AUTHOR'S POV

Town square park,
07: 43 am

Counting her steps Alice reached the park as usual.

" Alice?" She was about to climb the few stairs present to enter the park but Reed's voice stopped her. She turned her face towards the voice. " I'm Reed." He said walking closer to her with his bicycle beside him.

" I recognised." She flashed a smile.

" Ummm... The park isn't open. Some construction work is going on here. There's a notice that the park will be closed for a week." Reed informed not acknowledging her that the renovation is his idea.

A slight pout formed on Alice's lips and she bowed her head letting out a 'tsk' sound.

" Let's walk outside." Reed said adoring the pouty beauty.

" But I'm not used to the road ahead. I count my steps for coming here that Jane has taught me." She said not taking a step forward.

"I'll direct you." Reed's words vanished her pout.

" Really?" She exclaimed to explore.

She felt her wrist into a gentle grip then her fingers touching the handle of Reed's cycle.

" Just hold it." Reed said leaving her wrist and holding the other handle before slowly stepping forward.

She started walking getting the hint whenever the cycle turn and walked properly with its support. The simplest and useful idea made her feel so good.

While Reed was the happiest soul on the planet to help her. " So... you stay home all day after this time?" Reed asked as the city gets crowded after early morning.

" No, I'm learning piano. I go to music classes in the evening. My aunt drops me there since Jane got the job." Alice explained.

" Your cousin is really supportive toward you." Reed said as he was impressed by Jane yesterday too. Because of her doing overtime without any complaints in an attempt to find Hazel and Xaden.

" Let's go back." Alice said as her mobile rang. She turned off the alarm that Jane has set for her so she could know the timing to go back home.

" I'll drop you." Reed said making her laugh.

" On your bicycle? Are you-" she gasped as she felt no ground under her feet. It was Reed who picked her up only with one hand and made her sit on the seat of his cycle.

" Yes." He declared playfully.

Alice giggled.

He ride his bicycle slowly while Alice was clenching his shirt in her tiny fists tightly, her lapis eyes were fixed on the ground but she was feeling the moment.

Reed saw some people looking at them adoringly. He glanced at Alice's smiling posture.

" When you smile...world stop and stare." He whispered in her ear. The blush rose to her cheeks in a nick of time.

Reed held her waist with his left hand to secure her and continued to paddle, balancing with his right one.

Approaching her house Reed stopped his cycle and helped her stand on her feet.

" Thank you." She slightly bowed. " Come in. We have a restaurant downstairs. You'll surely love the breakfast." She invited.

" I've to get ready for the office in an hour. But I promise. I'll come to your restaurant soon." Reed politely declined.

Alice nodded. " Goodbye." She said waving her hand but suddenly felt her wrist in Reed's grip. She felt him uncurling her fingers and handing her a box. " What is it?" She asked touching her other hand's fingers on the box.

" It's a mobile." Reed said looking at her and shaking her head immediately but before she could decline he spoke again. "I broke your mobile and want to pay it back. Accept it... please. "

Alice thought for a good minute before hesitantly nodding her head bringing a big smile to Reed's face.

" Goodbye, Alice." He said looking at her and turning around to ring the doorbell. He saw her holding the box closer to her chest while biting her lower lip with an excited look on her face.

He vanished as soon as the door was opened by Jane.

" Alice." Jane sighed. " Where were you? I was about to call you?" Jane said taking Alice upstairs with her. " Wait...what is it in your hand?" Jane asked taking the box from her. " A mobile?" She asked eyeing the box closely.

Alice nodded happily. " I made a friend in the park. He gave it to me." Alice answered sitting on the bed.

" Which friend?" Being possessive Jane inquired.

" He's one of your bosses." Alice hinted.

" One of my bosses?" Jane asked with crashed eyebrows but soon her eyes widened. " Edwin sir gifted you this?" Jane gawked looking down at the brand-new mobile in her hand again.

" Reed." Alice corrected but got brief silence in response from Jane.

" I told you before not to get closer to any stranger, didn't I?" Alice flinched at Jane's sudden outburst. "We aren't a charity case. I'll buy you mobile with my next salary. Give this mobile back to him." Jane handed her the mobile.

" Give this back to him by yourself." Alice pouted pushing the mobile box away.

" Alice?" Jane sighed cupping her face. " I care about you. I want to protect you from all the fake people."

" Not everyone is the same." Alice interrupted. " You can't stop trusting everyone because of one person." She added.

Jane listened to her silently as she isn't wrong. " Get ready for the classes. Aunt is waiting downstairs". Jane stood up.

Alice sighed heavily knowing she's cold when it comes to trusting someone.

" I'll set up your new mobile." Jane said looking at the box on the bed before looking at Alice's face as she grinned.

There's only one thing more important for her than Alice. And that's Alice's happiness.

She won't let anyone break Alice the way she was broken.

•
•
•

EXR Enterprises,
07: 40 pm

" Let's gather and discuss tomorrow, it's the weekend." Ian advised as everyone was standing at the exit of EXR after the office timing.

" Let's make your cafe the venue for the meeting. What you say?" Hazel exclaimed.

" Done."
" Sure."

Edwin and Reed spoke simultaneously. They faced each other and then turned to look at the other questioning face.

Jane's eyes pierced through Reed's embarrassed ones and she raised her eyebrow. He felt her glaring at him since morning.

Reed cleared his throat. " I mean. I've heard about your cafe from everyone but haven't visited yet. I'll get to see it." Reed smiled nervously under everyone's gaze. Edwin scratched the back of his head smiling as weirdly as his brother standing next to him.

" Where's this cafe?" Xaden asked Jane.

This pair also haven't exchanged a word before nor they are interested. Especially not Jane because he found him quite a weirdo. Only if she knows she was witnessing his best version.

" Near the Town square park." She replied shortly.

" You know where it is?" Xaden asked his secretary getting a positive response." I'll be there. Bye, everyone." He said walking towards his car followed by his secretary.

It was a Friday night but for the first time, he went home instead of any nightclub.

He threw himself on his bed and snuggled his face into the soft pillow. He was stressed as he has never behaved for a whole damn week.

A groan got muffled in the pillow as his mobile started to buzz in his pocket. He pulled out his mobile to see his friend's name.

He canceled the call and switched off his mobile before resting his head on the pillow again. He sighed heavily.

No parties, no chill time with his friends.

His friend circle is full of characterless millionaires' heirs with zero responsibility. He indeed belongs there but trying to pull himself out of it. Which is good for him.

He could see himself changing. Changing not only for Hazel anymore. But this time for his family. And he's happy to see his loved ones happy because of him.

He stared tiredly at his guitar hanging on the wall before closing his eyes.

He's not made for office work. He always wanted to be a rockstar. His voice is magical yet soothing. He learned guitar from Won at an early age.

He used to perform in college functions. Also got multiple offers but since he has to go out of town for shows his parents didn't allow him.

For his own good. They know him more than they know their other sons.

He's reckless. He needs to be around someone who won't take advantage of him being emotional. Yes, he's emotional. People often forget anger is an emotion too. The most dangerous one.

Xaden is the only one who got anger issues from his father and luckily found his brothers by his side just like Tan had Aiden.

Aiden is now their family friend as well as Mark and Mia. They are going to attend Mr. Roman's granddaughter's wedding soon.

At the breakfast, the William heirs except for Xaden as he was sleeping are told to attend the wedding but they declined saying they have a tight schedule which wasn't a lie.

Everyone headed to Jane's cafe in the evening but Xaden didn't even come out of his room. Not even for lunch so Tan went to his room only to find him hugging his guitar in his sleep.

" Xaden." Tan called sitting across the bed.

Tan always feels bad for being stern with him but if he won't be strict he knows Xaden won't behave.

He hasn't allowed his grown-up sons to move out because of Xaden's carelessness.

He has given them the penthouse to enjoy their twenties but Reed has never seen out of William's mansion for a single night except for being out of town for office work.

" Xaden?" Tan called again ruffling his hair adoringly.

Xaden opened his eyes to see his father sitting across his bed." Good Morning." He said in a sleepy voice stretching his arms.

" It's already evening." Tan acknowledged.

" Huh." Xaden turned to face the wall watch only to realise he has been sleeping all day.

" You asked your secretary to come here?" Tan asked as it was the weekend and Xaden's secretary was waiting for him downstairs.

" Fuc-" Xaden immediately sat up stopping himself from cursing in front of his father. " I had to be in Edwin's secretary's cafe for a meeting." He stood up quickly. " I'll be late." He immediately grabbed his towel and rushed toward the bathroom.

Tan was happy to see him being responsible. Finally. " Xaden?" Tan called.

" Yes, Dad?" Xaden faced Tan.

" I heard you did great in the last meeting... I'm proud of you." Tan encouraged.

"Ahhhhhh..." Xaden palm his heart and clenched his sweatshirt tightly. Acted like Tan's words hit him hard before flashing a big smile. " The pleasure is all mine, Sir." He bowed like a prince before heading inside the bathroom bringing a satisfying smile to Tan's face which is still rare to witness.

Xaden is indeed the life of William's mansion.

Tan glanced at the guitar lying on the bed. He picked it up and hung that on the wall. He ran his fingers through it with a sad smile.

Meanwhile in Jane's cafe...

Everyone gathered for the meeting in Jane's cafe in casuals, munching delicious snacks made by Jane's aunt. She was so happy to meet Edwin again and treated all of them so nicely.

Being innocent she was talking so much and Jane tried to make her understand that they are discussing something important but that didn't help. Also, no one mind her as she was an elder.

Reed never left a chance to steal glances at Alice as she was roaming around freely because of being aware of the surrounding, which didn't go unnoticed by Jane.

Jane intentionally place a plate of cookies carelessly in front of Reed to create some noise and succeed as Reed flinched and glanced up at Jane who looked dead into his eyes more like glared. She sat in front of Reed blocking his view not knowing she herself was being watched by another pair of eyes. Edwin!

They waited a bit for Xaden then started the basic decission about their plans.

The third partner with whom EXR Enterprises, Hazel and Ian's companies are collaborating, wants everyone to personally come to them unlike Ian did.

The company is located out of town as well as EXR Enterprises has tons of work to handle because of collaborating with three companies simultaneously. So Reed is trying to handle the schedule.

He's stressed...only if the new partner would have agreed to come over and cooperated, they wouldn't have to arrange much.

" It'd be two days trip. Stella will book rooms for us in a hotel there." Reed breathed out.

" The weather is so cold there." Hazel said excitedly as she loves snowfall.

" Sorry for the interruption but I need to take care of Alice and the cafe this weekend. My aunt is leaving tonight to attend a funeral." Jane apologized in advance.

" Now, what?" Ian raised his eyebrows resting his elbows on the table and waiting for others to rearrange.

" We can take Alice with us." Reed was fast to advise.

" Also I'll need you there. I won't be able to manage everything without you." Edwin said making her think deeply.

She looked back at Alice who had a coffee mug in between her palms then faced them again. " She manages to do almost everything on her own. But she just needs to be watched all the time." Jane said in a tense tone. " She'll need someone to accompany her when we'll leave the hotel to attend the meeting." She added.

" What about Xaden? Can we- " Ian's words got cut by Alice's gasping sound along with Xaden's high pitches. As Alice bumped into him while Xaden was entering the cafe.
Unfortunately, the cold coffee in her hands ruined his shirt.

" ARE YOU F*CKING BLIND?". Xaden growled.

• He tries. But unluckily his little mistakes cause big damage.

Chapter published on: 14 November 2022.

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