"it can't be that hard, can it?", He chuckled and focused again on the road, his fingernails tapping playfully on the steering wheel.
"What?", Kira scoffed.
"When I saw you...ahh.. When I first found you", he licked his lower lip and chanced her a glance, "I was first grateful. So happy that Lana wasn't dead. But coming to realize you were a completely different person. Wow! It took me days to believe it", he took a right turn.
"Your hungry right? You've been out for a full day", he smiled and Kira hadn't replied yet when he drove into a five star restaurant and parked in.
"Trust me. Theirs is the best", he winked and alighted. Kira's eyes following him as he went round and came to open the door for her.
All she could think of was this, [what's with this hot psycho?]
She alighted anyways, holding tightly onto her purse as he led her in. The interior were top-notch, these kind of restaurant didn't exist in Langford, not to mention the warm welcome she received from the waiters, she sighed.
A really fancy booth at the VIP areas, that was their spot as she sat opposite him, "I believe you'd need privacy", he smiled at her but Kira hadn't found anything funny since she woke up.
He made the orders and when the deliciousness was placed before her, the grumbling of her stomach was like a thousand thunders, happily reminding her that her appetite had begun growing big with a human inside of her, but she held herself back and simply stared at the man who had brought her.
"I'll feel bad if you don't eat".
"I never said I was hungry", Kira retorted calmly.
"It's impossible not to be.... With the child inside of you", he locked gaze with hers.
"Kira Smith, child of a single mother, dating a cheating boyfriend who's left you with a child", he leaned away and relaxed into his chair, "by the way, I'm Kieran. Kieran Reyes".
Kira's jaw clenched, her eyes not breaking contact with the obnoxious dude opposite her.
"The name's Lana Cowell", Kieran continued. "She's nothing special. Just an orphan maid that Mason fell in love with. He's been a mess since she left and it's affecting our work. I'm still looking for Lana, but in the meantime, I need Mason to come back to his senses".
"You're not making any sense. If you're truly his friend. You wouldn't be doing this". Kira scoffed and stood to her feet, "I'll leave first", she turned to leave.
"Would you walk all the way to Langford?" His voice halted her footstep, "we both know you're a long way from home", he signalled the waiter who came rushing, "package this please".
He stood and walked over to stand before Kira. "I already know we've started off on a wrong foot, but I'm not going to apologize. I'd live the rest of my life being the rude pyscho jerk you met", he smirked.
It was Kira's turn to return his smirk, "nah.. I'd live the rest of my life never remembering you. Erasing this day completely out of my memory", she hissed and walked away.
"Ten million dollars", he yelled after her and she halted immediately with a gasp.
"Harry is worse than a cheat Kira. Your mother is ashamed of your existence, so her new family can't help you. You can barely pay your bills, but for six months....", He walked up to her again.
"For just six months....", He pocketed his hands, "you must have heard Lana left with $500 million. I'll give you ten for the job. You can even get more out of Mason. It's a win-win", he scoffed.
"When has been honest and upright ever helped. That's how you lost your job remember?"
Kira fisted her palms. How dare they?
Who was he to think he could mess around with his life? To make her a slave to his bidding?
Harry!
Harry was the start of all this!
Harry? - she scoffed within. "Mom is!"
"I heard kids need a lot to stay healthy. You must know what it feels like to grow up malnourished......" SLAP!
Kira's hand had swung in that moment, her chest heaving with anger. If one more person should bring up her past, she gladly go to jail a murderer.
"You should know when to stop. Being wealthy certainly doesn't make some wise", she scoffed and left the restaurant without looking back.
Kieran chuckled holding his cheek, her boldness amusing him. "She's just perfect", he smiled to himself.
"Sir", the waiter walked up to him, the package in his hand.
"Thanks", Kieran took it from him and left. He could sight Kira walking down the road and he chuckled. She'd never been outside Langford, where could she possibly be headed.
He got into his car and drove after her, following her from a safe distance. She seemed to be lost in thought. Kieran knew he shouldn't be doing this, but all he needed was three months. Three months to validate his suspicions. He really needed Kira.
He followed her still, till he could no longer. He drove ahead and parked in front of her. Kira gasped at the closeness. Recognizing the car, she frowned and continued her journey to only God knows where. Completely ignoring Kieran's honking.
Kieran sighed and alighted. "That's a wrong way to Langford, I'm pretty sure you didn't know that!"
Kira halted and bit her lips.
"Come in and let me drop you home as promised. I won't say nothing else", he voiced loudly again.
Kira rolled her eyes. "Yeah! They kidnapped me so they should get me home safely as well!" — she scoffed in her head and turned to face him.
"Not one word", she warned and sat in the car.
Kieran smiled wildly, "I like her better than Lana", he muttered and sat in the driver's seat before zooming off.
The drive was silent as he promised. Langford was only an hour and 15mins drive without traffic and thankfully, the road was clear. It was a smooth drive to her house. He stopped right outside her building and watched her grab her purse to open the door, when he stopped her.
He stretched his hand to the back seat, he grabbed a file and stretched it towards her, "incase you change your mind", he smiled again as Kira stared at the file. In ten seconds of contemplation, she took it from him and alighted.
Kieran's eyes caught with the package from the restaurant, he grabbed it and alighted, calling after her. "Your dinner. I should do this much".
Kira's growling stomach reminded her that there was nothing at home to begin with. She shamefully took the parcel with a forced muttering, "thanks".
He chuckled at her embarrassment, "I'll be back tomorrow for my answer". Kieran watched her walk in before leaving.
She walked straight in and fell on the couch. Her grumbling stomach had her tearing the package and devouring like an hungry lion. Her eyes catching a glimpse of the pile of unpaid bills that sat on her dinning table. She sighed. Remembering the two hotties she'd met today.
Her mind solely dwelling on the pitiful god - Mason. She sighed and shook her head. "I'm more pitiful", she muttered amidst mouthful.
That might as well be the best meal of her life. She'd tasted nothing like it before. She cleared the place and went in for shower.
"Huh? Huh?", She wiped off the foam on her face and looked up, her water had stopped rushing. She was really owing a lot. Her eyes became moist and her lips quavered. She squatted there in the bathroom and burst into tears.
Why was life being so unfair to just her!
"Ten million dollars" - she remembered Kieran's proposal but shook her head instantly. No matter what! She'd never impersonate someone.
What if Lana returns? What if Mason finds out! What if...
She shook her head again. She shouldn't be messing with people's heart like that. She remembered Mason's tears. How he went on his knees...
She'd be worse than a monster if she'd agree to this.
She rose to her feet and wiped the foams off her body with her towel, she left for her room. With a sharp exhale, she took the file Kieran had left with her and opened it.
Two documents.
That was all.
One containing all about Mason Skye, and the other about Lana Cowell. Her eyes scanned through the both till she dozed off.
****
The loud banging on her door woke her with a start. Kira's eyes widened as she sat up straight. Her back ached. She had slept off whilst sitting and looking at the documents.
"Kira!!" The banging continued, "Ms. Smith! I know you're in there!"
Kira gasped. It was the building owner. "If you can't pay the rent, leave!! Huh! I want you out by Sunday!" He yelled and left.
Her heart sank.
She had had the money. She had gathered her rent, but Harry used it, promising to pay back! Her tears rolled down again. Her life was a complete mess. Her stomach grumbled..
"Arrgghhhhhhhhh!!!" She yelled in tears.
"Why should I suffer? Why must I suffer when I'd never done anything wrong?! I didn't ask to be birthed! Did I?!!!" She wailed loudly.
"Yeah! I did nothing wrong!", She wiped her tears. "I did nothing wrong! I deserve to be happy! I deserve the good life too! If Lana really wanted this, she wouldn't have ran!" She reassured herself loudly. Grabbing the documents and gently repeating the name 'Lana Cowell'.
"I am Lana Cowell!"
She stood to her feet and rushed in. Brushed her teeth and used the last three bottles of water left in her house to bathe. She dressed up. A short red-check tennis skirt, black hood and white Snickers to match. She stood before her mirror and combed her brown curly hair.
"Of course I'm pretty and wanted!!" She hyped her reflection. Reapplying her lip gloss to her pretty small lips. She remembered Mason's figure. Her body getting all jiggly at the thought of living with a god.
She shook away the thoughts and rubbed her belly, "it's all for my child. I need to make enough to give him the best life!" She nodded and grabbed her purse and her phone.
She opened the door slightly and peeped out, she can't afford being caught by her landlord. She tiptoed out and took the stairs, unfortunately, he waited patiently at the ground floor.
"Mr. Thomas?!!!", Kira gasped with a smile at the ever frowning face of the greedy robust man. Ever since his wife left him, everyone knew he'd always been cranky.
"I have to work to get your rent right? I'll be back", she rushed out before he could stop her.
Exhaling, she headed for the bus stop and took the bus straight to Harry's apartment. He doesn't leave for work until 10am. It was just 7:23am. She used his passcode and went in, halting at the living room.
A lump forming in her throat at the sight of the lady's dress and panties. A confirmation that he'd been a constant cheat. She blinked back the tears. It was her fault for trusting this lying prick so much to even open her legs for him. She felt disgusted at herself. At who took her innocence.
She matched all over the clothes and barged into the bedroom. They were already up and fucking. Her legs wide open with Harry's head in between. She felt like throwing up remembering how many times she kissed that lips and tongue of his.
"Kira", Harry gasped.
"You don't need to cover up. I just need something", she smiled and walked in, straight to his wardrobe as she pulled out his wallet and took every single dime in it.
"Kira!"
"That's the money for abortion. We're done!", She hissed ad turned to leave when his hand grabbed hers, she turned and unleashed the most painful slap she'd ever given anyone.
His cheek turned instantly red. "Don't keep her legs hanging. That's just rude Harry", she spat in his face and walked away.
Right in the elevator, a stubborn tear fell and she wiped it off immediately. Counting the money she'd taken. It was a mere $3,500. Not even enough to settle anything.
She stopped at a restaurant and took breakfast. She needed to go home and pack and wait for Kieran. She'd made up her mind. She'd stay until they find Lana. Ten million dollars. "Tsk. It's truly a win-win".
.
.
At exactly 3pm, her bell went off and she rushed out to see Kieran donned in blue jeans, a white inner shirt with a denim jacket over it. He looked really stunning.
Looking over her shoulders and seeing her packed bag, he revealed those dimples again in a charming smile, "I knew you'd make the right choice".
Kira followed him out as he helped with her single suitcase. They met Mr. Thomas mid stairs and Kira bit her lips, "you can lease...
"I've paid. It's still yours Kira", Kieran smiled. "You're not going away forever remember?"
She smiled and muttered a thank you. They got in his car and the drive was silent. There was traffic today but in two hours, they were driving back into Mason's mansion.
"I trust you've memorized everything?" Kieran asked
"I'll do just fine on my own" Kira replied and alighted. She swallowed her spittle. Her heart beating so fast and her conscience nagging her, but she quietened it and walked in.
"You're back". Lydia's eyes lit up. "He's up and hasn't come down all day. Hasn't eaten anything either" Lydia walked up to them, concern laced her voice and face.
Kira looked up the stairs and sighed. She took the first step. In a minute, she was standing before Mason's door and she knocked.
"Just let me be Lydia". Mason's voice reached her from inside.
She exhaled and fiddled with her dress, her voice croaked out. "It's me".
It was completely silent for another minute that she raised her hand to knock again, but the door opened in that moment. She was struck with his charming face. The pendant catching her attention again and even worse, he was barechested, with only a sweatpant on.
Standing just an inch apart, "M...ma.. Mason", Kira's voice broke and legs wobbled. His brown eyes stared deeply into her soul.
She held tightly onto her dress and swallowed again. She cleared her throat. "F-Fine...Six months... Just six mo....
He pulled her closer, shutting her off with a kiss, and allowing her moan the rest of her sentence in his mouth.