Chapter # 7

“Where do you want to go anyways?” He asked.

“Don’t you have work?” I questioned back.

“I just finished it, so I thought I should pay you a visit.” He said casually.

“It feels weird.” I said, stopping.

“What happened?” He asked, turning to me.

“Look around you and me, Tyler. I feel strange going out with you. I am sorry, I cannot come.” I said turning to leave.

I don’t understand but I feel weird, he comes and takes me with him. Everything feels eerie, I thought he would forget about me but here he is taking me out.

“Maybe next time, Tyler.” I said turning to him and passing him an apologetic smile.

“Next time I will kidnap you normally.” He joked. I laughed a little and went to work again.

For the next week, I didn’t see him. Maybe because I made him angry and he doesn’t want to hangout anymore, but I am not complaining, I am totally fine with it. He and I shouldn’t hangout, his overpowered presence is scary. I shook my head and finished work. I took my stuff and left for home.

The moment I got out, I saw Tyler with no security around him and not his usual expensive suit but in a casual green checked shirt with blue jeans.

He was leaning on the wall while smoking a cigarette. I looked at him and was about to turn my head away but he called me, “Candice!” I turned and passed him a faint smile.

“Hey, Tyler…” I walked to him. He smiled when he saw me and said, “Hi.”

“Looking nice.” I complimented him. “Thanks. I guess you didn't feel comfortable when I was with the suites so I came to meet you as a normal person.” He said.

I chuckled and said, “Thanks for your concern.” I said.

“Where do you wanna go?”

“Is it okay? Don’t you have work? I bet you must be busy.” I mumbled, worried I might be wasting his time.

“I have time for you.” He smiled genuinely that I cannot argue with him.

“Okay, Umm.” I looked at my watch and said, “Where you want, I just have to be home before eight.”

“How about a movie?” He offered.

"Cool.” I smiled.

We then went to the cinema and watched a Comedy movie. I was still laughing after the movie. I leaned on his shoulder laughing.

“You know Candice, someone used to say this to me; To end the loneliness inside you, you should do something funny to know that life is still fun.” I stopped laughing, his words hit me hard.

I looked at him and smiled, “Thank you… and that person must be amazing.” He hummed and we talked a bit, get to know each other and I left for home,

“It was nice to hangout with you.” I said sincerely.

“I know. I am fun to hangout with.” He said proudly. I laughed and shook my head. I waved at him and then left home.

****

”What do you prefer, Tyler; Love or Money?”

“Depends.” He replied. I pouted and looked at him, “Answer.” I said sternly. “Love. You?” He replied.

“You need to ask?” I laughed a little. “Of course, love.” He said.

“Have you ever fallen in love, Candice?” He asked.

I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and replied in embarrassment, “No..” He looked at me in disbelief and asked.

“You never had a boyfriend?”

“No..” I said looking away.

“You?” I asked him. He looked away and said, “Once.”

“Then? What happened?” I was intrigued.

”She died.” He said with no emotions. My smile vanished when I heard it. It must be hard for him to bear it.

I put my hand over his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I am sorry about it.” I said sadly.

“Don’t be. The one who has to die, will die.” He said with his tone ice cold.

I don’t understand why he is saying this, why he is not showing any emotion but I could feel the pain of losing someone you love, I was also devastated when I lost my mother and after her death even Father changed.

I lowered my head and didn’t say anything.

We remained like that and he asked, “Do you want that?” He pointed to the cotton candy stall, trying to light up the mood.

I chuckled and said, “Yes.” I got myself a cotton candy, as I was eating it, I motioned him to take a bite but he shook his head no.

I narrowed my eyes at him in irk and put the candy close to his mouth, “Come, just one bite.” I insisted. He sighed and smiled a bit.

He put his hand over mine, a shiver went down my spine when he touched me. My eyes not leaving his exquisite one, he leaned in a bit and took a bite and pulled away.

I noticed some candy stuck to the side of his lips so I did what I do with Rufus whenever something got stuck on the corner of his lips. I brought my hand close to his face to wipe it.

He looked at me in bewilderment, not understanding what I was doing. I put an index finger on the corner of his lips and wiped it off.

He just blinked, staring intensely at me. I pulled my hand away and smiled, “I do this whenever Rufus has something on his face, I am used to it. There was candy on the corner of your lips.” I told him.

“Who’s him?” He asked sternly, totally ignoring my other statement.

"Oh, my younger brother. Sorry, If my action made you uncomfortable. But I only had him so I was used to it.” I reasoned nervously, looking away, realizing I shouldn’t have touched him.

“No, It’s okay. Thanks.” He nodded and returned a smile.

"Yeah, right. Rufus..” He said as if he knew but forgot about it and now remembered.

“I must have told you about him. I had to take care of him, he is such a baby.” I shrugged this thought off and continued to eat my candy, telling him.

We were talking but then Tyler got an emergency call so he had to leave. After he left, I also thought about going home so I went home.

I went home and saw Father and Rufus talking about something. Rufus has a mournful look over his face.

“I am home.” I said, entering.

“Good timing, We were waiting for you Candice.” Father said. He called me by my name and I realized something very disastrous was about to happen.

I cautiously turned to Rufus and said, “What happened?”

“I have fixed your marriage.” I blinked, trying to apprehend his words. I turned to him and asked.

“Come again?” I was hoping deeply I had heard wrong.

“I have fixed your marriage.” He repeated himself. It took me a few seconds to let that talk sink in completely inside me.

“This has got to be a sick joke.” I said moving back. He looked at me in bewilderment, not understanding my reaction.

How could he do this?

“What? You have to get married one day and I have found a great guy for you.” He said.

“Don’t. Don’t you dare, Elmer.” I warned, pointing my index finger at him in a contemptible way.

He narrowed his eyes on me in anger. Rufus stood up and said, “Candice is right, you cannot do this, Father.” He defended me.

“You shut up. I am her father, I have the right to decide her future.”

"With my consent!” I yelled at him.

“Keep your voice down.”

“Did Nicolas know about it?” I asked Rufus.

“He is not here to be at your side. No need to tell him.” My mouth gaped, “Are you out of your mind!?” I shouted.

“You cannot decide my life like this.” I argued.

“The guy’s name is Leon Vincent, he is well settled and gonna take care of you well.” I was about to leave but stopped and turned to him.

“Well settled..” I repeated what he said. “That’s right. It’s all about fucking money!” I shouted.

“Shut your mouth Candice! You are going to meet the guy tomorrow and if you do anything in opposition to the marriage I will tell him about who Nicolas is… You know it, he doesn't want the world to know that ‘s why he lives in California away from you.” He threatened.

My eyes widened in horror when I heard it. I stumbled back and looked at him in disbelief, “You are inhumane.” I managed to breath out.

“Choice is yours, Either the secret Nicolas doesn’t want to get out or your marriage.” He said triumphantly.

I lost my breath.

“Please don’t do this, Father. Let Candice live her life.” Rufus said, holding me from the shoulder to give me some support.

“She was promised and I will get her married off and free myself.”

“You were supposed to be a father not a bastard! How could you do this to me!? I thought you considered me your daughter!”

“If you want to throw me away then do it otherwise, don’t do this!” I yelled down, at the verge of a breakdown.

“You. Are. Going. Tomorrow.” he enunciate. I looked away and pointed my middle finger at him.

“I fucking hate you, Elmer Whale!” I shouted at him and went to my room.