CHAPTER 21: His Asset

KATE’s P.O.V.
“Elijah...” I moaned his name as we exchange our position.

I’m currently laying on the couch while he started to kiss my neck. I don’t know how did it happened, but we just found ourselves driven by the heat of our kisses.

After a few moments, he stopped, both of our breathes are ragged. He gently pushed me away from his body, before helping me to sit up. He moved away, massaging his temple as he looked so bothered because of what happened, I guess.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, confused.

“You’re drunk, Kate. You don’t know what you’re doing. I don’t want to take advantage of your weakness...” he stated, making me blushed.

He’s not the man I think he is. He still got some respect for me. He didn’t let lust to get in the way of him being a respectful man to someone drunk like me. I smiled, thinking how lucky I am.

“I’m sorry, Kate.”

“Elij...”

“Shhh. You probably wouldn’t even remember this tomorrow. Just take a rest for now.”

He looked at me, I just stared at him blankly before scooting closer towards his location. I rest my head on his shoulder, surprised that he didn’t bother to push me away. I expected him to be mad but he didn’t. In fact, he let me sleep with him in that position. He put his head at the top of mine and I just let myself be drowned by a deep slumber. He’s wrong. I will never forget this night. The first night I spent with him.

The night passed by so fast. I just found myself waking up besides Elijah, smiling as I remember what happened last night. I looked up, seeing his handsome face still peaceful by a deep sleep. I sat up, touching his face before I planted a small kiss on his forehead.

I walked around his house, trying to find my things. Thankfully, I still have my phone with me. I turned it on, seeing a several messages and missed calls from Mom and Dad. I gasped, remembering what I did. My parents are probably worried right now.

I search for a piece of paper and a ballpen from Elijah’s stuffs. I don’t want to wake him up specially now that he looks so exhausted because of the events of yesterday. And because he’s a teacher, I easily found what I needed before I started writing a thank you note for him.

I fixed myself, before leaving his apartment. I promised to thank him personally someday for letting me stay at his home even just for a night. If it wasn’t for him, maybe I should’ve already experienced sleeping on a cold sidewalk beside the street.

As I rushed outside, a cab suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and I instantly got inside to come home. The trip didn’t took that long for Elijah’s apartment is just near our new house. I paid the cab using my remaining cash before I went inside of our residence.
“Kate?! Kate!” Mom dashed over before she gave me a tight hug. “I’m so worried about you! I thought you wouldn’t come home anymore!”

“Mom... I’m sorry for what I did last night.” I looked down, feeling guilty.

“That’s fine, sweetie. Forget it already. The only important thing right now is that you’re finally here...”

She hugged and kissed me again before dragging me inside of our house.

“Come and eat. I know you’re probably hungry...”

“Mom?”

“Yes?” he looked at me, still worried.

“Where is Dad?” I asked curiously.

“He’s at the company.”

“Is he still mad at me?” I asked.

Mom didn’t answer me. She just continue to serve me some foods until we finished eating our breakfast. I thought that this would be easy, but I guess not. Dad is still furious, and I don’t know what to do just to reconcile with him.

Weeks passed. Every time that Dad comes home, I will stay inside of my room. When he leaves, I’ll go outside. That’s our routine. We chose not to face each other ever since that night in the engagement party. I haven’t been seeing Elijah either, and I’m not planning to call him for I know that I did something humiliating the last time we saw each other. I don’t want him to feel awkward with me.

“Mom? Where is Dad?” I asked. Mom wasn’t so surprised anymore. I discovered a new habit of asking for Dad each morning for it became my own way of asking how is he because I couldn’t asked him that question myself.

“He’s... He’s at the Herrera Corp. and... He wanted to meet you there. He told me to say it to you as soon as you wake up.” For the first time, my Mom answered my question.

“Why?” I curiously asked.

“I don’t know. He didn’t say anything more except that.”

I just shut my mouth. I let Mom served me my breakfast before I ate. After that, I decided to fixed myself to see my Dad at the Herrera Corp. As much as I don’t want to see him, I still need to follow his instructions. After all, I’m still his daughter.

I arrived at Herrera Corp., the guards motioned me to come towards Darren’s office so I decided to follow them. When I reached his office, I knocked on the door, before finally opening it. I saw Dad and Mr. Herrera in there, looks like they’re talking about something very important.


“Kate...” Dad looked at me, then surprisingly, he smiled. “You came... Mr. Herrera wants to talk to you about something...”

Mr. Herrera looked and gave me a small smile though he looked disappointed.

“My son... Darren wants to continue your supposed to be marriage, Kate.”

“What?!” I asked, surprised.

Dad stood up, gripped me in the arm and pulled me away to where Mr. Herrera is currently at.

“Listen to me, Kate. Our company is having a hard time right now. We need to merge with the Herrera Corp. in order to save our last resources.”

“But Dad... Darren clearly loves Claire...”

“I don’t care! As long as Darren wants to be with you! We should take advantage of their weakness, Kate. You need to marry him... Please.”

And without anymore hesitation, I just nodded, still unsure at the back of my mind. I wanted to refuse the offer now, but I couldn’t. I’ll stay trapped being Dad’s asset after all these years.

“Fine... I’ll do it, Dad.”

“Good. I’m so proud of you, Kate. I know that you wouldn’t disappoint me.”

As soon as I already said yes, we ended our conversation as early as possible. I badly wanted to leave, for I want to see some peaceful place to think things through. And also, I wanted to meet Elijah.

I leave Dad and Mr. Herrera in that office. I walk alone, ready to exit the building when I saw someone walking towards my direction. It was Claire.

“You’re here,” I blankly stated as soon as she saw me.

“Kate.”

I’m pretty sure that she’s going to see Darren, and he isn’t there. I came from that office so I’m sure with that. And if Dad saw Claire, I don’t know what he’ll do just to make her stay away from Darren forever. So I decided to make her leave myself, in that way, it wouldn’t be too hard for her to accept the fact that Darren wanted to marry me again.

“How dare you show your face inside of this building... You are unbelievable, Claire. I’m so amazed that you still have the courage to step in here after what happened.” I tried to make it sound like an insult.

“I don’t want a fight, Kate. So please, just please. Stop making a scene here.”

I chuckled sarcastically, clapping my hands in the empty air just to add an impact to my acting skills.

“Wow, wow, wow... Jus wow, Claire! So it’s me who’s making a scene here? I think it was probably you, Claire. I wouldn’t have said anything in the first place if you didn’t came here. So logically, it’s your fault. Just seeing your face makes me sick...” I felt bad, saying those words to her.

“I didn’t came here for you, Kate. I came here for Darren.”

“Oh. So you’re here to seduce my fiance again, huh?” I asked, raising one of my brows.

She looked stunned, wincing in pain as she realized what did I just said.

“F-fiance?”

“Hmm... Why do you look surprised? So, you didn’t know? Poor thing. Darren decided to marry me so that he could finally get this company. He finally woke up from the nightmare you gave him and realized that he’s better with me instead,” I only made that up. I’m not sure if that’s the main reason of Darren or what.

“T-that’s n-not true...” she trailed off, trying to suppress her tears.

Just a little bit more, and she’ll finally leave.

“Why are you crying? Truth hurts, isn’t it?” I leaned on to whisper those words to Claire. “In the end, he chose a better woman. He chose me over you.”

“He just chose you for the sake of their company, and not because he loves you,” she fired back, trying to look brave.

Although I wasn’t even a bit hurt, I tried my best to look furious because of her response. Until from the corners of my eyes, I saw Dad standing in front of Mr. Herrera’s office while still talking to his bestfriend. I think he’s going to leave any minute soon. So I decided to use my last card just to make Claire leave the place before my Dad could see her. My brows furrowed as I raised my voice.

“Who the hell do you think you are?! You are nothing but a rented woman, Claire. Always keep that in mind. And that will never change. Oh, and by the way, Darren will only lead Herrera Corp. after he bears a child with me. So I’m warning you now, old bestfriend. Stop getting into my way.”

She blinked several times, causing her tears to fall down from her eyes. I felt really guilty, making her cry again but I tried to suppressed my own tears. I looked at Claire from head to toe before I started to walk away from her direction. But before I leave, I whispered something into her left ear. Something that caused more guilt into my system.

“Now we’re even.”

I walked away, before I hid behind a wall. Claire ran away, and I saw it with my own eyes. How she cried out of pain before leaving the building. Thankfully, Dad didn’t saw her. I sighed out of relief. But one thing is for sure. The thing that will never caused any relief to my system. And that is I was forced to be Dad’s asset forever.