26 - Busy

A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means it has not yet been proofread or edited.

***

"Mommy, I'm eepy," Candice yawned and blinked her heavy eyes.

"Come here. Do you want milk?"

"Yes, Mama."

Larry noticed it and suggested, "Hija, there's a bedroom over there. You can use it."

"T-Thank you, Sir, but I can't. It's for you. We're fine here," she politely refused but Larry insisted. He called Midas to carry Candice to the bedroom.

"Daddy, I'm eepy. Are you not eepy, too?"

Kalonice placed Candice's bag on the bed and opened it. She pulled out her bottle with water already and the powdered milk. She scooped the milk four times and transferred it to her bottle. She shook it then gave it to her.

"I think I do. I'm eepy, too."

"Do you want milk, too, Daddy?" asked the innocent Candice and sent her bottle to him, "Let's share."

Midas chuckled, even Kalonice.

"No, no. Thank you, but I don't drink baby milk anymore."

"But... But why? It's healthy?"

Midas pinched her cheeks lightly and smiled, "I know it's healthy, but I'm an adult now. Once you're older, you won't drink milk anymore when going to sleep. Unless when you're going to bed,"

Though Candice still have lots of questions to ask, she saved it for later and sucked the nipple of her bottle. She searched for a comfortable position and stayed like that until she's fallen asleep.

Secretary Sean sneaked and closed the door of the bedroom. Larry ordered him to.

"Are you nervous?" He asked when she saw the look on her face.

He hold her hand, "It's cold. You're nervous."

Kalonice pulled her hand away and pretended to organize Candice's bag.

"It's normal to be. It's a special event."

Midas laid down and tap the other side, "Lay here. I know you didn't get enough sleep."

"I'm fine."

"It's a long-ass flight, Montecristo. This is an order. Lay down here and sleep."

Kalonice rolled her eyes.

"Stop doing that."

"Doing what?" She rolled her eyes again.

"THAT. Rolling your eyes. Stop or I'm gonna make them white."

Kalonices eyes widened. Both were stunned. Both were flustered and red.

"Y-You're really a pervert. I'm scared."

Kalonice laid down beside Candice but she's far from him, they're far from him.

"Seriously?"

"Seriously."

Midas rolled his eyes and hissed.

"THAT. Rolling your eyes. Stop or I'm gonna make them white," Kalonice mocked while mimicking a big man's voice.

Midas snorted and smacked her with a pillow on her face. She smacked him back, harder.

They stopped when Candice woke up and cried.

"Shh, shh. Sorry, sorry. Sleep again, love," Kalonice whispered and kissed her.

"Mommy,"

Candice hugged her and slept on top of her. Soon, Kalonice fell asleep, too. Midas get up and pulled them closer to the middle instead of them so close to the edge. He pat Candice's back as she fall into a deeper sleep with Kalonice.

"So cute," he said, but he's looking at Kalonice's face.

He smirked.

He's definitely taking the woman home at the end of the day.

~

The three woke up after a 10-hour sleep. The bed was so comfortable and it's cold. Candice woke them up when she got hungry. When they went out altogether, they found Larry and Secretary Sean focused on their laptops, wearing eyeglasses, handling calls and replying to messages and emails back to back.

"Oh, good evening, guys. Have a seat, come. Bring them food to eat, Kris!" Larry, calling the steward's attention.

The three sat on the table beside them.

"What are you doing, Dad?"

Larry didn't seem to heard Midas.

The moment the announcement went live, chaos erupted in the company. Larry barely had a second to breathe---his phone buzzed non-stop, emails flooded his inbox faster than he could respond, and every call seemed more urgent than the last. Investors, collectors, journalists---everyone wanted a piece of the upcoming auction and press conference for Kalonice Montecristo and her works.

And Secretary Sean was just as swamped. Juggling multiple phone lines, he switched between languages as he handled inquiries from international clients. His fingers flew across the keyboard, firing off responses while coordinating with the PR team.

Every branch of their company was experiencing the same overwhelming demand, their lines ringing off the hook as excitement for the event reached a fever pitch. 

Despite the pressure, neither Larry nor Sean could afford to slow down. This was bigger than they had anticipated---Kalonice's name had ignited a storm, and now, they had to keep up with it.

Midas took his laptop out from his bag and opened it to help---but he didn't imagine that it will be that chaotic! So, he shut it and put it back inside his bag and pretended that he didn't just try to help them. Kalonice gave him a look of disappointment and he just rolled his eyes. His father didn't hire people for nothing if they're not going to do their job.

THEY ARE DOING THEIR JOBS.

It's just that---they were not prepared! They wanted to surprise the world with that announcement but in the end, they were the ones who were surprised.

Politicians, celebrities, and all kinds of big people are inquiring and 'buying' their access to the event. The seats are limited and the whole auction will be streamed live on all their social media platforms. But the online bidding will only be possible in their website.

A newly created website solely for the auction event. Their web developers and ITs brought forth their strongest skills to make that less than a week. The online auction are only accessible to clients who have made online reservations.

Octavius Lisieux was laughing by himself, laughing furiously because of the trick Larry just pulled. He's really showing her off. He's rubbing on their faces that he's won and it's driving them mad.

A seat for him is sure, but he's not attending the event because he's going with his wife to see their daughter's first Victorina's Secret's Fashion Show. He gave in when she kept on bugging him about it.

On the other side of the world was Cain, plotting a way on how to win Kalonice Montecristo to his side. He's not giving up on her easily. If his son can't, he will make it happen. He commissioned Kalonice one time to conceptualize designs for him and SHE MADE A SERIES. He's releasing one of it physically together with his son's model.

"Candice Montecristo, huh," he said as he memorize the girls face while looking at her picture flashed on the TV screen.

He drink his smooth whiskey.

"I see what you did there, Kalonice. It's so obvious, really," he chuckled bitterly.

Candice? Sounds like Caedmon and Kalonice. A combination of their names.

Cain don't know for sure what went wrong to them. Well, he never cared because he trusted his son. They trusted him. They're still clueless about what happened in their relationship, but they will soon know. So, as they let things unfold patiently...

Cain pulled his drawer and smiled when he saw his gun inside.

"Ah, yes. My other favorite son," he said and took it out carefully then wiped it with his sleeve.

Cassandra made the biggest point so far. One that they can't set aside forever, because it is true (if Candice is truly his son's daughter) that the girl will be the very first Alterio lady that will ever live. From their very ancestors to his twins inside his wife's womb, had always been boys and men. Other than their wives, no other Alterio lady was written in history.

That's why, they must prove that Candice is theirs.

And what's next?

Take her?

From Kalonice, her mother?

Nah, they won't. They're scared of her.

They.are.scared.of.her.

Then, what are they gonna do? If Kalonice is so firm about her decision to not meet Caedmon anymore or hide the child?

Then...

Cain checked its magazine and cocked his gun. He pointed it at the door, imagining that Caedmon was there.

"Dear son, I'm really gonna kill you once I find out the little girl is yours,"

He raised no coward. He raised no bitch. He raised and will raise men. Caedmon, his firstborn---he swear to his pregnant wife that if it's proven that Candice is an Alterio and his stupid son refused to take responsibility, even if he has no idea about Kalonice's pregnancy, he's beating him to death.

He will even compare him to Midas to make things worse.

Kalonice looked outside the windows when she felt something ominous. She hugged Candice and kissed her head. She feel threatened all of a sudden. Now that she's going nearer to the land where her life changed forever... She don't know what to feel.

She will do everything to protect Candice. Even if she's not her own, even if she's her friend's daughter and hers, she will do everything. Candice is important to her already like a daughter. She raised her and will continue to.

With fingers crossed, she wish that Caedmon won't show up and blow things out of proportions. She know him, he loves being the center of attention. He wants everything for himself. Once he finds something interesting, he will do anything to make it his.

And she doesn't know why he's still trying to put a leash on her. She's not interesting anymore.

She hates him. She hate everything about him as much as she loves him.

Caedmon and his family has done so much for her, but she want to break free from them already. She believe she had paid the debts she owe to them. She won't ask for credits or anything, but them away from her. Away from Candice.

She had enough and she want to forget. She started a new chapter in her life and she hope that they won't be in it anymore. Let them call her ungrateful, but the pain she had to endure while with Caedmon...

"M-Mommy...? Mama, what's wrong? Are you okay?" Candice worried with tearful eyes when she saw her crying.

Everyone stopped from whatever they're doing, concerned genuinely.

"A-Ah," she touched her face and it's wet. She wiped her cheeks immediately and smiled.

"I was just so happy and grateful for this opportunity."

They were relieved. They thought it was serious.

But Midas...

Midas saw through her little white lie. He didn't ask and pretended not to know.

She's gonna be fine.

Candice will be fine.

They will be fine.