Chapter six

Kaden 

I came back to meet a sleeping Catherine on the couch. I crouched down and picked her up. She clung to my neck as I took her up to her room.

“You’re back,” she said sleepily.

“Yeah, I’m back,” I said, patting her head. “Now go back to sleep.”

I stood up to leave when she lightly clutched my fingers.

“Thank you, Kaden.”

I nodded and left.

Sunshine streamed through the window as I blinked my eyes open. I padded to the bathroom and went about my business.

“Already leaving?” Catherine asked from the staircase.

“Yeah. Early meeting.”

“Okay, break a leg.”

“Catherine,” I called as she turned to walk back up.

“Yeah?”

“What did Kai say to you the other day?”

“How did you know about that?” she asked, stepping down the stairs.

“I saw him leave the house on my cameras.”

She gasped. “You’ve got cameras in the house?”

“Oh, don’t be silly, Catherine. On the driveway. There are cameras there, and I always know who comes and leaves.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah. Now tell me—what did he say? And hurry up, I’ve got a company to run.”

“Snappy much?” She rolled her eyes. “He was just telling me to back down from the marriage, that I have an ulterior motive.”

“Thank you, Catherine,” I said, making my way out.

“That’s all?” she yelled. “Kaden!”

I ignored her and took the elevator down. Oh, Kai would definitely get it from me.

A knock came at the door.

“Come in.”

Kai walked in, flashing his boyish smile.

“You called, brother?”

I exhaled as I stood and walked toward him.

“Kai… Kai…” I said, my hands in my pockets. “What gave you the right to interrogate my fiancée?”

He looked shocked, though it was quickly masked by a stoic expression.

“I made it clear the other day that I wanted Catherine, but you went behind my back to threaten her,” I said, my voice dripping with anger.

“Come on, bro. Don’t tell me you don’t know she had a fallout with her husband after stupidly signing her company away. She’s young and naive. How do you think she can stand as a partner to you? She’s just here for what you can offer, nothing more.”

“Don’t you dare talk about my woman that way, Kai. I’m warning you,” I snapped. “Catherine is none of your business. Know your boundaries. I won’t say it again.”

He nodded and left my office.

I poured a drink and sipped as I remembered that look in Catherine’s eyes that day.

I had been invited to a business meeting. A couple had gotten married at that estate. Coming out from the meeting, I saw her with tears in her eyes, clutching the groom’s jacket. I watched as the guards led her out of the building, still crying.

Though I had been keeping tabs on her, I knew nothing about her personally—just that she was the heiress to the Rosawood empire.

I chose Catherine for a reason, and I wasn’t going to sit back and watch Kai disrespect her.

****

Evening had fallen by the time I stopped at the location to meet my investigator.

He slid into my car and handed me some papers. I looked through them and nodded.

“We were only able to retrieve some funds, but we have not yet found the culprit,” he said.

“Keep looking. And the next time you call me, it had better be good news.”

He exited the car, and I drove off.

Whoever it was, I would fish them out.

I walked into the penthouse but came to a dead stop.

“What the hell?” I took in the rows and rows of clothes, the people, the voices, and instantly took a step backward.

“Kaden, you’re home. Good,” Catherine called. “Come here and check out this dress.”

“What is all this, Cat?”

“What? We were supposed to go for a dress fitting, or did you forget, husband?”

“I meant at the store, not here—in my house.”

“Well, it’s our house now. Deal with it.”

She shooed me away, and I shook my head, taking the stairs.

It took four hours before the penthouse cleared out and everything returned to normal.

“You picked a dress?” I asked Catherine.

“Yeah, I did. Now it’s your turn to go for a suit fitting.”

“Someone is enthusiastic about the wedding,” I said, smiling.

“Not enthusiastic. Just want to get it over with,” she said.

I pulled her toward me, and she fell onto my lap. My thumb caressed her lower lip, and she shivered.

She stood abruptly and bolted.

**********

Our wedding day was fast approaching. A month from now, I will be a married man. My mum decided to throw an engagement party, and they wanted to meet my fiancée in person.

“How do I look?” Catherine asked.

“I never thought you cared about your looks in front of other people.”

“I don’t. I’m trying to make an impression,” she said, rubbing her lipstick.

Sam opened the car door, and I stepped out.

“Let’s go, Miss Perfectionist.”

With Catherine on my arm, we made our way inside.

My family welcomed Cat. My mum took an instant liking to her. Kai had that same stoic expression, but I knew he wasn’t happy—but I didn’t give a fuck.

Catherine greeted people and made small talk with them.

I heard gasps and turned to see Catherine on the floor, clutching her chest as her drink spilled everywhere.

“Catherine!”