Welcome to My Land and My World

Tara Blakewood POV

I went out to clear my mind and sort through my thoughts about my fiancé and our future. Yet, somehow, my mind kept drifting to a man completely different from him, my father’s friend.

Within minutes, I arrived home. At the entrance, I bumped into my brother, Andreas, who still annoyed me with his childish antics.

“My sister Tara, I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Andreas.”

I walked into the living room, greeted my father, and sat next to my mother.

“We were talking about you, Tara.”

“And what were you talking about?”

“Your university studies. Recently, I thought it would be good for you to gain some experience in this field.”

My father added, “I have a friend, Kaiden. He’s an experienced lawyer, never lost a case. He handles big cases and charges high fees. You could intern with him.”

“But he’s from another country. I don’t want to be far from my family.”

My father smiled warmly. “Sweetheart, even if you go to the farthest place, I’ll be with you in spirit. The choice is yours. This new experience is a chance to learn something new.”

Despite lying down for an hour, sleep eluded me. Thoughts of law, my future, my fiancé, and Kaiden all weighed heavily on my mind.

I got up and went to my brother, who was training on the punching bag. We sat together on the floor.

“What’s worrying you, sis?”

“I’m confused. Part of me wants to try law, but another part doesn’t want to leave.”

My parents approached. They could see how tense I was. Leaving the country was hard for me.

“I’ve decided…”

I caught everyone’s attention. “…I will go to New York.”

Every family member smiled at my decision. They knew from experience it would benefit me.

“Good, Tara… when do you want to leave?” My father asked, slightly shocked. He hadn’t expected this after the vulnerable period I’d just gone through.

“Today.”

“Alright, the plane will be ready tonight.”

I was about to mumble that it was too fast, that I needed time to say goodbye to my loved ones. But I stayed quiet. There was no time to waste.

“Okay, Dad. I’ll be ready.”

********

I hadn’t imagined things would move this quickly. I was already in New York, after my family dropped me off at the airport. A private driver, arranged by my father, was waiting for me.

One of my father’s men approached. “Miss Tara, we’ll handle the luggage. Follow me to the car.”

I thanked God my father had warned me beforehand. Otherwise, I might have run in panic.

The car drove to an unknown destination. I stared at the streets out the window.

“Miss, we’ve arrived.”

His voice pulled me from my thoughts. He opened the door for me. I got out and thanked him.

I looked at the building in front of me—a fancy restaurant.

“Miss, this is the restaurant… and your lawyer is waiting inside. There’s a reservation under Kaiden Draven.”

Kaiden Draven. I had come to the country of the man who consumed my thoughts. I was going to intern for him!

I stepped inside, stopping at the reception. “I’m looking for a reservation under Kaiden Draven.”

“All right, Miss, let me check.”

“Yes, here it is, table seventeen, upstairs.”

I searched for table seventeen with my eyes until I found it. Luckily, the restaurant was empty.

I noticed a man sitting at the table. I hurried, thinking I was late. He was fiddling with his phone.

“Excuse me,” I said to get his attention. He looked up. I saw him. Actually… I didn’t expect to see him again.

It was Kaiden. The one who had taken up so much space in my mind. I stared for a few seconds until he straightened up. I think he did it after noticing my gaze. So embarrassing.

“Hello, Mr. Kaiden Draven.”

I followed his steps with my eyes as he walked behind my chair, fingers lightly brushing the back.

“Sit, Tara,” he said, pulling out the chair for me.

“Welcome to my land and my world.”

I glanced at my intertwined fingers on the table, trying to escape his piercing gaze, which carried a strange, unreadable intensity.

“Did you come here to stare at your fingers, Tara?”

If he hadn’t said that, I might not have lifted my eyes from my hands. But he was right. I came to meet him fully, yet here I was, hiding behind my fingers. Irrational.

“So you’ll be my intern, Tara.”

“Yes, I will, Mr. Kaiden.”

“Tell me, which law school did you graduate from, Tara?”

His question surprised me, but I answered, “University of Milan, Italy.”

“Good. My firm is a place for the elite and graduates of prestigious universities.”

The arrogance in his voice was staggering. I realized I was sitting in front of a man blinded by his own pride.

The waiter came to take our orders. Kaiden spoke immediately without looking at him: “Black coffee.”

I blurted the first thing that came to mind, even though I was starving. “Milkshake.”

“You refuse?” he asked, raising a cigarette pack in a way my eyes could see.

“No, I don’t mind,” I said.

He tossed the pack carelessly, took a cigarette, kissed it with his lips, then lit it with a lighter. I just… could a lawyer be this hot and magnetic?

I was already drifting mentally, pulled into him.

“Why did you tell me earlier not to call you uncle?”

He choked on his coffee as I said that. He drank quietly, then took a glass of water in a frown. For a moment, I thought he would throw it at me, but he placed it back on the table.

“The best thing for you is never to mention it again.”

“Mr. Kaiden, are you mad at me?” I asked, leaning my lips toward my white drink, watching him.

“I’m not mad. I’m just…”

“Uncle means old. You’re calling me that…” He hissed, clearly angry. Yes, he really was.

“No… no, Mr….”

I was about to explain and correct him, but he cut me off. “For your information, Tara, who do you think he is? He’s over fifty…”

He leaned closer to finish. “Old men sag… the strongest man in his thirties…” He said boldly, staring into my eyes with shameless audacity. I don’t think he knows what modesty is.

“You agree, don’t you?”