I strode out of the shopping complex to where Reed waited for close to the car, and the mont he saw , his eyes never left , following my every move.
The wind got in my face, so I tucked the strands behind my ear. My hair had gotten more volu after getting it done.
"Please tell I don’t look like a clown," I asked because that was the only reason he would stare.
"N-No..." he stuttered before a lovely smile crossed his lips. "I think you look beautiful, Mrs. King."
"Aww, thanks. With that, I can face anything without a thing to worry about."
"Cat!" Athena called. "Hop in."
"Actually, I’ll ride with Reed."
"Aww... I was hoping we would spend more ti together."
I have spent enough.
"It’s late, and I’m tired. Raincheck?"
She didn’t look too pleased by that. Her phone rang and she answered.
"I’ll be there in a few. No! Don’t..."
I looked back at Reed and stuck out my palm. He gave a dumbfounded expression.
"Keys... I’m driving."
"I don’t think that’s—"
"It’s an order."
He blinked before he replied. "Yes, ma’am."
"You’re a darling." I took the key fob and stepped into the car
Today, we didn’t drive the Rolls-Royce but the Bugatti. I let my hand take in the smooth wheels as Reed got in.
"Are you sure you can drive this?"
"Can’t be worse than riding a horse, am I right?"
Reed’s mouth hung open, and he suddenly rethought his decisions.
I giggled. "I’m joking!"
"I think it’s safer that I drive."
"Relax, I know how to drive, just not one of these. Aren’t they all the sa thing?"
I think I tapped into Reed’s fright factor, and I exploded in a laugh again.
"You should see your face..." I said between laughter. "Are you scared, Mr. Cross? Don’t worry, I’ll protect you."
He cleared his throat, adjusting in his seat. "What made you decide to drive?"
I rolled my eyes. "I just wanna do sothing different, been in a tight space recently, and it’s... suffocating."
"Do you wanna talk about it? I an, if you want to, I’m all ears."
I sighed, pressing the start button, and the engine picked up, and I drove out. I maintained an easy pace, taking my ti and not in a hurry to get anywhere.
"Mrs. King?"
I could feel his eyes on , as if begging to say sothing. I don’t know, but it kinda felt easier talking to Reed.
"Marriage is hard," I began. "And that’s coming from soone who has been married for just a month. I know it’s laughable that I’m already at my wits’ end."
"No, it’s not..." He said with too much understanding, and his next words proved why. "You’re a King."
He said it as if that title justified all my worries. It’s always about the King’s na; that term held more aning than life itself.
Years ago, I only knew it as the apex of this city, but now I had a nagging feeling it could an more... What? I don’t know, but I was dying to find out.
"I wish I felt like one, you know." I cast him a brief look. "But I’m not..."
The silence stretched between us, and my confession left a heavy statent, but more to , and it was the truth I had to face.
I’m not a King.
I pulled up at a coffee shop. "Guilty pleasure. I don’t think I can wait longer without a boose."
"Alright, I’ll get you one. Just tell what you need."
"A vanilla latte, with extra cream."
He raised an eyebrow.
"What? I love my sweetness."
"Understood." He stepped out of the car, and I quickly fished out my phone, trying Dan’s number again, but it was switched off.
I was beginning to get worried; his phone’s never been off for long. Or maybe he changed lines and moved on with his life.
I rubbed my forehead. What was I even doing? I can’t believe I still care about that piece of shit. He could be out of Midnight after Piper dumped him.
But I know Dan... he’s not the type to just vanish.
A notification popped up, and I tapped against it. Ever since I opened social dia, I have been getting a lot of trending news. I opened the article that seed to be the latest hot topic.
Odd. I thought the "Midnight Pair" was the hottest.
First sighting of Noel Voss, CEO of Real Estate Corp, after a freak accident.
Freak accident?
Suddenly, Dan’s last words flashed through, so I read the full article impatiently. It wasn’t as detailed as I expected, but apparently, he lost his tongue in an accident.
A cold chill grasps my spine. Dan said he was mutilated. Could it be that he was telling the truth?
I jumped when a knock ca through the window. It took a second before I could collect myself and pressed the button for the glass to go down.
"They don’t have that specific order. Want sothing else?" Reed asked.
My mouth went agape until I said. "E-Erm...S-Surpise ."
"I’ll do my best." He ambled back to the shop.
I dragged my gaze back to my phone, still overwheld by the article I just read.
What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into, Dan?
Reed was back and dropped my phone, fixing my smile. "Thank you!"
I took the cup and sipped from the straw. "Hmmm, mocha!"
"You said I should surprise you."
"And you did." I sipped again, moaning at the taste. "Now that hits the spot. What did you get...?"
He showed his. "Sothing less sweet."
"Hmm... that’s no fun." I took one last sip before placing the cup in the cupholder.
"You should really try this."
"I’ll pass."
"What? Have a thing against sugar?"
"I never said I did."
"Well, you won’t know until you—"
"LOOK OUT!"
It happened so fast.
A van collided with the car’s rear. We jerked forward, wheels screeching, the world spinning rapidly. The seatbelt locked tightly on my chest as I lurched forward, and the airbags hit , everything flashing in white.
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