Chapter 4

Ian's POV 

Blake, my driver, parked the vehicle in front of the house and drove it into the garage the moment I stepped out.

As I headed inside, I could still hear the chaos the paparazzi was making outside the gates of my parent’s home.

I had Blake drive me here instead of to my own condo in the upbeat side of Toronto because the paparazzi would be twice the number over there. I actually had to go through the back to leave the company without being noticed.

“Ian, how could you?!” Mum declared immediately I entered.

“I have nowhere else to go, mum. You guys can’t kick me out.”

“No, not that, you dumb man! I mean, how could you not tell your parents you had a girlfriend! All these while, your father has been torturing himself with the thought that you swing the wrong way!”

I scoffed. “I’m not gay, mum.”

“Yeah, of course. Tell that to your father!” 

I rolled my eyes. She has always been so dramatic!

“Alright. That’s it for the night, mum. I have somewhere to be tomorrow, if you’ll excuse me right now.”

“Ian, my boy!”

I almost hit myself in the face just then.

My father was grinning from ear to ear as he advanced from his bedroom, arms stretched out for a hug.

“Dad. Good evening .”

“And a wonderful evening it is indeed. How am I only hearing it now, Ian? You have a girlfriend, my son and she is pregnant! And you didn’t think it fit for your mum and I to know?”

He didn’t stop smiling even through all he said. 

“It’s okay though, I understand how you must feel. Your mum and I know what it is like to have to hold back about such good news. Don’t we, dear?”

My mum giggled and hit her husband’s arm playfully. “Stop kidding around, Kane. Now Ian, the only place you have to be tomorrow is here. And you had better call my daughter in-law and inform her to come over. Your father and I will love to meet our son’s wife-to-be and talk with her. From the pictures I’ve seen of her, she’s a very beautiful young lady. Call her over tomorrow, okay?”

I groaned and just stalked off to my room, leaving the old couple to start up another of their usual reminiscences of the old days.

I took off my clothes, took a shower and changed into one of the pajamas that I have in my wardrobe in my parent’s home for impromptu sleep overs.

All the while, I kept thinking about the lady. It was bad enough that the paparazzi got that picture and even instigated any thoughts, but for her to play along like it was all true was absolutely outrageous. I needed to find her immediately, and not for the reasons my parents thought. 

If she was playing along with the news, it was only logical to believe she was the one behind the first picture and article. And if she indeed was, I needed to know what exactly she wanted and why she was pulling all of this.

At that moment, my phone rang and although I had enough reasons not to answer – since it could only be the media – I picked it up anyways.

It turned out to be Lucas, the friend I had been to visit at the hospital. Might as well tag him as the reason I was in this mess.

I headed out to the balcony.

“Yo, Ian. What’s all these pictures of you popping up on the net? Mate, I’m seeing pictures of you and this lady and although it’s pretty as damn, I need an explanation ASAP. Why don’t I know about this, man?” 

“My parents asked me the same thing.” I replied sarcastically. “ Even I asked myself and I haven’t come up with an answer yet. Might have been a fling.”

“Man, you can’t tell me this is just a fling. I mean, aside the fact that you and I know you don’t do flings, I also know that flings don’t occur in hospitals….."

“Your fling did.” I reminded him.

“Urgh! Don’t butt in! Proper flings don’t occur in hospitals. Plus the paps say that was the same day you was here to see me. So? Fill me in, man. C’mon!”

I was silent for a moment. “Lucas, I think someone is trying to set me up. Matter of fact, I think it’s this lady – Reina or what’s her name.”

“Hold up, so you’re saying you don’t know her?”

“I swear it.”

“So….Well, the pictures?!” I could tell my pal was as confused as I still was.

“Yeah, the pictures. Someone took them.”

“Obviously!”

“That’s like the only part of all these that’s true. The girl bumped into me on my way to your ward at the hospital. She looked frantic and all out of sorts, I was kind of wor….no, not worried. Let’s say I was curious and somehow….”

I trailed off.

“You know what, man? Let’s talk about this in person. Some paparazzi guy just might be tapping this convo.” Lucas chuckled. “I’ll be out of here by tomorrow, the hospital, I mean. So, I’ll swing by your house.”

“I’m not home.”

“Of course, you’re not. Scared lil’ chicken. Let’s meet at night at the bar, then?”

“Alright.” I sighed. “I can't believe this is happening to me.”

“Yeah, me neither. This is probably a scene you stole from my life, Ian. You owe me.”

I couldn’t help the snigger. “Get off my phone, dumbass.”

I hung up on Lucas and ran a hand through my hair. I had never been so out of wits in my life.

And all these over one lady.

I sighed again and headed inside to sleep.

*****************

The first thing that came to mind the next morning was that I had work to do. Not my usual office work that dealt with other companies and contracts this time though.

This morning, work entailed my trailing down a lady who, it seemed, was trying to attach an unwanted tag to my name.

I got ready quickly, got dressed and ate breakfast while steadily avoiding Desire’s knowing stares all along.

“Uncle Kane, you know I complained that my car’s battery was dead yesterday and you said you have something dreadfully important to do today, don’t you?”

“Hmmmm…, I do?” Dad asked in reply, though all of his attention was turned to his wife’s delicious plate of toast and eggs.

“Yeah. So, why don’t you do your important stuff and Ian can drive me to school. Right, cousin?”

I scowled at her openly while Dad nodded his consent. “Sure, your cousin can’t possibly be too busy, he’ll take you. Okay, Ian?”

“Dad, I do have important stuff to do, you know?”

“Nothing is more important than family, Ian. Nothing beats family.”

I groaned inwardly. I was more than aware of the fact that the purpose of Desire’s whole act was for her to get enough talking time with me. Even with nearly ten years below me, she took pains to lecture me on whatever she sincerely felt I needed to know. And I could bet there was a lot I needed to know swimming about in her head, right now.

“Are you set?” I asked, getting up.

“Sure.”

“Ian, who’s the lady?” She asked, immediately we stepped outside the house.

“Desire, lets do the talking in the car.” I said, resignedly.