Rumors

The sound of heels clicking against the floor interrupted the tense moment. All eyes except for Selene and Keira's were on the arrival of the two ladies.

"My-my, you famous youngsters didn't come to visit my company just to harass my people, did you?" Madame Hillary had always carried herself with class, easily cementing her image in every person's head with her strong charisma. This time was no different. Her sharp gaze swept over the Castillo siblings.

"Pardon the intrusion, Madame. I'm afraid we haven't released my sister from her contract yet, so I have come on behalf of my parents to retrieve her."

Keira bit her lips, body shaking from the pent-up annoyance this duo continued to give her. It felt like nothing she said would ever be taken seriously. This is so frustrating…

"Retrieve her? I'm afraid not."

"Madame Hillary—."

"Maybe if your parents begged me, I might consider it." The slight hostility in her gaze startled Keira.

Is there something between the Pierces and the Castillos that I don't know?

"You must be exhausted, Dear. Why don't you show her around?" She looked toward Austin, gesturing for him to take the person in question away from the room.

"Ahem! Yes, why don't you two go for a walk." Rita chimed in. Although she didn't like the idea of Keira being left alone with a man they barely knew, it was better than having her deal with the two siblings.

Austin took the initiative to leave first, glancing back at Keira with a raised brow. Having no reason to stay when they openly asked her to leave, Keira followed him out.

"I'll be seeing you." Keira didn't forget to leave a haunting message for her nemesis. "Take care of your health."

They walked along the corridor, one a few feet behind the other, embracing the sound of shoes against the wooden floors. Her head pounded, aching greatly now that the rush of fury had subsided.

Her body felt tired, feeling weighed down from the mental and emotional exhaustion of anger. The soft lull of his steady pace was the only thing that kept her awake.

I'm tired.

Her old self was so used to not being able to sleep that she failed to register the toll it took on her before.

I should have tried to sleep last night.

"Let me see your hand." Keira was lost in thought, mindlessly following after him like a zombie. The outstretched hand in front of her brought her back.

The cold breeze tickled her skin and the overwhelming sweets of the Jasmine danced around them.

"As you can see, this area is exclusively for Jasmines. Must be because you're here that they decided to bloom. I guess it's spring now." From her blank stare to her widening and curious gaze, Austin watched with great interest.

"Jasmines only bloom for a few days…what a pity." The hand was still in front of her, waiting patiently for hers in return. She didn't understand why such a touchy person decided to be a gentleman waiting for her response without rushing.

"If you feel the need to clench your hands next time, grab your shirt or something." Once her hands were in his, he traced the deep marks on her palms gently. His eyes watched her face turn a shade redder. "It's troublesome if you bite your lips also."

Keira didn't dare to look at his face. Her eyes focused only on the fingers playing with her hands, unsure what to say.

"I was hoping you'd be more angry…but you did well. Good job." His fingers gently brushed the strand of hair behind her ears. Everywhere he touched felt burned. The soft caressing of her sore lips caused her to look up at him.

Within the pits of her stomach were countless butterflies fluttering their wings. She could feel the increase in her heart rate with his clumsy attempt to comfort her.

"I don't get along with my family." Austin raised his eyebrows at her sudden confession. "What happened earlier…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought you into my issue."

"Are you confident? Making a bet like that, you must really trust in my judgment." He let go of her, walked over to a bench, and sat down. His hands tapped the opening beside him, wanting her to sit down. "What happens if I don't choose you?"

If he doesn't choose me…?

That question was enough to send her mind into a spiral. Selene was the main character, loved by all. Keira knew that the world wouldn't sit still at her deviation. There were bound to be obstacles that would set her back on the track of fate. Perhaps death was the only ending she could have in this world that belonged to Selene.

"I like Jasmine the most, otherwise, Lavender Roses are a second favorite."

"What?"

"I could snack on egg tarts all day. I have quite a sweet tooth. I like the color brown. You already know how to measure someone, so take my measurements seriously when you have time."

"…"

"What's with that expression? I'm telling you what I like so that you can woo me. Isn't it nice that I'm giving you a head start?"

"…"

"I only accept dried flowers or single flowers, no bouquets."

"Why Jasmine?"

"Oh…so you were listening." He chuckled and reached over to pull at a flower. "My mom loves Jasmine. As for Lavender Roses…it is you."

"Me?" The crinkles of her skin around the brows made him laugh. Her confused expression had become a source of amusement for Austin.

"Yeah. You." He leaned in close, gently tucking the jasmine he picked into her hair. The soft curve of his lips softens up his expression. "What happened to the milk candy I gave you?"

"I must have lost it." The realization suddenly hit her. She remembered that he had shoved it in her hand earlier, but now it was gone. "I'm sorry…"

"Losing something I gave you…I must not mean enough to you." His tone was filled with exaggerated disappointment, yet his eyes squinted with tease. "Give me back the flower."

"Here. A gift from me." Instead of placing the jasmine in his hand, she directly placed it atop his head. "I'm wooing you, shouldn't your heart skip a beat for me?"

"Dang." He covered his lips, trying to stifle the laughter stuck in his throat. "That was too much. I almost died just now. Tone it down a bit. I didn't know you were the type to touch a man all over, how dangerous."

"This is ridiculous." His hands attempt to shield himself from her gaze.

"You're saying my chastity is a joke? What should I do if you push me down and have your way with me? We're not close enough for such intimacy yet."

"You are ridiculous."

"You owe me an egg tart."

"No."

"Oh. So you can say no."

"Of course?"

"Give me your hand." Keira felt like she was talking to a computer that often switches mid-conversation. She confusedly reached for his, allowing their hands to intertwine with one another.

Austin didn't say anything after that. His gaze occasionally drifted toward Keira, making her feel self-conscious.

"What is it?"

"You say no to the wrong things." He wiggled their clasp hand. "Would you grab another person's hands just because they say so? The word no can be used in this scenario, too."

"I don't want to bake you egg tarts, so I said no. I think it's an appropriate response."

"Stupid." He yanked her hand, pulling her into a hug. "I'm cold. Warm me up with a hug."

"Okay."

"What do you mean 'okay'?" He pushed her off gently, leaning downward to get a good look in her eyes. Keira could barely focus on his face. The flower she had placed on his head was too striking to look away. "You should push me away and say no. You can't agree to whatever the other person wants all the time."

"You said that you were cold." The blank expression on Austin's face was a new experience for Keira.

"It should bother you, having a stranger touch you weirdly like this."

"It doesn't bother me when you do it."

"…" The look in his eyes was inexplicable. The slight pink of his ears and neck tickled her heart.

"Does it bother you that I like it?"

"No." His words were soft, almost like a whisper. He straightened up, moving slightly away from her. Austin removed the flower on his head and placed it into her hands. "I'm really craving an egg tart…"

His gaze finally met hers, staring deeply. She could feel his warm palms slowly moving up her arms.

Keira found it hard to breathe all of a sudden. Her body felt tense. The same erratic heartbeat from earlier had returned and the butterflies violently occupied her empty stomach.

"Woo me." His breath tickled her lips, causing her to turn her head slightly. Her gaze drooped, staring intently at the flower in her hands.

"I don't know how to make egg tarts…" The heavy weight of his hands pressed down on her shoulders. He envelops her in his embrace, hugging her tightly.

"…" The strange atmosphere between them made her blush silly, that was until he said, "You keep saying that you will make them for me, what a flirt. The bakery inside has egg tarts, you can just buy them."

He's so annoying! 

Forget being tired!

Awful! Teasing man!

+

"See them out." After the two had left the room, Madame Hillary called for her secretary. "Politely."

Matthew and Selene were escorted out, and their attempt to protest fell on deaf ears.

"We need to have a nice long chat, Madame Rita." Their mood for gossiping earlier was to break the ice, it was time to talk business now that it had been ruined by uninvited guests. "I was contemplating on whether to keep you as Keira's agent and manager, but now it seems to be better for you to leave."

"What is the reason for this conclusion?"

"As the friend and person who help established Rania's career, I find it hard to believe that you were blissfully unaware of Keira's situation in that house."

It was as if her gaze could see through everything. Rita felt her heart tremble under the oppressive atmosphere.

"Perhaps I was complacent." Rita felt shame eating at her conscious. "I had only heard about her existence. It didn't matter the type of social gatherings, the Castillos never once brought Keira with them. I did suspect the strained relationship, but because it didn't bother my livelihood, I never really…cared to find out."

Hillary didn't bother speaking. She calmly sipped her tea given by her secretary.

"I know Rania's personality the best. She is a cold-hearted fool who only cares about her status and public image. Although she is like that, I can assure you that it's because of our past—."

"Madame Rita." Hillary cut her off with the slam of her teacup. "Do not make excuses for that woman. How she is, I know best. I like that child a lot. That is why, for Keira's sake, I will give you a chance."

"What kind of chance?"

"Talk to me when you are confident in being the cause of your best friend's downfall."

"…" Rita fell silent at her words. Her fist clenched tightly, her brain working overtime to process her words. "What do you need me to do?"

"I don't care how much it costs to break the contracts with Giganta Corp. Flame the rumors of Keira being a product of surrogacy. Better yet, find a way to confirm it without it tracing back to me."

"What about Keira?"

"The girl will be fine."

"I understand."