An Old Bond

“We have Rob’s statement on record. He caught Cara stealing money, she hit him in the head and fled from the apartment.” The officer told Keith and the chief.

“I don’t buy this story,” Janet said. “I bet she is innocent.”

Keith ignored her and turned to the officer. “How is Rob related to Cara?”

“Cara is his girlfriend’s friend. She was temporarily staying with them.”

“And I checked her phone. Her contact list has ten people, all work-related. No family.” Janet said.

“Okay, I’ve decided. Keith, she is your responsibility till the trial.” The chief said. “She is the only witness against Sebastian!”

“Why me?” Keith lifted an eyebrow. “I can’t stand that girl! And who knows if she is actually a thief? We must detain her!”

“No!” Janet raised her voice. “Not before we hear her side of the story.” As she spoke, an idea suddenly came to her. “Why don’t you take her home?”

“What! Are you crazy?” Keith shrieked.

“She is right. Your place is the safest!” The chief said.

“Are you all being serious?” Keith gave them a blank stare. “Why can’t we take her into custody? She will receive protection there as well!”

“As long as she’s with you, nobody can harm her! Keith Wilson, you are unparalleled!” The chief patted his back. “We’ll investigate Rob’s charges on her later. But she needs to be protected from Sebastian right now.”

The chief and the other officer departed, leaving Janet and Keith alone. “Why are you doing this?” He faced her. “Take her to your place if you love her so much. You aren’t less capable than me!”

Although Janet had no difficulty taking Cara to her place but she was aware that Sebastian was monitoring her, which made her anxious about Cara’s safety. The better choice was for her to stay with Keith for the time being.

“She’s your responsibility!” She shrugged. “Anyway, I am heading to your place to give some company to Milo. See you in the evening!”

Cara woke up in the late evening and looked around. The hospital ward was so luxurious that it rivaled a five-star hotel, making her wonder how she would afford the bill.

“You need to eat and take proper rest!” She heard the doctor.

Cara gave a nod. “Can I go now, Doctor? I don’t have the money to cover the hospital bills. I am sorry!”

“You don’t have to worry. Mr. Wilson has cleared the bill,” said the doctor, and the door opened. “Oh, he is here!” She said, and Cara was shocked to find Keith.

“She’s very weak, Mr. Wilson. I prescribed her some medication because she seemed to be under a lot of stress and it has affected her health.” She said. “You can take her home now.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Keith smiled, and the doctor exited the room, leaving them alone. Keith offered Cara a glass of juice as she tried to sit on the bed.

“No, thanks!”

“Take it. I don’t want you to pass out again!” He gave her the glass and stood next to her bed with his hands in his pocket.

“I’ll repay you soon!” As she continued staring at the floor, Keith smirked and pulled a chair.

“Who is Rob?” He asked and Cara glanced up at him. “I asked you something!”

“He is my friend’s boyfriend,”

“Why did you hit him in the head?”

“I… I…” she stuttered.

“He accuses you of stealing money and claims you hit him multiple times in the head when he confronted you.”

Cara’s fear transformed into anger within a second, and she clenched her jaws. “Nerve of this man! He tried to molest me! Despite my attempts to save myself, his power was overwhelming, and I had no choice but to strike him in the head. He is lying!”

Keith stared at her. “But he has pressed charges against you!”

Cara’s face blanched, and her lips quivered. “I have done nothing wrong. I know you don’t trust me. But believe me, I am the victim here, not him!”

“It’s not about if I trust you. We have your fingerprints on the vase you used to hit him. Do you have any proof that he tried to molest you? Any witness?”

Cara sadly shook her head. “Most of his guests were drunk, so I doubt if any of his friends saw what he did to me in my room.”

“I have a solution!” Keith said, and Cara pressed her lips, waiting for him to continue. “I will help if you agree to help me?”

“What do you mean?”

“You won’t go to jail if you testify against Sebastian in court,” Keith said.

“Sebastian? I don’t know any Sebastian!” Cara knitted her eyebrows.

“The person who shot the man on his knees that night?” Keith said. “If you help me, I’ll help you.”

“Will you set me free if I agree with your demand?”

“Once the case is closed, you can go anywhere you want.”

“Okay, I’ll testify against them!” Cara agreed quickly.

“Great! let’s go home.” He stood up, and Cara knitted her eyebrows in confusion.

“Home?”

“You’ll stay with me until we put Sebastian in jail.” Keith firmly stated and left to complete discharge formalities while Cara sat on the bed, dumbfounded.

An hour later, Keith brought Cara to his apartment. Despite his efforts to wake her, she remained deeply asleep and snoring softly because of the sedatives.

Inside his apartment, Janet was trying to play with Milo. She tossed a ball to Milo, but he had no interest in playing. He sat in the corner with closed eyes. Janet’s gaze was fixed on him when he suddenly stood up on all fours, his eyes widening as he looked around.

Sniffing a new fragrance in the air, he barked for the first time and Janet widened her eyes. Milo ran to the door and Janet followed when she heard the doorbell. She was amazed as Milo sprinted from one corner to the other as she rushed to open the door.

“Oh, my god! What happened to her?” She looked at Cara in Keith’s arms and Milo rushed to them. He attempted to stand on his own two feet and was startled when he caught a glimpse of the woman.

“Sedatives caused her sleep. She will sleep until morning.” Keith walked into the spare room and set Cara on the bed. Just as Milo was about to pounce on her, Keith put a stop to it.

“Not now, Milo!” He lifted him from the bed and turned off the lights while leaving, gently closing the door. “What is the matter with him?” Keith asked Janet.

“I don’t know!” Janet glanced at restless Milo appeared restless as Keith dropped him on the floor and the former reached the door of Cara’s room. “I think he likes Cara!”

***

Donning a dashing black suit, Aries made his way into the exquisite strip club, where he was greeted by the sight of the seductive dancers on the pole, flaunting their curves and gradually undressing in a manner that was both alluring and provocative.

One of them tries to seduce him but fails to catch his attention. As she came to sit on his lap and attempted to remove her flimsy black bra, someone on the pole caught Aries’s attention, and he pushed the girl off him to watch the woman on the stage.

Dressed in a sea blue bedlah (belly dance costume), the woman’s fitted bra and high-rise slit skirt created a striking silhouette that sparkled in the light.

Her killing body moved like a snake on the beat and the coin belt around her waist jiggled every time she swayed her hips.

Aries’s piercing gray eyes didn’t leave her as she demonstrated her pelvic diamond move, and she swept her long, dark blonde hair to one shoulder with grace.

Aries strained to see her through the crowd’s enthusiastic applause. As he approached her, he saw a scarf masking her face. He grabbed the woman’s arm and roughly brought her closer to him.

Her hazel eyes went wide as they came face to face with each other. Just as Aries lifted his hand to remove the scarf from her face, the alarm jolted him awake.

Drenched in sweat, he sat on an empty bed and groaned in frustration while rubbing his face. “Fuck those hazel eyes!” He screeched, irritated. “You may think you got away with teasing me in my dreams, but the day I find you, you will pay for it.”

***

The next morning,

A lick on her face caused Cara to stir in her sleep. “Milo, not now! Let me sleep,” she murmured, covering her face with the duvet. Milo jumped on Cara and removed the duvet with his teeth. “Don’t trouble me!!” Cara groaned.

Milo barked loudly. “Alright, waking up now! Stop barking inside my head.” She rubbed her eyes and slowly adjusted to the sun’s rays falling on her face as she sat on the bed. Milo licked her face and Cara responded with a warm hug.

“I get to see you only in my dreams!” She smiled and closed her eyes, then suddenly snapped them open.

“Milo, are you here or am I dreaming?” Cara’s gloomy eyes welled up with tears as she cradled his face in her hands. Her eyes were drawn to the chain around his neck, where the letters of his name dangled.

“You’re here!” She clung to him tightly. “I missed you so much!”

Milo yelped in response. Quickly, he hopped down from the bed and grabbed the yellow ball that Janet used to cheer him up. “You wanna play?” Cara chucked the ball and Milo leaped to catch it, then brought it back to her.

Keith witnessed Cara and Milo playing together, and the latter was overjoyed and bouncing around gleefully in Cara’s presence. “Looks like Milo likes you!”

Cara’s smile vanished at the sound of his voice, and Milo sat on her lap. “Yea… yeah! Is he your dog?” she asked.

“Yes, he is my birthday present,”

Cara nodded and looked down at him. “Your luggage from your friend’s house. Get ready and join me for breakfast.” He gave Milo a tight smile as he walked away.

Fifteen minutes later, Cara appeared in the kitchen with Milo trailing behind her. “Sit!” Keith gestured to the empty chair, and Cara sat opposite him. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please!”

Keith passed her a coffee mug, muffins, and a plate of fruits. He returned to the kitchen to prepare a bowl for Milo, and it surprised Keith when Milo finished it up in a minute. The brown guy’s appetite went from nonexistent to insatiable.

Cara smiled at her baby boy, who remained unchanged. A hungry wolf, like always.

Cara’s heart raced with fear as Keith took the opposite seat. He had the power to upend her life. “Do you live alone?”

Cara cleared her throat, “Yes,”

“And where is your family?” He took a sip of his coffee.

“They are dead.” Cara pursed her lips. “I lost my parents in a plane crash.”

“Where are your relatives?”

“My relatives abandoned me after my parents passed away. So, there is no one!” She swallowed the lump in her throat.

“Okay.” Keith’s constant gaze on Cara made her uncomfortable. She feared he would see through her lies and she would be in deeper trouble. “Okay, I’m heading out for work! Have a good rest.” He gave her the phone back.

“Thanks!” As he walked away, Cara stood rooted to the spot, unable to tear her gaze away. “What if he finds out about me?” She thought. “No, Alfred Doyle won’t let him reach me. That’s probably the only thing I can trust him with.”

***

“How the fuck has Cara got five million dollars in her account?” Alfred Doyle shrieked upon hearing from his assistant.

“It was from Grayson Group!” The assistant said.

“Aries Grayson?” Alfred lifted an eyebrow. “How are they related?”

“I am trying to find out!”

Alfred slammed his hand on the desk, gritting his teeth. “Cara is fated to endure a life of destitution. Find the connection between them. Why would Aries Grayson give five million to a waitress?”

The assistant nodded. “Right after being informed about the money, I blocked her card. She can’t use the money.”

“Good job!” Alfred smirked. “Also, make sure this news doesn’t reach Cynthia and Isla. I’ll tell them later. Did you find any information about Cara?”

“She is with Keith Wilson. It appears they are in a relationship. We spotted them together and now she lives with him. I need more time to gather information about them.”

“Keith Wilson? The successor of Ascent Group!” His eyes bulged out. “What the actual fuck! What is Cara’s connection to Aries Grayson and Keith Wilson?” Alfred clenched his teeth. “She is in touch with the top-notch police officer and the notorious billionaire of this city. What’s going on? I want to know what binds the three of them!”

“Sir, I’m actively trying to find the link,” the assistant assured. “However, we must do something to stop Aries Grayson. He is probing for internal information about the Glazier Group and raising concerns about the report’s credibility. From his actions, it seems he is searching for something.”

As they sat there, a long and uncomfortable silence settled in between them, but after some time, Alfred finally parted his lips and started to connect all the dots.

“Alright sir, I’ll get back to you if I get any lead.” The assistant turned to leave.

“Stop!” Alfred’s eyes rise to him. “Listen to me carefully. The fate of our situation is hanging by a thread, and it all hinges on our ability to keep the existence of the hidden heiress a secret from Aries.”