Chapter Five

"Syd, let's go!" I sharply whispered and pulled her free hand.

"Whoa! Wait, wait. Did he leave already?" 

"Yeah. I think so..." I murmured and slowly went out behind the wall. 

We were looking like undercover cops here but nevertheless, we can't risk it. Kaden may look like an ordinary terror boss of a company but trust me, he's more than that. He's even worse than our father.

But for now, we have to get out of this place. He's just wandering around and he will never stop until he finds me. Good thing we finally have the chance now to escape---

or so i thought.

"Atasha Rae. Don't sweat it." It was Kaden's cold voice that made us stop.

I could hear Sydney's troubled thoughts. My holds on the bags and crib have tightened as i faced my brother and his men. He was walking firmly towards us, his hands in his pockets, eyes were iconically lacking emotions. 

He's four years older than me, tall as fuck, his jet black hair slicked back, highlighting his thick eyebrows and deep set of obsidian eyes. He can also line up with the top hot bachelors in this generation. But mind you, looks are a form of deception.

"I don't want to go back. You can't make me." I started the real agenda of their presence here.

The side of his lips rose in amusement. 

"Oh so, you want me to go on force?" His voice was daring. I shot him an annoyed look. "I wonder what's keeping you from going back. Is it that enjoyable to be with a random woman's company?" He glanced at Sydney who was glaring at him.

"She's not just a random woman! She's my friend!" I defended. He scoffed and stepped closer. 

The thing i fear has come, because i noticed how his gaze was going down to the things we were holding. Shit! I tried to hide it on my back but to no avail, of course they are too big to be successfully kept! 

"What are those?" He asked in a serious tone.

Sweats started to form in my forehead. Without speaking, i shook my head. His jaw clenched. My brother is known for being an impatient, controlling bastard, the things he got from Dad. Just a duplicate of the original.

"I'm asking you, Atasha. What are those things?" He tried to touch the crib but i kept it away from him.

Although I'm feeling nervous, i want to roll my eyes at him. Isn't it obvious, bro? These are baby things! You're going to have a niece or nephew soon, that's the fuss!

Well, i can only voice that in my mind. 

"These are nothing... Please, just let us go! I'm not gonna bother our family anymore, the whole company and assets are yours now, Kaden. I don't throw any single care about the properties and will, you can have all of them by yourself!" I almost shouted that in his face, if only I didn't have to stay calm for the sake of my baby.

His brows furrowed. "No. You're being unreasonable and diverting the topic. Tell me, why do you have to buy those things? Are you pregnant?" He straightforwardly said. Fuck.

I started to think of other excuses but my mind is unfortunately troubled to function well! What to say? What to do... Jeez why am i being trapped in this situation? All i want is a stress-free life... and i can only have that if they are out of the picture! Them and Lorcan are too much for the mediocrity i want to settle with.

"Answer me with pure truth! Are you hiding something from us? Are you pregnant?!" Before i could react, he was now shaking my shoulders.

My heart raced fast as nervousness crept in me and the embarrassment i was feeling due to the shoppers' intrigued looks in our direction. Damn Kaden, can't we talk in some uncrowded area? This is extremely embarrassing...

I kept on shaking my head and was about to make a response when Sydney suddenly stepped up and faced him for me.

"N-no! It's not what you think! These are mine! I'm the one who's pregnant!" 

I don't think there's more to how outstretched my eyes are. My jaw just fell on the floor as i was looking unbelievably at my friend. Oh my God, girl. What did you do?

Stupid, Sydney! I badly want to pull her hair for being so impulsive but ended up just giving her a have-you-lost-your-mind look.

"Really though, miss?" Kaden surveyed her from head to foot, as if criticizing her entire existence.

"Yup! I just asked her to join me here to help me pick..." She chuckled awkwardly. Oh good God. I just want to slap my forehead in this case.

I bit my lip to stop myself from interjecting. Kaden doesn't look so convinced, the suspicion on his eyes says it all. It is given, he's well-trained not to believe that easily and giving his trust is like wishing for the oceans to get empty. Too impossible.

"If that's the case then, i might as well take her now with me." 

"No!" I struggled from his grip as he started pulling me like he was forcing his little sister to go inside the school immediately.

"Tash!" Meanwhile, Syd doesn't let me go with him. She's almost hugging my body to stay still beside her.

"Darn it! Keep her away from my sister!" Kaden angrily commanded his men and they quickly obliged!

"Sydney! No! Kaden, stop this bullshit! I told you I'm not coming with you! Can't you understand that?! Let me go!" I continued struggling from his holds.

"Our parents are looking forward to seeing me going back home with you. Stop being so difficult, I don't want to disappoint them."

"Oh, yeah? That's because you're their most loyal puppet! You're letting them control you, coward!" I muttered sharply. His face hardened. Fear consumed me, afraid that he might want to hurt me physically now...

"Don't test me, Atasha. Will you stop being a brat?" He was about to drag me away when Sydney spoke up.

"Kaden Rae, you fucking asshole! Let go of my friend or do you want me to throw these plastic toys to your shitted face?!" She blatantly said that earned a gasp from us, except of course from my brother who remained stoic.

Oh man, this is trouble. She just literally cussed, cursed and disrespected the great one and only Kaden Rae, in front of his men and people's eyes! I love her guts but sometimes it can lead her to her own doom, i swear.

"Sydney, what are you doing?" I mumbled at her. Gosh, she doesn't know what she's doing.

"Tash, i want your fucktard of a brother to know that he can't make everything under his control!" 

"You never told me you have a tigress of a friend, Atasha." I get alarmed when Kaden lets go of me and instead, he neared Sydney, like towering over her figure.

Shit! This is what bothers me. She caught his attention and now, I don't think he can let everything pass knowing how a woman cursed and disrespected him without batting an eye.

"If i were you, i would stop being so scandalous." Oh damn it, Sydney. I think you have to shut up now...

"Do you know who i am, nosy girl?" Kaden's voice was like an acid dripping in our ears.

"Of course. You're the control freak brother of Tash. Get it?" She smirked mockingly. Damn that guts. 

I bit my nails nervously while watching how Kaden clenched his jaw from my side view of him. He looks expressionless but it's palpable in his eyes, the irritation and how affected he is with my friend's sharp words.

"Sydney Hamilton, senior editor of Limelight Publishing House. We're not yet done, bitch." My reaction mirrored Sydney's after Kaden muttered that. He then stepped aside and faced me. "I'll let this pass for now and for you Atasha, quit this little rebellion of yours. I'll see you in some other days. Remember, you know the capabilities of our family so don't you dare engage in other stupid stunts that could bring shame on Raes reputation." He reminded, but it's more like a threat in my perspective.

Speechless, we watched him make his way out together with his men. Intrigued shoppers paved their way for him, even gaping at him for the last time.

The moment he was finally out of our sight, Sydney quickly attended to me with her relieved expression.

"You okay? Did you get hurt?" She asked in a so worried tone while caressing my arm.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. How about you? God, Syd! You scared the shit out of me! Why did you have to say those words to Kaden?! You know he's not just an ordinary person you can provoke!" I scolded her while fixing the bags and crib.

She rolled her eyes. "Even so. He deserves that! He's such a brutal jerk, and serves him right!" She even grinned evilly.

Oh Lord, she's really in deep trouble. She created a first not so good impression in my brother's view and I'm sure, Kaden's now thinking of how he'd get even. He treasures his ego the most but she stepped on it drastically. Oh i could just pray for you, Syd.

Ignoring the intrigue and judgements in the witnesses' eyes, we strode to the escalator. Meanwhile, fluffy Sydney just never stops tormenting my brother, in her every rant about how she hates him and how she repeatedly kills him in her mind. 

"So sorry, Tash but if i ever meet him again, God! I'm gonna kick his precious balls off and salute him my middle finger after!" She hatefully said in balled fists. 

"I won't stop you with that." We both giggled after. 

But mine was quickly cut off when my gaze hit the other escalator, the reversed one and because it's going up while we're going down, i saw him face to face. I could never go wrong! I knew that stiff tall dark man! 

He's Marcel Finn. Lorcan's trusted long-time butler!

His face is still vividly intact in my memory because i often see him in Lorcan's mansion before when i was still staying there. I also know that he knows me. Oh please, it's obvious with the way his eyes widened the moment it has contacted mine.

"Crap. Another one," i murmured problematically.

What is he doing here anyway? Shocks! He must not see the baby things for he will surely report it to his master!

Or what if... he's with his master already right at this hour? No way...

"Do you know him?" Syd asked curiously while looking at Marcel who recently passed from our sights.

"Lorcan's butler," i sighed. She gasped exasperatedly, even covering her mouth.

"Oh no, Tash! He clearly spotted the crib and toys!" She looks terrifyingly bothered, so am i.

"We better get to go fast." She nodded at me.

We were half-running as we reached the ground floor. But unfortunately, we forgot to buy a baby stroller. I told her we can just buy it some other time but she was so persistent and eager to buy that thing now so, i had no choice but to go with her back to the second floor. Great! 

It's such a hassle moment but satisfying at the same time. On our way to the counter, i struggled to carry the bags and crib and a random customer kindly helped me out. Thanks to her, my friend's even having a hard time carrying all those things in her arms but the joyous smile on her face remains.

"$399, miss." The cashier said after a while of computing our purchased item.

I took out my wallet only to see the $200 in it. Oh come on...

Turning to Sydney, i gave her a knowing look. She also fished out her wallet but eventually shot me a dismayed look. Damn. Now, how do we put a solution on this one?

"Uhm, can you wait for me a bit? I'll just withdraw from my ATM card..." I smiled awkwardly. The cashier looks doubtful.

"But we were strictly advised that customers must pay on the spot after we're done checking the items." She timidly said.

Nincompoop! Do i look like a scammer here though? As if I won't come back with the cash on hand!

"W-well--" 

My lines were unfinished because of the icy ever so familiar voice from behind.

"I'll pay for her purchased item." Lorcan's intoxicating manly perfume attacked my nostrils, and i saw the black card being handed to the blushing cashier.