CHAPTER 15 - "I'm not allowed to come up close to you but Alain is?"

ALAIN

I stepped out of the bathroom minutes later to find her fully dressed and in a hurry.

"Going somewhere?"

"Yes. Amira called. I don't know but I think something is wrong with Kendall. She sounded so close to tears. I need to get to them."

Her hands were shaky as she grabbed her things. Kendall seemed quite frail but fine in the afternoon, I wonder what would have happened.

"Don't wait up for me." She paused for a bit before staring back at me. "Not like you would, anyway."

She placed a kiss on my cheeks before running off.

"Ryan." I say immediately the call connected. "Follow Jayla. Find out what's going on."

I fall back on my bed staring into empty space. When i heard Kendall's name, my heart shuddered.

'for how long do you think you can keep denying that you care about her. Even more than you actually think?' the small voice in the head echoes, causing me to take a deep breath.

Next second I'm pacing the room. I stare at the black screen of my phone, hoping it comes on soon with something from Ryan.

Of course, I care about her but that doesn't matter to me. Or should I say I don't want it to. I made up my mind to be with the woman who saved my life.

Who would have thought life would play this trick on me? No matter what I feel for her, she's with Romain.

'and if she wasn't?'

I don't want to think about the possibilities that that wasn't in the picture. There'd be no excuse, and the last thing I want to do is hurt Jayla.

An image of those eyes from that night flashes once more. My kryptonite. And Kendall holds it. Even if she's not the one. Her eyes make me weak.

The sound of my ringing phone pulls me out of my head.

"Yes."

"Miss Jayla is at miss Kendall's house right now, sir."

"Any sign for an emergency?"

"None, sir. Both seem to be arguing over something."

My brows knit together in confusion. She hurried out to get into another argument with Kendall?

"Prank, sir. They're both talking about a prank. Miss Jayla sounds really upset. I think miss Kendall's sister pulled a prank on her."

A faint smile appear on my lips, and a surge of relief washes over me.

"Okay. You should make your way out now."

"Okay, boss."

Amira. Sounds like she's one hell of a chaotic little adult. Pulling pranks this late at night is crazy!

The little smile on my face widens, and finally turns into a soft laugh.

KENDALL

I wake up with a slow pounding headache which causes me to groan in pain. Beside me is a curled up Amira with Jayla right next to her, both still sound asleep.

I turn to the window, and the sun is completely out. As much as I would love to get back in and sleep with them, I wouldn't want to let another potential great day pass me by.

These two humans are jobless, and I'm not. With these supposed motivation, I walk into my room and into the bathroom.

As my usual self would have it, I'm out within thirty minutes, and in my clothes within another.

I walk back into the living room, and they're still cuddled up and sleeping. A small laugh betrays me as I take out my phone to take a picture for memories sake.

I slip a paper into Amiras' hand, so she notices it immediately she gets up. It contains my schedule for the day in case she needs it.

The office is very quiet with a only few people here and there. That's my cue to knowing I'm early for work, maybe too early but that's a good thing because there's surely a lot from yesterday to finish up.

I'm deep into what I'm doing I don't notice Riley walk in.

"If I didn't come up here myself, I'd have sworn someone broke into your office."

"Is that your way of saying I'm never punctual?"

"Well, if we're discussing that, then yes."

"I always knew you were an enemy."

We both laugh before she points at her wrist watch, alerting me of the time.

A gasp escapes my lips, it's 10 O'clock.

"I kept looking out for when you'd arrive until Samantha said you write up here already."

"I got so locked in. I didn't even realize it's this late."

"Perks of being a focused designer we'd say."

"This is not a good thing, Riley."

"Would your clients say same?"

I stand akimbo, hands on waist with my glare on my face. "Get out."

Another round of laughter follows.

"You have a visitor." She moves her brows in a very funny way, earning a confused look from me.

"I'm not expecting anyone." I say, picking up the draft for today's schedule.

"Oh, please. It's not a client. It's your fake boo, love."

"I shouldn't have told you that."

"Well, you did. And that means I still need to put work in place to get you acquainted to a fine gentleman soon, so whatever you two are doing, hasten up and end it."

"Get out, Riley."

"As you wish, your majesty. I'll send him in."

A smile forms on my face as I watch her walk out, and drops almost immediately as Romain walks in.

"Fine morning to you, Kendall." He says in an accusing tone.

"Hm..." I manage to evoke a response before getting back into business of arranging my table, which is totally unimportant at the moment.

I still can't seem to catch of glimpse of the audacity I had yesterday on that phone call, and right now, my actions are about to get back at me.

"Do you need me to wait until you're done with whatever that is." He points to the table.

"I don't remember setting up a meeting with you, Romain. Except you have something to say to me, I have nothing to say to you." I try to maintain my stand.

But this man is a fucking Arsenault. He has great aura. Maybe not as Alain but yet still intimidating.

"You were a bitch yesterday, you know that right?" His voice is stern, and the coldness clearly evident. If I wasn't the one with a upper hand here, I'd probably cower.

"I was in my feelings, yes. But nothing I said was or is a lie. My feelings just tend to make me brutally honest and that's what I was."

I hold his gaze for seconds but it felt like minutes, trying to hold ones wall up in front of this man is damn hard.

My gaze moves swiftly to my buzzing phone and back up. A perfect distraction with a perfect timing.

"Well, you have no rights. And you will not speak to me in that manner anymore."

This time he's on his feet and walking towards my desk.

"You're wrong about something so basic. I have rights. And I'll speak however I see fit, especially if it's the truth. The tone may have been out of place but the words, I'm not taking those back."

"Watch your words, Kendall."

"What happens if I don't? Plus, you're not allowed to come so close to me. This isn't a fantasy book where you think I'll be distracted by you or that." I say pointing at his body.

He scoffs staring at me.

"I'm not allowed to come up close to you but Alain is?"

My heart drops at the mention of that name, and as if my expression is readable which I'm sure it is, Romain smirks like he caught me at an illegal scene.

"You don't know what you're talking about." I try to defend.

"Of course, I don't but that reaction tells me everything I need to know. You are supposed to be my girlfriend, Kendall. Not my brothers fuck mate."

A loud sound echoes in the room. It was swift, and I acted completely based off my reflex. I slapped Romain Arsenault and yes, I may regret it.

"You will learn to talk to me with respect, Romain. I am not your girlfriend, your sister or mother. I'm completely capable of running my life which I'm very sure you can see for yourself. You don't get to call me names."

He seems to be tongue-tied at the moment, and God bless wherever that gut came from.

"Tales of guilt. That's all this is. I wonder what happens when your best friend finds out you're sleeping with her boyfriend. And oh, what will Shantelle do about that too?"

I hold my fiery amour in place. Douche bag, always deferring to tainting people's images when he can't get what he wants.

Everyday, I get to understand more and more why his father thinks of him the way he does.

"Run along then, darling. Looks like you've got a whole tea to make go round."

He storms out of my office while I slump back on my chair, giving myself a mental pat.