Chapter Nine

I slumped on the seat and just closed my eyes with the press running after the car until we finally left.

°°°°°°°°°°°°

I opened my eyes slowly, with my head hurting really bad and my eyes feeling too heavy to be opened. I had a stinging backache and everything I set my eyes on was in two's.

I turned to my side and watched the door open slowly, hoping its a pack of aspirin that just climbs its way to my mouth.

"They're waiting for you. You, dumb ass, are in big trouble," Caden smirked before closing the door and leaving me with a cringe.

I got up lazily and walked to Mercedes's closet, fishing out something good to wear. Something that she would actually wear.

I picked out an electric blue tank top with a black ripped jean, stepped into her slippers, tied my my hair in a ponytail, and stared in the mirror.

"This might get really messy," I whispered to myself.

Okay, let me rephrase that last part. "Things WILL get a lot messy. Especially after my big shut down in the press con,"

I just pray smirk boy here doesn't rat me out. Who am I kidding? He's smirk boy, remember?

Slowly and reluctantly, I walked over to the door, opened it and walked down the stairs, each step adding more tension in me and the nearer I grew, the more the fear increased. I had never been more scared in my life.

I looked downward and saw the Kensington's of course, mamasita and papi all seated impatiently on the couches.

I rolled my eyes and walked down slowly.

Before I was even down the stairs, the yelling began. Three! Two! One!

"What was THAT all about?" Mrs. Kensington started the debate with a horrified look and a finger pointed directly at me like I were some thief or something.

"You looked like a total idiot in front of all those cameras! You looked like you had nothing to say! A total newbie in the business!" Mamasita yelled, backing her up.

How in the world does she know me so, so much?!

"When we arranged this whole marriage set up, it was for our business to grow, and not to end up in shambles! You better put your act together young woman! I'd hate for you to see for yourself how failure in a business should turn out," Mr. Kensington added, furious at me.

At least he didn't point a finger like his daring wife....... Finger pointer.

"Darling, what happened back there?" Papi finally asked, affectionately. Finally! Someone with a heart of gold. They should all learn from him.

"I dunno," I said sadly and and shook my head, landing my butt on the stair case.

"You dunno"? You better start knowing, woman, before this business deal is over! I'm losing my patience on you!" Mrs. Kensington raged and death glared.

I stood up and walked sadly and sat on the couch.

Caden just sat on the dining with a huge smirk plastered on his face. Like expected....... I'm pretty sure he feels like bursting out laughing like mad right now. Typical.

"Don't you dare disappoint this family!" Mamasita warned with fire balls in her eyes like they were gonna blast on me.

Or, they already did.

"Tomorrow is the rehearsal for your marriage. The dashing black magazine will be there to see if you two are worthy enough for their magazine. If you're lucky enough, we also get the front page.  You are well aware that the dashing black is the most famous, most appreciated and most expensive magazine in the country. Did I say country? Almost the world!

You cannot afford to lose this chance!" Mrs. Kensington remonstrated as if ready to eat me raw the next minute or I was gonna die if the "dashing black" doesn't have my face on their so called magazine.

I shivered and just swallowed a huge lump in my throat as my teeth craved nails to devour on.

"Its been your dream to finally be in the dashing black. I don't think you'll want to lose this opportunity! You can't try to miss this opportunity, Darling," Mamasita added.

Its like these women were gonna murder me!

What's their deal, anyway?

"Good thing your story has been well prepared. You still remember your story. Right?" Mr. Kensington asked, fixing his gaze on the Rolex he had on.

Story? What story now?

"Yeah sure," I said sadly with a sigh.

"Good! It took a heart of gold to forge a love story as good as that for you and Caden. That love story is gonna be everywhere. Its gonna be an inspiration for the next decade! Your fans.....our business partners......we'll have more clients! Soon enough, we won't even want to be on Forbes. We'll be running Forbes!" Dad said happily with a dreamy look on his face and his head up high in the air.

Okay, FORBES?

Forbes is like.....wow. Even saying the name makes me feel like a billionaire already. Forbes.

"Look lady! We aren't the only billionaires in the world. A lot of people want to be on dashing black and Forbes and all of that, so do not ruin our chances," Mr Kensington added looking at my face this time.

"Rehearse the love story tonight, along with Caden. Tomorrow is gonna be long. You better not disappoint!" Mamasita warned.

Okay, where in the world is this love story saved? I'm toast!

"I hope you still have your laptop. I transferred the edited copy," Papi reminded.

I smiled broadly at his statement. Thank heavens! Now I know where it is. My....her laptop.

"We'll be off now. You two should get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long one."

"And hopefully not a repeat of today," Mamasita shook her head with a hiss.

"Bye, Darling," Papi said and they all walked out, shutting the door behind them.

I stood up from the couch and Caden burst out laughing. Can he be at least a little bit not predictable? I mean, I can predict his whole life.

He laughed so hard, it irritated me so much and had my veins popping off my neck.

I sighed and walked past him.

He still laughed really hard. How funny was my mistake to him? Jerk.

"Better not disappoint!" He yelled in mockery and I ran upstairs, shutting the door.

I slumped on the floor, enjoying the scent of richness and luxury and everything I never had the chance to experience. Everything I ever wanted.

In fact, i really couldn't do it anymore! I rather had a decision to call Dar and head back home before I get myself or Mercedes in more trouble. This is not going anywhere good.

I dialled Dar.

"Hello? Dar?" I said in a weak voice.

"Be quick. I'm busy," she shot.

"I'm coming home," I blurted and stared at the ceiling.

"You thought about it?" she asked, interested.

"Yeah, and i'm sure of it," I assured with a smile she couldn't see.

"Is it the total mess today?" she busted me out.

"Its already on TV?" I sighed and rolled on the floor with a loud groan.

"Yeah, quite disappointing,"

"I'm coming back. Please don't tell Ma and Pa, and greet them for me," I said affectionately with a smile.

"Bella, you can't come back here!" she said hurriedly in a panicky tone.

"Why?"

"There's a big problem! You just can't!" she yelled again and I guess attempted to hang up on me. She does that when she's nervous.

"Tell me, Dar. Please what's happening?"I begged, knowing fully well that there was a huge problem at hand.

"Bella........."

Caden's POV

I felt horrible to admit, but I was really sorry for her. She was different, alright. Both good ways and bad ways. She was one of a kind.

I don't know why her clumsiness just placed a smile on my face.

Every time, every hour, everyday, my brain was all Mercedes, Mercedes, Mercedes. And not to think of the kiss she rejected earlier. Damn!

I am Caden Kensington. Biggest charmer and total chick magnet. Cute pie and hot dude, billionaire,and has ego's the size of his mansion. What else can a lady ask for? What else, honey?

She really rejected a kiss?

God, she has no freaking idea what I want to do with her more than just a kiss.

My phone rang and I got cut short on my thoughts immediately as I picked the call and placed the phone on my left ear, expecting the usual nonsense to come falling off Adrian's mouth.

"Hey, hey, hey! Its my best bro in the world! What's up big brosef?" Adrian yelped happily from the other end of the line.

What now?

"What in seven hells do you want now?" I asked with a loud hiss.

"PFF! What do I want? I want nothing than to be with my best bro in the world. As in BFF. A.K.A, Best friend forever. Don't you agree?"

"Spill it before I cut this call like I'll cut your head the moment I meet you," I ordered furiously.

"Okay, fine. I'm actually really sick and need to get a leave to recover as soon as I can. Its cancer and I think i'm gonna die soon *cough* Just give me the leave. Its my last wish from you to me..." he said dramatically and I rolled my eyes.

"Okay," I replied smugly.

"Okay?" he yelled excitedly.

"Okay," I repeated again.

"Okay?" he kept yelling.

"Can you shut up?" I barked with a hiss and rolled my eyes.

"Thank you so much. I'll be back by next year. See you," he yelped happily.

"Whoa! Hold up there, fast pants. A whole year? You must have got some loose screws in your brain. Fix them. Quick,"

"I need a year to recover. The doctor said so. You can call him if you want," he pleaded pathetically.

"I'm giving you a break of a weekend. Which happens to be today and tomorrow. I'm gonna be seeing you at work on Monday and failure to be present, you would have to clear your desk and i'm pretty sure you're aware what that's all about," I pointed out strictly.

"But Caden...." he pleaded and I could feel his puppy eyes piercing into my stone cold one over the phone.

"Boss Caden, mind you. And I know you aren't sick. Let me guess. You asked a girl out and you want to spend some time with her because you're too scared you might lose her. So typical of you," I chuckled at his pathetic moves on girls.

"Its not fair. You should be aware of that and I badly need the leave. A weekend is not a leave. I would have stayed home anyways," he whined like a kid and I couldn't believe I was still listening to him.

How can a human be that impossible?

"You would have worked during the weekend. Being a generous boss, i'm gonna give you today off. Just being a good boss. No need to thank me," I smiled.

"Thank you? You just ruined my life. And today's almost over. There isn't much time left of today!" he retorted.

"Take it or prepare all the files for the report of Casa Monsales and report back to me tonight. Your choice," I chuckled at the dead end I put him in.

"Fine, okay. You just ruined my life,"

"That's why i'm your boss," I chuckled slightly and hung up on him, heaving a sigh.

I picked up my phone once again and called Mackenzie. I needed her.

"Can I come over? I need someone to talk to right now," I asked as she picked the call.

"Sure. I can't say no anyways," she replied and I hung up, changing my clothes to a pair of jeans and a black T-shirt. I grabbed my keys and dashed out of the room, running down the stairs.

I jumped into the car and sped out of the house as Lukas opened the gates.

°°°°°°°°°°°

"Hi!" she smiled as she opened the door.

"Hey! Nice to see you," I replied as she left the door open and I walked in, closing it.

She sat on the couch and stared at the TV. I joined her, looking around the house like it was the first time I saw it.

"So, what'd you want to talk about?" she finally asked and turned off the TV, turning to me.

"Since these past couple days, everything has been so different and difficult for me. I just needed a friend," I replied and got a smile curved on her lips.

She rested the pillow on the couch and turned to me, adjusting comfortably with a huge grin.

"So, what's the problem?" she asked excitedly.

"Its her," I replied, not being so exact.

"Who's her? Me?" she asked, pointing to herself.

"No, not you. Her. As in, Mercedes. She's so...."

"Different? Hot? You like her? I get it!" she fired acidly and stood up in anger, folding her arms against her chest and curling her lips, backing me totally.

"You don't understand. Its complicated," I tried to explain as I stood up and turned her body to face mine.

I cupped her face in my palms and watched her soft face squeeze into a frown, her smile turned upside down and her eyes gloomy all of a sudden.

I knew I didn't love her back, but I couldn't resist. I leaned a little closer, our foreheads touching. Dear god, I couldn't fight against the thoughts that were going through my mind. Her very smell was flooding my senses now.

Slowly, I pulled her closer, threading strands of her hair in my fingers as our lips were motioned to get in a kiss.

"I can't," she brushed me off and walked away.

What the fuck!

"You do know its Caden right in front of you?" I asked with a smirk.

"Yes. I know. Ego king! You should let down some ego's at some point, you know," she rolled her eyes and folded her arms against her chest once again and I walked towards her.

"I don't deserve this and neither do you. I think you should go home," she insisted.

"Okay, what the fuck is the problem now?" I yelled in rage, frustrated at how everyone's been giving me some kinda attitude. Mercedes, the queen bee of them all.....

"The fucking problem is the fact that you can't think of anyone else apart from yourself. Its all Caden, Caden, Caden. For the love of God can you stop thinking about yourself for even a minute?" she yelled back.

"Seriously? Its me now?" I raised a brow.

"Oh, yes. Its you. It was you and it'll always be you so if you don't mind can things stop being about you because its getting on my last nerves!"

I cannot believe this. She's insane.....

"Are you for real right now?" I asked.

"You know what? I think we should end this now. I never want to see you again!" she bent her head as a tear rolled down.

"End what?"

"You're right. End nothing," she shrugged. "So if you don't mind, I have important things to do and I'll love it if you could leave my house," she ordered and opened the door.

"Okay. Fine," I gave up, holding my hands up and smirking.

"See you Caden," she finally whispered as I reached the door.

I nodded and left and she immediately closed the door and I headed to my car.

Mackenzie...... Mercedes.... Why must all my problems start with the same letter?

I started the car and reversed it away, driving to the road and putting the volume at the highest.

A call came in from my phone.

Bianca.......

I picked it up. "Hey, babe!"

"Hi, I've been trying your number for like forever! Where the fuck are you? We need to meet up, ASAP!" she yelled.

"And what's this about?" I asked.

"Just meet me at the bar around the corner. You know, the regular and please do not be late,"

"Wait up! At least tell me what's it about!"

"I'll be seeing you in a bit," she yelped and hung up on me.

I turned around and headed for the bar, not knowing exactly what to expect.

Expect anything when dealing with whores. They are so unpredictable. Just like their asses.......