Chapter 9

{CADEN'S HOUSE~9AM}

Emily has been pacing back and forth in her room since she woke up. She walked to her window and looked outside the window, but there was paparazzi everywhere.

Of course, they weren't able to get inside the house because of security, but they were still there, waiting for her to come out so they would attack her.

Emily picked up her phone and called Madison, who picked up almost immediately.

"Heyyy," Madison sounded happy.

"Would it be a wise choice to tell Liam I won't be able to come to work today?" Emily asked.

"No, I don't think so because he has been waiting for you, actually," Madison replied.

"What? Why? There's paparazzi outside the house, I can't go out or else they would eat me alive, " Emily complained.

"Oh yeah... I saw that Liam did actually send some people to go get information from Caden and he is waiting for you here to come tell him about the marriage and all, guessing he was too mad to ask you yesterday," Madison replied.

"This is unbelievable!! At this rate, I may actually get fired, " Emily sighed.

"I can tell him you fell sick, a favor from Madison," Madison said.

"Thank you very much, you're a life saver." Emily thanked her and hung up.

Emily's phone rang. This time, it was her mom calling.

"What?" Emily asked, her tone impatient.

"Is that really how you speak to your mother? I didn't raise you that way, " Layla replied.

"You didn't raise me. Period. Why are you calling me because the mother I know won't call me for no reason? " Emily demanded

"I saw the news, and I just want to know how you were, but I guess that wasn't a wise decision," Layla scoffed.

"You are really calling to ask about me?" Emily asked in shock.

"Yes, but since you sound like this, then you're fine," Layla replied and hung up.

"Seriously?" Emily muttered in confusion.

She stood up from her bed and walked out of her room. She wondered if Caden was still inside.

He is definitely still inside because of the paparazzi.

Emily made her way downstairs and was surprised to meet Caden. He was already dressed for work and looked like he was about to leave, so she hurried to him.

"You're leaving?" Emily asked.

"Yes, you don't want me to leave," Caden asked with a smirk, and Emily rolled her eyes.

"How would you get past the paparazzi outside?" She asked.

"That's why I have security," Caden answered. "See ya, don't miss me too much." he smirked, and Emily scoffed.

"In your dreams," she responded and went to the kitchen.

Her phone pinged. A message from Madison.

Madison: Liam wasn't happy about you being sick, but he bought it so free day for you, Ems.

Emily: Thank you.

Emily dropped her phone on the kitchen counter and made something to eat.

_

{CONSTRUCTION SITE}

Caden came down from his car and walked towards the busy workers. The place was busy, and everything was going smoothly, which made Caden worry.

The fact that his father hasn't done anything yet is unsettling. He must be planning something big, and he needs to be prepared for anything.

Caden brought out a cigarette and lighter and started smoking.

His phone rang, and he brought it out to see a message from his mom.

Mom: Your father didn't come home last night. Is he at the office?

Caden: Haven't gone to the office yet, and there's no reason for him to be there.

Mom: ohhhh, alright.

Caden: Don't worry about him, mom.

Caden sighed after sending the mess. He hoped his father wouldn't come back and just die somewhere.

Caden threw the remaining cigarette to the ground and stepped on it. He got into his car and drove to the office.

_

{KINGSTON MANSION~3PM}

Beatrice was on the couch when Anthony entered the house. He completely ignored her and went upstairs.

She knew better than to ask him anything. She would just get beaten up again, and she didn't want that.

Beatrice walked into the kitchen and prepared food for Anthony. She made sure to take her time in the kitchen and called a maid to take it to him.

Beatrice looked rather calm as she watched the maid go upstairs.

"He was probably with Anna," Beatrice muttered, and her eyes glinted a little as her lips tugged slightly.

_

{FEW DAYS LATER~HALTER'S MEDIA~9AM}

The news on Caden's and Emily's wedding has already died down, especially when news about Nathan Pierce has filled the entire Internet.

He was caught with a mysterious lady on a few occasions, though in the pictures that were posted, the lady's face was not visible, but it's still huge news.

Nathan has never made himself to the headlines of the news when it's not about business, but now he is everywhere because of a woman.

Emily sat on her desk as she read the article, Madison made this discovery while Emily was caged by the media in Caden's home.

Emily was grateful to Madison because her job had been saved, and Madison gave all the credit to Emily.

She waited for Emily to be able to come to work and provided her with the photos of her "fantastic work," as Madison would say.

"I told you there's a secret girlfriend," Madison chuckled behind Emily.

"I'm still surprised, I guess Nathan isn't careful enough," Emily replied.

"He is. I'm just too good, " Madison praised herself.

"There is something weird though," Emily said.

"What?" Madison replied.

"The girl in the photo looks familiar, didn't you get to see her face?" Emily asked.

"I risked my life to get these pictures. Do you really think if I had the chance to see her face, it wouldn't be all over the Internet??" Madison frowned.

"Yeah... True, " Emily chuckled awkwardly, and Madison scoffed.

"Be grateful, Mrs. Kingston, " Madison teased and scrambled off to her desk while Emily sighed.

It's weird being called Mrs. Kingston, being married to Caden, was never what she planned for herself, but here she is.

Her phone pinged, and she saw a message from Caden.

Caden: Don't forget about the party today.

Emily: You don't have to remind me, asshole.

Caden: I just realized something.

Emily: What?

Caden: I love getting on your nerves. Hearing you call me àsshole kind of turns me on.

Emily's cheek heated up as a shiver ran through her spine. She knew Caden was just messing with her, and it made her blood boil.

He has been acting even more of an àsshole recently.

Emily: You're crazy.

Caden: Is that a compliment, wife?

Something stirred in Emily's stomach when she saw his message.

Emily: Go away, I'm working.

Caden: You're not the only one, I'm in a meeting.

Emily: What? More reasons for you to go away.

Caden: The meeting is boring.

Emily saw the message and refused to reply. She put her phone on silent and focused on the computer in front of her, determined to get Caden out of her head.

_

{CADEN'S HOUSE~3PM}

Emily got off work early today. The party was starting by 5PM, so she needed time to herself, not like she was doing anything serious at work today.

The weather was hot, this year's summer is the hottest she has ever experienced and she wondered why no one is talking about the hot weather.

Emily peeled off her clothes and wore her swimsuit. She walked to the pool at the back of the house and dived into it.

The feel of the water on her body was nice, and she felt like staying in the water forever.

Emily didn't know how long she stayed in the pool until she heard footsteps, and when she turned, she saw Caden in a grey tuxedo staring at her.

"I told you not to forget about the party," Caden said, and Emily blinked.

Shît," she forgot about the party.

"What's the time now?" Emily asked as she swam towards the stairs and walked out of the pool.

Her body and hair dripped with water, Caden watched her in her wet bikini, and his throat ran dry.

He was already feeling hot due to the weather, but his temperature ran higher than normal as he tugged on his tie.

"5PM," his voice came out hoarse.

"Give me 20 minutes," Emily replied and rushed into the house to get ready while Caden tried to steady himself.

Since when does he have such reactions towards her?

He cleared his throat and went back into the house. True to Emily's words, she was walking downstairs in 20 minutes, fully dressed.

"So... Sorry, I forgot, " Emily apologized as they walked towards the front door.

"No need apologizing, we are already late, just the way I like it." Caden smirked, and Emily rolled her eyes.

_

{HALL~6PM}

The place was already fully packed and noisy, with rich people trying their best to make connections with other rich people.

This party was hosted by Henry Jackson, a wealthy man in New York who just handed over his company to his son.

Caden hoped Anthony would do the same, but his diçk of a father would rather walk on hot coal than give him full authority over his company.

"I hate parties like this," Emily sighed as she sipped from her wine glass.

"That's right, I have never seen you attend any gatherings even though your father has been trying his best to fit into the circle," Caden replied.

"That's because I don't like it, my mom and dad may adore this kind of thing but it's just not for me, all the fake smiles and prim attitude is sickening" Emily rolled her eyes.

"True," Caden shrugged.

George walked up to them with a smile. "This must be Emily, I finally got to meet Caden's wife," George said to Emily with a smile and pulled her into her hug, surprising both Emily and Caden.