Chapter Twenty-Three

Kindling Flames

Sebastian's PoV

  

  “What do you mean by what happened?” I asked Maria, admiring how gorgeous she looked even though she was obviously angry.

  She tsked and fixed hot gazes on me. “What happened between you and Cassandra? How and why exactly are you two even together in one picture? Where was the location in the picture? I need details. I can't just wake up and get surprises from the news. It shouldn't be my norm. I need details so I know what I am possibly facing soon.”

  “Maria, please take a seat. I will share every detail soon.”

  “Okay.” She simply replied then sat down and crossed her arms in front of her and I clamped my hands to prevent myself from smiling even though I was very angry.

  I was angry at myself for not flowing with my instincts because I knew immediately Cassandra showed up uninvited that something fishy was going on but I didn't act on it.

  I was also angry at Cassandra, the Kidmans and even my father for all these tantrums and naughty games and I believe that it is time to have a word with them.

  “I had a supposed lunch meeting with my father at the rooftop section of the restaurant so that was why I was there but my father didn't show up. Cassandra did instead. She looked surprised to see and acted like she ran into me but then my instincts started screaming at me immediately when I saw her, sadly I didn't listen to my instincts. She wore a huge diamond engagement ring and it caught my attention and made me curious.”

  “An engagement ring?” Maria asked and moved forward in her seat, totally interested in what I had to say.

  “Yeah. She told me that she got engaged two days ago and started telling me her engagement story.”

  “Was that the moment she became hadsy? Her hands were all over you.” She asked, trying hard not to be irritated.

  I clamped my lips together to hide my amusement about her reaction to the fact that Cassandra touched me..

  “Is that jealousy I sense?” I finally asked, unable to help myself.

  “Wha..Are you kidding me right now?” She asked with disbelief but I saw slight pink hues on her cheeks and it made me curious. Was she really jealous by any chance or just embarrassed by the question I asked?

  Thinking about the question, I became surprised at the crazy fact that I actually wanted her to be jealous that Cassandra touched me.

  “I was just wavering but yes, that was when she became handsy. I gently removed her hands occasionally but she kept doing that and now I know why.”

  “Did she mention her fiance's name?”

  “She isn't engaged to anyone. She sent a text this morning to inform me that she was just joking and wasn't engaged to anyone. It was just a prank and her daddy still insists that her engagement to me is still on.” I brought out my phone, opened the text and handed it to Maria.

  “Wow! The nerves. How did she get your personal contact details?”

  “That's one very good question that my father needs to answer.” I replied her then stood up. “Immediately I saw the news, I called you because I knew that I had messed up by even entertaining her presence and it will never happen again. You really do not deserve the stress these people keep throwing your way.”

  “It's okay, Sebastian. It's good to know what happened and that the news has been taken care of.” She replied then asked as I remained standing. “Going back to work, yeah?”

  “Nahh, I have to see some people first. They have some explaining to do or some reprimands to receive.”

  We talked for a while then I left her office and drove straight to my father's country club where I knew he would be. He was just finishing a physical meeting with some investment officials.

  “Tell me again why you missed the lunch plan we had and the Kidman girl showed up in your stead?”

  He looked up from the book he was writing on and greeted me. “Well, good morning to you too, Sebastian.” then turned to look around sarcastically. “I believe you left courtesy and your manners in your car or maybe it's hiding somewhere.”

  “Don't play games with me dad and answer the question. Why did you invite me for lunch and the Kidman girl showed up instead?”

  My father dropped the book and stood up then walked towards me with clenched jaws. “That Kidman girl as you call her is supposed to be your wife. I was super excited when I saw the news only for it to get wiped out a few hours later and I know that you have been manipulated by that wench again.”

  “You all go around blaming Maria when she has done nothing wrong. I am a grown man who is capable of taking fierce, high risk decisions that yield successful results, and the company is the proof of that. Tell me why you all blame Maria for a decision I clearly took? I know you want the Kidmans as your in-laws for whatever crazy business reason and I don't know if you've done your research on their financial activities but trust me, that family is not it.”

  “Why don't you let me be the judge of that?”

  “You can't be a freaking judge where it concerns my life and my lifelong decisions.” I shouted at my father and he slightly jumped backwards. I wasn't one to get angry real fast but when I did, it's usually hell for the recipient.

  “You want me to marry that Kidman brat because of some business decision you want to take? I took over a bankrupt company from you. In fact, you had to sell the company to me because you were fast becoming penniless. That's how poor a business decision maker you are and you expect me to trust your business decision with the Kidmans who are another set of financial wrecks?”

  “Sebastian!” My father called my name in shock then blindly stretched his hand to look for his seat.

  I didn't mean to be harsh with him, not because he was some saint. In fact, he had done so many things that would rightly warrant me cutting him off from my life-especially what he did to my mother- but I chose to turn a blind eye many times. This time I won't.

  “Lay off the shenanigans and lay off the unnecessary pressure you mount on Maria. Also, warn your Kidman buddies to stay away from Maria and I. Trust me dad, you don't want me to angrily take up this fight you guys are pushing my way. I will fight so dirty that there will be nothing left for you all so be warned.”

  As I made my way out of my father's club, I couldn't help but feel like I just made matters worse instead of making it better.

  I felt an urgency to ask Maria to marry me now but knowing that stubborn sexy woman, she would probably stick to her decision of handling business first.