A week laterThe next time I met with Carson was at a supermarket. I was pushing along a heavy trolley and picking out the groceries that I knew Kaiser would love most. Air-flown Australian strawberries, New Zealand grass-fed butter, the best cuts of red meat, some additional protein shakes from the healthy section, and so on. Recently Carson had been intrigued by testimonies from athletes on the ketogenic diet that he was determined to do the same. While I had a superb metabolic rate and didn’t need to go on any diet, I was spurred to accompany and motivate him on his journey.I had travelled around the area to other supermarkets to procure all the required items on my shopping list, knowing he would be away for a few days for business. Or more, considering he never told me about his agenda. He had taken his passport and a few clothes, so I presumed he would be travelling for quite a bit.The last tub of whey protein was located all the way up on a rack w

‘Piper, you can’t slip up. Remember what you are here for.’I told myself repeatedly while sipping the champagne from the glass. I was in a comfortable silk bathrobe, reclining on the sofa while watching Netflix.“Sorry for earlier. I was just a little too enthusiastic.” He gently held my hand in his paw. “If you need to, we can take this a step at a time.”I nodded amiably. Since I was merely putting on an act for Kaiser, he didn’t need to know what was in my mind. But tonight, I wished the person who asked me to marry him was not Carson, but his brother-in-law.“I won’t rush you. Just sit back and enjoy the movie.”I squeezed his hand back, faking a deeper smile. “Carson, you frightened me just now. You just reminded me of the past.”“The past?” He eyed me gingerly, probing, “Has anyone proposed to you before?”I rubbed my eye, pretending to wipe away an imaginary tear. “I don’t wish to talk about it right now.” Of cou

“Because of your feelings towards him or your fear that he is lying to you and wants to hurt you?”I cleared my throat and tried to remain calm. No matter what, I couldn’t panic, or Kaiser would assume his suspicions were true.“Kaiser, you know that it’s impossible for me to bear any feelings for anyone… but you.”I said the words with such depth that he stared at me.“Piper…”“I mean it. When can I finally be your only woman?” I implored.“What do you want, Piper? I’ve taken you with me for your safety. The only thing I asked from you is to distract my brother-in-law so he doesn’t ruin my plans.” Kaiser remained firm. I fixed the direction of my eyes on him and answered, “How can you not know, Kaiser? What I want is simple: marriage.”He was dumbfounded.I continued, “No matter which woman, they just want to be happily treated and loved by a husband who will love them. Marriage is the best thing they

He broke the kiss after a few minutes, speaking in a deep and grave voice.“Piper, as much as I want you under me right now, I don’t want to do it on impulse. I want you to be genuinely in love with me.”I straightened my blouse and buttoned it where it had come undone. Before the kiss, I had received a message from Kaiser.It had said, “Don’t come home yet. Spice things up… make him want you. No matter what, don’t come to the Strauss. Find a reason to stall him.”Something didn’t seem quite right. I glanced at Carson and then at the floor mat of the vehicle. It was pouring outside, and I didn’t have an excuse to spend the night at his place. For Kaiser, I had already put down my dignity. As much as I was willing to do what Kaiser told of me, I found it fishy that he hadn’t wanted me to come home.Was there something to do with Erica and Carson?I fished out my phone again and reviewed the surveillance records of the CCTV I had secretly installed in the apartment. I had carefully set

Unlike Kaiser, Carson was the sweet guy who would wake up first to make me breakfast, that part of Kaiser which was forgotten. At one point, Kaiser was sweet and caring but when we came to this new place, this part of him had dwindled away and vanished.I stayed away from the office for three days after that rainy night, waking up with an awful cold. Surprisingly, Carson accompanied me home nursing me while his sister went to the office and worked on the project with Kaiser.This was completely opposite of what I had planned. Kaiser’s partner, me, did not come to work and even Kaiser’s brother-in-law and director of the project partner, Carson was absent. Rumours sprouted about the office, although I had no idea of their origin. “I’m not in the mood for a meal.” I turned my head away when Carson came in with his homecooked meal. In fact, Kaiser had been calling me non-stop all day so I had to switch my phone to aeroplane mode and turn on the wifi. But I knew he was smarter than that.