ELEVEN

After her classes for the day, Kayla left to the Kings brothers' office. She knocked on the door and it was opened from inside, by Elliot. "Kayla, good to see you again." he said with a smile that Kayla couldn't help but reciprocate. "Good afternoon, Professor King."She said. Elliot did not like that, he could wait for when she would call him by his name.

She walked in to see Alistair sitted behind a desk while Victor was sitting on a sofa and Elliot joined him.

"You asked to see me, Professor King?" Kayla directed her question toward Alistair, who gave her a nod.

"Yes, take a seat, Kayla," Alistair said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk.

Kayla sat down, smoothing her hands over her jeans as she tried to ignore the intense gaze of all three brothers. She could feel their eyes on her, studying her quietly. It made her stomach flutter, though she couldn’t quite figure out why.

Alistair leaned back in his chair, his eyes softening just a bit. "How are you liking your new stuff, Kayla?"

Kayla glanced down at the coat she was wearing, the one they had bought for her along with her new shoes. It felt warm and snug, a little reminder of their kindness. "It’s very comfortable. Thank you once again," she replied sincerely, meeting his gaze.

Victor smiled faintly from the sofa, his eyes twinkling with satisfaction. "Good. It looks good on you. We knew it would."

Kayla felt her cheeks heat up at the compliment. "I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me," she said, her voice steady despite the rush of emotions swirling inside her. "You didn’t have to, but it means a lot."

The brothers kept talking to her trying to make her calm down because they could tell that she was nervous.

As the minutes ticked by, Kayla glanced at her watch and realized she was almost late for her shift at the café. She shot to her feet, panic flaring in her chest.

"I’m so sorry, but I have to go. I’ll be late for work," she said quickly, gathering her bag.

Victor, who had shifted closer during their conversation, was now sitting beside her. His proximity made her pulse quicken, and before she could think twice, an impulsive idea struck her.

Without giving herself time to second-guess it, Kayla leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to Victor’s cheek. "Thank you again," she said breathlessly, turning on her heel and dashing out of the office.

The door closed behind her with a soft thud, and it wasn’t until she was a few feet away that the realization of what she had just done hit her like a bolt of lightning. Her eyes widened, and she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my God... Did I just...?"

Back in the office, the brothers sat in stunned silence. Victor remained perfectly still, his hand slowly rising to touch the spot where her lips had brushed his cheek. His usually calm and composed expression was replaced with something entirely different—shock mixed with a flicker of something far more tender.

Elliot was the first to break the silence. "Did that just happen?" he asked, his voice filled with incredulous delight.

Alistair leaned back in his chair, an amused smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It certainly did."

Victor blinked, finally finding his voice. "She kissed me..." His voice was low, almost disbelieving.

Elliot, never one to be left out, crossed his arms over his chest and let out a dramatic whine. "Hey! Why didn’t I get a kiss?"

Alistair chuckled softly, shaking his head. "Maybe next time, Elliot."

Victor was still dazed, a slow smile spreading across his face. "I’m not complaining."

Elliot sighed, leaning back against the sofa with an exaggerated pout. "I feel left out. I’m going to need some serious compensation for this injustice."

Alistair glanced at him with a raised brow. "Compensation?"

"Yes," Elliot said with mock seriousness. "I demand equal affection. Preferably in the form of a kiss on the cheek, just like Victor."

Victor chuckled, finally snapping out of his shock. "You’ll survive, Elliot."

"Will I, though?" Elliot countered, grinning mischievously. "I’m deeply wounded. Emotionally scarred, even."

Alistair shook his head in exasperation, but there was an unmistakable warmth in his eyes. "You’re hopeless."

Meanwhile, Kayla was still making her way across campus, her mind racing. She couldn’t believe what she had done. Kissing Victor on the cheek had been a completely impulsive act—one she hadn’t thought through at all.

What were they thinking? she wondered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. They must think I’m insane.

But despite her mortification, there was a small part of her that couldn’t stop smiling.

And back in the Kings brothers' office, Victor was smiling too.

Kayla got to work and saw only Alessandro and Lucas there, Maddison was not around. It was a surprise to her because Maddison has never missed a day.

"Hi, Lucas, Sandro," Kayla greeted, walking over and giving each of them a quick hug.

"How are you doing today, darling?" Lucas asked, his warm smile easing the lingering tension in her chest from earlier.

"I’m good," she said, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "Where’s Maddison? She’s always here."

Lucas exchanged a glance with Alessandro before responding. "She quit. Boss said she’s moving to a new town."

Kayla seemed shocked, but not like she is going to miss her. Maddison was a nightmare for her. She walked into the kitchen and got to work, enjoying the day without any snide remarks from Maddison and definitely never again.

As she worked on the dough, her mind went back to the King brothers, the peck she gave Victor on his cheeks. Somehow, the brothers make her feel calm and safe. She doesn't overthink and been with them us away soothing and calming.

"What has you smiling like that?" Someone said and Kayla looked up to see Lucas with a sly grin. "Nothing, it's nothing." Kayla replied refocusing on the dough. "Or is it someone?" Lucas asked again.

Kayla chuckled softly, trying to shake off her thoughts as she kneaded the dough. "Lucas, don’t start," she warned, though her cheeks betrayed her, turning a shade pinker.

Lucas leaned against the counter, his grin widening. "Oh, it’s definitely someone. Look at you, blushing like that. Spill it, Kayla. Who’s the lucky guy?"

"There’s no one," Kayla insisted, but her voice wavered just enough for Lucas to catch it. "I don't believe you. But I will leave you and your secret lover."he said.

" I don't have a secret lover, leave me Lucas. I have to work. "Kayla told him.

Lucas only smiled giving her a knowing look, he left her to work in the kitchen.

Kayla concentrated on her task at the moment as three identical men crossed her mind.