" you want just ask her out nicely. Why do you have to do all this?"

Not this again. I am not in a mood to talk about this. "Dating is useless and a waste of time."

Dad sighed in exasperation. "You like her."

"Not in the mood for this, dad." I dismissed it and was about to leave when dad grabbed my hand and made me sit down on the chair.

"Stay there." He ordered before disappearing down the corridor and returning a minute later with a first aid kid.

He placed the kit on the table and took a out a cotton ball and dipped it in some antiseptic and started to clean the bruise on my jaw making me wince. "You keep this up and you will get hurt even more next time."

I stayed silent and didn't reply as dad continued cleaning the bruise.

"You say dating is useless but if you continue with all this it will only make her hate you more." Dad told me softly as he proceeded to apply some antiseptic over that scratch on my cheek.

When I remained silent, he asked, "Do you love her?"

"I don't know." I refused to meet his eyes.

"How can you not know? Do you just want her physically? And if that's the case I swear, Calix I will stop supporting you in this madness."

"Dad." I groaned. "I don't wanna talk about any of this, please."

"Whatever..." Dad placed away the cotton ball and closed the first aid kit and folded his arms. "You are obsessed with her and possessive of her, it's not healthy."

I still refused to answer him so he continued. "Do you think forcing her to marry you will make her love you? Or even like you?"

"You and mom were also forced in a marriage and you both fell in love."

"But I didn't force her to marry me, our parents did. Besides we both already liked each other since years."

"I don't see a difference." I said nonchalantly.

"I am trying to show you what's right, Calix. Don't mess this up and make her hate you anymore. How about you start with being more sweet and gentle towards her and later ask her out?"

My jaw clenched. "I don't know how to be sweet, Dad." I admitted in a low voice. "I have spent years arguing and bantering with her and suddenly talking to her sweetly makes me feel awkward. I don't know how to express my emotions. And even if I talk to her politely she gives me such a look as if there's something wrong with me."

Dad pulled out a chair and sat infront of me and took my hands in his and squeezed them. "It's okay, Calix. But you have to try...tell me, even if you get married, are you going to talk to her in the same manner, treat her in the same manner? Then how is she supposed to like you?"

Fuck. He had a point. But I wasn't going to treat her in the same manner after marriage obviously. I was going to treat her like a fucking queen. My Queen.

I pushed back my chair and stood up and ignoring his questions, I made my way to the front door but paused when it was pulled opened and in walked Austin and Maria. My younger siblings. Maria being the youngest.

"Bro!" Austin exclaimed. "You look so pissed off right now. Is it Al again?"

My jaw ticked and I glowered down at him. Only I call her Al. He doesn't have the right to call her that.

"Of course, it's because of Althea." Maria chriped in. "Poor Calix is in love with her but she hates him...aww..." She mocked me.

These two are another pain in my ass. I sometimes hate them.

Austin looks like an exact copy of mine except he has inherited mom's hazel eyes instead of dad's emerald ones like I did. And Maria, looks just like mom. Our parents just copy pasted us.

"I am not in love with her." I snapped at her.

They both shared a look before laughing. "Sure, of course."

My nostrils flared and I gripped Austin's collar making his eyes widen. "And only I am supposed to call her Al. I gave her that nickname. Call her Al once more and I will cut off your tongue. She's Althea or Thea to you like everyone else calls her."

"Okay, okay." Dad interfered and pulled Austin out of my grip. "Calm down, he means no harm."

Austin rubbed his throat and shot me a glare before saying to dad, "Get him checked, dad. His obsession is getting out of control."

I hate that everyone in my family knows about it. And I hate that these two despite being adults, still live here cause living seperately is too lonely so I have to encounter them whenever I come here.

Rolling his eyes, Austin walked past me and dad followed him and Maria took a step closer to me.

And getting on her tiptoes, she planted a kiss on my jaw. "Don't worry, brother. I am shipping you both. You will get your happy ending, don't give up."

I swear she is more mature than Austin even though she is just twenty one.

She followed Austin and dad inside as I left.

.

.

.

I parked my Audi in the parking lot of my building. I still have to attend an important meeting before I can go back to my home...or house, just an empty house which makes me feel so lonely that I even considered asking Austin and Maria to move in with me.

I was happy when I first bought it, happy would be an understatement. I was on top of the world. Dad might have passed down the company to me but I worked hard and as I made more and more money, I finally bought a house.

But now that same house haunts me cause it's just me roaming around that huge ass house. Instead, I want to have my own family living there. My wife and at least three kids.

My phone buzzed bringing me out of my thoughts as my assistant reminded me of the meeting I have. Yeah, I fucking remember, you don't have to remind me every minute.

I was about to get out of my car when I had this weird sense of being watched. Someone was watching me.

I didn't act startled, I didn't start to look around in haste either, instead I took out my gun from the dashboard and loaded it.

Yes, I do have a license for it.

Dad trained me over the years, taught me how to fight, shoot and what not. And finally, I get to execute those things. When you get into business, you make a lot of enemies and I have been receiving threat notes from them over the years but they meant nothing to me.

I tucked the gun in the waistband of my trousers and stepped out of the car and locked it before moving towards the elevator.

I kept subtly scanning my surroundings when I saw something from the corner of my eyes, a shadow on my right moving behind the cars, using them as sheild.

Someone has a death wish.

I kept moving forwards casually and I notice that person going towards the elevator too. Hmm...nice. Very nice.

Just as I was about to press the button to call the elevator, that's when that person comes out of hiding.

I was quick in pulling out my pistol and pointing it at that person who looked taken aback by my stealthiness. Infact he was so taken aback that his own gun fell down on the floor.

Looks like a new recruite.

His clothes were all black and a black handkerchief that was tied behind his head covered half his face. Typical. I almost rolled my eyes at that.

A shiver took over him. Is he seriously scared? Wasn't he here to kill me?

And poor him, his handkerchief also slipped revealing his face and I was surprised to see a young boy.

The fuck hired him? He is a fucking kid!

Still keeping my gun pointed at him, I asked, "How old are you?"

"Why should I tell you?"

I gave him a bored look. "Just answer me, kid."

"I am not a kid." He snapped.

"Then tell me your age."

He pursed his lips and contemplated before saying, "Sixteen."

Geez. You have got to be kidding me.

"Who hired you?"

"I am not telling you that! I am here to kill you!" And he bent down to retrieve his gun.

Yup. Definitely a new recruite.

I pressed the gun at the back of his head as he froze half way to pick up his gun. "Don't even think of it. Get up and answer my questions."

Shaking, he stood straight and I asked again, "Who hired you?"

He lowered his eyes, refusing to answer.

"You answer me and I will let you go, okay?"

"That won't work on me." He muttered.

"Shouldn't you be studying and living a normal life instead of doing all this? Tell me who hired you."

His jaw clenched before he finally stares into my eyes with some unshed tears. "The Kings." He answered.

Ah, the fucking Kings. I should have known. Their CEO who also happens to be my school rival. Wow.

I sighed in exasperation and lowered my gun. "Tell me what all you know."

"They...they asked me to kill you...and offered me a lot of money...and they were going to target someone named...Al...Althea... saying that she is important to you."

What the fuck. They can mess with me all they want but they can't fucking bring Althea into this. Not her. She is too precious.

"You sure?"

He nodded.

I tucked away my gun. "Are you in a school?"

"I used to...I don't have the money to continue my studies."

I pulled out my phone. "Tell me your number. I will help you study further. I will pay for everything but promise you won't get involved with them again."

"You...you will?" There was so much shock on his face and some happiness.

"Yes."

"But..." His face fell. "...if they know that I didn't do my job, they will...kill me..."

I proceeded to tell him an address. "Go there and tell them my name, you will be safe. I promise."

I actually gave him Lucian's office's address. He owns a security company and this kid will be safe there for sure.

He told me his number and I promised to be in contact and keep him safe if he leaves all this and he actually cries with happiness and runs away from there.

But there is only thing at the back of my mind that Althea isn't safe.