Chapter 43: Chapter 43

KRISTIN

That didn't go well...

I wasn't expecting June to accept my decision just like that, and I also was not expecting things to escalate so fast.

For one, I'm happy she isn't anywhere near me because I can't trust myself with her in such a choice of clothing. And I need some time to sit down and reflect on my life.

I'm sure June was surprised that I didn't run after her or yell for her to come back... Maybe, just maybe, I was finally ready to accept her 'I am an adult' notion.

Maybe I should let June and Mark be. Perhaps she would behave better if I let her be...

Maybe, maybe, maybe...

Fuck.

A sigh escaped me when I heard a car driving down the street. Mark came to pick her up—again. Even though the image of the both of them together appeared repelling, I was forced to swallow my urge to burst through the door and flag down the car with furious curse words.

"...YOU'RE TOO YOUNG... AND YOU'RE NOT MY TYPE..."

The sentence rushed back to me as I grabbed a bottle of whiskey and poured myself a glass.

Maybe I shouldn't have said that. Telling her that she isn't my type sent this painful hurt into her eyes that I don't wish to ever see. She looked genuinely pained.

I only said that to let her know that she was in no way eligible to "date" me. Besides, it's been ages since I dated anyone. All the countless women I've had sex with over the past few years were well-informed of my stand before any intimacy. I've always made it clear that I didn't need any form of attachment.

Life is easier without dense strings tying people together.

"Ah, fuck," I palmed my face and let the glass in my grip rest on the centre table. There was this familiar throbbing on the side of my head that reminded me of the year my sister died.

Before that, I was nothing but a comfortable and horny bachelor living alone and working my way towards establishing my company.

The day my sister came to me with a child and a very long story, I knew my life would never be the same—especially after her pleas to help with the kid so she could take out enough time for her job. I wasn't good with handling kids, but I agreed. (Well, I didn't have a choice.)

My life drastically changed. I don't know how old June was at that time, but I remember that she was old enough to laboriously chew peanuts—and old enough to turn the house into a centre of chaos. She would tag along with me to meetings, beg to follow me to a company I worked for at that time and lament when her infinite-square meals came a minute late.

When my sister passed away and I became June's full guardian, my responsibilities increased. Constant throbbing in my head became a norm.

Talking about throbbing, the whiskey wasn't helping the circulating headache. And I had downed more than half of the bottle!

There wasn't anything I could do to unsay all I said to June. I had probably made her very sad.

But what I said was the truth!

And it would be impossible to even envisage any form of intimacy with her. Aside from the obvious blood-relation fact, she is just too young...

With a sigh, I abandoned the drink and shrugged off my shirt as I approached my room. Each step I took made me feel light-headed, thanks to the quantity of whiskey I took.

The bathroom was my next stop. In a haze, I took off all my clothes and turned the shower to the highest spray.

The cold droplets hit me like tiny bullets, washing away some parts of my tispiness. I felt active halfway into my shower.

The turbulence in my head settled.

With an exhale, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. The natural red of my hair was beginning to overshadow the artificial black I always bought in the saloon.

I made a mental note to get the strands shining black during my next visit to my barber.

I've always been the mouth-watering type of man. And I am not even exaggerating. One look at me and people—especially females—almost drool.

Nature blessed me with green eyes that are well-hidden by long lashes, a facial feature I took from my mom. Combined with the structure of my face which I've heard makes me look like a Greek god, I, according to the women I've encountered so far, look mesmerizing.

Conceivably I just had to let things play out the way they were supposed to...

Yes! That is exactly what I'll do! Go back to the hardworking CEO people know me as.

For so long, I've allowed distractions to push me away from work. I was never the stay-at-home-because-i'm-the-CEO type. I used to leave the house very early and round up my work in no time, having fun with my models and staff before rushing back home to make sure June wasn't deprived of attention, but...

It seems I've not been looking out for myself and my career for a long time.

That's it... I will invest my time in work. That way, it will be difficult to concentrate on June and her advances, and also difficult to get my mind fixed on the erections June gives me.

*. *. *. *.*

Relief was all I felt.

It seemed I had finally found a lasting solution to my problem.

After I stepped out of the bathroom and stacked the remaining bottle of whiskey, I placed a call to Edith after remembering the robbery at her place.

She didn't pick.

Now nervous, I called again.

This time, to my relief, she picked on the second ring, her voice floating melodiously out of the receiver.

"Sorry, I was in the bathroom."

"Me too," I said and locked the front door. Wouldn't it be wise to call June and ask for her whereabouts? I pushed off the thought. "It's kinda hot. I just finished taking a shower."

"Yeah." A ruffle sounded on the other end. She seemed to be arranging her sheets. "How are you?"

"I should ask that. What about your place?"

"Well, kind of bad. They turned the place upside down and went away with valuables."

"Huh?!" I frowned and pressed the phone tighter to my ear. "Is it that serious?"

"Worse than serious. The police are searching all the security camera files. I'm happy I still have my bed in one piece."

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry to hear this, Edith. Why didn't you call me?"

She chuckled softly. "You have enough on your plate, Kristin. I've picked up my phone about three times to call but then put it down again after remembering that—"

"Please don't say that. I don't have so much trouble in my life that offering help should be a difficult task. Are you alone?"

"Of course." She chuckled again, "Who do you think I will be with?"

I played along. "One of those dudes. I don't know which one."

She laughed merrily on the other end. My chest felt warm. "There isn't any dude! And you know that."

It was difficult not to get infected with her laughing virus. I joined in moments later and we both laughed to our hearts' content.

"Okay, okay..." I tittered and cleared my throat. "Do you need someone to keep you company?"

The other end of the line was silent for a while and I had to pull the phone from my ear to confirm that the call was still connected.

"Edith?"

"Kristin," she called out softly. "I don't want to inconvenience you in any way. Besides, your niece—"

"She is with her boyfriend. I don't think she will be coming home tonight..." I smiled softly as she could see me. "I'm coming over. Give me some minutes to get dressed."

Before any protest could begin, I disconnected the call and ran up the stairs to change...

At least, a company for the night...