baby pick up the call.

I tried calling her for the fifth time but she wasn't ready to pick up my call so I messaged her instead.

I swear to God, Althea. You better be safe, this is not a fucking joke. You are not fucking safe! Pick up the call!!

My assistant, Mason thought that this would be an awesome time to interrupt me as he knocked on the door and peeked inside. "Sir, your meeting--"

"Cancle it."

I hardly ever cancle any meeting and he looked baffled. "Are you sure? This is--"

"I know what I said. Cancle it."

"O-kay..." He looked unsure but nodding he went away.

I once again glanced down at my phone and was on the verge of smashing it against the wall, when she finally called back.

Sighing, I picked up the call.

"The fuck is your problem, Calix?" Hearing her voice, calmed me down. At least she was okay.

"Where are you?"

"In the middle of fucking someone. Would you like to know more details?"

My grip on the phone tightened and the mental image of her fucking someone sent a hot fury through my veins.

No. Not the time.

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. "I don't have time for your sass, Althea. Tell me where you are."

She groaned. "I am at my home. What's your problem?"

"Pack your bags and go live with your parents for a few days, you are not safe."

"And may I ask why?"

"Because I have a lot of fucking enemies and there was even a murder attempt on me just now and you are not fucking safe because they know you, they know you are important to me." I explained in a harsh tone and then slowly I softened my tone. "Please, Al...you are not safe. Stay with your parents for a few days, please. For once, listen to me, baby."

"S-someone tried to kill you?"

"Yes and worry about yourself, Al."

"How can you be sure that I will be safe there? How can you be sure that I won't get hurt while on my way there?"

Fuck. She's right.

The only safe place for her...is my house. It is the most secured mansion. Lucian took care of all the security measures.

"Calix?" She called when I didn't say anything. "Are you...okay?"

Am I dreaming or she just asked me if I am okay? I pinched myself to make sure this wasn't a dream.

"Worried about me, baby?" I teased.

"Fuck no! Just tell me what to do! Or let it be...I will just hire a bodyguard. You don't have to do anything, besides I am leaving for a home tour tomorrow."

A bodyguard to look after her? Stay with her? Hell no.

"Pack your things and everything you need and I will be there in fifteen minutes. Stay the night at your parents house and you can leave for your tour tomorrow."

She will be safe on the tour...she will be surrounded by security.

She answered after a pause. "Fine."

I hung up the call and picked up my car keys and walked out.

Reaching her house, I messaged her to come outside as I stepped out of my car and waited for her.

A minute later, the door opened and she walked out with a trolley bag and her cricket kit slung over her shoulder. She gave me a subtle glare through her white rimmed spectacles.

I went over to her and took her cricket kit from her and carrying it to my car, put it inside the trunk and did the same with the trolley bag.

Without saying anything, she went and sat inside the car and I followed her.

"Why weren't you picking up my call?" I questioned turning towards her.

She huffed and looked out of the window refusing to look at me.

"Althea." I warned.

When she didn't answer, I leaned closer and grabbing her chin in between my fingers turned her face to me making her pout angrily and it took everything in me to not kiss that fucking pout.

Not able to control myself, I let my thumb graze her bottom lip making her eyes slightly widen before she slapped away my hand.

My lips twisted up into a smirk. "Feisty. I like it."

"Fuck you, Calix." She spat.

And when my smirk turned into a full blown grin and she saw the mischievous look on my face, she instantly regretted her words and groaned loudly. "I meant fuck off!"

"Nah, I heard it loud and clear. You can't go back on your words now."

And I lowered my voice and whispered in her ear, "How about car sex? Do you want to try it?"

"Eww!" She leaned back and shot me a glare. "Shut up! And just drive!"

I dramatically placed my palm over my heart. "I am wounded, baby."

"Good. Now drive or I will punch you again."

She looks so fucking adorable when she is angry and especially if she wears her spectacles and I couldn't help but plant a lingering kiss on her cheek. "As you say, baby."

Giving me one last glare she turned her head to the window as I drove.

.

.

.

"Why is Althea being dragged into your mess?" Uncle gave me a stern look as I stood infront of him with my hands behind my back.

After Althea left for her T20I tour against New Zealand, I told everything to dad and uncle...well, actually everyone and now everyone was sitting across the couches and I stood infront of them like a culprit and my siblings along with Althea's younger sister, Haelyn seemed to be enjoying this too much.

"First of all..." I pointed to those trouble makers. "...why are they here?"

They all snickered at that and I glared at them.

"First you answer my question." Uncle spoke.

"Carsten King used to be my rival in school." I told them. "And everyone in the school knew that...I was protective of Althea including that fucker. He knows how important she is to me so now he plans on using her against me."

"She's important to you?" Uncle asked, narrowing his eyes.

Fuck. Now, how am I supposed to explain to him my obsession? Till now, only my family knew, dad made sure to keep it a secret on my request.

"Oh!" Austin exclaimed excitedly and got up. "I can explain why!"

"If you want to live you would sit down right now." I threatened him and pouting sadly he turned to dad.

And even dad gestured him to sit down.

"I hate you!" He muttered to me before sitting down.

"Uncle...I have a plan."

Dad's brows furrowed as if he knew what I was going to say next.

This is the time to use this situation in my favour. This is my only chance and I won't let it slip away.

"I am going to marry her." I stated firmly.

Even my siblings paused their bickering and stared at me with wide eyes. As if they didn't know about this.

"You are going to marry her?" Aunty was the first one to break the silence.

"Yes. This way she can stay with me and my house is the safest place. She will be safe, I promise."

"Marriage?" Uncle said in a low voice. "If it's about her staying with you, why can't she do that without getting married?"

Thank God I had already thought about everything.

"Because if she stays with me and this gets out to the media, then it will create a lot of fuss and unnecessary drama and attention so it's better we get married."

Uncle cocked his head and ruminated before saying, "No. This is ridiculous."

"No?" I repeated, my mouth parting in surprise. I thought he would agree to this. Okay, I agree this idea has a lot of plot holes but this is what I could come up with. "Uncle, please. She will be safe, I promise. I won't hurt her." And I ended up blurting. "I want to marry her."

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Uncle raised a brow at me. "Do you love her, Calix?"

Umm... "I... don't...know..." I said sheepishly.

Uncle was about to probably scold me but dad whispered something in his ear and grabbing his arm, took him at a distance where we couldn't hear them.

I don't know what dad was saying but three minutes later they both returned to their places on the couch.

"What makes you sure she will agree to this?" This time, dad questioned.

"I have an idea."

"And that is?"

"A surprise. You all will see."

Uncle rubbed his chin and fixed me with a cold glare. "How long do you plan on staying married? How long till all this gets over?"

How long? Is he serious? "Forever?"

"Forever?"

"Yeah..." I mumbled not sure if he is going to agree to all this or not.

"Will you take care of her?" He asked.

I nodded eagerly. "With my life."

"Do you know how to cook?"

Um...what? "Of course, I do."

"Can you clean?"

"Yeah..."

Before uncle could ask me anymore questions, dad smacked him on the back of his head. "Stop asking stupid questions. He knows everything, I raised him well."

My eyes lit up. "Does that mean you are agreeing?"

"It's not about me...but Althea. Convincing her is not easy. How do you plan on doing that?"

"Don't worry about that, uncle! I have a superb plan. Just trust me."

He nodded slowly. "Fine, you better take care of her, Calix or it won't end well for you."

"Oh, I will."