Hired To Love

Chapter Twelve

            Naiya Parker

I swear, every time I step out of that shower, I feel like a new person. After Alphonse's threat earlier, I needed something to calm me down and that shower did it. I was able to cry in the shower and didn't have to wipe my tears because the water did. I just hope that Keon and I can do whatever it takes to keep me from going back. I wrapped the plush pink towel around my body and proceeded out of my in-room bathroom to get dressed. But the sight of Keon sitting on my bed with his eyes glued to his cell phone caused me to stop dead in my tracks. He looked focus so I assumed he was playing that game again.

"You were in that shower for like 25 minutes."

"It felt too good to get out."

"I came in here to ask if you were up for some snooping."

"Snooping where?"

"To my dad's office. It's almost seven and he usually leaves his office around that time with Daniel to go eat. I figured we could go there...shit this damn bird is stupid....go there and...why the hell is he flying near these pipes any damn way?...Go there and see what we can dig up in his office...sort of like in the movies you know?"

I couldn't help but laugh as he continued to play his game while trying to not let it distract him. "Okay let me go get dressed."

"I'll be downstairs waiting. If you hear me yell then I probably lost the game-SHIT! Dumb ass bird!"

"Okay." I watched him leave, but then he quickly came back.

"Oh yeah wear all black."


Fifteen minutes later I was walking down the steps dressed in a pair of black skinny jeans, a black tank top and black combat boots on my feet. Keon wore black fitted pants, a black short sleeved button up and black Vans on his feet. His black skully hat and black sunglasses made me snicker.

"What you laughin' for?"

"It's April and you have on a winter hat. And it's dark outside why do you have on shades?"

"I'm being in disguise."

"Whatever I'm ready."

In the car, Keon did a quick run through of what we were doing. First we were going to the restaurant where Alphonse would be eating at with Daniel just to make sure that they're both there. Then we would be going to the office and digging in his things to see what's there. Apparently Keon has a key to the office which would be our gateway in. He said that the only person who would still be there is Alphonse's new assistant Katie who he would have no problem with getting by.

He pulled up across the street from the restaurant and turned off the car. Then he reached behind his seat and held up some binoculars. "Seriously?"

Keon turned his attention to me looking at me as if nothing was wrong, "What?"

"Binoculars?"

He rolled his eyes, "You got a lot to learn about this. I need to see if they in there Naiya. This is a secret mission girl. That's another thing, we need code names."

"Oh my God."

"I already picked out one for you too."

"What?"

I saw a smirk appear on his face while he continued to look out through the binoculars. "H.L."

Huh?

"I'm going to regret asking this but what does H.L. stand for?"

"Hard-knock Life."

"Gee thanks. I remind you of Annie."

He laughed and started to sing, "The sun will come out, tomorrow..." I punched him in his arm without thinking twice. He instantly grabbed onto his arm and hissed. "Damn you got guns on you. Fine I'll just call you Boots."

I looked down at the boots I was wearing. I guess the name fits. "So I guess that means you're Dora. You practically dragged me along to do some exploring."

He sucked his teeth, "At least call me Diego. My stomach doesn't hang over my pants."

"Why are we out here again?"

He huffed loudly, "To make sure that my dad is here. I don't wanna go to the office and run into him and shit."

"True."

We sat there for ten more minutes before a black Mercedes pulled up out front. The valet walked up to the passenger door and opened it for a young looking White female and the driver door opened with Alphonse stepping out.

"Who's the woman?"

Keon shook his head. "His assistant."

"Oh..." She was beautiful. I wondered if he was sleeping with her-

"Yeah he's fucking her."

My eyes widened, "Did I say that out loud?"

Keon snickered, glancing at me for a quick second. "I had a feeling you were thinking it."

"Yeah...not with that vulgar word though..."

"Yeah yeah yeah. Aight lets go." Alphonse and his assistant walked into the restaurant and the valet drove the car away to the lot I guess. Keon started the car and drove off down the street.

When we got to Alphonse's office, Keon parked a few buildings down the street. Instead of going through the front, we entered in the back. As he unlocked the doors and turned off the alarm, I couldn't help but feel like we were being watched or something. I found myself moving closer to Keon as I looked around behind us.

"What you so close to me for?"

I whipped my head back to Keon and saw that he was looking at me weird. I backed up just a little. "Sorry. I've never done this before."

He shrugged and opened the door. "Me neither. Nobody's here so don't worry about it. We'll go in, check his office and computer and be out in 20 minutes max. Think you can handle that?" I nodded. "Good."

This was needed after all. If we could find something that could give us any indication as to why Alphonse wanted us married, it could prevent the wedding from even happening. I trusted Keon and I believed that he wouldn't put me into any danger. I was relieved when he stepped aside and let me in first. When the door closed behind him, I was even more relieved because that feeling of being watched went away.

I followed him to his father's office. We had to take the steps to the top floor and then go down a short hallway. He unlocked that door and closed it behind us. The office was pretty big. There was a large brown oak wood desk, a huge brown leather chair and two smaller leather chairs on the opposite side. There was a few bookcases, a brown leather couch with a coffee table in front of it that had numerous sheets of paper on it. His desk held a Mac desktop and was cluttered with pieces of paper. Keon sat at the desk and immediately searched the computer.

"You need me to do anything?"

"Uh yeah look over on the coffee table...see if you see anything. Look for my name or yours."

"Okay."

We were ten minutes into our search when I saw Keon's name on one of the typed papers. At the same time though, I heard voices in the hallway. My eyes widened and a small gasp left my lips. I quickly folded the sheet of paper that I saw and placed it into my back pocket. With my eyes glancing back and forth to the door, I made my way to Keon and nudged him.

"What?"

I placed my finger over my lips and nodded to the door. He pressed his finger against the back of his hearing aid where the volume button was. I heard the voices again and it sounded like they were coming closer. Keon rolled his eyes and stood up. He quickly pressed a button on the computer and pulled me over to a door. I opened it and saw suit jackets hung up. I quickly entered and Keon followed, closing the door quietly behind him. For an office to be so big, this closet was pretty small. Keon moved us to the far left of the closet behind some suit jackets. He stood in front of me, facing me.

The door to Alphonse's office opened and I heard the voices of a man and woman. To me, the male voice sounded like Daniel. Keon pressed his ear to the wall and placed his hand against it, probably to get a gist of what was being said.

"Alphonse never leaves his door unlocked."

"It was probably that dumb ass assistant of his."

"Maybe."

"I bet she's too busy on her knees for him."

"Nah he doesn't mess around with her."

"How do you know?"

"I just know."

"How do you just know Daniel?"

The expression on Keon's face grew tense. He shook his head. I wondered who the woman was?

"I just know damn..."

"Are you fucking her too or something?"

"Not a chance in hell baby."

"Whatever. Did you find what you need?"

"No. I left it on the coffee table earlier. Now it's not here."

"Maybe he has it."

"He told me to bring it with him to dinner."

"You're going out to eat with him?"

"Nah, just dropping this paper off and discussing some linguistics. I won't be long. Besides I already ate."

The woman giggled, "You're so nasty."

"Only for you baby."

I heard what sounded like kissing. Sloppy kissing actually. It made Keon and I turn our faces up in disgust.

"Okay okay let me find this paper."

"It's not here."

"Dammit Kiara I know I left it here. It was right under this folder."

Wait-Kiara? As in Keon and Kyle's sister Kiara? And she was kissing Daniel...

"It's not here Daniel."

"Will you shut up?"

"What's so important about that paper anyway?"

"It's about your brother."

"What about him?"

"I was helping your dad get the prenup together for him and Naiya."

"Oh. They're really getting married Huh?"

"If your dad and I have anything to do with it they will."

"But she's so random-"

"She's not."

"She's a damn orphan Daniel, what's so special about her?"

She's right. What is so special about me? Nothing. So why did Alphonse choose me? I knew I wasn't special but something about hearing someone else say so made me sad. My eyes welled up with tears, but feeling Keon's hand take a hold of mine stopped me from letting them fall. I looked up at him, only to see that his eyes weren't on me. Instead he was staring at the wall as if he could see through them. That hard expression on his face was still there. Maybe he could feel my feelings get hurt from her words and the thoughts that ran through my mind?

"She's not just some random Kiara. Your dad and I know exactly who she is."

"Who is she?"

"..."

"Hello?"

"..."

"Oh so you can't tell me?"

"All I can say is, she has a dad, a mom, siblings...she has a family Kiara."

"And you know who they are?"

"Of course."

More tears came and those fell against my control. My mouth hung open, ready to let out a cry. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Keon moved closer to me and placed his hand over my mouth. His eyes bore into mine as he shook his head slowly telling me not to cry.

"They want her back or something?"

"Not exactly. Her mom...she's...unable to care for her."

"And her dad?"

"He wants what's best for her. That's where this marriage thing comes in. Her father found out she was in the orphanage months ago. And then we came up with this marriage plan."

"So this marriage is just to benefit her? Her parents are money hungry or something?"

"This marriage is beneficial for all of us. Keon, Naiya, your family and me-"

"Why you?"

"It's complicated. Your father and I are business partners though you know that."

"What does this have to do with business?"

"It's complicated Kiara. I'll...you'll know in due time okay?"

"Whatever. Did you find it yet?"

"No. Must not be here."

"I told you it wasn't."

"Yeah yeah yeah. It might be in my car or something."

"Hopefully."

"Let's just go."

My mind was still in shambles when I heard the door close. Silence consumed Keon and I for about five minutes before he moved away from me.

"Uh...let's...let's go."

All I could do was nod. He opened the door and stepped out first and waited for me to come out before he closed the door back. We waited another ten minutes in the office in complete silence before we left the office.

"I'll leave the office unlocked since Daniel knows it's unlocked now. I don't need them looking at the security cameras. Even though they won't see our faces."

Thank goodness the lights were off.

I nodded my head, "Okay."

We were silent again until we got in the car. As he started the car, I broke down crying. Keon turned the car off again and I could hear him shift in his seat.

My second time crying today. Very draining. But I couldn't help it. Alphonse and Daniel knew all about my family. My father knows that Alphonse adopted me...and knows I'm being forced to marry. And I have siblings? This was all too much to handle.

Keon un-clicked my seatbelt and turned my body to face him. He grabbed the sides of my face and held it up to look at him. "Naiya, we're gonna get to the bottom of this okay? I'm almost as upset as you are because they aren't telling you about your family...but you have to continue to be strong for me okay? I know it's hard and you have to trust this...we're gonna find answers you hear me?" I slowly nodded. He wiped underneath my eyes. One of my hands touched his wrist. "I can't promise you that we'll find answers before the wedding but we're gonna find them. And I'm going to take care of you okay? No matter what."

My crying ceased but tears were still in my eyes. "What about what Alphonse said earlier? You think he would really send me back for that? Why is he so pressed over some PDA?"

Keon looked at me for a minute. His hands were still holding my face and my hand was still on his wrist. I wondered what he was thinking about. "Close your eyes," I closed them and felt his thumbs wipe under my eyes again removing the tears that fell. Then I felt him move closer to me. A knot grew in my chest at the same time that my heart began to race. I could feel him taking gentle breaths out of his nose which confirmed my feeling that his face was close to me...

His lips touched my cheek,

Then my jawline,

And finally my lips. It was peck, then he kissed me again, moving my lips to spread...and his tongue touched mine. I've never been kissed like this and something told me he knew. I mean, why else would he tell me to close my eyes? And I've always been afraid of my first kiss. But seconds into it, I was getting the hang of it. Our faces moved in opposite sides with his hands still on my face. His soft nose brushed up against mine when our faces moved and I swore he let out a soft grunt.

Just as quick as this escalated, it ended. He pulled away and I could see a small spot on his cheek glistening from the extract of my tears onto his face. I wiped it away the same way he had done to me before.

"Whatever it takes Naiya. I told you to trust me and I mean it. Whatever means necessary, we will do. Point is, you're not going back there and I meant that shit."

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O_O

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Love you guise!