Chapter 37: Disgusted

Chapter 37: Disgusted
MERA

“Yes. After speaking with you this morning, I forwarded your resume to a few of my contacts, one of whom may have an opportunity available for you. He is a big brand as well, but I don't want to jinx it, so I will let him call you tomorrow." Ava's eyes gleamed with excitement, which mine mirrored as I thanked her.

Our meal arrived, and Noa awoke just as we finished eating. I picked him up from the stroller to put him in the baby seat so I could feed him, but Ava asked me to give him to her, so I did. She enjoyed feeding him.

I'd mentioned to her earlier that I needed some advice, so she asked what it was about. I told her about contacting Stein and shared a little bit about Logan, including how he had never wanted to be a part of Noa's life.

I then told her how worried I was that contacting Stein and attempting to get my inheritance would force me to return to France, which I was not looking forward to.

I obviously intended to stay away from Logan, but what if he was still looking for me?

Finding out that I had fled from both my father and Noa's father was devastating to Ava.

“I'm sorry, Mera." She reached across the table to take my hand. “I understand you are in a difficult situation, which is why you contacted the lawyer, but what if this horrible man finds you and does something to you and Noa in retaliation for your escape?" she continued.

“I think you should put all that on hold. I will help you, and we can try to find something. I can even lend you some money.” She added, which I appreciated, but I would rather we worked on finding something. I had taken enough handouts. I wanted to start over on my own.

“Yeah, you’re-” I began, but the words died in my mouth as I looked up to see the source of my misery walking toward us, a disgusting smile on his face.

“Lorenzo… hi!” Ava turned towards him as he approached our table. He responded to her before turning his attention to me, and my body stiffened as he hugged me. 

“I miss you," he whispered in my ear as he withdrew from that hug, and that snapped the last string holding me together. 

I saw Ava's lips move, but her voice was muted as my body began to shake, repelled by the monster's touch, while everything he had done came flooding back, vivid and haunting. 

••••

AVA

“What’s wrong?” I asked Mera as she abruptly stood, took Noa from my arms, and grabbed her bag. “Mera, what's happening? What's the problem?" I asked again, rising to my feet, but she still didn't respond and began to walk away.

Looking over at Lorenzo, I was puzzled, and he shrugged, looking equally perplexed. So I dashed after her, attempting to catch up as she hurried away.

“Mera, stop! Please." It was only as I grabbed her shoulder that she finally stopped with tears in her eyes and a defeated expression. I wrapped my arms around her and Noa, pulling them into a hug as she sobbed onto my shoulder, her entire body trembling.

“Mera, talk to me, please. What’s wrong? Is it Lorenzo?” I asked since she was fine before he joined us, and she nodded, tears still rolling down her cheeks. I took Noa and led her to a nearby table.

As soon as we sat down, a server approached and I requested some water. He brought it, and Mera took a few sips, gradually becoming calmer.

“You know you can trust me, right?" She nodded.

"Did he say something to you?"

My question elicited another round of tears, and I felt a sudden sense of unease creeping up my throat. "Mera, what did he do?" I asked again, my voice sharpening slightly as my heartbeat quickened.

She opened her mouth to say something, but her lips quivered and she burst into tears again. So I got up and sat next to her, gently rubbing her back in slow, circular motions.

My own eyes stung with tears as I pondered what he could have done or said to her to make her this upset. Was he the reason she and Camila fought?

She sat straighter after a long pause, wiping her tears with her sleeves. “I need you to promise me you will not tell anyone," she said, deepening my frown and increasing my anxiety.

"Mera, tell anyone what-?"

“Promise me, Ava! Please."

“Alright, I promise. Now, what did he do?”

“He-he," she started, tears spilling again. And I reached for her hand and held it firmly, giving her a reassuring glance.

“It’s all right; you can tell me. I won’t tell anyone. I promise,” I said softly, and her next words stilled me in place.

“He-he forced himself on me. He raped me, Ava.”

“Wha-what?” My voice came out softer than I intended, my brain unable to process what she had just said, and she insisted she was not lying, even though I had not implied she was.

"I swear I would never fabricate something like that about anyone. He-" she attempted to explain further, her voice broken, but I cut her off and drew her into a hug.

“I’m sorry, Mera. I'm so sorry," I choked, tears running down my cheeks, and she buried her face against my chest, breaking down.

“I trusted him, Ava. And he hurt me. I hate him so much," she said, her body shaking with sobs, and I kept saying how sorry I was. I wanted and needed to say more, to do more, but I didn’t know what. I couldn’t even imagine what she had gone through.

How could he have done this to her? She loved him as a friend, just as we all did. What kind of sick monster would do that to someone?

After a long while, we finally managed to calm ourselves. And I looked around to notice a few stares from passers-by, but I didn’t care, my heart was torn for Mera.

I opened my mouth to apologize again, but then a thought occurred to me. Why had she assumed I would not believe her? Why had she panicked?

I wondered if this meant Camila knew but did not believe her. The question flew out of my mouth before I could think twice.

"Does Camila know? Is that what started the fight between you? Did she not believe you?” She wouldn't, would she?

“Ye-yes, but I don’t blame her. She-”

“What? The son of a bitch raped you, and instead of attacking him, she attacked you? And you don’t blame her? Why the hell not, Mera? Because I sure as hell do! I… I don’t believe this. What the hell is wrong with her?”

I rose to my feet, overcome by an outpouring of emotions I couldn't articulate... disgust, disappointment, incredulity, and pain. I didn’t know if I could keep my promise to Mera. That piece of garbage needed to pay. And I needed to understand the reasoning behind Camila's response.

"Mera, listen, you can not keep this a secret," I said, sitting back down next to her. “You need to get that evil bastard thrown in jail. He cannot get away with this. He must pay, and Camila must explain herself to you. She should beg your forgiveness for her disgusting behavior."

"No, Ava. Please don't-"

“Why not, Mera? You have been terribly wronged. You're not the one who should be hiding in shame. They are. Please do not let him get away with it."

"No," she shook her head.

“Mera, ple-”

“Ava, please. Please don’t make me regret telling you this. I don’t want anyone to know. Please respect my decision. I don’t need you making this harder than it already is,” she choked, her voice raspy from all the crying, and I took her hand in mine, slowly nodding in understanding, even though I was screaming inside.

She was right. I may not have liked or understood her decision, but it was hers to make, and I must respect it.

“I’ll respect your decision. I hate it, and I don’t know how I’ll carry on as if nothing happened, but I will try.”

"Thank you," she said, sniffing and wiping her cheeks. I asked her where she was staying because she needed someone. I wanted to be there for her, but she would not tell me.

It didn't matter, though, because I already knew; it was one of Camilo's places, but she was unaware of that. I only asked in order to get her permission to come visit.

We eventually walked back to the restaurant where we left Noa’s stroller, and she headed home afterward. But my mind didn’t stop racing with what she had just told me.

I had no idea how I would keep it from Camilo, or how I would face Camila and that evil bastard without losing my cool and calling him out.