KAHLAN

CHAPTER 2

KAHLAN

I had woken up just in time for dinner like I said earlier, walking down the stairs I could hear faint voices coming from the kitchen. Amelia was back and already sitted at the dinning table, she turned to look at me with a smug on her face.

"Did you finally decide on how you'll get rid of me?" I asked approaching her.

"Why else will I be this happy? You've always been a smart girl." She said and we both laughed. She stood up and I pulled her into a tight hug. I missed her.

"The goal was to get rid of you, not me. I can't... breathe" she struggled to say making me realize how much I had squeezed her. I quickly released her as she took in deep breaths giving me a stern look in the process.

"Sorry" I whispered with an apologetic smile before taking my seat right next to her.

Mom and dad had walked in few minutes later and dinner was served. It was a spaghetti bolognese with well seasoned and fried chicken breasts, my favorite. My excitement had reached its peak at that point as I let out a loud moan after the first bite drawing everyone's attention.

"I love it!" I said happily making my parents and Amelia smile.

"I knew you would." My mom said, "but manners on the table." She added earning a soft chuckle from me as I ate the rest of my dinner in silence.

"I love youuuuu, so much. Have a good night rest." I said as I gave both my parents kisses on the cheeks before dragging Amelia upstairs with me, we had a lot of catching up to do.

"Wait! Chill Kay, I'll fall." She called out but I was bent on getting us to my room as fast as possible which I did. "I don't think I'll survive with you under the same roof." She added when we got it and I laughed, did a swirl then tossed myself on the bed. Being hyperactive was something about me the rest of my family didn't want to deal with, yet Amelia had to keep enduring that.

"I missed you, you should be grateful I treat you like this. People beg to be treated this way by me." I said in a slight pout while she gave me a disgusted look.

"I'd rather be anything than missed by you. You could have killed me." She stated joining me on the bed. "Well, tell me, how was Greece?" She asked, and I was more than elated to tell her everything I thought was fun about my stay in Greece.

Five years away from home didn't feel as lonely as I thought it would. Dad said I needed to learn some sort of independence and sent me off to high school in a foreign land, haha. But I grew to love it, nothing beats getting to make your own choices and doing what you want when you want without being afraid of getting scolded afterwards. Dad kept me on heavily guarded which I didn't like but had to adjust.

Amelia and I would video call a lot while my parents visited whenever they had a free time which they barely did.

"I feel I'm ready to start living on my own too." Amelia said with a pout, "you were having so much fun while your mom was constantly worried about you." She added.

"They sent me away in the first place, didn't they?"

"Don't think of it that way, Kay. They just wanted to give you a little exposure, but it looks like someone was having mad fun in the process." She said while I had a knowing smile on my face.

"I needed the fun." I muttered.

"Sure you did, tell me something juicy" she whispered shifting closer to me.

"Huh?" I tried getting away from her but she held me. "Get away from me, eww."

"Tell me, did you find someone?" She said raising her brows eagerly.

"No, no one, Amy" I replied laughing and detangling myself from her hold. "Well, I did, somehow but we're not together anymore." I added giving her a slight smile.

"Aww...what happened, baby?" She asked giving me a sympathetic smile.

"We can't do long distance. Not everyone can always hold on, yunno. It's for the best." I said a sly smile forming on my face.

"I understand. Distance can be quite bitchy." She said pulling me into a hug, "I've got you though. When you start college, I'll introduce you to a lot of hot guys. I'm sure you'll like one of them." She added making me smile, I relaxed in her embrace, I never realized I needed while nodding to her words.

Amy was three years older than I was so, she was basically the big sister I never had. Her continuous patting had been too comforting, I didn't realize when I slept off, only waking up when the sun light penetrated my window being a nuisance, as always.

RALPH

I could already tell it wasn't going to be a good day. Confirming my instincts, Mike walked in with a file and placed it carefully on my desk before meeting my curious eyes.

"Morning, boss. From Mrs. Catherine." He said before walking out. Of course, mother would never relent when she sees an opportunity to force he decisions on you.

I stared at the files for a moment before reaching out to it. Hopefully, one of them is fascinating enough to get my attention. I flipped from page to page finding nothing out of the usual spoilt reputations they've always had. I tossed the file back on my desk then picked up my phone to call my mom.

"None of them is good enough, mom." I said immediately the line connected.

"Of course, no woman is good enough for you, Ralph. They'd never measure up to you, you only have to pick one and mould her to whom you want her to be." She said, "look again, at least one should be attractive enough to choose from" she added before hanging up.

I let out a frustrated sigh. Picking up the file again, I flipped and flipped and flipped then stopped. "Kahlan Renold McDermott" I read out loud tapping my fingers on her picture, she was something. Unlike the rest, she looked like she had a plain life.

Born in Napoli, Italy. Raised in Florida before being sent off to Greece for part of her high school. She was set to return home in a week but report said she was home already.

"She should be easy to deal with." I said staring intently at her photo.

I rang Mike and he walked in almost immediately, "look up the McDermott's group of companies. Find something interesting. Send it in in a hour." I said without batting an eye on the photo in front of me. I needed to know Mr. Remold's weakness if I wanted his daughter, it would make everything easier.

After what felt like and hour, Mike walked in with a file and smile tugged on my lips. I reached out for it then dismissed him. Going through the file and I couldn't find anything interesting and out of the ordinary. I needed a deeper investigation, there needed to be something for me in it.

I phoned TK, he always had dirt on every influencial person in the society, and there was no harm in spending a little to get what I wanted.

"Ralph Coast! The last person I expected a call from." He said after picking up.

"I need you to tell a little secret, TK." I said and a chuckle came from the other side of the phone.

"Of course, my charge depends on whom you want to do dirty." He replied.

"Renold McDermott" I said and there was a slight silence.

"McDermott is never one to be involved in anything illegal, Coast. He's a noble man." TK said and I scoffed. Of course, he had to be one of the good men.

"So you have no news about him that is not out to the public?" I inquired.

"Oh, that. He's a private one but ten grand should be able to get me talking." He said.

"You parasite!" I said as low as possible, "fine ten grand. Tell me."

"McDermott's Suite Initiative is experiencing something close to bankruptcy at the moment. Although he seems to be working towards it, the possibility of getting out of it is quite slim excepts he gets a huge investment, an option I'm sure he'll soon resort to." TK said earning a smirk from me.

"Send in your bank details." I said hanging up.

I called Mike in few minutes later, "set up a meeting with McDermott. Make it a private one." I said. I heaved a sigh of relief after Mike walked out, somehow I felt I was making progress and I liked it.