, you handle it alone." She replied.

He scoffed as he turned to go.

"Whatever." Camila muttered.

Camila had always gone out of her way to avoid that man. The CEO.

Rumors of his cold attitude followed him everywhere, and she had no interest in becoming his next victim. Stories about the CEO turning the place into hell for staff were enough to keep her far away. Whenever he came to inspect her branch office, she hid in the restroom until he left. Mr. Dante would always come looking for her afterward, wearing that familiar angry expression she'd grown used to. Somehow, his face felt like déjà vu.

Camila watched as Richard finished talking to the security guards and walked into the building. She followed quietly behind him.

The test samples had been sent to the headquarters by mistake, Richard had entered the New York lab details instead of the Georgia regional lab, where the next phase of production was supposed to take place.

The moment Camila stepped through the revolving doors, she froze.

"Damn... this place is beautiful." She whispered, her eyes following close at the hundreds of people walking past her, all different destinations in mind.

Should she apply for transfer to the HQ just to enjoy this view every single day?

All she needs to do is just to avoid the devil recarnation just like she has been doing.

She drifted toward the other side of the lobby.

"Camila!" Richard waved at her from inside the glass elevator.

She turned. But, walked straight into something solid. The impact knocked the breath out of her as she staggered back.

"Ouch! Jeez, that's hard." She rubbed her forehead.

She looked up and froze.

Eric Sylvester.

Six feet of tailored suit and controlled power. Dark hair, darker eyes, and an expression that could freeze fire.

The CEO. The man she'd spent a year successfully avoiding. And she'd just face planted into his chest.

"I..." Words failed her. Her brain, usually so quick with chemical formulas and research data, blanked completely.

He didn't speak. Didn't move. Just studied her with an intensity that made her want to check if she had something on her face.

Then his head tilted, almost imperceptibly. "Have we met before?"

"I.....I don't think so, sir. I work in the Georgia office. I've never....."

"No." He cut her off, but his voice wasn't angry. Puzzled. "Not at work."

Silence stretched between them.

Camila's pulse hammered. Something about his gaze felt familiar in a way that made her skin prickle. In a way that whispered of hospital rooms and lost time.

Anyway, she doesn't even want him to know she existed.

Eric still didn't say anything. Will he shout at her? Fire her?

Wait. He doesn't know if she's an employee or not. Huh Huh, She just told him she worked at the georgia office.

"I...I...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...." She paused, his expression hasn't changed.

Is he a statue or what?

She opened her mouth again to speak, her body shivered from the coldness emitting from him.

He studied her face for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without any other word, he stepped around her and walked away, leaving her oddly breathless.

Looking around, she noticed the attention the situation had drawn.

Nalia, her former colleague now transferred to the HQ some months back, walked towards her.

"What are you doing here?" Nalia whispered, giving Eric a brief glance. She had a worried look. "Don't tell me you got transferred here and on your first day, you trespassed with him?!" Her voice still in a loud whisper.

"No, I didn't, I only came here to get some tests. I'm going back to Georgia today." She answered.

Whatever Nalia had begun to say, she didn't pay full attention. Her mind wandered some moments ago, her CEO hand that had touched her hair. She must be dreaming.

Maybe the rumors aren't true.

"Get that report ready in the next two hours! Or you will be fired! I told you I don't want delays." Eric yelled at the lady who had rushed to him, visibly shaking. She had flinched and turned back to do as he say.

Okay, the rumors are true.

As she turned back to Nalia, her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Mom flashed across the screen. She considered letting it go to voicemail. She always considered it. But guilt, that familiar, suffocating weight made her answer.

"Hi, Mom."

"Camila." Her mother's voice was crisp, perfectly modulated. The voice she used for her country club friends. "I'm calling because I need you to transfer money into my account. The event planner requires a deposit for the spring gala."

Not 'how are you.' Not 'I've been thinking about you.' Urgghhh!

"Mom, I sent you money two weeks ago......"

"That was for other expenses. This is different. Really, Camila, must you question everything I ask? I'm your mother."

Camila closed her eyes. Breathed. Dr. Patel's voice echoed in her head: You're allowed to have boundaries.

"How much do you need?"

"Three thousand should cover it."

"I don't have that."

"Of course you don't." Elena's sigh was theatrical. "I told everyone you'd be too broke. Your father would be so disappointed, you know. He always wanted us to be a close family. But you've always been so... difficult."

Camila's throat tightened. Bringing up her father was a favorite weapon. The man who'd actually loved her, weaponized against her.

"I'll send the money," she said quietly.

"By tonight, please. And Camila? Try to be more present in this family. I worry about you, alone in that little apartment, buried in your work. No husband, no real life. People are starting to ask questions."

The call ended.

Camila stood there, phone in hand, feeling like she'd been hollowed out. This was how it always went. Elena took and took, disguised as maternal concern. Criticized and criticized, disguised as worry.

But knowing it and doing it were different things.

Her phone buzzed again. A text this time.

"By the way, that therapist you're seeing is a waste of money. You don't need therapy. You need to grow up."

Camila blocked the number for the third time that month.

Elena would call from a different number tomorrow.

She always did.

CAMILA

At Camila's Therapy Office,

"Anything you'd like to add?"

Dr. Patel's office was warm, soft lighting, plants in every corner. A safe space.

Camila twisted her hands in her lap. "It's been 2 years. Shouldn't I remember something by now?"

"Memory doesn't work on a schedule." Dr. Patel leaned forward. "But you said you've been having fragments?"

"Yeah...Like a dream. Feels like I remember some things but not everything." Camila swallowed. "And now... I'm working with someone who says we've met before."

"Eric Sylvester." She added.

"You really can't remember if you've met him before?"

Camila nodded.

"Does your body react to him? I mean in anyway?" Dr. Patel asked.

Camila nodded again. Her hands were shaking again.

"What does your instinct tell you?"

"That I need to remember. That whatever I'm forgetting... it's important."

*******One Week Later,

"Uhmm...Camila? You need to see this?! I can't believe this and I'm so happy for you right now." Evie burst into her the office with a letter. Camila was still attending to Richard.

She gave her a glance and sighed. "I'm busy, Evie. You have to come later." She told her and turned back to him. "So, lastly, you need to take the anti-depressant medications to the warehouse for further distribution."

Richard nodded and got up from her seat to the door. Evie immediately took over, facing Camila with a huge grin. She cleared her throat. "Now, it's time to talk about this good news." Evie flaunts the letter across her face.

"What kind of letter is that? Is that for me?" Camila asked, staring at the letter with a frown.

"Oh well. You are going to be proud when you hear this."

"Evie, please. Just tell me."

"Okay, okay, proud one. You've been transferred to the HQ to be the lead biochemical researcher of a new billion-dollar project. I mean, that's the greatest news I've ever heard. Omg! I'm so happy for you!" She started chattering but Camila had tuned out.

HQ? How did she get that kind of a huge transfer and position? Wait...It's not like she's been punished or something? She scoffed. Definitely not!

She snatched the letter from her and read the content. "This isn't good news Evie." She said and Evie who is still chattering suddenly stopped and gave a frown.

"Did you just say something? What isn't good about this letter, Camila? You're still not going to change concerning this proud attitude of yours? Girl, this is golden opportunity and you need to grab it. And also, you're going to be in a room with that Eric, famous billionaire bachelor." Evie's voice took on a strange tone, almost protective? Fond?

Camila frowned. "You say that like you know him."

"Everyone knows him," Evie deflected quickly. "Anyway, you should go!"

With a sigh, "Evie, I'm not going to the headquarter." She got up immediately. "This is worst offer I've ever received. I'm not doing this job. I need to see Mr Dante."

"There goes you, Camila! You can't keep doing this to yourself. Don't you want to get promoted?" She huffed but Camila was already out of her office. "Argh! I do not see anything bad in becoming a lead project blah blah. That's huge money! Wait, does she have a bad past with him that he always avoids that dude? Fuck! That makes me more curious."

Camila knocked at the door and waited for response, before she could let her mind drift apart, a familiar croaky answered. "Come in"

"Good morning, Mr Dante." She bowed slightly at the old looking man in his fifties who was busy reading a fashion magazine. He nodded and adjusted his glass away from his nose.

"What brings you to my office, Mila?" He gave her full attention.

"Well, It's concerning this letter I received. To be a lead researcher on a project. I....I can't do this." She breathed out.

Mr Dante let out a small laugh. He dropped down the magazine. "You're going to reject that offer I find so hard for you? Do you know the exact length I went through just to gain that man's trust that you will do a better job?"

"Sir......This feels like a punishment and you probably wanted to get rid of me and this is a perfect opportunity for you."

"Well, I just gave you a life changing promotion. All i need is thank you. And i see you have that special talent in you that's not supposed to be used here. Use it in a higher place." He returned to his magazine, flipping to the next page.

Reluctantly, she sat down on a couch across the office. "I heard he's ruthless and cold. I do not want to be near to people like him. He's wicked too." She mumbled the last words. Unsure if it's a better way to describe him as a bad jerk.

"The last time I checked, Eric Sylvester is not into mafia. So, I don't see any reason why he should be what you described him just now. Well, maybe if you start your job with him, you might see some good changes in him." Mr Dante shrugged.

"When am i starting?" Camilla asked.

"Well, today's monday so you should go now. He doesn't talk much so I couldn't get much information from him. But I already sent him more information about you to him. He would want you to show up i guess, they have a meeting today."

"Oh....I still haven't decide if I will do this or not. I will get back to you when I...." Mr Dante cut her off.

"You're doing it, Milla. Just do it. It's just until the project is done and I know you are so good at this. That's why I recommended you." He smiled at her. "I do not want to hear anything from you, all you have to do is to go to the HQ now and go show yourself." He flipped another page of the magazine.

Camilla got up with a hiss, mumbling words to herself. She left the letter in the office and walked out.

Evie was at the door waiting for her.

"So what's up? Are you going to accept the offer or you want it passed down to me? I'd be glad to go in your stead." Evie grinned, tugging her dress.

"Go to your office, Evie. I need some space to think about it." She sighed.

"No need to think about it. I've moved your things outside and there's a cab waiting for you to take you to the HQ." Abruptly, Camila turned to her with a questioning look. "What! Don't worry, I paid for it."

"Evie, I need to at least find a place to move into before i even start going to that HQ! " She groaned, rolling her eyes at her.

"The thing is, everything has been made available for you."

"You're talking as if you participated in pushing me out of this place." Mila turned to her fully, folding her arms. She must have something to spill.

"Well, you can't say or tell so let's keep it that way. All you need to know is that, Mr Dante and I have made everything ready for you. Best of luck, sugar. I can have your office all to myself. " She twirled around, giggling.

"God knows what you guys have been doing behind my back." Camila muttered and proceed to her office.

It was empty. Really empty.

In just that space of time she went to meet Mr Dante, Evie had packed her things out. That silly coconut head of a girl.

"What should i do, God? Not ready for this big thing that just landed in my hands like a piece of chicken."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

ERIC

Eric watched the video Ad as it came to an end on his tablet, He removed his eyeglasses with gentle caution, placing them on the table before him and turned his attention to the lady who has been watching every of his moves with a lick of tongue. His secretary. He knew but chose to ignore.

He doesn't give a shit about it. He would fuck her whenever he likes but now, he needs to watch her more often.

"How's the Ad sir?" Clara questioned, then proceed to drop the files in her hands. Her breast peeking for her flora short dress.

Eric looked briefly, "Yes, It's okay. Tell them I will not be around for the meeting. Josh will represent me." He took the files and opened. Then he smirked at the small picture glaring at him from the information file. "She's the one leading the project, right?"

"Yes, sir. I received a call that she's on her way already." Clara responded with a nod. Irritation appeared on her face as she glared at the picture Eric was smiling to.

"Good. Set up a meeting with other new project members selected when she arrives. We have to move fast before the Luxoria takes any step. We are to be three times ahead of that goddamn company." He replied, waving his hand to dismiss her out of his office.

Eric leaned back to his chair, his fingers drumming the hardwood table. His mind wandered off to the woman that seems to take another space in his every day thinking again. That week was not the first he'd met her. He'd seen her somewhere before.

But where?

His phone chimed, a message popped in and he read. After, his eyes caught his wallpaper on his phone, It was a picture of a dirty blonde lady in a white dress turning her back at him. Her face impossible to see. He sighed. He didn't know who she is and had no memory of how the picture got his screen but somehow, he didn't want to change it.

CAMILA

Camila groaned as she got out of the cab with her things packed neatly in a box. She stared at the building for the second time she's been here again.

"Breathe, Camila. You've got this. All you have to do is to do your job and leave as soon as possible." She breathed in and out before moving forward.

She'd been called by that annoying sounding if she was right secretary, that a meeting will be held as soon as she comes into the HQ. Mila walked further in, and the place seemed to part for her, security gates sliding back, elevators ready and waiting in hush.

She reached the elevators, feeling her heart calm, her stance set. Whatever waited above like deals, money, men who assumed power was a given especially her boss, she felt set for it.

Camila got to the lobby, her eyes wandering to see if she could find her new place and luckily, it was right ahead of her with the huge placard written 'Project lead office'. She quickly settled in.

She gasped at how bigger it was than her former office. She could see the busy city from here. Okay, this is one great opportunity. Her phone chimed and that cut her office tour short.

'The meeting is about to start. Come to the conference room.' She read aloud the first one.

The second one was from her mom, she sighed. Another number.

And a voicemail.

Against her better judgment, she played it.

"Camila, it's your mother. Again. Since you refuse to answer my calls like a respectful daughter, I'll leave a message. I need you to call me back about the money for the gala. And I spoke to Mrs. Henderson at the club, her son is a doctor. A real doctor, not a lab technician. I gave him your number. His name is Bradley. He'll call you. Try to be pleasant when he does, though I know that's difficult for you. And please, wear something flattering. He's seen your Instagram and apparently you need to update your photos. The ones from your father's funeral make you look dowdy. Anyway, call me back. Or don't. You're probably too busy with your little experiments to care about family. Bye."

The message ended. Camila deleted it.

She walked out of the door, a woman had crossed her.

"Dr. Camila?" A woman in her late thirties appeared at her office door. Perfectly styled auburn hair, designer glasses, professional smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I'm Dr. Sarah Jenkins. I'll be your senior research associate on the project."

"Oh! Nice to meet you." Camila stood to shake her hand.

"I have to admit, I was... surprised when they brought in someone from regional." Sarah's smile tightened. "I've been with the project since its inception. Eight months of groundwork."

"I'm sure your work has been invaluable," Camila offered diplomatically.

"Mm." Sarah's gaze swept over Camila's office. "Well, I've prepared the latest reports for you. We have a lot to catch you up on."

"They didn't even let me rest." She mumbled as she grabbed her laptop that was still warm. She had at least wanted to present something when she has read about what the project would be and what have been done so far. She'd done little of her research, at least that would show she was a serious and worthy enough to be the Lead Biochemical Researcher.