Chapter 17
1501 Words
"No, you can't!" Beatrice yelled. "Stay away from him, Lia," she added, but Lia wasn't listening.
"Why should I? I love him!" Lia retorted.
"You don't love him, you're obsessed, that's why I sent you away," Beatrice replied.
"Oh please, mom, you sent me away because you didn't want your husband knowing about me," Lia scoffed.
"That was also part of the plan, I won't let you ruin everything I have planned Lia, be a good girl and just stay away from Caden," Beatrice warned before walking away.
"She didn't even care to ask me how I have been all these years," Lia complained.
_
{NATHAN'S OFFICE}
"I never thought I would see the day you ask for my help." Nathan smiled at Caden, who was sitting across from him.
"Neither did I," Caden replied.
"Your assistant briefed me on the situation, but I would like to know what exactly you want me to do, funding a refinery is no easy feat," Nathan said, getting straight to business.
"You won't be funding everything, I'm not broke. You'll just be helping me do it," Caden replied.
"I would like to know what actually happened, but I don't wanna be nosy, so what's my gain in this?" Nathan asked.
"You'll own a percentage, of course, I've pumped too much money in it to stop now," Caden answered.
"Alright, I don't see why not," Nathan said, and Caden got up.
"Great doing business with you as always," Caden said, and Nathan smirked.
"As always," Nathan responded, and Caden left the office.
Nathan's phone rang, and he picked it up when he saw the caller ID.
"I looked into Ambrose Shaw. He is a gambler, an ex-convict, a drunk, and he is broke, " the man said through the phone.
"Ex convict? What was he in prison for?" Nathan asked.
"He kîlled his mother," the man replied.
"Him and Madison's mother?" Nathan asked.
"Yes, but he got out really quick because it was said to be an accident. He visits Madison every time he goes extremely broke," the man answered, and Nathan loosened his tie.
"Alright," Nathan said and hung up.
He was going to call Madison and tell her she was safe to come back to New York since the tabloids didn't have their names at the top search anymore, but now he is rethinking it.
His phone rang again, and this time it was Madison.
"What?" Nathan asked. Immediately, he picked.
"That's rude," Madison frowned. "Anyway, I want to return to New York, it's really boring in Australia," she complained.
"Maybe you should stay in Australia for a little longer," Nathan suggested.
"Absolutely not! Our relationship isn't trending anymore, I want to come back, I already booked my ticket, I am only telling you out of cutesy, thank you for having me in your penthouse" Madison replied and hung up.
Nathan stared at his phone with a frown.
"What is wrong with her?" He muttered.
_
{CADEN'S HOUSE~6PM}
Emily was sitting on the couch as she read a book.
A book she took from Caden's shelf because she was bored.
Luis wasn't around. He went to stay with his family for a few days. At least that's what Caden told her when she messaged him. Immediately, she came back and didn't see Luis.
Emily's phone rang, and she picked it up.
"Hey," she said over the phone.
"I'm on a plan back to New York," Madison announced, and Emily blinked.
"What? Are you for real?" Emily asked.
"Of course I am. My name isn't on the tabloids anymore," Madison answered.
"That's great, what about Nathan and his sister, I thought you were getting along with her," Emily asked.
"Ava isn't always around, and Nathan is like talking to a rock, I'm mostly bored, I missed New York, all the juicy gossip," Madison said, and Emily chuckled.
"I'm not even surprised. When your plane lands, call me, I will come pick you up," Emily offered.
"Well, of course, that's why I called you, but I probably won't be in Australia till tomorrow morning," Madison replied.
"Alright, safe travels," Emily said and hung up.
"I wonder how Caden is. He is probably still sick," Emily muttered in concern.
"No.. no.. no... I don't care about him, I just don't want him to die and make me a widow, " she convinced herself.
"Yes... That's it, " she added.
_
{HOTEL~7PM}
"I won't be able to come over tonight, I want to stay with my parents, they insisted," Anna said to George over the phone.
"Alright, tell them I said hi," George replied.
"Sure." Anna smiled and hung up before taking a deep breath.
She opened her bag and removed the envelope she was given.
She already called Anthony, and she planned on making him sign these papers. She didn't even know what these papers are, and she literally didn't care to read them.
Her phone pinged, and she saw a message from Anthony.
Hubby: can't make it, need to deal with something urgent.
Anna: That's disappointing.
Hubby: I promise to make it up to you.
Anna: You better.
Anna sighed in frustration. She just told George she won't be able to see him today, and Anthony decided to cancel on her?
Now she actually has to go to her parent's place.
Anna stared at the envelope and pushed it into her bag.
She picked it up and walked out of the hotel room.
_
Anna walked into the neatly arranged average home. She wasn't from a poor family, nor was her family wealthy.
But she is very greedy, she wants more than her parents could offer her, that's why she clinged onto George three years ago when she noticed he took interest in her.
He was her ticket to getting whatever she wanted, but his money alone wasn't enough for her greedy self.
She did whatever she thought was necessary.
"Anna?" Her mom called. She was delighted to see her, but Anna rolled her eyes. "How are you? You didn't say you were coming. " Stella smiled at her daughter.
"I don't need to tell you everything mom, if George asked, tell him I am here," Anna said simply and walked to her room.
"Why do you keep trying?" Anna's father, Brian, said as he walked into the living room.
"She's our daughter, Brian," Stella replied.
"She has never accepted that, except in front of other people," Brian said.
"That shows she isn't ashamed of us. Our daughter is a super model, we should be proud," Stella replied.
"She shows everyone that she cares for her parents but she actually doesn't, we both know how she is, the person I feel more sorry for is her boyfriend" Brian sighed and walked into the kitchen.
"I hope he doesn't break up with her. He is a good man," Stella muttered. "Anna, please don't do anything stupid," she added as she stared at Anna's room door before walking into the kitchen.
_
{NEXT DAY~CADEN'S HOUSE~7AM}
Emily turned on the bed lazily, her phone rang, and she grumbled.
Her eyes were half closed as she picked up the phone and placed it on her ears.
"We are about to land. You should be on your way to the airport, Ems," Madison's voice jolted Emily, fully awake.
"Right, I am on my way," Emily responded.
"You're just waking up, you liar," Madison scoffed.
"I'm not, I’m driving right now," Emily replied as she stood up from the bed.
"And you said I am the crazy one," Madison fired before hanging up.
Emily sighed and hurried into the bathroom.
She was already putting on her shoes when she realized she didn't sleep on her bed last night.
She was pretty sure she slept on the couch while reading that boring book she took from Caden's shelf.
Realization dawned on her.
She and Caden are the only ones in the house. He probably came back and brought her to her bedroom or... An unknown ghost brought her here.
"Definitely not a ghost," Emily muttered.
She put on her shoes and picked up her bag before walking out of her room.
When she went downstairs, Caden was in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in his hand.
He had little dark circles like he didn't sleep at all.
"Where are you going so early?" Caden asked.
"Why are you awake so early, drinking coffee and looking like a sleep deprived ghost?" Emily retorted.
"Answer my question first," Caden demanded.
"Madison is back in New York, I am going to pick her up from the airport before going to work," Emily said.
"Alright," Caden replied and returned back to his coffee.
"You should try warm milk if you want to sleep, not coffee," Emily advised.
"I never said I wanted to sleep," Caden said, and Emily sighed.
What is wrong with him today?
She would deal with him when she got back.
She left the house and drove straight to the airport.
- Writer
