The two women stared at Neal as if he had grown two horns. At first Neal blinked to understand the reasons for their glare and then realizing the situation, he said, "We must take the child to the hospital." He looked at the baby who was now nibbling his mother's neck. His sobs had decreased.

"I don't think that is necessary," said the older woman. "Tyler is teething and that's why he has an upset stomach." She looked at Cara. "Just feed him and he would be fine. I think don't give him anything else today other than your milk."

​​

Cara nodded. "Thank you Jenny," she said to the woman with a smile. "You can go. I have taken leave from the office today."

Jenny, the cute Filipina, smiled and said, "Are you sure?"

"I am. You can go. I got him."

"Ah okay!" Jenny said and rushed in to get ready to leave.

In the meanwhile Cara took him to her room and closed the door behind her. Neal was left standing in the center of the room, looking like a fool. When Jenny came out, she found him standing in his place with a confused expression and a flushed face. "Please sit while Cara feeds the baby," she said. Neal nodded and Jenny was gone the next moment.

In the tiny apartment, Neal felt… home. Now that he knew that she was a single mother, his instinct to protect her flared and he knew that it would be impossible for him to leave the girl alone at time of the day. Both the mother and the child needed his utmost protection. And the baby was so cute that Neal found himself thinking about all the similarities he had with Cara. His hazel eyes were just like that of his mom. A smile came on his lips when he found himself wondering what his and Cara's babies would look like. He would have loved to have at least six, but he would be happy if they had four. The thought hummed in his heart like a sweet melody. He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled heavily. "Gods! I love this woman."

He had started from the office with jealousy, he ended up with a silly grin on his face.

When Cara would come out, he would confess… he had to confess… He had seen how Caleb and Daryn had been, and he didn't want to get as miserable as them.

---

The weekend passed with Daryn being extremely busy with office. He would come home and go off to sleep. Cole had been keeping a watch on the number of applicants for Starfish Refineries. As the day of bidding approached, his nervousness increased. He looked at the Rolex he was wearing and muttered, "I will try my best to get it, father."

It was 8AM in the morning. They had to reach the venue by 10AM.

Dawn came down from her bedroom. Though she cheered as soon as she saw Cole, she was pretty nervous on the inside. "Did you have your breakfast?" she asked him.

"No," he said, watching her intently. "We must win the bid, Dawn."

"Yes, I am hoping we win it!"

"Where's Daryn?" he asked.

"He has gone to the office…" she replied with a tinge of sadness. "He has been keeping very busy these days."

"But he should've come with us today!" Cole said angrily.

"Don't worry Cole. I am there, okay?" She patted his back to encourage him… to encourage herself. She hoped that Daryn was with her.

"And where's Neal?"

"He didn't pick up the phone. There's something wrong with that man!" she said exasperatedly.

"Why?" Cole asked with a frown as they walked towards the main hall.

"Don't ask me!" said Dawn. "He has been going to my office with absolutely bullshit work of something like buying a set of printing papers or paper clips! I don't understand as to why would he need to assist Cara in her office job, which incidentally she is pretty capable of?" She flung her purse on her shoulder. "Not only that the man is often seen taking her back home. Is he in love with her?" Her last statement kind of dawned on her. "Is he in love with her?" she stopped in her tracks and asked Cole.

"How would I know?" Cole said, equally flustered. "What a waste of a man as capable as him…" he observed.

"Unless—" Dawn frowned. Suddenly she pressed her mouth with her hands and her eyes became wide like a football field.

"Unless what?" Cole asked with a deadpan face.

"Unless she is his m— mate?" A shudder passed through her body. Is that even possible?

Cole placed his hand on her arm. "I highly doubt that Dawn."

She slowly looked at Cole and nodded. Perhaps she was wrong.

"We need to focus on the bidding. And if none of them are joining us, then we better prepare ourselves well before we reach the venue." Cole was feeling bitter about the fact that none of them had the time to stand by him.

"You are right. I am sorry…"

"I am sure you must have done the valuation of the refinery," he said.

"Yes I have," she replied as they walked to the parking area.

The bidding venue was an hour's drive, and the driver drove slowly because Luna was pregnant and this was her last week of pregnancy. He was extremely scared that she might get a jerk, so he drove in the last lane, which meant he didn't speed over 40mph.

All the while they drove, Cole continued to ask questions from Dawn. He didn't want to look like a fool at bidding, and at the same time he knew that he wouldn't be able to participate in the process being a minor.

They reached the venue almost half an hour earlier and noticed that the place was filled with several top industrialists. When the brother and sister walked into the room, all eyes were on them. Cole's jaw clenched. They were looking like two novices in front of the men out there.

A man snickered, "At first she got the refinery closed and now she is coming to bid for it. If she had even an iota of shame, at least she would have sent someone else to place the bid."

"That's right. I haven't seen a girl as greedy as her. Her father must be shifting in his grave," said another.

"Where will she get the money from?" someone scoffed. "From her rich husband? But I don't see him here."

Soft laughter followed. "The fact that he isn't present shows that he isn't interested."

"Obviously! He is a smart man. Why would he get into her battles?"

Cole was so angry that he snapped his head towards the group and was about to say something, when Dawn squeezed his hand. "It's no use," she said. With her chin up and straight spine, Dawn walked right to the registry area, took the tag for herself and Cole and walked in the room where bidding was to take place.

"Even if this means that we will be spending every last penny that we own, we will do that Dawn," said Cole with his hand balled into tight fists. "I need that thing back with the Wyatts!"

"I will try my best," she rasped. "Everything has to fall within the rules and I am scared that they might disqualify me if I break any rule while bidding. Right now more than money, I am worried about politics!"