BURN THE TRUTH

Episode Twenty-three

As soon as Velda was about to leave her office, her cell phone vibrated on her office desk which compelled her to return for the phone.

"Hello, detective"

Devyn's distinct voice on the phone was something Velda couldn't describe. The dominant, virile tone sounded the same as being face-to-face with him, but there was an extra feature about the man's authoritative voice that came off so compelling that Velda couldn't completely explain.

"Devyn" Her voice came off lower than she conveyed.

"I'm at the ballet building" Devyn's voice resounded. "I just arrived, I figured you might be stressed out about getting someone to stay with Asteria while you go on a date with me. Leave the care to me. I'll be picking you up by 6 pm"

Velda didn't have to slip a word to oppose, because Devyn hung up without warning. She displayed a confused yet amazed expression as she watched the cell phone.

She had returned to her office after collecting the file she needed from Clyde, though it had been about a couple of minutes and Velda was only looking at the file with little interest, wondering easily through her thoughts that were constantly displaying images of his moments with Devyn and presumably how the evening would proceed. No matter what she did or the means she took to think something else, her thoughts inevitably brought her back to Devyn.

Devyn had waited about an hour in front of the ballet building before he glimpsed a few young ballets leaving after their course. Calmly he stepped out of his luminous and positioned himself against the car. In a few minutes, Asteria was spotted making her way out of the building and immediately she noticed the luminous which stood distinct from the remainder of the vehicles around.

Once her eyes caught Devyn, a warm smile grew on her face, branded by surprise. A genuine smile skipped through Devyn's lips as the little one started up toward him.

"Where's my mum? Did she ask you to pick me?"

The questions came off the moment she was close enough to utter them. Delighted, her eyes eagerly waited for Devyn's response.

Devyn exhibited a half-amused smile. "A second, little one" He rose a finger to demonstrate and then reached for his smartphone. A couple of seconds and Velda was on the other line, a video call it was.

"Someone needs to hear from you"

Devyn said and passed the phone to Asteria, both hands immediately crossed over his chest as he leaned watching her take the call. "Yes, sweetheart" Devyn faintly overheard Velda reply to the girl's question.

"Be a good girl, okay?"

"Okay, mum. Bye!"

Excitedly she passed the phone to Devyn who just gave a ghost smile at the screen and then hung up. "Let me have that" He pointed at her backpack.

"Are we going to your house?" Her eyes lifted at him as she took off her backpack and then handed it to him.

"Yes, little one"

Devyn pulled open the seat door and dropped the backpack and then shut the door "But firstly, we need to drop by a*****e" He opened the back seat door and signalled her in. "Get a couple of desserts, because I don't know how to make one. And then..." He paused, like he was trying to figure out what next and then a smirk appeared on his lips "And a few clothes" He finally buckled her seatbelt.

"What say you?" Devyn raised a brow.

"Awesome!"

"That's what I thought" A faint grin appeared on his face. Devyn watched her tenderly, the things he would do to always have this moment with her.

Eventually, the front door to Devyn's house was extended, granting access to the large living space. "Wow!" Asteria's voice mellowed. She quickly swung around "This is your house?" Asteria asked.

Asteria dropped the bags she carried and dashed to the cushions "It doesn't bounce" She remarked as she settled on one.

"No, it doesn't," Devyn told her and picked up the shopping bags she had dropped.

"Are these made of rocks?" Devyn looked in her direction and she was already by the stylish black wall, hands tracing the curves. Devyn chuckled placing some bags on the dinner table. "Do you leave here alone?" She threw in before he was able to give a reply to the other.

Devyn smiled at her eagerness to learn so many things in one go "Yes I do. Now come on, you need to shower and change those" He signalled and headed for the staircase. She peeled away from the wall and began to follow Devyn.

The little one's mouth fell open as Devyn extended the door to a room, her hand blocking her gaping mouth. Overwhelmed she stood frozen.

"Who's room is this?" She turned to Devyn in an aggressive circle.

Devyn gave the room a faint sad gaze and then looked down at Asteria. "It's yours now"

Asteria barely contained her excitement, "oh, my God!" She whispered and then turned to the room.

Although the entire house is under the colour combination of black and grey, the room Asteria was delightfully gazing into was submerged in the colour purple and white. A light shade of purple. A few purple and white flowers were against the wall above the bed and the name RUIN was designed in white between the six flowers. The opposite side of the bed had the almost exact decor as Asteria's room with the ballet shoes hung onto the handle. And the rest of the space was glooming with diverse items.

Asteria cautiously shifted to a corner when she peeked at the white ballet attire displayed. Her eyes ran all over the dress as she tried not to touch the fabric.

"You can try it if you want" Devyn suggested "After your shower" He indicated and then carried on to slide a door Asteria never seemed to notice which happens to be the closet. Somehow the clothes in there happen to be various ballet attire. Devyn reached the end of the closet and pulled out the only casual cloth, dark purple Nike sweatpants and hoodie set. And in a drawer below, he took out a pair of socks and underwear.

Devyn moved to place them on the bed "I'll be downstairs" He said although Asteria's attention was occupied by the purple elephant bedside table before her. Devyn nodded to his own word and then shut the door behind him.

"Casey?"

Devyn uttered the moment the call was answered.

"I need a favour" He requested moving down the stairs.

Devyn took off his jacket and laid it over the cushion and then made his way to the paper bags on the dinner. He grabbed them and made his way to the large kitchen area where he fetched a plate and then placed the tarts dessert Asteria had chosen in it. And the rest he ushered into the fridge.

The grey-eyed man was busy on a call when Asteria turned up at the staircase, a bright smile on her tender face as she played her way down the stairs. The purple set fits nicely on her cute body as if Devyn had earlier purchased them for her. She tiptoed to the dinner, dragging her covered toes until she was seated.

She yanked her head in the direction of Devyn the moment the man hung up "You're down early. Fruit juice?" Devyn asked walking to the fridge.

Asteria bobbed her head "mm" She hummed as she watched him open the fridge.

Devyn took out an apple drink, he peeked through the loaded fridge before grabbing a bottle of beer and then the fridge door was shut. Devyn helped stick in the straw and then handed the drink to Asteria and soon he uncorked his bottle cap. A visible smirk on his face as he cheered with the young one before his cell phone beeped.

Devyn reached for the smartphone. He peeked at the screen and glimpsed Casey getting out of her car. Devyn dropped the phone and began to towards the front door, his beer bottle clinging to his left hand. He was yet to reach the door when the device went off, informing him access was granted to Casey. Just like on the beat, Asteria's eyes moved in search of the source of the voice.

"Hey, you are happy to see me, what's wrong?" Casey voiced out the minute the door opened. Her short hair was flawless as ever.

"Don't make the kid think I'm that of a companion"

Devyn nudged his head in the direction of Asteria and so Casey's eyes followed. A mischievous grin rose onto her lips and Devyn rolled his eyes, not ready to contain her following remarks.

Casey walked past Devyn, making her way to the one busy enjoying her dessert. With her expression, she was definitely pleased with every scope she devoured.

"Unbelievable as it may seem, I was being called in to take care of a kid. I don't normally say this, but uh, I'm officially surprised, Mr Bachelor"

Devyn took another gulp and started walking in her direction.

"She's cute" Casey complemented and dropped her bag on the dinner. "Hello, princess" Her voice came off warm and soothing as she brought her attention to the young one.

"Hello" It was like a melody.

"Hey, little one," Devyn said as he got to them. "This is Casey, my good friend and she will be with you while I go get something very, very important done. She's good with games, you know. There's a game box under the bed in your room, you can ask her to teach you how to play, okay?"

"Uhm" Asteria nodded.

"I know it will be fun," He told her "I shall go take a shower now" He faintly raised a concerned brow at her as if he was waiting for her to say something.

"Go do you" Casey let out "We're better off ourselves, you're unpleasant to be around, you know that, right?"

"She wouldn't agree to that"

Devyn told her confidently with a smirk.