Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

The conscious one started cursing at me when my men started dragging them out. 

I pulled out another cigarette but before I could bring it to my mouth, the three men holding the second guy lost control of him. He broke free and charged at me. 

My hand automatically drew the gun from my side. My foot connected on his stomach before he got close enough to touch me. The moron’s back slammed against the concrete floor. I walked over to him while the cigarette was still in between my lips. 

The corner of my mouth lifted as I pressed the gun on his temple. Blood splattered across my shirt and my cigarette as the shot rang out. 

My men automatically scrambled to clean up. 

The tires of my Lambo roared as I sped away from the place. Just in time, a call from my cousin, Zeon Funtellion came. 

“Funtellion,” I answered coldly. 

“I’ll handle the transaction in Malaysia. Anything you need?” he asked from the other line. 

“The information I asked.” 

“Got it.” I could hear the evil grin in his voice. 

I still didn’t have enough power to go up against that fucking manipulative old bastard–my mom’s father. 

If I couldn’t take the old man down because of his power, then I’d take out the people who could match what he had. Zeon knew I was building connections and potential allies. I couldn’t move freely because too many eyes were on me. Funtellion handled the things I needed done in the shadows while I dealt with the woman he'd been watching at Rocc Pharmaceutical.

I answered my mom’s call while I was already driving down the long highway heading back to the Belmore City proper. She wanted me to deliver the check to King Royale Academy. 

I grinned when Sevi’s flashed through my mind. It was already seven in the morning and I hadn;t slept but I turned the wheel and headed toward the Academy anyway. 

The principal shook my hand after I gave the check. 

 “Thank you for this. I assure you it will go exactly where your mother and I discussed. By the way, the scholarship proposal you made for Sevirious has been approved by Rocc Corporation. We’ve already sent the letter to the mother.”

I gave her the Corporation’s number to make a call about Sevi’.

“Actually, his mom just left. Unfortunately, she’s sticking with her decision.  She won’t leave her job here to go with the kid to Germany.” 

Disappointment filled me but there’s nothing I could do. I wasn’t the kid’s parent. 

We shook hands again before parting ways. 

The playground swarmed with kids and parents walking to different parts of the Academy.

“Sevi, wait for me and Atisa!” 

I automatically tuned my head. Two little girls were chasing the familiar kid. I watched as Sevi stopped and waited for them.

The kid had this clean, effortless look about him. He was taller than the other kids his age, and even though he was younger than most of his classmates, he didn't seem the slightest bit out of place. I had to stop myself from laughing when I remembered how he'd snapped at me the last time we met.

I waved when he spotted me.

He said something to the two girls before he walked over. The sunlight caught his green eyes as he got closer.  I felt looking at a reflection of something I couldn't quite name.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, voice full of attitude. I already braced to glare at me again. “My mom’s not here anymore. She already left.”

“I came to see you.” 

“Why?” 

I crouched down to his level, amused. “I don’t know.” 

I really didn’t. Maybe because I figured if my own kid had lived, he’d be about the same age by now.

“You can’t just not know. Is this some kind of trip for you?”

My laugh rolled across the playground. Sevi’s brow furrowed while watching me so I cleared my throat. 

“How are you?” 

“I’m fine thank you.” 

“Can we be friends?” I stared at him more, trying to remember someone that resembles him. 

Sevi pursed his lips, eyes suspiciously studying me.

“I mean no harm, kid. I don’t want to be your mom’s boyfriend either.” 

“I don’t like my mom having a boyfriend.  I want her to only love my daddy,” he said like a grown man issuing a warning. 

“Sure.

“Okay. Seal the deal, Sir.” He stuck out his little hand but I just looked at it. “Shake hands.”

I reached for his palm, then gently pulled him closer. A strange warmth spread through my chest when I wrapped him around my arms. 

[NESHARA POV]

I gave the row of applicants the most awkward smile I could muster when they asked for the nth time if the interview was starting soon. I apologized and told them the boss had something urgent but was on his way. 

Some looked not convinced and kinda getting impatient. I couldn’t really blame them since they’d been waiting since yesterday. I'd managed to fake a stomachache to get out of lunch with Sebastian and his parents, but he seemed to have punished me for it by not showing himself.

At least Heather had finally arrived from overseas.  That was the only thing keeping my irritation in check.

"Boss, where are you?" I asked the second he picked up my call.

"We're going to the capital. Get yourself ready in ten minutes."

"What? Boss, there's a full waiting room of applicants out here."

"Send them home."

"Let me interview them then."

I heard him click his tongue. "I've instructed HR to give each of them a thousand dollars for wasting their time.” 

I went silent, trying to calculate how much that was going to cost in total.”

"Is that okay now, Mijares? I don't have time for this."

The applicants’ jaws collectively dropped when I announced that the CEO would be compensating them instead of conducting interviews. 

I gathered my things, shot Heather a quick text asking her to watch Sevi for a bit while I’m at the Capital. She said yes right away. 

A car picked me up, and when we pulled into a wide, private property, I felt my stomach drop.

"W-We're riding that?" My composure disintegrated the moment I pointed at the chopper. "No. No way, Boss. You don't need me there. You have a secretary at the corporation."

"I don't have time for drama, Mijares. I need to be there before ten."

"Boss, I'll just stay at the offi—"

Sebastian grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the chopper before I could finish the sentence. The blades were already spinning.

I let out a tiny squeak as the pilot settled into his seat. 

“You’re going with me,” Sebastian said flatly before he slipped the headset over my ears.

"Screw you, Sir, with all due respect!" I couldn't keep my voice down. If he was going to fire me, fine. I was about to die of a heart attack anyway. Might as well go out swinging.

But instead of getting angry, he just smirked at me like I was the dumbest person alive.

The second I felt the chopper lift off the ground, all shame left my body. I pressed myself into his side like my life depended on it.

"Oh God—" I squeezed my eyes shut and grabbed onto whatever was closest.

My heart was trying to escape through my ribcage while my stomach flipped the moment I realized we were fully airborne.

The helicopter tilted slightly and I screamed again, tears forming at the corners of my eyes. "I want to live! I still want to live!"

Every ounce of awkwardness I'd been carrying around my psycho ex-boyfriend.completely left my brain.