Chapter 4: Once in a Lifetime Offer

"I want to talk to you," Mateo answered without any trace of emotion on his face. Then, he made his way and entered the room without a word.

"Hey! What are you doing? You're trespassing again!" Kim complained as she followed him.

Mateo stopped in the middle of the room and turned to her, raising his brow. "Trespassing? Do you own this condo unit?"

Kim suddenly halted her steps, stunned by his question. "H-How--" She was about to ask how did he know that she was not the owner of the condo unit, but he didn't let her finish her words.

"Never mind. You are Kimberly, right? I'm Mateo. I came back to give you a great offer." He explained.

Her forehead creased. 'He also knows my name? What else does he know about me?' She whispered in her mind, completely ignoring what he said.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime offer," Mateo spoke again as he stared at her, waiting for her answer.

"O-Offer?" Kim repeated. She was baffled. What was he saying?

"Right. I'll give you anything that you wish. I can give you a job or--"

Kim laughed so hard at his remarks while gazing at him from head to toe. She just couldn't contain herself, hearing what he said. 

'Well, yeah, he looked rich in his suit but anyone can pretend to be elegant and decent just to deceive others.' She admitted to herself.

After a while, she stopped laughing when she noticed that Mateo's face turned dark. She looked straight into his eyes. "Are you some kind of a con artist?" She asked as she gave him a mocking smile. Then, she crossed her arms. "Do you think you can fool a young woman like me? Huh! You're underrating me, Mister. Um, wait. Mateo, right? Mr. Mateo, never underestimate the power of a woman's intuition!" She pronounced.

Kim saw how his face turned crimson red as he scowled. She could sense that he got annoyed by her accusation. She sneered at him, feeling proud of herself. 'Maybe he was shocked that I figured out his true intention. What does he think of me... ignorant?'

"Con artist?" Mateo echoed, not able to believe that he was being accused of fraud.

"Yes. Perhaps you belong to a group of con artists, that's why you easily found out some information about me." She further accused.

He arched his brows. "What nonsense are you saying?"

"Get out of this room or I'll call the police!" She warned him one more time, not answering his question.

Mateo glared at her before he walked out of the room with heavy footsteps, leaving her laughing.

She peeped at the door, ensuring that he really left this time. However, she was scared to go out thinking about the possibility that the con artist was waiting for her outside. Hence, she decided to cancel her plan of going to West City.

After she drank a glass of cold water, she lay down on the bed and shut her eyes, but her phone suddenly rang. She picked it up and looked who was calling.

"Oh, Cath is calling me again," She said with a smile, thinking that Cath might be excited to tell her some good news.

Staring at the ceiling, she answered the call. "Hello, Cath. Sorry, I was--"

She was going to explain why she didn't pick up her calls earlier but Cath interrupted her as she suddenly spoke at the end of the other line. "Kim, what did you say to my brother?"

Her forehead furrowed. "Brother?" She echoed as she didn't understand her.

"Yeah. He called me earlier and told me that he went there. Then, he asked me who you are. I was about to inform you about him but you're not answering my calls. And just now, he called me again. He was so angry."

"D-Do you mean, the man named Mateo is your older brother?" She exclaimed with broad eyes.

"Yup," Cath confirmed.

"Hold on, Cath." She uttered as she suddenly got up from the bed, turned to the bedside table, and picked up the business card.  She read the name printed on it with the position of Chief Executive Officer under his name and name of his company.

'Why didn't I realize it earlier?' She thought as she tapped her forehead and bit her lower lip.

She felt like she was struck by lightning when she recalled that Cath used to call her brother Matty.

'So, Kitty is Catherine... Wait! Does it mean that I just met a CEO? The CEO of Triple A Entertainment?' She couldn't believe it, staring at the business card, she realized that she wrongly accused a CEO.

"I-I'm so sorry, Cath. I was not aware that he's your brother. I-I accused him of being a con artist because he told me that he would give anything that I wish. So, I thought--"

"Wait, what? He would give you anything that you wish?" Cath questioned. She sounded surprised.

"Yeah, I guess so. That's what he said earlier."

"Hmn... What else happened? I mean what happened before he offered to give you anything that you wished?" Cath questioned curiously.

Kim's face instantly blushed when she heard Cath's question as she remembered what happened earlier. How could she tell her that her brother kissed her?

Nevertheless, she told what happened to Cath. However, she paused for a moment, hesitating if she should tell her about the kiss.

"Then what, Kim?" Cath asked impatiently.

She took a deep breath before she continued. "Then, h-he k-kissed me!" Kim stuttered. She could feel that her face flushed. She's grateful that they were only talking on the phone. Otherwise, she wasn't sure what Cath would think of her.

"What? Really? He kissed you?!" Cath was greatly surprised which made her feel more ashamed.

Kim bit her lower lip. "Y-Yeah, I think he was hiding from a woman since I heard a woman's voice--"

"Oh, wait, Kim. I think I already get it. My brother was hiding from a woman, then he was caught and suddenly kissed you?"

"Y-Yeah, that's what happened," She confirmed, nodding her head as though Cath was just in front of her.

"I see. My mom probably set up another blind date for him. And he used to hide there in my condo every time, but this time the woman was desperate to follow him up there. Tsk. Tsk. My poor brother." Cath spoke like she was talking to herself.

"So that was why the woman sounded like crying when she spoke," I murmured.

"Absolutely! Anyway, never mind her. Do you want to make it up to my brother?"

"Do you think he will forgive me?"

"Of course! I know my brother very well. Besides, aren't you interested to hear his offer? I told him about you and why you're staying in my condo. So if my guess is right, his offer was somewhat related to your current situation. You can ask him to help you find your father. I know, it's just a piece of cake for Matty." Cath suggested, making her ponder.

"You think so?" 

"Yes! Just hear him out. Oh, I'm so excited to know his reason."

Kim's forehead furrowed, wondering what Cath meant by her words. "What do you mean?"

She heard Cath chuckle. "Don't mind me. Anyway, I'll set the date when you're going to meet, okay? Oh, wait. How about tomorrow night? I don't have work. I can go there by noon."

"But--" She was about to refuse but Cath didn't give her the chance.

"No buts. Okay, Kim. See you tomorrow. Bye!" She said and hung up the call.