Learning to Fly - 37

Chapter 37 - Operation 'Get that Man' commences!

Carly was more than sceptical at Camilla's plan, or rather lack of it, but the awful scenes between her father and her were enough to detract from anything else going on. Her father truly was the most egotistical and overinflated man she'd even had the misfortune to meet. She imagined that Konig Snr was as successful and as wealthy as him, but he had much more class and elegance. Carly was in a tricky situation in that she didn't feel able to really tell Camilla her thoughts, after all he was Cam's dad. 

As soon as she'd woken in their house after their drunken night out, the sound of raised voices wafted into her. The male voice was commanding and dictatorial, Camilla resorted to shouting instead of anything calmer. It was all a dreadful mess. 

Camilla had come to find her later, and it was only then that Carly felt happy to leave the room. Mr Lloyd was a tall and overweight man, sweating profusely every time he took on his daughter. When Carly appeared he glared at her with a complete lack of respect or regard. The gist of the argument, that they took to his study as Carly ate breakfast, was her 'wasting her life' in Austria, but Camilla's challenge that she wanted a career fell on deaf ears. All he talked about was an 'advantageous wedding'. Carly was appalled. Camilla had told her of her father's plans back in Austria, but it was so foreign a thought to her, that she'd believed Camilla's tendency for the dramatic was running away with her. Now sat here, listening, she felt sick.

A door slammed and eventually Camilla joined her, Carly tactfully ignored the puffy red eyes, and discussed what they had planned for the day.

Camilla's plan wasn't really discussed until they stopped for lunch.

"So," Camilla leaned in close, "Lucas Slater! I've been thinking about this!"

Carly responded with a groan, "Cam, I've decided to move on without him, the world's my oyster..."

Camilla placed a hand over Carly's arm and spoke with her usual drama, "Carly. Have you ever felt like this about anyone else? Is he the most special man you've ever met? Because that's what you hinted at last night."

It was a shocking thought to Carly, really having to process the void that destroyed her life without him in it. With a silent nod she fought those damn tears that once again sat on the edge of her emotion ravaged life. 

"Then you can't give up without a fight, surely you can see that?" 

Carly sipped her wine, "I laid my emotion on a plate Cam, and it wasn't enough for him. He chose to leave it."

Camilla nodded deep in thought for a moment, "but, you asked him to make a rational decision. You know, come with me to a new life. He's a man, he can't make that decision, I really believe men aren't capable. What you have to do is make him realise there's an ultimatum...that he's missed!"

Carly looked confused, so Camilla grinned, "Marta's wedding. He's going. You go, looking amazing...but be aloof, distant from him. Give him an 'I'm SO over you message'."

Camilla was beaming, proud of herself, but Carly wasn't sure of anything. But it did mean they spent the rest of the day shopping for the perfect outfit, classic, sexy and to quote Cam a bit 'look what you could have had'. The final shop bore the fruit they were looking for. Carly emerged from behind the curtains of the fitting room wearing a black knee length dress, strapless with a fitted bodice, the skirt fell in waves over her thighs, and it was decorated with large but sparse red roses. Coupled with killer red heels it was to quote Camilla 'rocking'.

To celebrate, they both made for a bar that Camilla loved, and there they ordered dinner, and of course more wine!

"So what else does this plan entail, other than a killer outfit?"

Camilla grinned and tapped her nose in secrecy. That was all she managed to find out that evening. 

Carly was dreading heading back to Camilla's, her friend was quiet about the issues with her parents, but Carly was disturbed. Camilla was a nice girl, and by that she meant honest and open. Her parents were important to her, and as far as Carly could see, they were bullying her into who knew what. No one seemed to fight her corner and that irked her. 

Later that night, she followed Cam back into the house with a similar level of unease. No sooner had the door closed and they took their coats off and her mother descended upon them.

"Wait in the lounge Carl, I won't be long," Camilla assured her. 

The lounge was a lavish affair, heavy damask fabrics and deeply embossed wallpaper. Carly couldn't help but get the feeling despite Camilla telling her that her parents were aristocrats with a long pedigree, that this house was created to display nay wealth they had, in a rather cliched way, rather as she'd expect someone self made to behave. it was a confusing issue, but none the less, she sat on one of the uncomfortable Chesterfield chairs and pulled her Kindle out of her bag. A godsend as she had the feeling that this was going to be a long evening. 

She'd read a chapter when she heard the door open, and looking up she saw the as usual hot and flushed face of Camilla's father as he strode into the room. He was the only man she knew who'd be so hot and uncomfortable on a miserable March evening.

Glancing up he spotted Carly and gave a quite ugly grimace, "should've known!" He muttered under his breath.

"Excuse me?" Carly called out as he made to leave. "Did you say something to me?" When he turned and said nothing, she gestured around the room, "you spoke and there's only me here?"

Another grimace preceded what could only be described as a tirade of abuse, "I said I should have known...that you'd be here. How much have you cost this family today? Camilla always brings home any waif and stray! I presume you'll need more than a saucer of milk and a shoe box to sleep in? Typical!"

Carly was incensed. If she'd had forethought she'd have held her tongue, but she'd always been impetuous, "Mr Lloyd! I didn't realise that putting up a friend of your daughter's would be such an inconvenience, I can assure you that I'm both willing and able to book a hotel room. Though I do think that will upset your daughter even more than your ridiculous demands already have."

"I know your type!"

Carly shook her head, "is that it? I've got a Scottish accent and am not dressed head to head in Armani or Chanel and you think you can judge me?"

When he laughed and his head almost in disgust, Carly felt a chill rush up her spine, this man was repulsive. "I've had a long time and a lot of opportunity to observe gold diggers!"

"Excuse me!" She exclaimed. "Are we living in the Victorian era? I am no more a gold digger than you are polite and well brought up. I am however suspicious,  you seem to resent feeding me breakfast for two mornings and the occasional bout of hot water for a shower, then you're desperate to marry off your daughter to some one she despises. This does not seem the sane and rational behaviour of someone of your apparent social and financial standing."

If it was possible to see a red faced man turn puce, Carly did. There and then.

"What happens between my daughter and me is our business, not yours." But the manner in which it came out spoke volumes, Carly had stumbled on to something, and it wasn't until she glanced to the door that she realised that Camilla had witnessed the end of the conversation if not all of it. She looked crushed. 

Carly sat in the bed in the guest room waiting for Camilla. It had all gone a little crazy after her witnessing the 'debate' between her father and Carly. So Carly was hiding out and waiting to speak to Camilla. 

When the door finally burst open Camilla appeared looking like she wanted to kill someone.

"I hate him!"

Carly stood and reached for her hands, "don't put up with it!"

Tears started to roll, "how can I cut myself off? I'll never survive!"

Carly smiled, "of course you will. It'll be a change of budget...but you can do it! The World is there for you too Cam, you're young, beautiful and intelligent."

"I'm not strong like you!"

Shaking her head Carly met her eyes, "you're exactly like me! I spent five years living at home putting my life on hold to help my parents, because it suits them. It's only now I've taken the chance to change that. But if I can, you can! What's the worst that can happen?"

"Daddy's lost a lot of money, some investment in Africa collapsed. He wants to merge this family with another richer one to stop going bankrupt."

"Tough!" Carly announced. "It might sound harsh, but you definitely didn't make any decision for him. He's got himself into his own mess. Sleep on it, ok? I'm going home tomorrow...but I won't abandon you, ok?"

Camilla hugged her then smiled as she left.

Initially Camilla felt the need to stay, to try and do the right thing. But before Carly's train had completed the seven hour journey, she'd received a call from a tearful Camilla saying she'd left, was heading back to Austria. Carly promised to call her, they'd work things out before she went off travelling after the wedding which was in four weeks. Camilla in turn promised to take Operation 'Get that Man' to the next level.

Carly felt nervous at that thought, and boy did those four weeks fly by.