Camila Collins' Point Of View

I took a deep breath as my thoughts wandered over the image of Lauren standing beside Keana. I felt betrayed, but not by the deputy, but by myself. For so many years I had full control of my feelings, of my actions, and out of the blue a woman showed up and showed me I couldn't manage everything around me. That consumed me, cell by cell; it was like losing control of my own being. Damn deputy.

"Are you alright, sweetheart?"

I heard my husband's deep voice in the background as I stared at the movement of people walking along the sidewalk with their big umbrellas, and others with their rain capes. The gray sky poured a thin drizzle over New York, and would soon intensify, turning it into a storm. I faced Christopher's light eyes as soon as I felt the soft touch of his hand over mine. He had put on a very thick and warm coat, and was staring at me with a curious countenance.

"Yes, honey. I was just a little thoughtful about all this."

"Don't worry. Everything will be solved." He said as he intertwined his fingers with mine.

I flashed a weak smile, receiving another in return. He looked better than ever; perhaps the effect of all the meds was starting to lessen. Despite the very busy day, full of events, he seemed tranquil.

"I hope so."

"Trust me, Camila."

It didn't take long, and the huge iron gates of the mansion were opened so that we could drive in with the car. The vehicle was parked in the front part of the house, when one of the employees approached, opening the door so that we could get out. We ran into the house, avoiding getting wet from the rain. Christopher and I settled into our bedroom, he on one side with his computer, and I on the other with some book. We stayed for a few hours like that, without exchanging a single word. My thoughts were too far away for me to play the good wife. My thoughts surrounded the green-eyed woman who would soon arrive. For a few instants I thought it was a mistake to have ordered Lauren to show up here tonight, it wasn't an appropriate time. Because of her removal from the case, and because of my visibly affected emotional state. Performing for Christopher had become something natural, it was like being a character created by myself to complete a story that didn't end. But with Lauren it wasn't like that, not anymore. I lost myself. I lost myself in my feelings, in my actions, in my plans. Everything about me was sincere to her, and I simply couldn't act differently. It was maddening not to have control over me when it came to Lauren Jauregui.

"You did everything wrong, Camila." I whispered.

"Did you say something?" The man asked.

I lifted my head and looked at his face. Christopher set his computer aside as he stared at me tranquilly.

"I was thinking out loud, honey. Do you want me to tell the kitchen to serve your dinner here?"

"No, there's no need, we can eat downstairs."

"Great idea." I said as I got up to approach him. "I think that after all this stress, we should spend some time together." I sat down beside him, receiving a smile.

"I think that's a wonderful idea. I miss you."

"You do?"

"You have no idea how much." He said as he rested his hand on my thigh.

I looked at his hand that slid smoothly on my skin, and then looked at his courteous gaze. I could no longer remember the last time Christopher and I had sex. Ever since I started getting involved with Lauren, I refused his caresses and all the rest, I drugged him and made him believe that we had nights and nights of sex that never existed, not after I gave myself to Lauren. It was as if she could give me everything I needed, thus making my husband's presence totally unnecessary. But that couldn't go on, not after today. If Lauren was so detached and free to do whatever she wanted, why wouldn't I do the same too? We're talking about me, I'll always strive to be one step ahead, above. Always.

"We can have some quality time together today, later!" I exclaimed as I stood up.

"We can, huh?"

I rested my hand on the bed, leaning my body forward, inching my face closer to his.

"Of course, after such a stressful day, I want to make my husband relax." I whispered, and kissed his mouth.

"Oh, I so love that idea."

I pulled away from him with a smirk on my lips, and as I stood facing the window of my bedroom, I saw the huge front gates being opened. I took a few steps forward, towards the balcony of the suite, watching Lauren's car enter and drive by the garden. A happy smile graced my lips, followed by a heavy breath.

"You do?" I asked Christopher.

"Absolutely, can't wait for it."

Despite the rain, and the dim illumination offered by the garden, I could see Lauren inside her car. I watched her drive towards the front of my house.

"Then get ready, sweet husband of mine. I'm going to give you an unforgettable night." I said as I watched Lauren get out of her car and walk into the mansion.

I took a deep breath, feeling my chest inflate. I spun on my heel and walked into the suite again. Christopher looked at me with a broad, pretentious smile.

"Can't we start now?" He asked as he stood up.

"No. Go downstairs, wait for me, we'll have dinner there. I'm just going to take a quick shower and get all dolled up for you, okay?"

He approached, pulling me by the waist slowly.

"Okay, sweetheart." He whispered before kissing my lips and walking away.

As soon as Christopher left the bedroom, I headed towards the bathroom. I needed to be divine for that night. Being too good was messing with my plans, pushing me away from the real reason for being there. Lauren was to blame for that. But things would no longer go on like that, if I let a docile side appear, and she didn't know how to take advantage of it, I would go back to being what she deserved. And Lauren deserved a sweet and beautiful revenge carried out by Karla Estrabao.

Lauren Jauregui's Point Of View

I stayed in the living room, far from where Christopher was. I couldn't stomach to look at him, and the man knew that. After what had happened this morning, the mood between us was more than hostile. He remained entertained with his laptop, while I made absolute question of not even looking at him. Camila still hadn't showed up, but I knew she would soon make her presence known. The Latina was up to something, of that I was sure. She never, ever, did something without a purpose. And this time, it would be against me.

"Would you like something to drink, Ms. Jauregui?" Eliza asked as she approached.

"No, thank you. I'm fine."

The woman nodded with a weak smile and left. I inched closer to the huge living room window, watching the storm that was happening outside. The sound of the rain brought me a momentary tranquility, which for a few seconds made me forget about all that mess. A few months ago, I would never have imagined myself in a situation like this one. But everything happened for a reason, right? I didn't believe in coincidences, but in perfectly traced plans. And if mine was to be present in the Collins lives, then here I'd be.

"Finally!" I heard Christopher say, drawing my attention.

I looked at the top of the stairs, seeing the Latina descend slowly. She had a superior air, like the one of a queen. Karla was wearing a long and tight black dress of light fabric that was almost transparent. The huge slit in her left thigh made her look even more sexy. It had a flashy neckline, and thin straps, making room to highlight the black choker on her neck. It was a simple outfit, but on Camila, or rather, on Karla, it became something exuberant. Her hair was loose, wavy, giving certain seriousness to her expression. On her feet she had a pair of black high heels.

"I'm sorry for taking so long, honey." She said as she approached her husband, depositing a kiss on his lips.

I looked away from the couple, and turned my attention back to the window. I felt uneasy when I saw them in their moments of affection, and it wasn't an exaggeration, my stomach was turning at the moment.

"I asked Eliza to wait for you to come down to serve dinner."

"Aww, thank you."

To my surprise, she didn't even come close, she stayed with her husband the whole time. At least I wouldn't have to deal with her teasing, everything would be more tranquil, right? I stood in my corner, fulfilling my role of private security guard, like all the others that were outside. I knew that my presence wasn't necessary, but Camila had requested me to come just to show me that she was the one in charge. My head was bubbling with thoughts about everything that was happening, the day was literally one of the worst. The couple's dinner seemed calm, even a little too lively for someone who lost 100 billion dollars. The Latina seemed set on maintaining her husband's good mood, filling him with kisses and caresses all the time. After they finished eating, Christopher made absolute question of remaining in the same floor, now in the living room, where I was. He sat down on the soft couch with his laptop, right next to his wife, who graciously caressed him.

"You live for your work." I heard her grumble.

"Camila, things are much tougher now. I feel like my head is going to explode. 100 billion dollars is a lot more than I could lose."

"What do you mean, honey?"

"More than half of my production will be stopped. What they stole was a liquid money, the rest of my assets is in investments, buildings, constructions and machines. The money they stole was what kept things going."

They were whispering, but I could still hear them. Camila stared at him with a worried look as she slid her small hand up and down his thigh.

"I'm sorry." She said.

I couldn't hear his response, but I had the unfortunate sight of another kiss. Camila initiated almost every touch, and made absolute question of showing me that. I knew what she was doing, now I understood the real reason for my presence. She wanted revenge, wanted to make me feel what she felt hours ago in my apartment. Karla never missed a trick.

Son of a bitch.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm down my thoughts that induced me to get out of there. Camila rested one of her legs over his, receiving one of the man's hands that stroked up and down her thigh in a pretentious caress. I didn't want to look, I didn't want to feel bothered by that situation, but looking away was harder than I thought. She kissed him slowly, from his neck, his face, his lips. She teased him, instigated him, and time or another she looked at me.

"Don't do that here." He whispered, loud enough for me to hear.

I turned my back to them and balled my hands into fists in an ineffective attempt to control the anger I was feeling. I hated them, with all the strength of my being.

"Let's go to the bedroom." He asked her.

"In a little while."

She wanted to torture me some more, wanted to make me pay for every second. Resentful, vindictive and fucking calculating, that was Karla Camila. And as if all I went through wasn't enough, she could still make things worse. I cussed the moment I met her, the moment I gave myself to her. I cussed myself for falling in love.

"Ugh, fuck!" Christopher exclaimed as soon as his phone rang. "I need to take this, love. It's an important call."

"Of course, honey. I'll wait here for you."

He got up from the couch, deposited a quick kiss on his wife's lips, and walked out of the living room. I could hear him talking on the phone until he moved further away, losing all contact. Through the window, I saw Christopher lean against the stairwell outside as he talked on the phone. I watched him for a few instants, until I heard Camila's footsteps right behind me.

"You are always so obedient, Lauren."

I didn't move, I remained the way I was, totally ignoring her presence.

"I like it. When people obey my orders. When they know that I'm the one in charge." She made a brief pause as she walked over to the bar in the corner of the living room. "You're not going to say anything?"

I turned around, allowing myself to really look at her, still silent. The long dress was a useless piece because the fabric offered a perfect view of what she was wearing underneath. A kind of black corset, sensual, that looked really good on her. I shook my head and looked away from her so tempting body. The colossal desire that attracted us was hell, it was like a magnetism that we couldn't fight.

"The cat got your tongue, or was it Keana?" She asked with an ironic smile.

"Leave me alone, Camila." I whispered, alternating my gaze between the woman's body and her husband on the phone outside.

"I'm not doing anything." She said before taking a sip of the Martini in her glass.

"Don't play the innocent, it's the last thing you are. I know what you're doing!"

"You do?" She stood right in front of me, with her head held high and a challenging look.

"It's not hard to figure out after witnessing your so explicit actions."

We stared at each other for a few instants that were enough to create a dense aura between us. Anger, rancor, and a hint of excitement.

"And what am I doing, Lauren?"

Camila averted her gaze from mine as she stirred the reddish liquid inside the glass that was in her hand. I took a deep breath, letting the air enter my lungs, in an attempt to calm down. I hated the way she could control herself in front of her instincts, in front of her feelings. Camila might be about explode, but she wouldn't show it.

"Karla..."

"What? I'm not doing anything. I've never done anything. Unlike you, who slept with that slut again."

"Oh, of course. So you're throwing this little tantrum because of that, huh? You're jealous."

"Is that what you think?"

I took a step forward, pressing my body against hers. I tilted my head slightly forward until my lips touched her ear.

"I'm sure." I whispered.

"Maybe you're right, Jauregui. But contrary to what you think, I won't try to make you jealous, with me things are very different." She took another sip, wetting her lips, which were wiped with the tip of her tongue.

"Different?"

Camila took a step back as she let out a low laugh, in a totally sarcastic tone.

"I'll show you how it's done, Lauren. And I'll still give you the pleasure of listening."

In that instant I felt my whole blood boil, and that damn anger overpower me. My breathing, which until a few seconds ago was controlled, now weighed like lead, coming out of my nostrils in a furious way. On impulse, I gripped Camila's arm tightly, pulling her closer. The liquid in her glass swayed and partially dropped from her glass and fell on the floor, drawing the Latina's gaze to the place, and then to her hand and consequently to her arm, which I was grabbing, and lastly to my furious eyes.

"Don't play with me." I said seriously.

"I'm not in this game to play."

"What do you think you're going to do?" I squeezed her arm tighter.

"Wait, you'll see, or rather, you'll hear." She sighed and looked at me again. "Now let go of me."

"Don't do anything stupid."

"I do whatever I want, just like you did."

"Well, do whatever you want then!" I exclaimed as I released her arm roughly. "I don't care." I lied.

"Oh yeah?"

"Not even a little! Fuck whatever you're going to do, I don't care."

"Well then, Lauren. Enjoy your night at my house."

"Is there a problem?" I heard Collins' voice in the background, he was standing by the door as he stared at us somewhat curiously. Camila flashed a broad smile, and I just looked away from him.

"No, honey! I was just here informing Agent Jauregui that our guest-room on the first floor has a terrible infiltration." I looked at Camila, not understanding her excuse. "But she can use the bedroom on the second floor, right next to ours."

Christopher nodded and walked to the center of the living room, while I cussed Camila in my thoughts. That damn woman was getting her revenge, and wouldn't go easy on me that night.

"Whatever is best, sweetheart. Shall we go to the bedroom?"

"Of course, let's go." She stood beside him and stopped to face me. "You can go rest, Lauren. Just stay on alert, like always." Those were her words before going upstairs with her husband.

Maybe I had stayed in that living room alone for thirty or forty minutes, in an inner debate about whether or not to leave. As a newcomer in the New York police department, abandoning a 'mission' would be like saying goodbye to the compliments and praises in my professional record, and consequently to the idea of rising in my career. After what happened with the Collins case, that wasn't an option to be considered, and Camila knew that very well. I got up from the couch with a heavy sigh, and walked towards the stairs. The guest-room was right next to Camila's and Christopher's bedroom; for a few seconds I doubted her intentions for that night, but soon, that doubt was cleared. As soon as I sat down on the bed, which was against the wall of the room, I heard a sound coming from the next room.

"No..."

I stayed in absolute silence, trying to be sure of what I had just heard. And I couldn't fool myself, I knew that sound, that moan. Camila was getting her revenge on me, and in a much worse way. She'd make me listen to her moans for a whole night, which this time wouldn't be caused by me, but by one of the men I hate the most.

"Son of a bitch!" I exclaimed as I got up from the bed. "No, Lauren, no."

*Oh my God!*

*Yes, Chris, fuck!*

I covered my ears with my hands as soon as I heard her again. Camila didn't moan so loud, and I doubted very much that the asshole was giving her such pleasure when during five years he didn't. She was a calculating demon who would do anything to hit me. Damn her.

"Shit, you shouldn't have messed with this woman." I grumbled as I paced back and forth, listening to the moans of the woman I...

I couldn't deny it. It wasn't my hatred for Christopher Collins that bothered me in that moment. It was to be sure that he was touching something that was mine. Of everything I could feel, I was dying of jealousy, anger, but why not sadness? That couldn't be happening, not to me. So many years living an empty life, without interest, or any kind of amorous ambition, and now I allowed myself to feel that.

"You're an idiot, Lauren." I whispered as I sat down on the bed again.

Camila was in that instant having sex with her husband and making me hear everything, in an attempt to make me feel the same way she had felt when she saw me with Keana. I couldn't feel bothered, could I? They were married, there was nothing wrong, right?

*Yeah, just like that.*

*You do it so well.*

With every word, sigh and moan, my anger multiplied. I felt my whole blood boil in my veins, while my heavy breathing showed my uncontrolled state. My urge was to walk into that room and interrupt that shit, but I wouldn't do that. If Camila wanted to play, I'd show that I could be as strong as her. It wasn't that damn feeling that'd make me bow before her actions, everything was different now.

"You want a war, Camila? You'll have one." I whispered to myself.

Christopher Collins' Point Of View

I looked to the side, seeing my wife resting on the bed. She was covered by the white sheet as she slept soundly. It was past 6AM, a bit past the time I usually got out of bed if I hadn't had such a tiring night, however, satisfying. Camila showed how attentive she was, willing to make me forget such a troubled day like the day before. But not everything lasted forever, right? Soon, I'd go back to hell, and a thousand times worse due to all the damage caused by a single person.

After getting ready, I joined a shareholders meeting in the Collins Enterprise building. And by their expressions, everything would only get worse.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Well, Collins, the company's liquid account had 200 billion dollars. Your assets in general are estimated at an average of 300 billions, however, 100 billions are investments, your buildings, machinery, employees, cars and daily expenses, personal expenses, which means it's a money you can't touch right now, it's invested. And Collins Enterprise has only 100 billions to maintain its production of extraction of petroleum in all the subsidiaries around the world."

"For the love of God, it can't be that bad..."

"You must know that for one of the biggest oil companies in the world, you have plummeted. And if we want to keep all this, we'll have to close temporarily or not, more than half of your business."

"Do you have any idea what you're talking about? Companies will be closed. Buildings like this one will be empty!"

"It's the best course of action. Because if you want to keep everything, then very soon, every one of them will close."

"You're not talking about millions, John! It's billions, I'm still a billionaire!"

"Yes, I know! But you have very high expenses. We have oil reserves everywhere, there are machines, people, bills, and thousands of expenses that won't be sustained with what's left. You can't go bankrupt, but you need to step back, don't be proud!"

"I won't step back! My name will be thrown in the mud! You want to make me sell what I took years to build? No! It's more than enough what they are saying about me in the press because of those stupid environmental activists!"

"It's the only way out."

"If you don't step back, our partnership will have to be broken, Collins." Josef, one of the top buyers of CE said seriously.

"What? You can't do that."

"You sold me a plan that has now been broken. I can't afford this. Other companies are interested in us."

"I've worked for you for years, and now you're stabbing me in the back?"

"It's business, Christopher. You'll find another buyer for your product."

"Josef, please, you are our biggest partner." I approached, sitting beside him. "If you do that, I'll lose even more money."

"If I don't, my company will be affected with the lack of product. The problems I face alongside you due to the population's dissatisfaction are more than enough. And I'm not going to put myself at risk. I'm sorry."

"That's bullshit! They've always complained, and you never cared!" I exclaimed exaltedly.

"They are getting worse and worse, Collins. You're crossing the line. Soon we'll all be attacked because of the unbalanced extraction and production. The environmental organizations are already harming us, making propaganda that is tainting our image. And now this robbery, the lack of production... I can't continue like this."

The meeting didn't last long, not after I left that room and headed to my office. Everything seemed to be going wrong. As if the 100 billion dollars theft wasn't enough, Collins Enterprise was being threatened by some organizations because of the excessive oil spill that damaged a large area a few years ago. The matter didn't go away silently, it was a tremendous chaos, and even after a million-dollar fine, it still harmed my company's reputation, and my own.

"I'm going to lose my mind."

"Christopher, everything will work out." John said.

"I'm broke! Can't you see? And I still need to deal with those stupid environmentalists!"

"We'll give them a fair amount of money and this matter will be silenced for a while. We've always done that."

"What money? I don't have any fucking money anymore!"

"We'll find a way. The amount will be used in the best way." The man said earnestly.

I sat on my chair as I massaged my temples, my head was throbbing in pain. At any moment, I'd be sent to that hospital again.

"Excuse me, Mr. Collins." My secretary spoke as she entered my office.

"Beatriz, please, not now."

"I'm sorry, I just came to tell you that Commissioner Brandon is waiting for you. He said he needs to talk to you."

I let out a heavy breath of air, and nodded briefly at the woman who was looking at me.

"You can let him in."

"Yes, Sir. Excuse me." She said before leaving.

It didn't take long, and then Brandon entered my office with a serious countenance, beside a very beautiful woman by the way. I stood up quickly and greeted them as soon as they approached.

"Good Morning, Collins."

"Good Morning."

"I want to introduce you to Agent Keana Issartel. After checking her CV and her record, I thought she might be the best agent to help us."

"I certainly will." She said confidently.

I looked at the woman for a few instants, trying to analyze her as best as I could. Keana Issartel was a serious woman, with an admirable beauty, and it was hard for me to believe that she'd be such a competent cop, but judging by the last one, something in her was attractive to me. Her confident gaze, and somewhat persuasive, indicated that I could have what I wanted. I flashed one of my best smiles, and faced her.

"I need someone competent to put an end to this problem before I lose everything."

"I've been studying this case, and I believe that we're going to put an end to it sooner rather than later."

"Can you guarantee me that?"

"Absolutely, Sir."

"Very well, I wasn't so lucky with the previous agent, but I believe that with you it will be different."

"I also believe that." She said with a charming smile.

"So, do we have a deal, Ms. Issartel?"

"We do, Mr. Collins."

After a long meeting, where we talked about the case and showed all the gaps to the new person in charge of the case. Keana would now be in charge of the investigation of the thefts at Collins Enterprise. Keana seemed determined and apt enough to solve my problem. Brandon at all instants showed he was available to help in the smallest details so that nothing would get out of our hands.

"Are you sure she's going to help us?"

"Christopher, I've been watching her. Keana seems to swim with the tide, which means she'll do as I ask. She wants to rise to an important position, and I don't think she minds leaving some little things aside."

I nodded to the man as I took the last sip of Whiskey in my glass.

"You know that there are a lot of things that no one can know."

"She'll know how to keep it a secret."

"I trust you."

"Don't worry. This hell will end."

"It's what I need most. I want to catch the bastard who's trying to destroy me, and then they'll know my wrath."

Camila Collins' Point Of View

I opened my eyes staring at the open sky, and the top of the tall trees around. I didn't say anything, just smiled at her who seemed to understand. Lauren moved slowly into the water again, pulling me carefully. I moaned softly when I came into contact with the cold water again.

"Answer me, I want to know." She whispered as she hugged me from behind.

I took a deep breath, feeling her warm body wrapping me from behind. I pulled my hair to the side, giving her the opportunity to rest her chin on my shoulder, which she did.

"I did, very much."

"How much?"

My skin shivered wholly when she deposited a small kiss on my nape. My breathing was calming down, getting almost in sync with hers.

"To the point of wanting more, and not only now."

Lauren turned my body to face her, pulling me closer to her. We stared at each other in full silence, leaving only the sound of our breathing and the fall of the water between the rocks. I felt nervous, lost, only by having her that way. I didn't know how to decipher what she caused me, but I couldn't deny how good it was to feel. It was like having the feeling of having your chest warm, while at the same time it seemed to tingle with feelings that to me had become strange.

"Camila..."

I loved how Lauren spoke my name. She blinked a few times, before looking at me again. I felt that something different was happening there, and she would soon speak. Would I be ready to hear her? Once Lauren took impetus to talk, I silenced her with my lips. At first she didn't respond, perhaps because of my impulsive act, but soon she was reciprocating. Her lips were being pressed against mine while her tongue again and again slid slowly over mine. We finished the kiss with little pecks; and then I rested my forehead against hers, keeping my eyes closed.

I opened my eyes in an attempt to push away all those memories. After executing my revenge against Lauren, a heavy weight fell down on me. It was simply unbelievable how I had given myself wholly to her. After doing the deed that for a marriage would be totally normal, I felt guilty. Guilty for having sex with Christopher, guilty for having forced her to listen, guilty for not having done it with her. Lauren hated me now, and I didn't know to what extent that could be beneficial. Pushing her away emotionally was the best way, but I still didn't know how to walk down that road.

An exhausted sigh left my lips as soon as I lifted my body that was resting on the mattress. I pulled the grayish bedsheet that covered me and walked slowly to the bathroom, sidestepping the pieces of clothing on the floor of the suite. I headed towards the whirlpool tub in the corner of the room, and turned on the digital devices to fill it with warm water. I dropped the sheet on the counter, where was the white marble sink, and stared at my reflection in the huge mirror in front of me. There were a few reddish marks on my body, more precisely on my neck, chest and near my breasts. An illusory demonstration of a satisfying evening. When in fact, for me, it had been a nightmare. I felt dirty, in every way possible. I felt rotten, like I hadn't felt in years. Maybe time had changed my perception, my feelings, my thoughts. Sex with that man was something totally programmed and calculated in my head, as part of a plan I've been working on for a very long time. I had changed, adapted myself according to the situation and with only a single goal. I had created in me a woman capable of enduring everything and capable of not feeling absolutely anything. But in that instant, I felt disgust.

"Dammit, Camila..." I whispered to myself as soon as a few tears escaped my eyes. "You can't anymore..."

I leaned on the sink, feeling a knot forming in my throat as the urge to cry grew more and more. It was stifling. All that pain, all those feelings and memories, which permeated my skin, and my head. In that moment, I felt alone, again, as if no one could pull me out of that tangle of bad feelings. My desperation made itself present in tears and heartfelt sobs, which brought with them marks of a hard life.

"You can't cry!" I murmured as I wiped the angry tears that at all costs ran down my face. "You can't, Camila!"

I felt weak, helpless. And Lauren was to blame for that. Not because of my actions, I was woman enough to know that the decisions were mine. But Lauren was to blame for my weakness, for my feelings now. In a short time by her side, having her caresses, her sincere conversations, her trust, and her good soul, she awakened a good side in me; a side that for years I thought had disappeared. It was as if she had rescued the Camila from years ago, bringing with her all my insecurities and sentimentalism that I set aside to become what I am today. Lauren became my escape, my liberation, even if momentary. She was my safe haven. With her, I felt alive again. And thinking about the possibility of losing her was like losing the only really good part in me.

I lifted my body and headed for the tub. The warm water made me sigh through the sobs as soon as I sat down inside. I hugged my bent legs close to my chest and allowed all that crying to leave my soul for long minutes. Then, I rubbed every inch of my skin, in an attempt to erase the previous night, but it was in vain. It had been the last time Christopher Collins would touch me. The game was coming to an end.

Lauren Jauregui's Point Of View 

That day would surely be considered one of the worst ever since I moved to New York. In fact, in the last few days, everything seemed to go wrong. I threw myself on the big couch as a sigh left my lips. My head was working a hundred times faster than normal, making me feel an unbearable ache. I took off my jacket, tossing it over the armchair on the side, as I tried to make my muscles relax on the soft padded of the couch.

"What are you going to do, Lauren?" I whispered to myself.

There was a dispute in my head about what would happen now, it would all depend on me, right? The next step would be taken, and by him, the whole course could be different. Now everything seemed more intense, more heavy. After an avalanche of problems, which seemed to have no end, I would have to take the next step, either against or in favor. I closed my eyes, and took a very deep breath, feeling the air fill my lungs almost completely. I don't know for how many minutes I stayed doing that, in an attempt to calm down, but it wasn't enough, and that was when I was interrupted by the insistent noise of the doorbell.

"I'm coming!" I exclaimed irritated.

I approached the door quickly, and when I opened it I came across Keana.

"Hi, Lauren." Keana said quietly.

"Come in."

The woman nodded and walked slowly into my apartment. I stood watching her from a distance as she seemed to think about what she came here to do.

"I'm sorry for showing up unannounced, but I really wanted to talk to you about something important."

I remained silent as I walked to the living room again, sitting on the couch. I motioned for her to do the same, and so she did.

"What do you want to talk about?"

"About the Collins case."

"Oh no! Enough of that, I can't bear to hear that man's name anymore." I exclaimed as I stood up.

"Lauren, please."

"No! We can talk about anything, but not about that. I'm really exhausted from everything that involves them."

"Even Karla?" She asked, making me stare at her.

"What did you say?"

Keana looked me in the eyes, but soon averted them as she let out a weak sigh.

"Nothing. I want to talk about the case and what happened at the police station."

"Why? I'm out of the case! The entire precinct knows that." I seethed as I headed for the kitchen, being followed by the woman.

"I know, Lauren."

"Then?" I asked as I set the pitcher with juice on the counter, to then face the somewhat nervous woman.

"The Commissioner put me in charge of the case."

My eyes landed on hers as I swallowed hard the knot that formed in my throat. We stood in silence for a few seconds while my mind worked on that information.

"Lauren..." She took a step forward, making me take a step back. "I'm so sorry, I swear it wasn't my intention when I came here."

"Oh my God..."

"Please, don't be angry with me. I couldn't refuse it, it's a huge opportunity. He was looking for someone, and I volunteered myself!"

"You volunteered yourself to take my job? To take my place in that precinct?"

"You were removed from it, and I knew you couldn't appeal!" She exclaimed nervously.

"You didn't even give me time for that, did you?" I almost shouted, but soon composed myself. "Leave me alone."

"Lauren..."

"I just want to be alone." I said seriously, and coldly.

"But..."

I walked quickly towards the door, opening it at once.

"I need to be alone. So, please, get out."

She nodded with a sad countenance and walked slowly to me.

"I hope this doesn't come between us."

I just stood firmly by the door as she stepped out the door, and as soon as I saw her completely outside my apartment, I faced her eyes again.

"Can I call you later?" She asked.

"No, I don't want to talk to anyone."

"Laur... Let me stay!"

"Goodbye." I said before closing the door, preventing her from saying anything else.

I felt exhausted, in every possible way. It was as if I was swimming against the current in a continuous effort only to drown in the end. In a matter of days, what I thought was perfect, fell apart. I shook my head as I walked towards the kitchen again. I removed my holster, along with my gun and badge, leaving them on the counter, and cleaned all the mess Vero had made before she left, when the doorbell rang again.

"Hell! I told her I don't want to see anyone!" I exclaimed to myself as I walked towards the door.

I stopped in front of it, and pulled as much air as possible into my lungs, to only then open it. I stared into the eyes of the woman in front of me, and let out all the air in an irritated sigh.

"God, I said I want to be alone."

"I won't leave you alone now." Those were her words before entering my apartment.

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NOTE: Well... This was intense XD And after Camila's performance, I don't think Christopher suspects her. And omg, who do you guys think showed up at the end? I honestly really hope it's Camila. Keana is getting on my nerves lol Tell me your thoughts :) And when Evelin updates again, I'll translate and post it.