- Caden -
I swear with my whole life that nothing hurt more than the slap Rose gave me.
Not because the slap itself was painful, it was because there was so much hurt and fear behind it. And I had no idea about the stories embedded in those emotions.
I managed to calm her down with James' help and stayed by her throughout whatever was left of the night.
I sighed, remembering her fragile face that twitched with every nightmare that came to her mind.
It pained me to see her sleep so restlessly.
I decided to drop by her hotel for lunch after my site visits today. I wanted to make sure she was okay.
And I wanted to know the stories from her past.
"Smith, help me arrange a lunch appointment with Miss Rose at 2 o'clock."
"Yes sir," he left my office and I threw my safety helmet to a side. Resting in my huge leather chair.
"Mr Jones?" My office phone sounded, "Yes Smith?"
"Your father is on the phone, line 1."
"Yeah sure," I pushed '1' and heard my father on the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hey Caden, how's work?"
My relationship with my father was less than fine, the occasional arguments about my future pissed both of us off.
I'm 26, I can make my own decisions.
"It's fine, I'm heading to Jeju island in Korea next week. It's the last visit before the resort officially opens."
"That sounds good, almost as good as hearing about you having a girlfriend."
Oh man, "You heard about it?"
He chuckled, "I would like to meet her Caden, you've not been in a serious relationship since your last divorce."
I rubbed my temples, I'm not going to have this talk with him now, "Dad, I want to be more settled with her before I bring her to see you. I don't want what happened with mum to happen again."
"Your mother loved you Caden, stop blaming her for all your marriages."
"Well I got married all three times because of her and look where I am now."
"Caden please."
"I'll take her to you when I feel like it, don't try to take over mum's duty just because she's not around anymore."
I hung up and felt exhaustion creep over me, I need to see Rose.
***
- Cassidy -
There was always something about my hotel that made me feel at ease.
After what happened last night with Caden I'm glad to be back here.
"Miss, your iced chocolate," Parker placed it on my table and I sent him a grateful glance.
"And by the way, Mr Jones has made a lunch appointment with you at 2."
I choked on my chocolate and started coughing, "Parker are you going to make me choke to death every time I drink?"
He laughed, "No not really."
I glared at him and looked at the time, it was 1:52pm.
I sighed and recalled what happened last night, I freaked out. I really did. And I hit him hard.
The nightmares come only once in a blue moon, yesterday was one of the rare cases.
I hated that memories from the past that I was trying so hard to suppress will still haunt me to this day.
I sucked the last of my drink and Parker came into my office, "Your ride is here."
I rolled my eyes at him as he smirked and went downstairs to be greeted by Caden and his matte black Chevrolet Camaro.
He was leaning against his car, arms crossed with his black dress shirt rolled up till his elbows and his hair slicked back.
He was gorgeous, my heart felt all warm and fuzzy when I saw him.
Then I saw his knuckles, still bruised and grazed from yesterday.
"You okay?" Was the first thing he said to me.
I stared at his hands then his face where I had slapped him, "I'm sorry Caden, I don't know what came over me."
He shook his head, "It's alright, I'm fine."
"You may be fine but I feel guilty as fuck for hitting you."
He laughed and placed a hand on my shoulder, "Really though, I didn't know you had that in you. First you kicked me in the nuts and now you slap me, what next? Rape me in my sleep?"
I raised an eyebrow, "You wish Caden but I'd rather have sex with your car than with you."
He faked shock, "Gosh that hurt Missy."
We laughed and went to a restaurant to eat.
I ordered pasta while he ordered fish and chips. I couldn't take my eyes away from his hands, seriously what did the reporter say to make him react like that?
"Rose?" Caden waved his hand in front of me and I looked up at him, "Caden your hand looks terrible."
He quickly tried to hide it but I grabbed his hand, I touched the graze and he winced.
"You didn't even bother to treat it."
He kept silent and I let his hand go, "Caden what happened yesterday?"
He looked back at his food and I felt so annoyed by him refusing to share the problem with me.
"Caden Jones don't fucking piss me off just tell me for goodness sake," I told him sharply and he sighed.
"I-It was nothing okay? Those reporters and paparazzi kept following me around it was annoying. Then this asshole found me when I was alone and talked some shit about you so I punched the fucking life out of him."
It wasn't what I was expecting, "You beat him up because he said something about me?"
He waved it off, "Yes Rose I beat that motherfucker. Don't need to thank me." He continued eating and I stared at him.
Wow okay. "Caden."
He sighed really loudly, "I'm sorry I acted like a jerk Rose I really am."
I thought of what else to ask him and he twirled my pasta, eating it himself and I glared at him.
"What? You're not eating so I'm helping you finish," he continued eating and I shook my head but didn't stop him.
"Then," I gulped, "About last night."
"What about it?"
"T-The kiss..." I trailed off and Caden smirked, eyes playful, leaning in close to me, "What about the kiss Rose?"
I could feel his breath on my lips, "Why did you kiss me?"
He chuckled and leaned forward, whispering into my ear, "I think you know why Rose."
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