Chapter Five

I glanced out the window, my heart quickening. The familiar landmarks were gone, replaced by a confusing maze of streets and buildings I didn't recognize.

A wave of disorientation washed over me. Kaio, seemingly oblivious to my growing unease, continued to drive with an unnerving calm. His hands were steady on the wheel, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.

But the silence was deafening, a heavy blanket draped over the unspoken questions swirling in my mind. Finally, I broke the silence, my voice laced with a mixture of apprehension and frustration. "Where are we going, Kaio?" I demanded the question sharper than I intended.

One hand gripped the steering wheel with practiced ease, the other casually rested on the gear shift. Kaio's eyes, however, never left the road. His expression was one of focused concentration, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

"To my condo!" he announced, the words clipped and confident, a stark contrast to the rising unease that churned within me. The casualness of his tone belied the unfamiliar route we were taking.

His reply struck me like a physical blow, leaving me speechless and paralyzed with shock.

I turned to him, my eyes wide with disbelief, my mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. I tried to formulate another question, to challenge his words, but the words caught in my throat.

Then, abruptly, the car screeched to a halt. Before me stood a colossal structure, a behemoth of glass and steel that scraped the sky. Its sheer size was overwhelming, its imposing presence silencing even the city's usual cacophony.

My voice, though barely a whisper, cut through the tense silence in the car. The question, simple yet loaded with unspoken implications. “Your condo?” I asked, my gaze unwavering.

The effect was instantaneous.

Kaio stopped dead in his tracks, his shoulders tensing, his hands momentarily losing their grip on the steering wheel. His gaze locked onto mine, his expression unreadable at first.

A flicker of surprise, perhaps even a hint of apprehension, crossed his features before settling into a mask of controlled calm. He seemed to be wrestling with something internally, his brow furrowed in concentration as he processed my question.

Finally, he spoke, his voice low and serious. “Yeah, why? You're going to change your clothes,” he said, his eyes searching mine, as if trying to gauge my reaction. The seriousness of his tone was unsettling.

I nodded, a little flustered. “Oh! Yeah! I will change my clothes,” I replied, my voice a little shaky, the words tumbling out in a rush.

Stepping out of the car's protective warmth, a sudden chill pierced the air.

Kaio strode purposefully towards the imposing entrance of the building, his silhouette sharp against the twilight sky.

I followed close behind, the sudden shift in temperature hitting me like a physical blow. The blast of cool air from the building's air conditioning system enveloped me, a wave of icy air that sent shivers down my spine. I shivered uncontrollably, my teeth chattering.

Then, a warm weight settled on my shoulders. Kaio had draped his jacket around me. “Come on! Faster, you might catch a cold,” he urged, his voice a low rumble as he steered me towards the elevator doors.

The heavy doors slid open, revealing the sleek interior.

The cold seeped into my bones, making my grip on the jacket even tighter. I watched the numbers climb, each floor a small victory against the relentless chill.

Then, a comforting weight settled on my shoulders—Kaio's arm. His touch was gentle, yet firm, a silent reassurance in the quiet confines of the elevator.

I looked up, meeting his gaze.

He was watching the doors, his expression unreadable, but his eyes held a warmth that belied his quiet demeanor. "Just doing this because you're cold," he said, his voice low and almost apologetic.

The words felt charged with unspoken meaning. "Yeah, thank you!" I replied, my voice a little shaky, the simple words carrying the weight of my gratitude. I waited, the warmth of his arm a comforting contrast to the cold.

The elevator doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a brightly lit hallway.

Kaio stepped out, his silhouette tall and imposing against the muted tones of the corridor.

I followed close behind, the transition from the confined space of the elevator to the open hallway, a welcome change.

He walked with a confident stride, his back to me, his shoulders slightly hunched as if carrying a weight of unspoken thoughts. The rhythmic click of his footsteps echoed softly in the quiet hallway.

We stopped before a door, a simple, unassuming unit number etched into the polished metal.

Kaio's fingers moved swiftly over the keypad, the numbers illuminated in a soft glow. A slight pause, then a soft click as the lock disengaged. He pushed the door open, turning to face me with a warm smile. "Come in!" he said, his voice a gentle invitation.

I stepped inside, my eyes immediately scanning the interior.

The condo was surprisingly spacious and impeccably neat, a stark contrast to the bustling city outside. A calming palette of muted colors enveloped the space, each shade perfectly complementing the others.

The soft glow of recessed lighting highlighted the clean lines of the furniture and the tasteful artwork adorning the walls. A sense of quiet sophistication permeated the air.

Kaio's voice broke the spell. "You can use that bathroom to change," he said, gesturing towards a door tucked away near the sleek, modern kitchen.

The bathroom's understated elegance mirrored the rest of the condo.

"Thanks!" I replied, my voice barely a whisper, as I made my way towards the sanctuary of the bathroom.

Each step echoed in the quiet condo, each footfall amplified by the frantic rhythm of my pounding heart. My chest felt tight, my breath shallow. The bathroom door seemed miles away, each step an agonizing eternity.

Finally, I reached the sanctuary of the bathroom, and the sight that greeted me in the mirror sent a wave of shame crashing over me.

My reflection stared back—a mess of disheveled hair, smudged makeup, and tear-stained cheeks. "For all the days that went through, why today?" I whispered, the question a raw cry of frustration.

The image in the mirror was a painful reminder of my emotional turmoil. The frustration was overwhelming, a tempest of anger and self-reproach that threatened to consume me.

I lashed out, throwing punches into the air, the physical exertion a desperate attempt to channel my pent-up emotions.

Finally, the storm began to subside, leaving a residue of exhaustion and determination. "I need to change!" I told myself firmly, my voice resolute, and began searching for a camera, the need for composure overriding my lingering shame.

Satisfied that the bathroom was free of hidden cameras, I finally allowed myself to relax. The weight of my earlier turmoil began to lift, replaced by a sense of relief. I removed my clothes, the act of shedding the earlier tension.

The warm water of the shower enveloped me, washing away the lingering residue of stress and shame. I noticed untouched bars of soap and bottles of shampoo, their pristine condition a subtle indication of the condo's unblemished state.

I decided to use them, a small act of indulgence in the midst of my unexpected circumstances. "I'll just pay for this later," I murmured, the words a quiet promise to myself as the warm water cascaded over my skin, washing away the grime and the emotional residue of the day.

The warmth was incredibly soothing.

Finally feeling refreshed, I stepped out of the shower, toweling myself dry. I opened the paper bag Kaio had given me, my curiosity piqued. The contents were simple, yet unexpected.

A pair of neatly folded underwear. "Dang!" I breathed, a mixture of surprise and amusement coloring my voice.

Two pairs of underwear lay neatly folded in the bag—one clearly larger than the other. A small, thoughtful gesture.

He hadn't known my size, so he'd provided options. The simple act spoke volumes about his consideration, a quiet kindness that warmed me more than the lingering heat from the shower.

I chose the pair closest to my size, a small act of self-care before facing whatever lay ahead. I got dressed, my hair still damp, the lingering scent of the shower a comforting reminder of the brief respite I'd found.

Stepping out of the bathroom, I found Kaio waiting on the sofa, a mug of something steaming in his hands.

"Come here! Let's just have some hot chocolate," he invited, his voice warm and inviting.

I didn't hesitate, drawn to his quiet strength and unexpected kindness. Sitting across from him, I felt a warmth spread through me, a warmth that had nothing to do with the hot chocolate. "Thank you for this," I said sincerely, my voice thick with gratitude.

"No problem," he replied, taking a sip of his drink, his eyes meeting mine for a moment.

I took a sip of the hot chocolate, the sweetness a pleasant surprise. It wasn't overly sugary, just right—a comforting warmth that spread through me.

Then, Kaio's question hung in the air, unexpected and disarming. "So, what are you doing out there?" he asked, his voice casual yet probing.

The question caught me off guard, a sudden shift in the easy rhythm of our conversation. My mind raced, trying to reconcile the casual setting with the seriousness of my situation.

A moment of stunned silence stretched between us before I could formulate a response. "Looking for a permanent job," I finally answered, my voice a little shaky, the words feeling heavier than they should. I carefully placed the mug back on the coffee table.

Kaio nodded slowly, his gaze unwavering as he placed his mug down on the table, the clinking sound oddly loud in the sudden silence.

The air crackled with unspoken possibilities. Then, the question hung in the air, a carefully weighted proposition. "What if I offer you a job?" he asked, his voice low and measured, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

The unexpected offer caught me completely off guard, a sudden shift in the trajectory of our conversation. My heart pounded in my chest, a mixture of excitement and apprehension churning within me. "What kind of job?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, my curiosity piqued, my mind already racing with possibilities.

Kaio's serious gaze made me acutely uncomfortable.

I shifted in my seat, my eyes darting around the room in a desperate attempt to break the heavy silence that had settled between us.

Then, his words hung in the air, unexpected and jarring. "I need someone to play the part of my fiancée," he said, his tone measured, his eyes searching mine. "It's a temporary arrangement, a business proposition," he added, as if anticipating my reaction.

The offer felt strange, inappropriate, and yet, a flicker of intrigue ignited within me. "Your... fiancée?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, the word hanging in the air, heavy with disbelief and a hint of apprehension.

Kaio nodded, his expression unreadable. His words were a carefully constructed sentence, each word weighted with a significance that I couldn't yet grasp. "I will also give you some information about your father," he said, his tone even, his expression unreadable. "Consider it a bonus for your services."

The offer was audacious, bordering on surreal. The mention of my father added a layer of intrigue, a disturbing twist to an already improbable proposition.

My mind struggled to reconcile the absurdity of the situation with the undeniable appeal of his offer. I stared at him, my expression a mixture of disbelief and cautious curiosity.

Finally, I broke the silence, my voice a low murmur in the charged atmosphere. "Is this for real?" I asked, the words hanging in the air, unanswered.

Kaio's affirmation was sharp, a sudden burst of energy that momentarily shattered the heavy silence. "Yeah! I'm not bluffing!" he stated, his voice firm, his eyes unwavering. But the intensity of his gaze only deepened the mystery surrounding his proposition.

The silence that followed was even more profound, more charged with unspoken questions and implications.

My mind raced, searching for an explanation, a reason for his bizarre offer. There was no logical connection, no apparent reason why he would choose me.

"Why me?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper, the words a plea for clarity in the face of the enigma that was Kaio.

Kaio's response was immediate, almost as if he'd anticipated my question, a chilling premonition of his understanding of my situation. "Because you told me that you need a job," he stated, his tone flat, devoid of any emotion.

The logic was undeniable, yet the implications were far-reaching, far more complex than a simple job offer.

I nodded slowly, my mind racing, trying to reconcile the simplicity of his explanation with the unsettling nature of his proposition. A wave of unease washed over me.

The offer was audacious, bordering on inappropriate, and yet, the desperation of my situation made it strangely tempting.

"Dang!" I muttered under my breath, the word a lament of my predicament.

What should I do? The question echoed in my mind, unanswered.