The businessman's gaze was intense, and his serious expression made Bonita even more nervous.
She had been rude to Kayden the night before, and now here she
was, asking for help.
The security guard opened the door, leaning over to pull her by
the arm. However, before he could do anything, Kayden raised his
hand in a commanding gesture.
— It's okay. Close the door.— Yes.
— As for the carelessness that allowed a stranger to sit with me,
we will settle that at home later.
The stranger Kayden mentioned turned pale, feeling the pressure
in the air. Furthermore, the irritation in the Man's voice was
noticeable. If she hadn't been truly helpless, she would never have
run to that person for help. But she did so because she thought she
would be safer with him than being found by Noah.
The imposing bodyguard swallowed hard before shaking his head.
— Excuse me, sir.
— Close the door.
The car door was closed as ordered. The driver didn't even dare to
return to his seat and just stood outside, waiting until his boss called
him.
— Is running into someone else's car like that the right thing to do?
— No.
Bella replied in a low voice. Normally, that man wasn't so
strict with her, so there was always room for stubbornness and
tantrums. But when she encountered the "Kayden" in the way he
treated others, Bella didn't know how to react.
— If you know it's not right, why did you do it?
"..." Silence
— I expect a convincing answer, Babe.
She didn't know why, but every time that man called her that, a
strange feeling ran through her body. It wasn't exactly ticklish, nor
something she completely enjoyed. It was something positive, but
hard to define.
— Can I get a ride to the university?
— Reason?
— I just want to hitch a ride.
— Reason for getting into my car and reason for me to drive you
to the university. Tell me.
"..."
Bella bit her lip, feeling pressured by the young man in front of her.
Maybe he was still angry about what happened the night before,
and that was why he was ignoring her so seriously.
— Last night, you rejected my help very firmly. And now you come running to me for help?
— Yes.
— If your explanation isn't convincing or you don't have a reason,
you can get out of the car. I'm not that kind of a person.
— If you won't help me, then I'll leave. Sorry for the
inconvenience.
Kayden didn't say anything, just watched Bella turn her body to
open the door with a look that was hard to decipher. And just as the
door was about to open...
— You said you don't want me to be your brother, "Kayden said looking fiercely
"..."
— So tell me, how should I see you?
— Why do you need to define what I am or am not? At the end of
the day, I'm not important to your life anyway.
— Don't draw conclusions from me. Keep that in mind. Until I say
something, don't assume that I'm this way or that way.
"..."
The firm voice was accompanied by his presence approaching.
The soft hand, which seemed to have never done heavy work,
touched her cheek, guiding her face so that she looked into his eyes.
— Did you understand?
— I'm an only child, I already have a close friend. There's no
longer any role for you in my life.
Kayden also didn't know how to define Bella, other than
stubborn. Didn't she realize that everyone around him feared him?
Who did she think she was to dare argue with him like that?
— Then let it be like this forever, my dear.
The man stepped back and sat back down in his seat. His
sharp gaze fell on Bella before he said in a firm tone:
— If you want my help, come sit here.
"..."
— If you can't sit here, you can get out of the car.
Bella's eyes widened. Here he meant on his lap, not in the seat next to him. What do you mean?
Hadn't I said I saw him as a brother?
What brother would ask for something like that?
— I already told you I don't do that kind of work.
— I just told you to sit on my lap. At no point did I say I would
hire you for something you don't want to do.
"..."
— If you don't want to, just get out of the car.
— You are putting pressure on me indirectly.
— And even?
The two of them remained silent for several minutes, until Bella,
unable to bear the pressure, began to cry. It was as if all her internal
strength had suddenly collapsed. She didn't want to obey the order,
but she also didn't want to get out of that car.
In the end, not knowing what to do, her tears fell.
— Once again?
Kayden was not accustomed to tears. Throughout his life, he
cried very little, and neither did the people around him. His
experience in comforting anyone was practically non-existent,
completely opposite to the image of a powerful man that
everyone knew.
— Come here.
Without realizing it, his tone of voice softened. He was no longer
as harsh and distant as before.
— Aren't you ashamed to cry in front of me like a child?
— I'm younger than you.
Bella didn't hold back. In the end, she ended up snuggling up
next to him, being surprised by a scented handkerchief that Kayden
used to wipe her tears, as if she were a ten-year-old girl.
— Can you go a minute without answering me back, dear?
— And can you stop forcing me?
Kayden sighed. Feeling a mixture of irritation and amusement, he
slid his hand down to Bonita's slim waist and pulled her closer. If she
hadn't held on, she would have already been sitting completely on
his lap.
— W-W-Kayden, that's too close, don't you think?
— Close how?
— I'm practically sitting on your lap!
— Then sit down at once.
— Didn't you want me to be your sister? Well, I won't treat you
like one anymore.
— I'm not kidding.
— And do I look like your playmate?
Bella bit her lip. Being questioned like that, she didn't know what
to answer.
— About your scholarship...
— Thank you so much for recognizing my potential, but can we
not talk about studies now?
— I just wanted to say that if you want to make some extra
money, I need someone to summarize the news for me.
— What?
— Someone to read and summarize the daily reports for me.
— Don't you have a secretary, Kayden?
— Whether I have it or not, what does it matter? I'm not hiring
you to be my secretary. I want you to be my reader, someone to
read the reports for me.
— I have eyes, I can read on my own. But I don't want to.
Kayden cut in, letting go of Bella's slender waist. But strangely,
the warmth of his touch and his softness still felt trapped in her
hands, on her skin, refusing to disappear.
— If you're going to accept the job, you should at least say thank
you. I don't give this opportunity to just anyone.
Bella also started to feel a little irritated with Kayden. How could he be so arrogant? To take revenge, even if subtly, she clasped her
hands together in a prayer position and bowed slightly, touching
Kayden's left chest with an exaggeratedly ceremonious gesture.
— Thank you very much, kayden.
Kayden was momentarily paralyzed. When he looked down, he
saw only the soft strands of Bella's hair, resting against his right
chest. Instinctively, his fingers clenched tightly to stop the urge to
caress her head. The whirlwind of emotions he felt at that moment
was something unusual for him.
As soon as Bella sat walked away, Kayden signaled for the driver to
resume his duties and said in a firm voice:
— To my apartment.
— I would like to get off at…
— You come with me.
— What?
— Come with me. Or is that sentence also difficult to understand?
When Mr Kayden decides to be stubborn, his obstinacy becomes insurmountable. Bella realizes this clearly now, as his gaze is filled with seriousness. And this seriousness means that if Bella does something that displeases him, Kayden will certainly find a reason to reprimand or even punish her.
— I have to work at night.
Bella doesn't know why kayden wants to take her along, but given the situation, anywhere is better than staying there, under that piercing gaze.
— I'm not forbidding you.
— But I didn't bring any clothes.
She can go anywhere, but she still has responsibilities to fulfill. In fact, Kayden could just drop her off anywhere.
— At your work, don't you have clothes to change into?
Catching Bella off guard, Kayden cuts her argument short with this observation. In fact, the establishment has clothes available every day, adapted to the concept of the evening. Fortunately, none of them are overly revealing — just a little daring: bare shoulders, bare backs, strategic cuts at the waist, depending on the occasion.
During festivals, she has had to wear accessories such as rabbit ears, cat ears, and even clothes with tails, embodying cute characters.
— And why do you want me to go to your condominium?
— Don't ask so many questions. When we get there, you'll know.
Kayden replied as he leaned back in his seat, closing her eyes wearily. The night before, he had spent all his energy arguing with his mother and stepfather, getting into a real fight that, in the end, led to no conclusion. They insisted that he do something he hated, pressuring her, forcing him—as they always did.
And him , as a son, was exhausted from trying to please them.
— Are you tired?
Bella's soft voice interrupts her thoughts. Kayden opens his eyes and sees the young girl looking at him like a curious little bunny.
— What if I am? What can you do?
— Do you want me to give you a massage?
— What?
— I can massage you to relieve your fatigue. That's all.
— You're willing to do anything in the world, is that it?
Bella sat down, answering simply:
— I do whatever I want to do. If they pay me for it, even better.
— Oh, so there's a condition? You only do it if you want to, even if they pay?
— What about you, Kayden? Would you do something you don't want to do, just for money? Wouldn't that be a build-up of stress?
Kayden remains silent.
— When I can choose, I prefer to choose.
— You're still a girl. Don't come lecturing me.
— I wouldn't dare
The car stopped at Kayden's condo
Bella followed him quietly