Chapter # 5

Candice POV:-

Very unexpected things happened today. But the unpredictable turn of events was Tyler's penitence. How he came after me just to say sorry and I didn't know he was such a gallant guy. Such shocking demeanour was shown by him but I am happy that he apologized and moreover offered me to be his friend. I know he's gonna forget about me after a day or two but it was hard to believe someone as rich, handsome and arrogant as him, asked for forgiveness and offered friendship. I couldn't make what ghost possessed him but seems like we are on good terms.

I sighed and went home. I know my Father if he saw me with Tyler, who knows what atrocious thoughts will be evoked in his mind. I shook my head and went home. I entered and looked at my soaked form.

"Ah look, Her Highness is home." Father's voice came. I was in no mood to bear his taunts so I just turned to him and smiled as I replied, "Thank you, His Majesty." He scoffed and muttered, "Just learn something from your friend. She married a rich guy for his money." I gasped and looked at him in disgust, "Father it's not what you think, they love each other." He just laughed upon hearing my words and said mockingly, "That's what you think! You are just a loser who cannot secure a good future."

"And it's not in money so stop talking like this," I said getting annoyed while going to my room.

"You are just a kid who doesn't know the way the world works. Everything revolves around money."

"Please stop it, Father. I have work tomorrow, let me go." He didn't say anything as I went to my room.

I don't understand why he hates me that much. He never does this to Nicolas, he always meets him with pride but when it comes to me he just reacts that I am garbage, basically I and he are one. How can he love him but not me? I groaned, knowing it's no use in talking so I just changed my clothes and went to sleep.

The next day, I went to work. As I was working I heard a voice, "Hey." I looked up and saw Tyler. I flashed him a smile and said, "Hi."

"Are you free after work?" He asked.

"Yeah... Why?"

"Wanna go on a date?" He offered. I chuckled upon hearing his words. "What?" He asked, not knowing.

"Date?" I asked.

"Just kidding, wanna go hang out after work?" He asked.

"Sure." I smiled.

"Good. Come on, let's go."

"But my shift is not finished." I reasoned. He chuckled and turned a bit and looked at the Owner, "Mr Jasper Wayne, The shift of your receptionist ended, isn't it?"

The owner laughed nervously and replied, "Yeah of course. Whatever you say, Mr Moretti." I looked at him in disbelief.

"Now, come on." He said, wearing his sunglasses. I quickly nodded and went with him quietly. "Why do I feel like you are kidnapping me?" I mumbled walking beside him. He laughed a little and said, "Why?"

"Like how can you take me just like that. You are not supposed to take me away like this."

"What? You got your day off." He said as if it's normal. "No, it's not," I argued. "Why?" He asked perplexed.

"You are a dangerous guy," I said without thinking. He stopped in his tracks and turned to me and raised his eyebrow at me, "I-I mean, you s-seemed like one." I said nervously. The one side of his lips curved upwards in a dark way as he took a step towards me. "And seems like you like playing with danger..." He took a step close while speaking in a deep husky voice which sends shivers down to my very core along with a blissful feeling I don't want to feel.

He stopped in front of me and I moved back a little looking elsewhere. He leaned in a little and whispered, "I am a very dangerous person." His voice was low but filled with vehement which startled me a bit. My heart skipped a beat as strange sensations began to tingle my skin. A moment of pause came between us, I kept looking at him timidly but his eyes kept preying upon me. Before I could say anything else, he laughed and moved back, "I didn't know that you get startled that easily, Candice." He said laughing. I heaved and put my hand over my chest and shook my head, "That's how I am." I mumbled. "I am a coward." I breathed out. "It's okay. I won't let anyone scare you." He spoke so sincerely that it melts my heart. It was hard to recognize the same person called me a beggar. It seems like he was waiting for this moment. Before I could say something, he shook his head and said, "Come" and I went with him.

"Where do you want to go anyways?" He asked.

"Don't you have work?" I questioned back.

"I just finished it, so I thought I should pay you a visit." He said casually.

"It feels weird," I said, stopping.

"What happened?" He asked, turning to me.

"Look around you and me, Tyler. I feel strange going out with you. I am sorry, I cannot come." I said turning to leave. I don't understand but I feel weird, he comes and takes me with him. Everything feels eerie, I thought he would forget about me but here he is taking me out. Everything is unusual. Why does it feel like he knew this was going to happen? Besides, I don't to be with his intimidating presence.

"Maybe next time, Tyler," I said turning to him and passing him an apologetic smile.

"Next time I will kidnap you normally." He joked, not showing he was disappointed. I laughed a little and went to work again.

For the next week, I didn't see him. Maybe because I made him angry and he doesn't want to hang out anymore, but I am not complaining, I am totally fine with it. He and I shouldn't hang out, his overpowering presence is scary and we are so different in status as well. I shook my head and finished work. I took my stuff and left for home.

The moment I got out, I saw Tyler with no security around him and not his usual expensive suit but in a casual black hoodie with black ripped jeans. He was leaning on the wall while smoking a cigarette. Oh my God, He looks so appealing right now. I looked at him with wide eyes. I gawked at his aesthetically pleasing attributes. When I found myself admiring him, I was about to turn my head away but he called me, "Candice!" I turned and passed him a faint smile.

"Hey, Tyler..." I walked to him. He smiled when he saw me and said, "Hi." He waved at me.

"Looking nice." I complimented him. "Thanks. I guess you don't feel comfortable when I was with the suites so I came to meet you as a normal person." He said. I chuckled and said, "Thanks for your concern." I said.

"Where do you wanna go?." I looked at my watch and said, "Where you want, I just have to be home before eight."

"How about a movie?" He offered.

"Cool." I smiled.

We then went to the cinema and watched a Comedy movie. I was still laughing after the movie. I leaned on his shoulder laughing. "You know Candice, someone used to say this to me; To end the loneliness inside you, you should do something funny to know that life is still fun." I stopped laughing, his words hit me hard. I looked at him and smiled, "Thank you... and that person must be amazing." He hummed and we talked a bit, get to know each other and I left for home,

"It was nice to hang out with you," I said sincerely.

"I know. I am fun to hang out with." He said proudly. I laughed and shook my head. I waved at him and then left home. He is truly a funny guy, I cannot believe he's the dominant guy I met at Amber One.

****

"What do you prefer Tyler; Love or Money?" I asked hopelessly.

"Depends." He replied. I pouted and looked at him, "Answer." I said sternly. "Love. You?" He replied.

"You need to ask?" I laughed a little. "Of course love." He said.

"Have you ever fall in love, Candice?" He asked. I tugged a strand of my hair behind my ear and replied in embarrassment, "No... I once had a date but he never showed up." He looked at me in disbelief and asked, "You never had a boyfriend?"

"No.." I said looking away. "You?" I asked him. He looked away and said, "Once."

"Then? What happened?" I was intrigued.

"She died." He said with no emotions. My smile vanished when I heard it. It must be hard for him to bear it. I put my hand over his shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze. "I am sorry about it," I said sadly.

"Don't be. The one who has to die will die." He said with his tone ice cold. I don't understand why he is saying this, why he is not showing any emotion but I could feel the pain for losing someone you love, I was also devastated when I lost my mother and after her death, even Father changed.

I lowered my head and didn't say anything. We remained like that and he asked, "Do you want that?" He pointed to the cotton candy stall, trying to light up the mood. I chuckled and said, "Yes." I got myself a cotton candy, as I was eating it, I motioned him to take a bite but he shook his head no. I narrowed my eyes at him and put the candy close to his mouth, "Come on, just one bite." I insisted. He sighed and smiled a bit.

He put his hand over mine, a shiver went down my spine when he touched me. My eyes not leaving his exquisite one, he leaned in a bit and took a bite and pulled away. I noticed some candy stuck to the side of his lips so I did what does with Rufus whenever something got stuck on the corner of his lips. I brought my hand close to his face. He looked at me in bewilderment, not understanding what I am doing. I put my index finger on the corner of his lips and wiped it off as my finger brushed over his lips. He just blinked, staring intensely at me. I pulled my hand away and smiled, "I do this whenever Rufus has something over him." I told him.

"Who's him?" He asked.

"Oh, my younger brother." He nodded. "Yeah, right." He said as if he knew but forget about it and now remembered but I never told him about my family so it was strange. I shrugged this thought off and continued to eat my cotton candy.

We were talking but then Tyler got an emergency call so he had to leave, After he left, I also thought about going home so I went home.

I went home and saw Father and Rufus talking about something. Rufus has a mournful look over his face.

"I am home," I said, entering.

"Good timing, We were waiting for you, Candice," Father said. He called me by my name and I realized something very disastrous is about to happen. I cautiously turned to Rufus and asked, "What happened?"

"I have fixed your marriage." I blinked, trying to apprehend his words. I turned to him and asked, "Come again?" I was hoping deeply I had heard wrong.

"I have fixed your marriage." He repeated himself. It took me a few seconds to let that talk sink in completely inside me.

"This has got to be a sick joke," I said moving back. He looked at me in bewilderment, not understanding my reaction, how could he do this.

"What? You have to get married one day and I have found a great guy for you." He said.

"Don't. Don't you dare, Elmer." I warned, pointing my index finger at him in a contemptible way. He narrowed his eyes at me in anger. Rufus stood up and said, "Candice is right, you cannot do this, Father." He defended me. "You shut up. I am her father, I have the right to decide her future."

"With my consent!" I yelled at him.

"Keep your voice down."

"Did Nicolas know about it?" I asked Rufus. "He is not here to be at your side. No need to tell him." My mouth gaped, "Are you out of your mind!?" I shouted.

"You cannot decide my life like this," I argued.

"The guy's name is Leon Vincent, he is well settled and gonna take care of you well." I was about to leave but stopped and turned to him, "Well settled.." I repeated what he said. "That's right. It's all about fucking money!" I shouted. "Shut your mouth, Candice! You are going to meet the guy tomorrow and if you do anything in opposition to the marriage I will tell him about who Nicolas is... You know it he doesn't want the world to know that's why he lives in California away from you." He threatened. My eyes widened in horror when I heard it. I stumbled back and looked at him in disbelief, "You are inhumane." I managed to breath out.

"Choice is yours, Either the secret Nicolas doesn't want to get out or your marriage." He said triumphantly. I lost my breath.

"Please don't do this, Father. Let Candice live her life." Rufus said, holding me from the shoulder to give me some support.

"She was promised and I will get her married off and free myself."

"You were supposed to be a father, not a bastard! How could you do this to me!? If you want to throw me away then do it otherwise, don't do this!" I yelled down, at the verge of a breakdown.

"You. Are. Going. Tomorrow." he enunciated. I looked away and pointed my middle finger at him, "I fucking hate you, Elmer Whale!" I shouted at him and went to my room.

Why..?