Chapter 4: Hi Katherine!

Katherine's POV

He was a shocker alright! 

Still 10 million was way more than I needed, how could he just give away that much money just like that?! Yes he was a billionaire but I didn't peg him as the extravagant type. 

This was the first time that I have seen this amount of money in my account. Truth be told, I almost fainted when I saw the alert and at first I wondered where on earth it came from. 

Then I remembered Shawn Blackwell and it all made sense. 

When he said he wanted to help me out I didn't know that he was trying to buy me off. How could I repay something this huge! I needed the money though, I was so deep in debts from every corner but I didn't want to owe this man so much! 

I had to let him know that this was too much. Don't get me wrong I was tempted to accept this insane amount of money and never have to worry about a thing again in my life but Shawn's words kept ringing in my ears.. 

"A favour that I can not refuse," he said. 

Considering how evil he was I could not imagine what sort of favour that could be. I did not want to owe this man so much! Gosh why did I even accept this incredulous offer of his anyways?! 

Okay, I know why, but I was no charity case and even if I have to pay him for this, it still felt like he was using me as his unofficial goodwill outlet. 

Then I thought of my brother, Freddie, he was the main reason I even accepted Shawn's help, even though I needed the help, but I didn't want it, I still do not.  

I could hear Freddie's shuffling steps in his room right now, he was frantically searching for something and although I had my own dilemma to deal with, I could not help but be distracted by all the noise he was making. 

It was just him and I at home right now, auntie had gone out to get some supplies for us since we literally had nothing in the house. She would be leaving soon and then it would just be the two of us against the world as always, except now we would be 10 million richer if I do accept Shawn's money. 

I lazily walked towards his room and knocked before trying to open it. We never locked our doors but then again we didn't just barge into each other's room like we owned it. 

However, this time around the door was locked, it didn't bulge when I tried to open  and this had me worried. 

"Freddie! Freddie, open up," I said. 

"What do you want?" He yelled from behind the door. 

Well I don't know… maybe to check up on you! To see why you're making so much noise! To just see you! The list went on and on, but I didn't tell him that. So instead I said, 

"Just open the door Freddie." 

Finally the shuffling noise stopped and it seemed like eternity before he finally opened the door but he had a bag on his back and walked straight past me immediately the door was open. 

"Hold on! Where are you going to, what's going on here and since when did we start locking doors in this house?" I asked him as I walked after him. 

"How many questions do you want to ask me at once katty?" He said, rolling his eyes. 

I was a little taken aback by his actions… okay maybe not a little. This was not the Freddie I knew. This was not the little brother I respected because he was always mature and responsible. 

He would never talk back to me like that, never, but now he was someone I could not recognise. 

It dawned on me how selfish I have been these last few days. He must be hurting from all of these and I only thought about the responsibilities that have been dumped on me. 

Seeing him this way broke me, but he looked anxious to get away from me, from this house. 

"Just answer one at a time I guess," I told him. 

"Well I'm going out to see some friends because I can't… I can't stand being here anymore… it's just… ah.. and I can lock my door because it is my room and I want my privacy, good bye." He said and he slammed the door on his way out. 

"Freddie!" I called out to him, but he was already gone. 

I've never felt so terrible as I did right now. I could see the pain in his eyes, I could feel his thick walls breaking down, the way his voice broke as he said those words broke me. 

I leaned against the kitchen counter for support because I suddenly felt weak. 

I have been so selfish! I could not imagine how I could not see how this would definitely affect him more. 

While I was away at college he was the one at home with them, loving them, spending actual time with them. 

Sure my parents were poor but they were rich at heart and loved us unconditionally. We were all close but ever since I left for college he became closer with them. They were our support system whenever we had a hard time at school or where we worked. 

They were always there no matter what and now they just weren't, and I expected him to accept that fact just like that.  

Suddenly all the pain and emptiness I felt all came flooding back even though I have been trying my best to be strong. I just wanted this pain to go away, I just wanted everything to go back the way it was. 

Isn't it funny how life always found a way to mess up lives that were already messed up. I mean, why did this have to happen to us, why?! 

Just then my phone rang and I almost felt like smashing it against the wall, almost. I had to remind myself that I could not be that reckless no matter how I felt right now because I wasn't sure how I could get another one, then I remembered Shawn's money in my account and I could not help but groan in utter frustration.  

The phone kept ringing persistently and I just wanted it to stop, so I reluctantly picked it up without even looking at the screen. 

"Hi, how may I help you?" I asked. 

"Hello, I like a woman that is straight to the point too but I kind of feel offended here, just a little," the other person said. 

I froze. That voice sounded too familiar for me not to be able to recognise it any day, any time. 

I looked at my phone as the weird feeling passed through me. I could not believe that I was talking to Shawn Blackwell. Gosh can this day get any worse! 

I knew I had to talk to him soon, but I was hoping that it would be later than sooner. Maybe it was good that he called though, maybe I should just let him know that the money he sent felt like a bargain to buy me and not just something to help an old acquaintance. 

"Sorry Mister Blackwell, I'm just not in the best of moods right now," I replied, a little bit sarcastically. 

"Okay, first, please never call me that again, it's just weird, deal?" he said. 

I snickered a little. I was just teasing him but he fell right into it. 

"Alright Shawn I won't call you that anymore," I agreed. 

"Good, secondly, where are you? I want to see you," he said. 

"Uhm I'm at home but we can meet somewhere, I need to see you too," I told him. 

"Great, I'll be there soon," he announced.

"Wait, what? I mean let's meet somewhere else, not in my home," I said. 

"Are you saying I'm not invited to your home?" He asked. 

"I'm not saying that, but…" 

"Then that settles it, I'm already close by so I'll see you soon." He said. 

And that was the end of the call. Apparently when Shawn Blackwell says the conversation is over, then the conversation is over. 

Gosh this man can be really infuriating. I know he was used to getting what he wants and doing whatever he pleases, but I wasn't going to be one of the puppets that he controlled with his money. 

I could not believe that Shawn Blackwell was coming to my home to see me. I didn't want to care or make it a big deal but somehow I found myself arranging throw pillows and putting certain things in the right place. 

At the very least I didn't want him to mock me on how scattered my house looked. Yes this was my home, but as I looked around it felt so big with just me in it. 

I guess a house without love can't really be called a home anymore and right now I felt more lonely than I have ever felt in my life. 

Soon there was a knock on the door, I straightened my gown and arranged my hair, just to look presentable at least, I told myself. 

I knew it was Shawn, I could vaguely see him from the window but as I opened the door I could not really think straight as I stared at the beauty in front of me. 

I almost forgot that this was my first love, and if I'm being honest, my only real love, even though he completely broke my heart, trampled on my dignity and destroyed whatever hope in love that I had. 

"Hi Katherine," he said. 

However I was lost in thoughts, lost in my own world and I could not help but appreciate this handsome being in front of me, despite the past we had that I had always wanted to forget but could not.