Chapter 3: Time with Kai.

Mason.

Kai is a very lively yet calm kid. l smile happily at how he tittered out excitedly over us spending time together since we don't get to do this all time. l would be happy too if my father ever wants to spend time with me like this.

We got to the city's biggest mall in a few minutes and l waited patiently for Kai to unbuckle his seatbelt.

"You can wait in the car, David."

"No sir, l can't do that."

"I'm not asking you to, I'm telling you."

" I'm only doing my job, Sir."

"How long have you known me for, David?"

" 10 years Sir.”

“And you should know l hate going around with you and four others trailing at my back like l committed murder? Like I'm the most wanted criminal alive in this city. Look, I'm not going for an official gathering. I just want to spend time with my son?" I expressed, rolling my eyes annoyingly.

David is my longest bodyguard, he is also my driver. Maybe because my father assigned him to me personally when l was 16 years old.

"Let's go, Kai.”

"You know I would always give you a private time when it is required but certainly not in a public place," He confessed sincerely, which made me ignore him because l will be in my best mood today and peacefully spend the evening with my son. 

And because he follows me around like this. It is one of the reasons why I can't find true love or have a love life. And I get stuck between loneliness and anxiety. No genuine person would want to approach me like this.

I'm 26 years old but my freedom is still based on my father's decisions.

l held Kai on his wrist tightly as we stepped inside the store, “What flavour do you want Kai Kai?" l asked, glancing at all the corners of his face for answers. After much thought in his head, he couldn't decide. 

"I will eat what Papa chooses," He giggled, having the cutest smile on his lips.

"Why do you have to be so cute, Kai?" I let out happily, pinching on his soft cheeks.

I got some strawberries, different colours of jelly toppings and some red velvet cakes for him and some chocolate for myself.

The waiter won't stop looking at me like l had something on my face. With her blonde hair and brown eyes, she looks closely at me before throwing glances at Kai at the same time.

I waited patiently for her service and swapped my card where she showed it to me. 

My phone vibrates in my pocket.

My father had re-send the location and the picture of the girl l was supposed to meet with, again.

l let out a sigh and bite my lips nervously.

“We should leave if you are no longer comfortable, Sir," David suggested.

l immediately put a smile on my face pretending to be alright, "I want to spend time with Kai," l muttered, finger stressing through his black hair. 

Kai is the cutest kid I've ever seen.

“Go ahead and book a movie ticket,” I tell David, “We will watch something together when he is done with his ice cream, right Kai? Is that okay with you?" I smiled plainly without taking my eyes off him as he nodded with his mouth messy with ice cream all over.

We watched a series of Tarzan for two hours that Kai had always liked yet he fell asleep before the movie came to an end. I raised him in my arms gently and made sure he rested tenderly on my shoulders.

We got back to the house but Kai was still fast asleep. l picked up his backpack from the car in my left hand carefully.

"Let me help you with that, Sir."

I gave Kai's backpack to David as l robbed Kai's back so he could sleep more smoothly. l walked through the hallway, directly to his room. His Nanny was yet to sleep, although she asked me to hand Kai to her. I ignored her and continued to his room. 

l laid him on his bed and gazed at my little man sleeping. I took off his shoes and pulled the blanket over him. l caressed his hair tenderly, “I love you so much,” l coo aloud, probably so he can hear me in his dreams.

l looked around Kai's room, l didn't even realise how my baby boy had grown. I can't remember the last time I came to his room like this, he had always liked his room interior emulated with a millennium falcon. He has really grown, l made it a good deal to spend a lot on ‘the Leave room to play’. The chaise rocking chair for reading brought the room to life with blue toile wallpaper and framed botanical print, leaving enough space to play.

A lot has changed, he has more comic books on his shelf. It wasn't here the last time I was here. l walked towards the shelf, to familiarise myself with his room but my phone rang in my pocket.

I quickly brought it out from my pocket, cursing under my breath to not wake Kai up with the noise. 

It was a call from Andrew, oh I totally forgot I was supposed to meet with him.

“What time are you coming? Should I pick you up?" He says before I could even utter a word.

"No, not all. l was out with Kai, we just got home. I will meet you shortly.”

"Alright, I'm waiting for you,” He hangs up immediately. 

What's with him? Is he drunk already?

I would love to stay here with Kai tonight. 

l sighed particularly at how peaceful he was sleeping. I bent towards him and left a tiny kiss on his forehead, “l will see you in the morning baby. I would love to stay more with you or sleep here tonight but Papa has to go," l whispered, caressing his forehead. 

l stood upright as David came in unpacking Kai's backpack.

"Keys to the car, David,” l brink my hand towards him."

"Going somewhere? I thought you were staying the night with Kai?” He asked curiously.

"No."

"I will take you to your destination then,” He muttered, dropping everything he was doing.

"Don't worry I'm going somewhere safe. I just need a few minutes to have a drink with Andrew at the usual spot."

"More reasons you should let me drive."

"I'm fine, give me the keys."

"Give me a call if you need anything,” He said, throwing the keys at me.

It's a good thing that my privacy is always protected by David. l can't possibly be going with him to a date looking like an ex-convicted drug lord.

He knows so much about me that I sometimes consider him a brother. I understand that he wants to protect me and all, but from what exactly?

I didn't have time to prepare for something fresh to wear, was not in the mood either and I didn't want to keep Andrew waiting.

I blinked at the beep sound of the car popping open. l hastily stormed away, it was already the third time I'm meeting with Andrew. We would always hang out at this private Tequila Bar, we would always talk, drink and have a good laugh together. l know by the way he looks at me that he wants me, l hope this works out for me because I like this man. He is hot, hardworking, energetic and very simple-minded. For goodness sake l wish he could be the one for me already.

I got to the entrance of the parking lot and stepped out of my car. I threw my key to one of the guards as he knew what his job was already. I slipped my left hand in my pocket as l loosen the tie on my neck with the other and went directly to the private room.

Spotlight grazed him, I stood there and admired how he sat back, spreading his legs and resting his head on the divan. His black shirt was all unbuttoned to his chest level.

l chuckled while making my way to him.

"Did l keep you waiting?”

"No, l just got here,”  He sat up, eyeing me teasingly as he brought his face closer to mine and left a perk on my cheeks.

"You are telling me you just got here but it doesn't look like it.”

"Are you being paranoid, Mason?" He asked, gazing lustfully at me.

"No I'm not, it's obvious that you have been drinking for a while now and …” He threw himself over me, pushing me to lay my back against the soft sofa before I could complete my sentence.

“Are you suspecting me, Mason?" He grumbled, slowly looking at every corner of my face, down to my neck.

l looked around nervously and uncomfortably.

"What do you mean if l suspect you? I only said…” He cut my words short again as he placed his lips on mine and sucked on me, gushing on it like his life depended on it. He swirled his tongue on my lips, leaving it to make slurry sounds as he moaned in his throat. He used his right leg to spread my legs open and continued to smooch on my mouth giving me no space to breathe.

"Andrew… I…I," I stuttered on my words yet he didn't say anything or look at me. Instead, he buried his face in my neck and sucked on it like he wanted to eat up a whole snack.

“Andrew st..op, please.”

"Why?" He whispered in a raspy voice, at that instant my phone vibration intercepted the heated moment.

"That can wait, Mason,” He mumbled in my ears, kissing my neck, having my body decked with goosebumps.

"No, l need to answer it. My secretary doesn't call me after work except when it is important and urgent,”  l sat up as he beat himself up in frustration, he sat back and gulped down the whole content in his glass.

"Excuse me,” l uttered grimly, making my way to the bathroom.

"Rhoda?"

"Sorry to disturb you at this time, Sir,” She pleaded regretfully.

"It's a good thing you called, what is the matter?"

“Your father wants you and Kai back to Lauderhill for his birthday."

“I know that the day after tomorrow is his birthday but I don't remember making plans to visit him.”

“That is why I’m calling to inform you, Sir. The preparation has already been made, your flight is set to leave at 12:15 pm. You'll be returning in four days. l will send you the details for your returning schedule and that will be all, Sir."

"Thank you, Rhoda."

I crammed my phone back into my pocket and stared at the mirror furiously. My father hasn't asked me to come home for years and l didn't bother going. He must have a reason for inviting me and I know it is surely bad news.