Chapter 12

In a private jet, the second grandson of the great Felius Castigado, Jason Zekiel Castigado boarded. He does not like the fact that half of his plan to ruin his cousin Charles didn’t go right.

Vanessa, that little bitch. If she just did what they planned out, Charles’ issue would sure disseminate leaving Felius with no choice but remove Charles from the selection.

At least it’s giving Charles a bit of a hard time. While Charles is tied to his issue, Jason has the freedom he has. It has always been like that.

And as for that bitch Vanessa, Jason was kind enough to introduce her to a modeling agency. There should be someone who is willing to hire her with his name as a reference. If he needs Vanessa, he’ll just have to blackmail her. It’s easier now.

The fact that he is about to go home again with his other cousins makes him plaster an evil grin. Them cousins were always running around in that mansion until they grew up and find their own ways, scattering and even fighting. It’s exciting to be coming home.

“I can’t wait to come home,” Jason mumbles.

Charles stayed staring at the sleeping Stella in his arms. After arguing a lot with him, she finally hushed. He wasn’t expecting how fast she could fall asleep.

He noticed the time that it was almost one in the afternoon. He has to contact his grandfather’s secretary to inform his arrival tomorrow. Slowly, he started moving away but then Stella snuggled closer to him.

Stella was too adorable to be left alone. He stared at her again, slowly leaning in to steal a peck on her lips. She won’t know, he thought, deciding to stay for a couple of minutes more.

As soon as Charles got away safely without waking Stella up, he went to the living room. With his phone-- the one he gave Stella-- he dialed Dimitri’s number.

“Afternoon, young master!” Dimitri greeted as soon as he answered.

“To you too, Dimitri. Listen, I have a new phone number but keep this number since it’s my girlfriend’s now.”

“Oh, you finally earned her yes. Good job on doing that!”

“Yes,” he agreed. “Anyways, that’s not the main reason I’m calling you. I want you to contact the main mansion to announce our arrival.”

“Will do, Charles. And before I forget, Jason had taken an early flight. He should be arriving at the mansion before the sun sets.”

Jason. That son of a bitch really thought he could fuck me up, Charles thought. He almost did. This one-time mistake won’t stop him. In fact, he gained something here, another lesson and a woman.

“Let’s leave Jason be for now,” he told Dimitri. As they say, strike a person at his weakest spot, don’t just strike back. He needs to find Jason’s weak spot so he can’t come back anymore.

The difference between Jason and him, he allows time while Jason acts on the moment. A flawed plan is what Jason gets.

After the call, Charles looks through his old phone, copying Dimitri’s number to his new phone which is Stella’s. He wanted to know where she went to so, he checked.

Then it leads him to messages. No new message but there was a draft. He opened the chat and saw what Stella was about to send earlier. So, she really was going to send him a text.

***

The delightful smell of freshly cooked meat woke Stella up from her nap. She sit up and did some stretches before rubbing her still sleepy eyes. Her nose didn’t let her down. There was food on a tray right beside the bed.

She looks at the time on her phone and saw she overslept. It was already three in the afternoon. Honestly, she had a really good sleep in Charles' arms.

Oh, right! Where the hell is Charles?

Stella tossed the blanket away, bounced off the bed and went near the doorway. She sticks out her head, looking around the living room. He was not there. Maybe he went somewhere again.

With a bright smile on her face, she twirls around. As soon as she took a step forward, the bathroom door suddenly opened. Her eyes grew large at the sight of Charles with only a towel wrapped around his hips. Those tiny droplets from the tip of his hair kept falling, making Stella swallow hard as she looks away.

“Put on some clothes!” she shouts, unable to look his way. Ugh, why does she act so shy when she already saw his naked body before? She was never this shy that day!

“I have a towel on. You can look.” Stella heard him softly chuckle but she could not raise her head and look at him. “It’s not like you haven’t seen all of me.”

“It has been weeks! Of course, I have forgotten!” She shouts. Then she strides to the bed, sitting down and facing the doorway. There’s the food in front of her but there’s something more at the back. “Just put clothes on now!”

“Well, if you like, you can look at me again and remember what you missed.” His voice was teasing. It was something she hated and liked at the same time.

“You’re disgusting!”

“I thought I told you I’m also human. Be gentle to me, baby.”

Her face had turned red, remembering that one night again but Charles couldn’t see it. She bit her lip, frowning at this burning thing in her. She has to calm down, remind herself why she’s here so she doesn’t get carried away by Charles’ charms. A situation like this is why she didn't want to share a room with him!

“If you stop acting too sweet then I’ll stop being mean,” she said.

“I’m all dressed now,” he uttered. "And no, I'm not acting."

Stella turned to see Charles and saw he was dressed casually. It’s something she hasn’t seen him wearing before and it surprises her. He doesn’t look all annoying now.

“What are you looking at?” he asked, snapping Stella back.

“Nothing.” She shakes her head side to side. “Is this your food? Can I have some?”

“I got them for you. I thought you didn’t know what to get,” he answered, throwing himself on the bed. Now they’re exchanging sides. “Also, our flight tomorrow is at ten in the morning.”

“Okay,” she muttered as she taste the food on the tray. Surely there’s a reason why God didn’t give her to a rich family. Her taste buds were into the cheaper dishes. “Is there a food chain nearby? Or a restaurant that is cheap? A food park perhaps?”

“Eh?” He raises a brow. “Why? Don’t the food taste good to you?”

“I just want to have my normal meal,” she replied, taking another bite off the meatball. “I’m not saying these don’t taste good, it’s just too unfamiliar.”

“Too bad Deib isn’t a cheap city,” Charles told her.

Stella scoffed, throwing her a cold glare and started eating her food silently. That guy really likes to slap it to her face that he is a damn billionaire. Who cares if he is? He can’t bring that money in heaven. Tch!

“By the way…”

“What?” She glares at him again, her face grouchy.

“What the hell is your problem? You’re looking like you’re going to eat me too!”

“Oh, sorry!” she sarcastically apologized. “What?” she asked, now in a forcefully cute and annoying voice, rolling her eyes at him.

“Why didn’t you send the text?”

“What text?”

“The one about the remote.”

Stella’s eyes went round and she started doing these uncomfortable movements.

“Well, I figured it out so what’s the point? Also, it’s my phone now so why the hell are you checking it? Give me space!”

“Space?” he asked, a corner of his mouth curved up. “When we arrive at the mansion, you’ll have all the space you want.”

“Can I just stay locked up in your room?”

“No,” he replied.

“As the party is coming, the ladies in the house will sure invite you somewhere. Fitting a designer’s dress or buying some designs.”

“I should think of an excuse now. I don’t want to be spending thousands on a dress!”

“Who says you’re spending your own money? You’ll be spending mine.”

Stella’s brows instantly knitted together. Is he for real? What if his family thinks she’s just in it for the money? Well, she is but it isn’t in that kind of sense. This guy is not thinking at all.

“No!” she exclaimed. “I’d rather tell them I’m not going. I’m not spending your money.”

“You’ll be laughed at if you wear a cheap dress.”

“And that ruins your image. The headline is like, ‘Charles Castigado’s girlfriend wearing a cheap dress.’ It sure does ring.”

“You don’t get it.” Charles sighed heavily. “I’m trying to save you from embarrassing yourself.”

“I’m embarrassing myself just by facing your big family soon. Even with the expensive dress, they’ll have something to say about me.”

Charles understands Stella’s point. If only he has a choice, he wouldn’t bring her into a situation she would not like. But he has no choice. To be the heir of the Castigado group, it’s power. It is all he ever wanted to have.

“Do as I say and you’ll be fine,” he said.

The atmosphere became heavy with Stella not responding to him. At first, he thought having her agree and pretend to be his girlfriend would be easy. Looks like this is another mistake. She doesn't understand the situation just yet.

If his grandfather sees him being controlled by Stella, it would be a downside, or so he thinks. He always sees his grandfather being all mighty with his grandmother. A man who cannot handle his woman is no good, he thought.

“Once you’re done, let’s go outside.”

“Why?” she asked.

“To freshen up.”

“Why?” again she questions.

“We just had an argument. Let’s freshen up or we’ll both be really awkward later or tomorrow!”

“No, thank you. I’d rather stay in this--”

“That’s what I am talking about.” He rolls his eyes at her. “When you’re done, we’re going for a walk. If we see any food place you like then we’ll stop by.”

Deib is a city known for being awake during the night. People start flooding the spots when the sun is setting. Stall vendors at the town center would open up their stalls, selling different kinds of things and foods. It’s like a night market, just a little expensive.

Surely, this was one of Stella’s destinations before her life started crumbling. Now that she’s here, it feels like an ordinary place, somewhere she was just forced to come to.

After Stella was done eating, she decided to take a shower. She didn’t want to be smelly and the fact that she hasn’t taken one yet, she has to now.

Before entering the bathroom she made sure to bring her clothes and towel. She doesn’t want to make the mistake of going out with only a thin towel wrapping around her. She embarrassed herself enough in front of that jerk.

Once she was done, there was a bathrobe ready but she didn’t want to use it. She took her towel and dry her up then she dressed up.

From what Charles told her earlier, she took it as a warning that he might force her for that walk. So, she picked a fine floral dress to wear. She’s not trying to impress him, she wants to look good. When she was all done, she went out.

That’s when she met Charles’ gaze. She immediately looks away, rushing to her side of the room.

“Your hair is a mess,” he commented.

Hearing that made her snort. Then she opened her suitcase and took out a brush and started brushing her hair rashly, mumbling a lot of curses for him. 

“What time are we going for a walk?” she asked

“We are? I thought you said no.”

That answer made Stella drop her hand, releasing a sharp breath as she moves her jaw. This guy is really getting on her nerves! She has used her floral dress just to stay in this hotel? No! He can't mess around like this with her! No!

“Well, fine!” she exclaimed, having that noticeable irritation on her tone. “I’m going on my own then! Tch!”