LIED.

LARS AND I WENT STRAIGHT to my office after we returned to the hotel. We just changed our clothes there and went out again.

"In fairness, I enjoyed playing golf. I'll be back here if I have free time to play with you," said Lars after we entered the elevator.

"Sure." I beamed. "But maybe you'd also like to check out my pottery shop."

"Of course! I am looking forward to seeing your designs there.

"You must also create your own custom-designed pot."

She gave me a critical smile. "I don't know how to."

"My students can teach you."

She raised a brow. "Are they good?"

"Yes. They're really good."

Lars burst out laughing. "Okay. I'll try to get back here. Maybe...next month..."

…

"King!" Lars called Kade when we spotted him after we got down to the lobby.

He turned in our direction and smiled broadly when our eyes met. I returned his smile while feeling the heat on my cheeks.

He whispered something to Dean that made Dean shake his head before leaving the front desk to approach me.

"Hi..." He stopped in front of me, ignoring his cousin beside me.

I stared at him with a serious expression. "You're drunk." He smells like alcohol, so I am pretty sure he is drunk.

He rubbed the back of his neck while critically smiling at me. "Sorry... I passed by Yllak's condo, and we had a drink."

I locked my gaze on his face. "Just the two of you?"

He gave me a slow nod. "Yes, only the two of us."

"Okay," was my reply to him.

"King?" It's Lars calling him again.

"What?" he asked his cousin, raising an eyebrow.

Lars smirked at him. "Your girlfriend is right in front of us, King, so you need to treat me well."

Lars received a frown from him.

"Why are you here?" he asked.

"I am just dropping by to say hello to Clari."

Kade made a click of his tongue. "You are disturbing the person while she is working. You are worse than I am."

"Ahm, it's okay, Kade. I'm not doing much right now." I jumped in on their conversation.

"See? I am not bothering her." Lars raised an eyebrow at Kade.

Kade gave her a blank look before he turned to face me. But the moment I saw the scratch on the side of his neck, my brows creased.

"What happened to that?" I questioned him.

"Oh my gosh! That is not a catscratch!" exclaimed Lars, making Kade glare at her.

"Who did that?"

"It was accidentally scratched by...by Aly." He replied hesitantly.

My eyes squinted at him. "You said it was just you and Yllak, so why is Aly there?"

Lars poked Kade, causing him to look at her.

Lars smirked as he met his stare. "You're dead, King."

Kade's face darkened, but it also disappeared when he returned his attention to me. He peered into my eyes, embarrassed.

"Mind explaining everything to me?" I crossed my arms and glared into his eyes, furious that he tried to lie on me.

Aly, huh?

I could feel Kade following me and Lars as we made our way towards the hotel's exit, but I didn't bother looking at him, even though he was grabbing my hand from behind, which I immediately pulled back.

"I like the man who gave me the wine earlier, but I have a crush on one of your employees here."

"Who?" I asked out of curiosity.

Lars' lips curved into a wide smile. "Is that Silas?" 

"He's years younger than you, Lars."

"He looks mature anyway. Besides, age doesn't matter."

We heard him make a "tss" sound from behind us, which drew Lars' attention to him.

"Shut your mouth already, King, if you have nothing good to say." Lars snarled.

"I am not doing anything to you." With his sly tone of voice, I know he's grinning.

Lars made a tongue click. "You're annoying, King. Really!"

…

I WATCHED Lars' car drive away until it disappeared from my sight.

I looked down at my wristwatch. I almost spent the entire day with Lars, which is fine since I don't have much to do today.

"Babe."

My lips formed a line when I heard him calling me from behind.

I breathed furiously as I faced him with cold eyes. "What?"

"You're still mad?" 

"No. I'm not." I retorted and immediately walked past him.

"Clarity." he called, but I continued walking, even though Dean and some of the staff with him at the reception desk were staring at us.

"Babe, I'm really sorry."

I stopped walking briefly to turn around and give him the death stare.

"You're making a scene here, Kade for Pete's sake." I muttered firmly. This is so embarrassing!

The staff and guests I came across are staring at us as he chases me and continues to call me "Babe". My employees will undoubtedly gossip about me.

He also halted and gave me an apologetic face. "Please accept my apologies."

"Whatever! Just leave me alone, Kade!" I turned my back on him and took big steps toward the elevator. I was very thankful when the elevator door opened just as I approached.

I hurried inside and tapped the floor where my office was because I knew he was on his way to follow me. 

The elevator door was about to close when it was stopped by a hand. My teeth clenched when I saw it was him. He dashed inside before the door closed again.

"Yllak and I were just really drinking alone, Aly just suddenly came to his condo drunk." He started explaining as he went beside me.

My lips just pursed. I moved away from him and crammed myself into one corner of the elevator, but he still followed me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you jealous."

"I am not jealous!"

"I mean, I didn't mean to make you angry." He's hiding his chuckle.

I glared at him. The irritation in my chest rose even more. Is he really making fun of me?

"Kade!" I gasped in shock when he suddenly appeared in front of me. I was about to get away from him when he cornered me by leaning his hand against the wall on my right side.

"Tell me, Babe. Are you mad at me because I tried to lie to you, or are you jealous of Aly?" He scanned my face with a hint of a smirk on his lips. 

"I told you, I am not." I attempted to escape his cornering, but he would not let me.

His eyes narrowed. "You're not, huh? Which of the ones I mentioned?"

"Dammit, Kade—" My eyes widened when I felt his lips close to mine.

"One more curse, I'm really going to kiss you on the lips," he warned as he backed away a bit.

I pressed my lips tight when he even stared at me intensely, grinning.

"Can you tell me why you are upset?"

"When someone tried to lie to you, would you be happy?" I growled. 

"That's why I'm sorry. I'm sorry if I didn't tell you right away that Aly was with us. I know you'll think badly if I say she's there. She admitted to me that she told you she has feelings for me."

I frowned. "You know she has feelings for you. Why didn't you stay away?"

"She's my friend—"

"But she doesn't see you as a friend." I almost hissed. "Maybe you like that too?"

His thick brows knitted. "I didn't like her."

I just rolled my eyes. I wanted to believe in him, but I couldn't.

"Come on, are we here again? If I liked her, I would have dated her a long time ago, but I didn't. All I want is you. Please, listen to me," he pleaded, trying to catch my eyes while I avoided his gaze. "Ms. Manager…"

I frowned.

"Stop frowning, Ms. Manager. You're too cute. I might not be able to hold back and kiss you for real."

I swallowed harder. Stupid, Clarity! Don't tell me you like that?!

"Y-You're..."

"Yes, Babe?" He asked huskily, darting his gaze to my parted lips as if he really meant to kiss me.

I glared at him as I started moving my knees.

"Fuck..." He was forced to step back after I kneed him in the groin.

The elevator door opened just in time, indicating that we were on the right floor, so I hurriedly exited the elevator and left him inside, writhing in pain while clutching his crotch area.

"Clarity..." His eyes followed me with his face twisted in so much pain.

I ignored him and continued walking.

"Ms. Clari." Janna jumped up in her cubicle when she saw me coming.

"Don't let him in." I instructed Janna authoritatively before I entered the office.

I locked the office door, then went to the water dispenser because my throat felt dry.

"Damn him!" I breathed heavily after I emptied the water from the glass. How dare he!

But I was stunned when I thought back to what I did earlier. I bit my lower lip. Given how his face is distorted by pain...that's so much. However, after giving it some more thought, I think he deserved it for lying to me!

I marched towards my office table when I felt something. I slumped on the swivel chair and slammed the glass in my hand down to the side. I held my temple because of the sudden pain inflicted there.

"Dammit." I cursed, burying my face on the table. I closed my eyes tight as the pain continued to pulsate from there. My head hurts like hell and feels like it is about to explode! Fucking migraine!

I WOKE UP when I felt someone caressing my face, brushing away the hair that was obstructing my face while it was resting on the table.

I slowly opened my eyes.

 "You're finally awake," he said with concern in his eyes.

I sat up straight. "Don't touch me." I shoved his hand that was still holding my hair away and stared at him seriously. "Why are you here? Who let you in?" 

He shrugged his shoulders. "Your secretary."

My brows furrowed.

"I just forced her."

"What's with your hand?" I randomly asked as I saw the purple mark on his fingers, which also had a blood clot.

"It got stuck in the door earlier," he explained as he pulled his hand off the table.

I fixed my stare on his face. So that's why I couldn't close the door right away, his hand was blocking it.

I pursed my lips. "Sorry...for kicking you in your, uhm...private part and for almost crushing your finger. I was just..." I looked away in embarrassment.

"It's alright." He held my chin and made me face him. He smiled as our gaze met. "How are you feeling? Does your head still hurt?"

"I'm fine now."

He sighed, "You didn't leave your office for an hour, so your secretary became worried. She's worried you might have had another migraine, so she sent me in to check on you."

"You mean?"

"Yes. You slept for an hour. You also made me worry about you for an hour," his thick brows knitted. "Please take good care of yourself, I will still marry you."

I almost choked after hearing him, but he just stared into my eyes as if he said nothing.

This man...

*  * *

I PEEKED through the window to see if Kade had left. I did not hear any engine noise.

My forehead wrinkled when I saw him still leaning on the side of his car parked in front of the mansion. Why is he still here? 

I jolted when my cell phone rang. I grabbed it from the bedside table and looked to see who was calling.

He's calling.

I answered it and went back to the window. From there, I saw him waving at me, smiling from ear to ear.

"Go to sleep so I can leave."

I bit my lower lip as I tried to hide my smile. I admit it's giving me butterflies in my stomach.

"You're smiling, huh."

I cleared my throat. "How do you say so?"

"I can see you," he teased.

I cleared my throat once more. I was about to say something when my phone's message ringtone rang.

I removed my cell phone from my ear, leaving Kade on the line for a moment to read the message I had received.

It's from Raki.

Baby Girl:

Why don't you go down to him, Sister, so he can leave?

My brows furrowed immediately at what I read, especially when I returned my eyes to Kade and saw Raki was already downstairs!

I exhaled a huge sigh. Raki will undoubtedly interrogate us, big time!

While wearing my blazer, I hurried down the stairs.

"I told you, Aunt. Manong is already Sis Clari's boyfriend." Raki turned to me with a sneer as she felt me ​​approach her.

I snatched the phone away from her when she showed me the screen, and I realized she was video chatting with Aunt Roma.

"Hello there, my lovely niece." Aunt Roma greeted me. Uncle was standing next to her, just smiling at what he heard.

"Finally, Clari, you have a new boyfriend. I'm glad that man didn't give up on you easily, even though you were so difficult to catch." 

Aunt Roma and Raki both laughed while I maintained my serious expression. When it comes to teasing me, the two of them really get along.

"Anyway, how was your vacation in his place? Was it good? Did you make the most of your vacation with him? Did you two kiss? Did something happen?"

"Aunt!" I widened my eyes at Aunt, but she just laughed at me.

"So, you haven't slept with him yet?" she interrogated.

I just pursed my lips tight as I facepalmed internally. 

"Now that Sister has a boyfriend again, we will not have to worry about her getting old single," Raki giggled beside me, who was also trying to look at the screen.

With deep lines on my forehead, I let out a harsh breath. They talk as if Kade and I are not in front of them.

"You're right, Raki. So all I have to worry about now is your Sister Star. After all, there's—"

"Manong, are you leaving? Sister just came down."

Aunt paused when Raki spoke. She looked at Kade, and I did the same. I saw Kade getting into his car.

"Wait, Aunt." I bid goodbye to Aunt Roma before handing the phone back to Raki.

I started walking toward Kade.

"You're going home?" I asked as I stopped in front of him.

"You don't want to?" He ran his fingers through his short hair and then rested his elbow on the roof of his car.

"Take care." I uttered, making him smile widely.

"No kiss?" he teased. 

"R-Raki is watching us." A part of my brain wants me to kiss him on the cheeks, but the thought of Raki staring at us makes me feel embarrassed.

"Alright, next time." He inched forward and put his hand on my head. "Goodnight, Ms. Manager. Dream of me," he chuckled before disheveling my hair.

I just smiled. He acts exactly like a big brother, telling his younger sister to go to bed early. This gesture is not particularly novel to me, but the way he did it is something special.

"Child, I'm going home. Please watch over your sister for me." He grinned and waved to Raki, who was watching us.

I heard Raki make a tongue click. "Gosh! Even if you don't tell me, Manong."

I just shook my head at the two. Raki appeared to be more at ease with Kade than my ex.