My deepest desire is to lend my voice for an animated movie and to travel to Egypt and Turkey with my mother because apparently she likes Turkish dramas❤. 

So, what are your dreams or desires?

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Brayden's POV

'Why don't you understand Maa? I can't come back. It's too late now.'

I was getting frustrated by each passing second and everything felt like piling up and choking me. I needed air. I needed to breathe.

'Brayden, listen to me. This is not the time to argue. You do what WE say.' She took a deep breath and again continued on the call.

'How we will show our face to the media once they get to know what have you been doing?' And there she went again with her "media mode."

'I am getting tired Maa with all this and I just wanted to tell one more last time, my work is not something to be ashamed of.'

I will break something at any moment. Maybe, my own head.

'You are nothing and will only bring disgrace to this family.' Tears were at bay. 'You had your playtime, now come home quickly.'

Her voice seemed so distant to my heart and to my dreams.

'Bye Maa.' And I cut the call because I had nothing else to say and I didn't have the will to listen more.

I wanted to scream so badly and wanted to let my pain out loud but I was afraid that these four walls would make my voice bounce back making me feel more dreadful. I clutched my phone hard and I was about to smash it when a soft knock registered on my door and Scarlett peeped in.

'Am I disturbing anything? Can I come in?' Her voice was too soft which was soothing for a moment apart from other frantic days where she becomes quite a chatterbox.

'You just stopped me from giving choke slam to my phone.' I kept the device down and looked at her. 'And you are already "in" Scarlett. Anyway, come in. Tell me how can I help you?'

I just wanted to get done with this quickly whatever Scarlett had to say. I was afraid I would burst my anger at her and then she might become wild racoon after that killing me instantly. One thing that I had learned from her that she didn't take anyone's sass.

She came wearing her pajamas and a black t-shirt that bore the slogan "I Am A Calm Angel" but I knew she was anything than that. She came towards me and offered me a coffee cup.

'What's in it?' I was sceptical.

'Poison.' Deadpan answer. She didn't even blink her eye.

'Oh, come on. It's a cold chocolate coffee. It will help you to freeze your volcanic anger.' I rolled my eyes. 'Though you give me a lot of reasons to poison you but I won't. Not today.' And she settled comfortably on the couch and patted the seat next to her.

'And why is that?' I sat down and took a sip.

'Because you are already in pain and I can't burden you more with it.'

'Whhat? Nn-no, I am not. What made you th-think that?' My stutter always comes to haunt me whenever I was nervous.

'Brayden listen to me.' She looked straight into my eyes. 'There's a difference in anger and pain. You can be angry at someone for some days but still, you will live your happy moments but when you are in deep pain, your whole world gets collapsed and you live like walking dead. It has been days, we have moved cities and you still haven't come out of this deep pain that has gripped you.'

She took my palm between her hands and gently squeezed them, 'talk to me. What's bothering you?'

'I don't think so anyone can help me in this situation. But it's too hard for me to comprehend what's happening. I don't have words to describe what I am feeling.'

I was too lost and too broken.

'Then don't speak but let your emotions all out and I will still be there for you.'

She nodded so gently at me and her kind words were spell bounding my heart that it became too hard for me to control it and I let it all out.

'Have you ever heard about Luke Financial Corporation? We are big shots in the markets of finance and stock and I am the son of one and only THE MR. LUKE.'

'Wait a minute; YOU are the son of Mr. Luke, that giant finance corporate mogul, HE is your father? I just can't believe this breaking news.' It took time for her to process this whole information.

'Yeah, tabloids are full of our successes and now seeing your reaction I am sure you must have heard about us.'

It was easy to get so shocked. I had dealt with such reaction so many times.

'Of course NOT. I just repeated what you said.'

And she had the audacity to giggle like a child and I was about to take my palm away when she said, 'sorry-sorry, I was trying to make situation lighter. Continue and I promise I won't interrupt.'

I was thinking to tell her or not but she seemed genuine and had such tenderness on her face that my heart took a summersault and compelled me to break my resolve.

'Yes, I am their son and this fact is killing me since the day I was born because they ingrained this thought in my mind that one day I have to take up the dad's position. I have to work hard twice as he is working and therefore, I was sent to Business Management School like I was some kind of parcel that needs to be given to someone.'

I took a deep breath and it was so painful for me to revive all those memories that were locked in some part of my brain but for how long would I keep myself sealed?

'I dreaded every single thing about finance, the business classes were worst.' That is a bad memory lane. 'So, when I got graduated and came to office with my dad of course to "show of my business skill", I failed in negotiation with another party so bad that no one would have ever failed. What was the world expecting that now I would become the handsome bachelor CEO that the company wanted and the market will get wrapped around my pinkie finger?' I snorted.

I looked at her thinking she might have gotten bored by now listening to my sob story but her look didn't change even one bit. Her hazel eyes just only urged me to continue.

'So, one day I told them that I can't do this management thing. Let my younger sister become the CEO, I am telling you, Scarlett, she would rock the whole company with her skill sets. But NO, they wanted the eldest son to do it which doesn't have any logic and they didn't care about my dreams at all and even she didn't.'

'And what are your dreams if I may ask?' Scarlett broke this monologue with a mild voice.

'You always asked me where I used to run away in the pretext of appointment.' I chuckled. 'So, here I am going to give you an honest answer.'

She had a slight smirk on her face. 'I go to give auditions for theatres. I have always loved dramas and I always wanted to do theatres. The stage, the lights, the way a story comes to life with all the expressions, I was always fascinated about it and I am still. That's why I am giving auditions in different theatres of different cities.'

There, I said it. Boom, straight to the point.

'Oh my god!! That is so amazing. I am so proud of you.' Her eyes were shining so bright and a proud smile adorned her face that it made me blush.

'But what's the use? I am getting rejection or no responses til now. Feels like a stupidity for following this dream.' My shoulders got hunched and I wanted to bury myself somewhere.

'Hey, do you want a hug?' She opened her arms wide for me.

'So that you can choke me in your bear claw? No thanks.' I was trying to revive the dreadful ambience.

'Do you want it or not?' But she seemed serious.

'Yeah, I guess, I could need a hug at this moment...'

And before I could continue she closed the distance and wrapped her arms around me and very gently caressed my back and spoke soothingly in my ear.

'You are doing great, Rabbit. Just hop on to your dreams and fight for it. Who would fight for your dreams if you won't?'

I was transfixed. Her heartfelt embrace, gentle caress and her breath tingling in my ear that brought shivers to my neck made this moment so intimate despite having nothing sexual about it that for once I wanted to lose myself in her arms and never wanted to let go of this hug. I tightened my arms around her because I was afraid the moment we would get separate, I would be thrown back to reality. Her warmness was calming my nerves. I didn't know whether her breathing matched mine but at this point, I didn't want to be anywhere else in this world.

But after a few seconds, she let go. I was reluctant but quickly masked my feelings. She then brushed her fingers in her wavy brown hair and tucked them behind her ear. I hate to say this but she looked so cute as if she was fighting some inner battles.

'Sooooo...' She broke the silence and I calmed my racing heart. 'Auditions and all yeah.' I snickered and nodded. 'So, for which roles are you giving auditions?'

I was about to tell her my audition history when she beat me into it. 'Wait let me guess.'

Oh! No.

She made a thinking pose while keeping her index finger on her chin and then after a lot of talking in her own head, she said, 'You must be giving auditions for a flower.' I just looked at her. 'What? Wait? Is it too girly?'

I didn't even have a response for it. 

'Okay, so flower got cancelled, what about the tree? You know this role would suit you so much better. Just stretch your arms out and have a solemn expression like you are having right now. The world will bow down to your natural acting. I am telling ya.' And she bowed in front of me.

'Okay, that's it. I was thinking we will put our differences aside and have a good time but man, I was wrong. So, good night Scarlett.'

And I started to get up from the couch when suddenly she took hold of my hand and stopped me immediately on my tracks.

'Who said we won't have fun tonight? The night is still young, Brayden.' She said it in a playful tone and very slowly added a wink to it and my heart skyrocketed at the moment.

Oh boy!

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Hello everyone 

Indeed Oh Boy!! That was quite a glimpse in the life of our Brayden and in his heart🤭😍

*Quick Question*

So, any idea what must be cooking inside Scarlett's brain? What plans has she stored for Brayden or is something going to happen next?😉😉  

Let me know your thoughts on this chapter if you liked it, don't forget to use your magic weapon and brighten up that orange star, bombard me with your comments and theories and share this story with your friends.

Happy Reading and Follow Your Dreams❤❤

Love you all and stay safe.