Chapter Four

AURORA

Something is dangling.

  I was certain I put that goddamn alarm clock in the donation box. I don't feel like waking up before Layla comes to wake me, but this clock will wake us both up.

  I reach my hand out to my bedside table but I can't reach it, irritated by its sound I groan and open my eyes.

   They're extra heavy today, I rub them gently with a yawn. I open my eyes once again but this time, I sit up with a gasp.

I don't recognize this place, too spacious, all white carpet on the floor, open blinds and a pure white wall, where am I and who the fuck..?

  My gaze running across the room taking in its appearance, I missed something.

  Someone is sleeping next to me, this someone reeks of alcohol and oozes masculinity from miles away. When I peek at his face it all comes back to me, of course, how could I forget, Caelum was there last night and I drank enough for confrontations.

  He need not confront me because I had no answers or valid alibi for my past actions but fuck me if I didn't play with Cassian to get a closer look at Caelum's devilishly gorgeous face.

   Most parts of the night are blurred but I recall somethings, like his words, the numb kiss and asking me if I wanted to fuck his friend who wouldn't last ten minutes with me if I ever let him play.

  That's the last thing I remember from last night, I don't know how I landed myself in bed with Caelum.

   I quickly glance under the sheets, all clothes are on. "Thank fuck for that part." I whisper to myself, clutching the sheets to my chest. But wait, just because I'm dressed doesn't guarantee anything, he couldn't have assaulted me but me? Could I have given in to him? I mean, I did drink wine, too much wine and it makes me horny.

  The buzzing sound is gone, now that I think of it, it was gone the second I woke up, was it in my head? Maybe but overlook that for now, I have to get out of here while my newly founded enemy sleeps.

  I slip out of the bed carefully, my heels are on the floor on the side Caelum faces.

  I tip toe to that side and put my heels on, careful not to wake him as I walk out.

  Once I'm outside the door I let out a groan of frustration, stomping my heels as I walk out. I realise I'm in a hotel, as I encounter doors and people going in and out, all staring at me strangely. It takes me up until I'm staring at my reflection in the elevator doors to realise it's because of how I'm dressed.

Once outside, I managed to stop a cab to take me to Fantasy Elite. Luckily I found my phone and purse easily. I did run into one of the men I met last night as well as Emelia, she was early but of course she always is, she takes her job seriously.

   My phone had way too many missed calls from Olivia, I presumed it was early but seeing the time on my phone, it was past ten and I was an irresponsible person. The same cab that brought me to Fantasy Elite took me to my apartment. I texted Olivia back as I played the voicemails she left, some of them from last night and the other others, from this morning.

  Surging into my apartment to meet Olivia, my body nearly greets the ground.. My hand reaches to grasp my keys out of my bag and put them in the lock, swiftly opening the door. “Oh my God, Oli, I'm so sorry.” Olivia comes into view holding Layla in her arms, she's coming from the kitchen.

   Toys are scattered everywhere like they've been for the past three days and I haven't had the time to clean up just yet.

  “It's fine. Here, take her. She's eaten, had a bath and she's very fussy today.” I nod, taking Layla into my arms, careful not to wake her. I rock her in my arms. Oli is already behind me, I turn to look over my shoulder.

“You have thirteen new orders, the building manager dropped by and said you haven't paid three months' rent? Aurora, why didn't you ask for help? Do you want to be homeless with a two-year-old?”

   Shaking my head I tsk. “No, I got it. I'll pay him Monday. I just forgot to deposit the check.” lies, I didn't forget. I just haven't had money to pay him for six months.

Olivia rolls her eyes, her hand catching the door. “I paid him this month's rent and promised you'd call him and don't fucking pay me back. I did it for my Layla, our Layla and a tiny bit you.” And just like that, she's gone, the door slamming shut behind her, but not loud enough to wake Layla.

  I proceed to rock her in my arms as I walk to the bedroom. Layla is a light sleeper and she's probably fussy today because she didn't sleep well last night.

  I'm halfway to her bedroom when I  hear the doorbell and I have to think over whether to take Layla to her room or open the door first. My pondering comes to a halt when there's another knock on my door, this time it's urgent. I drag my feet back to the living room and kick a few Toys off my sofa before placing Layla down.

Bang!

Again, I roll my eyes. Whoever it is, they've pissed me off, my morning couldn't be more chaotic today. I twist the door, ready to throw the biggest insult I can-.

Caelum, he's here at my door. Certainly showered since he's in a different Armani suit than he was wearing when I left him this morning and smells better too. My body seems to go limp when I behold him, did he follow me here? No, he couldn't have followed me here because I didn't come here directly. I went to the club to pick up my things before I came home.

 Licking my lips, I exhale. “What do you want?”

He doesn't answer me, instead, he walks in and I don't think to stop him. He turns around, his eyes trailing all over my body, I stiffen and he darts his gaze to my eyes.  “Running away from me again Aurora?” His voice is raspy.

I gulp. “No. Why would I be running from you? You're not chasing me, are you?”

A grin plasters on his face, “Mmm, no. I don't feel like chasing you. Fate brought you back to me but if you run again, I'll definitely catch you.” If I run? Why would I run from him, there's nothing between us, we're not teenagers any-

  I hear him tsk, “You're wrong, there's everything between us. You fiddled with me, lied to me, had me commit a crime, made me feel things I hadn't felt before and you ran. You broke my heart Aurora..” he licks his bottom lip, stepping forward. I take a few steps back till my body slams the door shut. I flinch the instant it does, making him grin wider. He slams both of his hands against the door, confining me in between. “-And now, I'm going to break you. I'm going to make you bleed and this time, it won't be on my cock.”

 I push against his chest, glaring at him. I've played more games than I'd like to admit and Caelum isn't about to play with me for disappearing on him, I'm not going to be an unwilling pawn in two games, I am already one man's puppet, I can not be another's. “There's that vixen vanity.”

  He chuckles at my pathetic endeavour, still caging me. I'm angry at him, angry at myself, angry at the man that lurks in the darkness but mostly angry with myself. I'm trying to conceal every bit of emotion I'm feeling right now and I'm sure my efforts are in vain but still. I can't let him see that I give a damn about this, about us.

  I snarl at him pushing his chest, this time harder and it's somewhat effective, his left arm drops the side of his body. Ignoring the sweet scent of his perfume, I roll my eyes. “Look Caelum..” I breathe, his name rolling off my tongue like sacred prayer.

  “...I don't have time to help you work through your childhood or young-adult  traumas. I'm a grown woman, I have responsibilities and a-”

  I pause when I think I hear Layla. Getting on my tiptoes I peek over his shoulder to where Layla is sleeping, I let out a sigh of relief when I see her still sleeping. He follows my gaze, flickering his gaze between the sofa Layla is sleeping on and me. Like he doesn't believe his eyes, pushing him away, successfully this time, I carry my feet towards Layla and take her into my arms. “Leave!” I whisper yell, taking her to her room as I rock her in my arms. He watches me in awe as I vanish into her room.

  When I return from her bedroom, he's still in the living room. I put a hand over my hip and scowl at him, “Do I need to call the police?”

  Nice move Aurora, as if the police can do jack shit about him. With all the money he has, they are presumably eating out the palm of his hand.

He arches his eyebrow at me, a hand resting on my sofa, the very one I just picked Layla from. “Whose child is that?”

  I roll my eyes, swallowing the laugh that tickles the back of my throat. “Don't worry Einstein, she's not yours.”

  “I can see that but whose daughter is Aurora?” His tone suggests he won't ask me again and I don't really find having him here suitable. I have a messy house to clean, a business to run, and rent to pay.

Slowly massaging my temples I sigh, “She's my daughter, you shouldn't be here, so leave.”

  He nods, his arm withdrawing from the sofa. “Okay, but I'll see you again, and this time, you'll fucking regret it.”

Chewing on my bottom lip I snicker, “Well can't say this encounter was pleasant but yea, whatever floats your boat dawg.”

I watch as he walks out the door, running to it. I grab the keys from the outside and lock it. My heart is racing, I don't need Caelum in my life again, not like this.

  Everything is just so chaotic and I don't know what I'll do about my rent cause the club doesn't pay me that much considering they think they own me. I sigh, sliding my back down the door until I land but first on the white tiles.

  Movie effect Aurora, you're a star.

  I giggle to myself when the thought ticks my mind. Getting off the floor I sigh, I don't care what Caelum does but I need to clean up.

  Start preparing shipments for my clients and see how much I've made this month. I keep taking money out to buy antidepressants or alcohol, if not baby essentials. I love spoiling Layla, I buy everything cute in her size.

   She's my therapy and always will be kept safe and happy, away from the evil that lurks in the darkness, waiting for me, waiting to attack me when I let my guard down. And now I can add Caelum to the list of problems I have. Major ones at least.

   I clean up the living room and Layla's room, thankfully she sleeps throughout while I clean her room. I take five minutes to organize her books, the little reading books that she loves so much as well as colouring books and one educational book. I like to stimulate Layla's mental capacity and she surprises me every time. After putting down the last book I want her to picture-read, I look over my shoulder to check on her. She's awake and smiling at me. “Mommy?”

  “Hey Layla.” I grin, walking towards her. I knee beside her bed and place a kiss on her forehead, making her giggle. “Had a good nap?”

She nods, “I missed you.” she smiles, her little finger lightly bopping my nose.

  “Mommy is still cleaning up the house-” she gasps and I nod, my daughter likes to tidy up herself.

  I've taught her to pick up her toys when she makes a mess or call an adult to clean up after her when she breaks something she shouldn't be touching. but when Olivia babysits, toys are everywhere. “Yep, I'm cleaning so I'm going to need you to be very good while I finish up okay?”

She nods, “Yes mommy, good girl. Got it.” she smiles. I hold out my pinkie finger and she hooks herein mine. I kiss in between the pinkies.

  “Come on.” I say picking her up from her bed.

  Making my way into the kitchen with Layla in my arms, I sit her down in her seat and make her some snack as I heat up her lunch. I work a lot of nights but she doesn't know this because I tuck her into bed and I'm back before she wakes up. I sometimes wonder if Layla is dependent on me or the other way around, I vote the other way. I'm dependent on her, she's my sanity in this chaotic world and I thank God for her. When she came into my life it was like a joke, but it started to feel real with the sleepless nights and chaotic morning's.

  “Now sweetie, drink up.” I say handing her, her little water bottle. I have to give her water in the strawberry decorated bottle or she won't have it, same as juice, if it's not a specific juice box or bottle, she won't have it because it doesn't taste the same.

  “Thank you, Aurora.” she giggles, using my name makes her laugh. I feign a gasp, my hand coming to my chest for better effect. “My name is Mommy.”

  That makes her giggle some more. Ah, Layla, my little angel so peaceful and cute that's one thing God did right by me, giving me Layla when he did.

  “Mommy, can we go to Auntie Layla?” I look up from my computer. The thing with Layla is she talks, ever since she said her first word at eight months, my daughter has not shut up, she tried out every word when she could speak and now we have full conversations, her speech is great. I guess it comes from the way I never used to baby talk with her. I spoke to her like she was grown most of the time and now she speaks well for her age. “You want to go to auntie Laylay?” I smile.

She nods, picking up her pacifier. The damn pacifier, I've tried to make her quit it but it never works, and it keeps her quiet most times so I just leave it, it's like her comfort item but she'll have to give it up before her third birthday that's for sure. I grab my phone from my desk and dial my sister Layla. No, I didn't name my daughter after her, it's just a coincidence. My sister Layla is named after our grandmother on my dad's side so little Layla is definitely the favourite grandchild at my parent's house.

My sister picks up on the third ring, “Hey Layla.”

  “Hi, Layla's mommy.” she giggles.

  “Listen, I'm working right now and umm Laylay wants to see you. She's been asking for you since before she was at Mom and Dad's house.”

 “Oh, that's fine. I'll pick her up for the weekend, if you want?”

  I think over her suggestion, peeking at Layla on my bed, she's playing with the TV remote for once, like a typical two year old it's in her mouth and not pressing the TV.

  “No, I want to be with her for a while. She just got back from her grandparents and I'm seeing typical kid behavior right now, I want her around. But I'll pack her a bag and you can come get her next week?”

 “Hmm,” she pauses for a while and I have to check if the call is discounted, which it isn't. “Alright. Have you thought about enrolling her into the school like we talked about?”

  I sigh, “Fine, but I need time to make arrangements for the payments and other stuff. School and daycare are different territories and Layla is a little girl.” That's my only problem with sending her to school, it's not that I can't afford it, Layla has enough money to last her through pre-school and university.

   “Layla is smart Aurora, that kid is a genius. I taught her how to add once and she's been doing it perfectly for awhile, enroll her into school, she's too smart for daycare and besides, I will be watching her.” she counters.

   We've had this conversation for a long time and I don't know, I mean, I know Layla is very smart for her age but there's no two year old that goes to first grade, I don't want to rush her. But my sister begs to differ, she thinks I'm letting her intelligence and abilities go to waste but come on, Layla is two, she is an easy child but she has tantrums and sometimes she doesn't want to do anything, what teacher has enough patience for a two year old.

  “Can we discuss this when she turns 3?” I argue.

 “Okay, but Aurora, I'll be here for her.” She pauses, “That's if you enrol her at my school.”

  My sister is a preschool teacher, a damn good one too. She loves kids and has the patience and kindness as well as every skill it takes to educate children.

  Having two very naughty ones of her own, she has patience and doesn't yell at them, she reprimands them softly, it's safe to say Auntie Layla is every child's favourite aunt in our family. On the other hand, I would yell if I had her kids, they just don't listen so when I babysit, I give them money or yell, works like a charm.

 “Bye sexy, I am hosting a second graders pool party for the second time this month, I swear your nephew is going to kill me.” she sighs, sounding very exhausted by it.

 “Alright, greet my nephew and tell my bestie I miss her.” I say, referring to her eight year old daughter Paulina. She named her after her husband, boyfriend at the time they had Paulina. I laughed at her choice of name, I didn't understand what made her do it but now I do, they weren't together at the time so she wanted a Paul of her own, thus Paulina. I wouldn't have minded a Caelum of my own, but then, life plays cruel jokes on me.

Placing my phone down, I peek over my computer to Layla, she's shifted from eating our remote to counting the patterns on my duvet cover. I shake my head and then my attention back to my computer, double checking the custom orders that need my attention.

  Olivia told me I had thirteen, which means they're from within the building and on my laptop, there's thirty-seven from the website. I started selling custom lingerie as a joke, after I customised my work lingerie with light trinkets like rope, I posted that picture on my only fans and it blew up.