14.

Raine fell face first into her pillow. She had somehow mindlessly managed to have a bath and change into her new favourite outfit, the clothes she had ‘pilfered’ from her night with Kain. Luckily, Argen had been too busy to poke fun at her. She rolled over as she reached for her phone.

Let’s not think too much about it, maybe, he’s just that way with women... she exhaled loudly as she stared blankly at the newly acquired number on her phone screen. Yea, there really can’t be any men that nice. Slowly, sleep crept in.

05:30a.m.,huh? She looked at the wall clock. It should take about 15 minutes to the hospital from here, because the roads would be free. Should I call a cab? She contemplated as she buttoned up her blouse. I only have consultations today; no surgery, guess I can go to the gym? mentally checking her schedule.

She had gotten out of bed sometime around 5:00. She turned to the clock; it was 05:37 now. Guess I’ll have to call a cab after all... she continued to contemplate on her no-car situation as she slid her feet into a pair of flats and walked out the door. Backpack hanging low from her shoulders. She scrolled through her phone as searching for a cab to call as she strolled out the back door of Silver. Only to be met with the picture of Kain, dressed in black sweatpants, a black tee and a hoodie as he leaned on the bonnet of his car; staring down at his phone. I didn’t really think he would be here, she thought as she walked over to him.

“Good morning”

“Morning.” He mumbled in reply.

Pulling the straps of her back pack forward and down. “If you were here already, you should have called.”

“Hmmm...” he walked over to the passenger’s seat and pulled open the door. After she was settled, he climbed into the driver’s seat and started the car. Soon they were on their way.

He reached for something in the back seat. “Here. Breakfast.” he handed her a paper crate holding two cups of hot coffee and a pastry bag. He took a sip from the cup he had taken off the crate as he returned his attention back to the road.

“How long did you wait?”

Placing his cup in the cup holder, he eyed her briefly and turned his eyes back to the road. “Eat.”

I guess he waited for a while... unwrapping the pastry bag, she quietly helped herself to the meal and the rest of the drive was spent in silence.

He stopped the car where he had picked her up yesterday but she sat still and made no effort to leave.

“You’ll be late.” He stated without looking at her.

“Thank you.” Though, she still didn’t move.

“It’s almost 6.” He calmly reminded her.

“Are you... Are you maybe upset about something?” she asked anxiously.

Upset? Am I upset right now? a little taken aback by her question.

“A taxi. You were going to call one?”

His question made her even more anxious. “I-”

“It’s fine. I’m not upset.” He started the engine again. There’s no reason to be annoyed by that. There’s really nothing between us. “You should leave.”

She humbly got off the car and with another word of thanks, she was gone.

“Off to Silver again?” Casper turned around to face Dawson. These meetings had become a daily routine. They were in a meeting room of Greane Holdings, the centre of operations for anything under the ‘Greane’ name. The heart of Greane Enterprises.

“Yes, why?” he replied.

“Don’t be so defensive. I was just asking, even though there’s really no reason for you to go there now.”

“Dawson.”

“Yes.” He answered mockingly.

“I do whatever I want.”

He stopped by at Silver at any chance he got. Their relationship seemed to have evolved into something else. They no longer had to tolerate each other. Well, that’s how it felt for him. Lately, he stated to crave her presence. She’s different more before. More... she is more expressive now. That’s it. Is it because she spends so much time with Raine? Is impulsiveness contagious? He smiled to himself as he picked up a bottle. Whiskey, this time around. This little ritual they had shared was forming quite a collection. She proudly displayed every bottle she had received on a shelf behind the counter. His smile grew wider, pleased by the thought. He made his way to Silver.

2:50. She’ll be there right? Let’s see... the bar closes at 3:30, she goes to bed by 4, wakes up around 10. Sometimes, goes for an hour run. Hmm... she should be in. He made a mental breakdown of her daily routine. “Is someone else there?” noticing the car parked out front. Argen doesn’t drive and it isn’t Raine’s. Kain is at the office. So who?

“Really, thank you. Please, I would be very happy if you took it.” A familiar face persuaded Argen to accept what seemed to be a gift. “I know you like these; you can display it with the others.”

This guy again? I really should have made him a little busy. What exactly is he doing? Display what? Where? Immediately worked up, he watched the scene as he stood by the door.

“I really can’t accept anything. I only recommended you because I thought you were a good fit. I’m really just a fan you know.”

“But you accepted those ones on the shelf, didn’t you?”

“Those are different.”

Different? The ones I gave her are different? He fought back the smile that had begun to form.

“What are you doing? You want to be my doorman now?” Raine interrupted as she walked in. “You’re standing there like a weirdo smiling with yourself. Have you finally lost it? Need a doctor?”

“I’ll stand wherever I want. What has it to do with you?” the attention of the previously oblivious pair now on the bickering two.

“This is my bar. That’s what.” She walked over to the counter.

“Well, I’m not here to see you.” He followed closely behind. Placing his little gift on the counter, he took a seat. Both exchanged greetings with a now quiet Daniel.

“Gen. I want a drink.” As adorably as she could manage. Argen rolled her eyes as she made her way behind the counter and handed her a carton of juice and a glass.

“Daniel, I’ll see you off.” With that, both Argen and her guest were gone.

“What’s that?” Raine asked suspiciously eyeing his package.

“This? Hmmm...” feigning deep thought. “Something special?”

“Ummm...” suddenly bashful. “You know Kain?” staring down at her glass.

Know Kain? She doesn’t know he’s my cousin? Reaching behind the counter for a glass of his own. “Yea, a little. Why?” Well, it’s not exactly my place to tell her who he is. He reached for the carton to fill his glass.

“If he’s upset, how do you pacify him?” her voice lowered as she spoke each word.

“What? You want to pacify Kain? Why? What’d you do?”

She clicked her tongue. “I just knew you would be useless.” She snatched the carton from his hands. “This is mine. Get your own.” She stood to leave.

Casper stared at his empty hands in shock. “Why take it out on me? Am I the one that made him upset?”

“Are you two still at it?” Argen had returned.

“Babe, I’m going to get ready for work. I’ve got the evening shift.” She gave Casper a dirty look before going into the back room.

“Hey!” he called out after her. “Hey you can just text him, you know. Hey!”

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