The Shells We Shared, Now Washed Away

Camille's POV

Wendy gave me a cold once-over and said sharply, “You really care more about pride than survival, huh? Fine, since we’re meeting with an investor today and need someone to serve drinks, how about this? I'll pay you seven grand if you help out. That amount should be more than enough for someone like you to live on for an entire year, right?”

After a moment, Kemp finally spoke up. “Camille, your pride is what’s holding you back. You won’t take money straight up, but surely you’d accept payment for honest work, right?”

I almost laughed. The nerve of these two!

“Do you two seriously have nothing better to do?” I said flatly. “I don’t have time to entertain your ‘rich people playing savior’ fantasy. Do me a favor and stay out of my way.”

What a joke.

I had canceled multiple important surgeries just to take three days off and vacation with my son. And now they were asking me to serve tea and snacks? Unbelievable!

My repeated refusal made Kemp’s face go stiff with anger, and even Wendy, who usually all grace and composure, rolled her eyes in irritation.

As such, people nearby started whispering.

“Mr. Stokes, that woman’s both broke and stubborn. You really trust her to serve someone so important?”

“I’d say forget it. If she offends the investor, today’s meeting could go completely south.”

The hotel staff began to panic, too. One of them quickly ran off and came back with security.

“Get her out of here now!” the waiter snapped. “The investor reception is about to start, and the VIP guest from the top-floor presidential suite could be coming down any second.”

He glared at me like I’d ruined everything and continued, “Ma’am, today’s attendees are some of the city’s biggest names. Especially Mr. Smith from Sydney. His wife and kid were also with him. We've never hosted someone of that level before.”

“If this were any other day, I’d turn a blind eye to you digging through the trash. I might’ve even given you some cardboard to sell. But not today. If you cause trouble now, it’ll ruin the hotel’s reputation with elite guests from both cities. And I’m just a staff member, I can’t afford to take that fall. I’m begging you, please just go,” he begged suddenly.

Security, who had been holding back, now stepped in and tried to drag me out.

But I struggled against them. “I can leave on my own!”

Finally, seeing that I was walking away, everyone around us let out a collective sigh of relief.

But then, Kemp suddenly barked at me. “Wait!”

His eyes were locked on the seashells in my hand. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles turning white.

“Camille,” he said hoarsely, “Why don’t you get it? I don’t need those shells anymore.”

I looked down at the seashells in my palm, and suddenly, memories came flooding back.

It was the year he broke up with Wendy that his family started sponsoring me.

Kemp had completely shut down. Every day, he just sat on the beach, staring at the ocean. No crying, no smiling, just hollow silence, like a ghost of himself.

His mother was worried and asked me to check on him from time to time.

I took that to heart.

I’d sit beside him at the beach for hours, keeping him company without saying much. Just being there.

One day, he got swept up by a wave. Luckily, I pulled him out of the water with everything I had, but I passed out from exhaustion.

He held me and sobbed like a child. And when I came to, I picked up a small shell and handed it to him.

“Kemp,” I’d whispered, “From now on, every time I give you a shell, will you smile for me?”

His eyes were red, but he nodded and smiled.

After that, every time I went to the beach, I’d collect a handful of seashells as I wanted to see him smile a few more times.

So many years had passed. I’d nearly forgotten all about that until he brought it up today.

I stood there, quiet and still, when suddenly Wendy let out a snide laugh.

“Oh, please, Camille. That whole box of seashells in his room? He threw them out years ago.”

She looked at me with mock pity and smirked, “You’re not seriously thinking a handful of childish shells is going to win him back, are you? That was just a little game he played to humor you back then. And you actually believed it all these years?”