A kitchen was the last place someone expected to be held hostage.

However, the mansion’s kitchen was a different story. It was spacious —bigger than my room. It had a high ceiling embellished with various light lamps that illuminated the place like a ball hall, so maybe, in the end, it wasn’t a terrible place to be cornered in.

Kai was my kidnapper, and I felt Stockholm Syndrome infecting me. I was sure it wasn’t normal of me to think someone, who had just locked me in the kitchen out of all places, was attractive. He could grab a knife and stab me for all I knew. We were almost alone in the mansion anyway. He didn’t need any lock.

My heart rate accelerated. While I was trying to make boundaries, he broke them all carelessly. His behaviour was reckless, selfish to the well-being of my family. If his parents were to walk on us, Mum was going to be doomed.

“You’re avoiding me,” he started, not letting my wrists go. They were pinned behind my back as the guy practically rubbed his chest against mine, and I was trapped between his distracting biceps.

I hated how weak he made me feel in the gut. “So?”

Kai let my wrists go and frowned. “So, why? Because I asked you out?” He checked my wrists out and scowled deeper at the result of his force. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

I rubbed the redness on my wrists, hissing. “You already did.”

He looked at me with a raised eyebrow. “It seems as if this isn’t the only thing hurting you.”

Besides the awkwardness after rejection, I had another reason. “You didn’t tell me it was Massie’s family,” I said, not beating around the bush.

He sighed. “So what? I didn’t tell her anything about you.”

“You know that’s not what I mean, Kai. I know more than you think.”

“Look, this already pisses me enough.” He rubbed his face. “Why do you think I ought to tell you?”

I couldn’t deny I felt a little embarrassed. “Massie has hopes to be with you. But we… we are…” I trailed off.

“I don’t wanna be with Massie. See, this is what was pissing me that night; my parents trying to build strategic connections on my back. She is just my friend. I don’t see her any other way.”

“Are you guys gonna—”

He interfered, “I asked you out, for heaven’s sake! My parents can’t force me. I think they’re just introducing a possibility, but it’s as annoying. I’m happy with what I have now.”

His last sentence rang a bell in my head. “That… that all, are you going to go on with it for fun then, Kai?”

He slapped the counter. “Mellie, I wasn’t necessarily talking about our bond. Not everything’s about you.”

“Oh…” I played with my wrists again.

“And I know this isn’t your only issue.” He stepped closer. “Dad has talked to you, hasn’t he?”

“No,” I lied. “This is my own decision; to stay away. I think we both should focus on our studies.”

At that moment, Kai no more looked like the kind guy I knew. His facial muscles tensed, forming an expression I haven’t seen on him before. “You’re a coward,” he spat, taking me by surprise. “It took one conversation with dad to make you back off. It’s you who’s playing around, Melanie, not me. Maybe you don’t deserve my sincere effort.”

Something within me shattered, but I recollected it. “Excuse me? You don’t have the right to talk to me that way—”

Kai held my chin up and kissed me, and I… didn’t stop him because I didn’t know what was wrong or right. Deep down, I wanted it. If the guy wasn’t Kai Kingston, I wouldn’t have felt guilty or have held myself back from that moment, but there was always room for second thoughts with him. He was my young master, after all.

That didn’t mean I didn’t need answers, however. I still required a definition of our relationship accompanied with a warning of the consequences.

He let go, his lips still puckered. “I dunno what’s this effect you have on me, but I can’t stop thinking of you,” he breathed out, sending shivers down my spine. He pecked me again. “I can’t stop wanting more of you. You can’t do this to me then decide to leave.”

I couldn’t look him in the eyes. All I wanted was for Mum and me to be safe, and for Kai and I not to be all about sex; that was the exact reason I left Max —it wasn’t sentimental. My head hung low as my hands latched on the edge of the counter. I didn’t like the idea of being a fúckbuddy.

He backed away, giving me space. “But I’m not going to force myself on you as you seem hesitant. From now on, I’ll never touch you first, Melanie. Take that as a goodbye kiss. The choice is yours now whether you want to woman up and go on to test whatever we could reach.”

\

I was beyond embarrassed when I left my workplace to be met by Ryan’s stern inspecting gaze.

He stood there in all black, holding his helmet between his hips and arm and leaning against his motor. The first question was, how did he know I was there? The second, why did he look at me as if I was a minor who had just left a nightclub?

“The burgers here are great,” I said absentmindedly, holding the khaki paper bag that had my dinner.

“So are the workers,” he replied. “Does Kai know?”

I shook my head and hands. “Look, I need part-time jobs. I never pretended to be wealthy.”

“It’s still dishonest. It also explains your weird question back in the call. You should’ve been honest with me.”

“If anyone asked, I’d have answered.” I remembered when Massie asked me. Maybe that wasn’t entirely true. “But no one gives a damn, Ryan. And I don’t think this is about being friendly anymore, right? This is stalking. First, my number. Now, my workplace, and I know Kai isn’t a partner in…” I motioned my finger around him. “This.”

“So, he already knows.”

“Ryan, stop. You’re creeping me out.”

He cleared his throat, fishing out a paper from his pocket. “I only followed you to hand you this. You dropped it but didn’t hear me when I called. I followed you because this assignment is due tomorrow.”

I stepped closer and picked the paper. I scanned it, not recognising the content. If that was due the next day, I was going to be doomed. I didn’t see the assignment on the e-learning site, though.

“Crap. Thank you.” I stuffed the thing in my pocket and looked up into his blue eyes. “Let’s agree no one needs to know this, Ryan, yeah?”

He nodded. I breathed out in relief, then we exchanged awkward goodbyes.

When I reached the mansion, I bumped into a guy who looked in his early thirties. He looked a lot like Mr Kingston with more than just looks. His stern gazes, his confidence, and his style. Unlike the other Kingstons, he had dark hair that settled in neat curls on his head.

“Who are you, and why are you at the gates of this residence?” he asked without introductions.

I blinked. “I’m Melanie González.” Who are you? I wanted to add, but he looked as if he belonged to the place more than me.

He checked me from head to toe. I couldn’t help feeling small under his gaze. “Are you Kai’s… girlfriend?”

Kai’s? I changed my mind about his smartness when he said that. Couldn’t he notice my old-fashioned coat and dull looks after a hard-working day? I gave him the benefit of the doubt due to the nighttime.

“No…” I negated, gulping. “I’m a maid’s daughter, sir.”

He fixed his blazer, looking away awkwardly. “Oh, I see. I’m Kevin Kingston, CEO of Kingston Holding. Sorry for assuming you were dumb enough to be his girlfriend. Not a good impression of me,” he apologised and went through the gates as though we didn’t even talk.

I could tell he wasn’t on good terms with his brother already. He didn’t even refer to any member of his family as one. From my spot, I could see Kai himself open the door for his brother with a big smile, to which the latter ignored and passed through. I walked closer until Kai noticed my presence.

“He is just not a family person,” he clarified, but I knew it was to mask the hurt little brother inside him.

I shrugged and sat by the fountain, ready to dig in the burger I brought with me. Shortly enough, I could hear people yell inside. Suitcases came out of the double door, and Frank got a car in front.

“Why are you leaving?” Kai questioned.

“Because you’re back,” Kevin replied simply.

My heart fell at Kai’s defeated posture. He kicked a pebble and surrendered to his brother’s will, watching him leave without a care. The older rode in and drove around the fountain, leaving the whole place. I looked in Kai’s way, noticing the pain in his hooded eyes.

He walked over to me. “Gimme some of that juicy shít.”

Finally met Kevin Kingston. Impressions of him and his role in the story?

I made Kevin a side character, but later on the climax, he will surprise you 😉

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