Chapter Sixty Four

He woke up a little earlier than usual. His night wasn't the best, his nights haven't been better anyway. He rushed to the bathroom, could not help but notice the dark circles around his eyes. He needed rest, being a billionaire hasn't been easy, but that wasn't the case. He hadn't had enough night rest. A girl got into his senses and he became this miserable. 

Oh my, Tristan… He whispered to himself. 

Since the day he saw her at the airport, things haven't been well with him. It was new to him. He has never been this emotionally attracted to anyone. He's had mistresses, but she was just the perfect definition of whom he wanted to be with. Her eyes, her smile, her scent, her voice, how easy it was to fall in love.

He joined his parents at the dinning table.

"How was your night, son?" His mother asked. She was always like that, always wanting to start a conversation, but his father, Master Tsee was more of the aristocratic type. Always serious.

"Great mum. And yours?" He smiled.

"Well." She laughed. "I'm glad you're having breakfast with us today. You should get some day off from work." Tristan exchanged stares with his father, who cleared his throat and ended the conversation.

"It's his father's business, and he needs to uphold it. No holidays until he gets a wife."

Tristan winced. He rushed his meal and left for work.

 *~*~*

"Marry Her!" Brianne placed his cards flat on the table. He had invited Henry over to his house for coffee, if course to discuss "business".

"You know that's not possible. Won't it be suspicious? We're still very young."

Brianne hissed. "Do you always have an excuse for every single thing? You know the deal, and I hate it when you challenge me?"

Henry swallowed. "She's just nineteen."

"She's twenty as far as I'm concerned. She's an adult! Who says age matters?!" He was raising his voice gradually.

"Okay fine!" Henry had no choice. "We'll get engaged soon. The marriage can hold. I'll propose to her."

He wanted to argue, but Henry shunned him. "She needs to at least finish her degree before we move in together. And I also."

"Does that matter? We're getting rid of her, after all." Brianne muttered and took a long gulp of his coffee.

Henry made no reaction to that. He glanced at his wristwatch. "I have to go. I have a project to submit by four."

"Oh, son, I'm not stopping you." Brianne laughed as he watched Henry leave the house.

"Idiots!" He cursed.

*

That night, I told Damien I had a business meeting to attend with one of my dad's clients. That was the only lie that sounded a bit reasonable out of a thousand that I thought of. After receiving one more threat message from my father that evening, I could not be risking stooping Tristan up again. He nodded and gave me a passcode to open the door. We were both busy during the day, and we didn't talk much. He wasn't that inquisitive as he used to be, and I could tell that something was wrong. I didn't have the time to ask then, but I promised myself I will. I kept on rehearsing my plans and important lines in my head as I drove to the launch. I reminded myself who Tristan was. A man who fell in love with the wrong person, just like Damien—innocent. The only difference is Tristan can't win my heart since it's already with another person. And Tristan is more unfortunate because he reached out to my father, who is now trying to take advantage of him. What is it with businessmen and opportunities to exploit? 

But wait…

Who is more unfortunate, Damien? Or Tristan?

Gush, Paige, they should not even be with you! You've got big infectious problems!

I'm sorry, Damien, for everything I caused you.

I'm sorry Tristan. I'm definitely going to break your heart tonight. But trust me, I'm trying to protect you. And me.

As I walked into the launch, I caught a glimpse of Tristian at the bar stand, but before I could reach him a pair of hands got me and dragged me to a former. A stranger, man in a hat, pointed a gun at me and asked me to keep shut, or he shoots. I was as scared as hell. He stopped when we got to an empty room and pinned me to the wall. I realized I wasn't alone. They both had guns and I could barely see their face.

"What do you want from me?" I said.

"We were sent to watch you." One of them said.

"You're here to see that man. You know the rules. I'm sure Master Kam has explained all to you. Mess things up and we mess you up."

What!

"Jude Kam will never ask you to kill me. How do I even believe you?"

"I see you want to have a taste of this." He pointed to gun to my head.

"Hey, save her the stress. I have proof." The other stopped him

He brought out his phone and played a voice message from Jude.

"If Paige doesn't follow the deal. I want her maimed. That's why you've got a gun. She'd be no use to me then."

"So, bitch, isn't that your Godfather's voice?"

I froze in place.