It Can't Be

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CHAPTER 17

"You were supposed to give her the business card not make her blush, Ryker."

Ryker chuckled a bit and looked at the former through the rearview mirror. "Oh don't be paranoid, Lord Arsenio. I only commented on her beauty, that's all."

When Arsenio shot him a glare in return, he sighed and raised his two hands in surrender.

"Alright. It's my bad. I'm sorry," he apologised.

"Drive to the company," Arsenio didn't pay Ryker any attention and ordered the driver instead.

Instead of feeling offended about Arsenio ignoring him, Ryker smiled and slightly shook his head.

Meanwhile, Scarlett quickly flagged down a cab before anything unfortunate could have the chance to happen to her again. Just then her phone rang.

It was from Kayden.

"Hello, Ayden," she said after receiving the call.

"Hey sis. What do you want for dinner when you get back? I was thinking of spicy spaghetti with roast chicken. Then salad for dessert."

"That sounds nice. But how about lunch? I'm coming home now," Scarlett informed him.

"Why? I thought you wanted to stay out for a long time. What changed?" Kayden asked as he wore an apron.

He then put the phone on a speaker and started taking out what he needed to cook.

Scarlett sighed and stared out the window of the already moving cab. A lot changed but she could not bring herself to tell him that.

Who knows if he would even allow step out of the house without him?

"Well, I just got tired and outside is more boring than sitting in my room all day," She settled to tell him this instead.

"Are you sure?"

Scarlett could hear the doubt in his words. She cleared her throat and nodded as if he could see her.

"Yes. Besides, there is also something I want to tell you. I can't wait till this evening."

"Oh, alright then. Fried rice with bacon for lunch?"

"Yes. I will stop somewhere to get some grilled fish."

"Alright, no problem. I will see you soon. Take care."

"Hmm. I will."

~Minutes later~

Scarlett got home a bit before lunch was ready. Bu the time she freshened up and came to the dining room to eat, the table was all set and the place was filled with the nice aroma of the food.

"You never fail to make my mouth water and tummy growl," Scarlett commented after a satisfied sigh.

Her eyes zoned on the table having two plates of fried rice and bacon and a wide centre plate with two grilled dishes.

"Hehe! Come sit and eat before you wet the floor with your hungry droll," Kayden chuckled and teased her.

Scarlett shook her head and sat opposite him on the table. They said grace over the food before they picked up their cutlery and dug in.

Minutes of silence into the meal, Kayden decided to come up with a discussion. He wanted to know about her outing and how she felt after it.

"So... How was it?" He began.

"How was what?" Scarlett looked up from her food to ask.

"Your outing? Was it good? Did you get your head cleared?"

"Oh! It was going fine... At first," she added the last part after a little pause.

"At first?" Kayden raised a brow in askance.

"Yeah. It was going well until I saw someone I would have never believed I would see," Scarlett dropped her spoon and took the glass of water by her side.

Kayden watched her take a few gulps as he was waiting for her to tell him who he saw. He already had a guess.

"Well, who is it? That man, Arsenio?" He asked seeing as she did not say anything after drinking but took another spoonful of food.

Scarlett paused and met his questioning and impatient eyes.

"Well... It's not Arsenio. Why would you think it's him?"

She didn't want to tell him she did meet Arsenio because telling him will mean he will know of the men chasing after her to kill her.

"I don't know. He just popped up in my mind considering he has shown up in our lives a bit," Kayden answered and shrugged.

"I see," Scarlett nodded.

If she was him, she would have thought the same anyway. Her encounters with Arsenio are something she could not forget, making them feel like it was just yesterday, all together.

"But he is not the one I saw. I mean it would have not been so surprising. I was in doubt at first but when I saw his face, I was shocked."

"Who is this 'he'?"

"Mark. I saw butler Mark today, opposite the cafe I was at this morning."

Scarlett words sure did shock Kayden. He looked at her, waiting to see if she would just laugh it off and say she was only joking. But that dis not happen. She was as serious as she was when she started talking about it.

"No way," he said in a disbelieving voice as he dropped his cutlery and leaned back against the chair. "It can't be." He shook his head.

"I had the same thought. But it is true. I won't joke about such a thing, Ayden," Scarlett said.

"I know. It's just... How sure are you? I mean we had a close bond with Uncle Mark. Maybe you were seeing things?" Kayden was not even sure how to say what he said.

"If I were to be seeing things, I would see dad, not Uncle Mark," Scarlett tolled her eyes. "I am hundred per cent sure because I immediately left the cafe and went across the street to confirm."

Kayden remained quiet hinting to her not to stop at all.

"I called him... I called him and when he saw me, there was a shock in his eyes, his face. He looked... scared that he was seen by me. I don't know. But he did not let me get to him before he dashed off. He ran fast, Ayden. And he never stopped even after knowing I was following and shouting for him to stop."