CHASE
Caroline Havens: At Work
Day rose, night fell. Another day, I stretched my body, wore new clothes, and left the hotel. I feel like I'm working too much, but it's mostly nothing compared to what I used to do.
Nickel and Cupra went to take a car because we have to avoid using cabs as much as possible. These two are still heads of Nyco Brothers Company. They can't just roam around like maggots.
The car arrived—a new model of Kaxix-R7.
I sat inside the comfy seat; it had a royal look. These two were in the front seat.
"Let's get moving!" I gave the signal, and Cupra started the car. We were going through the roads of the city, highways, etc. Today's main goal was to avoid someone, so I chose the longest path to our home.
I discovered them last night—there were two cars following us. They could either be Momo's or Phinixia's, and I want to avoid both of them.
"Where is the princess? I can't find her!!?!"
"Someone call the police!"
...
"Momo hasn't returned home since yesterday. Where is she?"
"Don't worry, she'll be alright!"
The two cars were following us, so we took the town way. The grasslands were racing around us, the sun was following me. Cattle herds, goats, sheep, etc.—animals were there.
Birds were diving in the air all around us. Maybe living as a farmer isn't that bad. It felt like freedom was at my feet, just a step away.
But those two pitch-black cars were still there. Now, we could have just totally left for our mansion where security was highest, but I wanna teach them a lesson. Time was around 10 AM; I got 12 hours till my meet with Gehrmensch.
We took a left turn straight into the fields—so did the cars. Cupra was driving in snake patterns to confuse the followers. Then we took a drifting U-turn, climbing onto the road and accelerator on max.
V-12 X-core engine pumped the power as our speed reached near 201 kmph.
"Still not enough!" Those two were catching up to us.
Now the second trap. We surged straight towards a river. There were two ways—one was a bridge and one was a down way into the river.
We forced towards the edge of the river. The car following us caught up. Suddenly, all of us grabbed our seats as the other two cars jumped into the river. Cupra hit the brake.
Then a U-turn and back into the wide fields.
"I wonder if they'd return!" Nickel peeked out of the car from the open window.
"They sure will!" I predicted.
A loud burst of engine—we heard as those two cars were cutting through the air towards us.
"Cupra, fast! Are they right in their mind?? Weren't they spying on us instead of being so obvious?" I was confused as heck.
"Are they trying to kill us?"
"Shut up, Nickel, and think positive!" Cupra burst into anger and again went full speed.
Now we were on the road, and those two cars were catching up to us. Time was 11:54 AM.
We took some circles and hid inside a cottage. The car completely got hidden inside the hay.
The two cars were roaming around, trying to find us while we took a small rest inside the cottage, drinking juice.
12 NOON.
The cars weren't around, so we took the opportunity and drove towards the city. Who can they be? If it was the princess, they would be highly trained spies, but they seem rogue.
It has to be Momo. Looks like they found out that I was the one in Burners Café who rejected Momo a second time.
The city was near. Suddenly, from both sides, the cars came towards us. However, we were fast enough to go through them and entered the city.
Now I can at least be assured we're more safe than before.
"Fast! Come here, I'm sending you the location!" Cupra called a driver from the mansion to pick up the car. We parked secretly and went on foot towards a hotel.
"Man, that was crazy! You should become an F1 racer, Cupra!" Nickel complimented. I could see Cupra being secretly happy as hell.
"Seriously, you drove like crazy. I really thought we seriously were done for."
Time: 1 PM
We booked our rooms and took a long nap.
Time: 4 PM
We went inside a mall which was crazy beautiful, lush aesthetics and a big fountain in the centre. The clothes were fancy and sales were striking.
Nickel bought me an ice cream.
"I don't know much about a girl's menstrual cycle, but hope this helps!" Such a sweet guy! I hope more men were like him.
He's at least trying. And since he skipped schooling, I didn't expect him to know much.
He didn't have many friends; they all were either cash-grabbers or bullies.
Strawberry was my favourite flavour, but even chocolate helped because Nickel gave it out of kindness. This ice cream screamed emotions.
Ok, that was a bad one, I gotta work more on my lines. Maybe then I could become a writer?
What if there's someone writing me? Someone reading about me? Gosh, that seems creepy—they're stalking me without my permission. Well, it's not like they can do anything to me.
And you! Writer! Author! Whatever! Make me look cool as hell! I want a fanbase! Cute edits! Cults... well, it's my imagination, so I can ask for anything. It's not like I'm really being written somewhere by someone!
I looked around—there was a bookstore. Book? Maybe I should start reading some.
I walked inside and the store was filled with many people. I somehow got in and saw.
[SONG OF PEN] Selling with author's autograph.
Huh? Are they selling it here? And with the author's autograph? That means!
Someone from the front of the line waves at me. The crowd gave me way, I walked near her and—
"My cinnamon roll! How're you?" Her eyes were felt like shining stars. In the middle of selling, she hopped on me and hugged me. The crowd was staring at us, in fact, cameras already got out.
I bet I'd be trending on social media right now.
"How are you? And here?"
What should I say? I guess let's make her smile because a smiling lie is better than a sobbing truth.
"I... uh... came to see you, like... I came to get the autographed book from you since it would be more special!"
Her eyes widened and her grip tightened. She really likes hugs, right? I'll die, ugh!
I gently pushed her aside and told her to carry on her job, but she insisted so much and drew both of us on the last page of her book and gave me a special edition.
And people started taking out money just to get that same drawing on their novel. Damn. It feels so good being the spotlight.
Maybe I should become a celeb with La Mes. She'll definitely help me! Ok, deal done! I'll be a star after my PA job!
"What about the previous book?" she asked.
Oh god, if I said the truth, I'm done for. My dream of becoming a star is dead!
"I actually framed it since it was the first copy."
I faked the smile, but she was so beautifully smiling. I felt like a literal celeb after being shutter-shot by the crowd. The flashes covered my face—I couldn't see, but I sure imagine myself in my imagination.
5:45 PM
He was sitting on a cream chair, looking at his phone.
"She's getting popular, huh?" He was smiling in the happiness of her.
Still waiting for today's 10 PM.
(#SongofmesprhitaniaXthecutefellow) was the hashtag going around, mainly on Caroline's pics with La Mes.
**Time: 6 PM**
I stalked the food corner because it caught my interest. I was craving sweet buns.
"Hey, Cupra!" Cupra was walking towards me, so I called him. He came near me holding some shopping bags with some figurines and manga collection, some Blu-rays.
"Yes?" he replied. He seems like a true otaku. I'm not opposing it, but kinda unique if I had to term.
"Feed me some sweet buns!" I crossed my arms and made a pout.
"Sweet buns? Here? Um..." He started to look here and there. What a loser!
I kicked his leg and aimed at the shop behind me with my thumb.
"Oh... there!" Then we went there. The sweet buns were amazing.
The soft and squishy buns melting in my mouth—oh god.
Time: 6:34 PM
Nickel joined us, and I didn't want to leave, so we ordered a family-sized ramen bowl and ate it all. It wasn't the timer challenge, but if it was, I would have won.
Time: 7:02 PM
We were dozing off. The ramen got the better of us; we were resting in the cafe.
"I can't eat more..." Cupra burped.
"We won, master!" Nickel claimed victory.
"Yeah." I joined my hands in the team of me, Nickel, and Cupra.
Time: 7:15 PM
"Sir, Madam. Our cafe is closing. Please, you three have to leave now!"
We three stood together, helping each other to stand up, and walked out of the cafe. Cupra's ankle pressed a bit on my breast.
"Hey Cupra, look out! It hurts." I am slowly getting on my own. It hurts, so it does. I know he did it unintentionally, but it still does.
"S-sorry. I'll make sure it doesn't happen next time." His face was a little sad. Well, this is part of him growing up. It doesn't matter that much.
Time: 8:00 PM
We finally reached our hotel and walked in the hallways together. I was hanging from Nickel's shoulder—I mean, leaning in because I was tired. Nickel had all of our keys; Cupra took his keys. Perhaps he's eager to go to the toilet or something?
Nickel was opening my door, so I leaned on Cupra's hand, but...
"Ouch!" He pushed me away? Hey, what the hell?
"Cupra, what are you doing? Apologize right now!" Nickel took the stand for me. I don't want them to fight. But what's wrong with Cupra?
"Hey brother, you're overreacting! I gently pushed her aside because she was stepping on my leg. It hurts me too!"
Just a step? And what about when he unintentionally pressed his ankle on my breast—he...
He apologized.
"Why are you arguing over such a petty thing?" Nickel took a step further.
Just then, Momo's face flashed in front of my eyes. I remembered what she said.
"Oh, now if I'm hurt it's a petty thing? And when Miss Caroline's hurt it's not right?" He went and shut closed his door.
"Leave him, he'll be fine tomorrow. He sometimes gets angry once a month. But after that, he'll be normal again." Nickel also went inside, but he said goodnight to me.
Of course, he'll sleep now, but I have to think about the 10 PM dinner with Gehrmensch. I seriously don't wanna go.
I feel bad for Cupra.
I slept on my bed as time went by.
Time: 8:37 PM
Time: 9:00 PM
Time: 9:23 PM
I opened my phone and checked some gifts for Cupra. How can I make him happy again? I have to apologize. I was too engulfed by the pride and money watering that I forgot.
I'm just a PA hired by these two. Cupra is equally a boss of mine as Nickel, yet he was nice to me for so long.
I'm just being arrogant, but Nickel did say he just gets angry sometimes, right? Maybe it's his problem. I just have to solve his anger issues.
I know to solve someone's issues is to let them know it's meaningless. So, I guess buying a gift would only spoil him.
And my head hurts since I thought about Momo's words—that I'm just hired because I have skills, not because I'm truly loved.
I guess I'll skip Gehrmensch today.
I checked my phone; it was heavy rain today. Obviously, Gehrmensch would leave. Even if the predicted time is 12:00 AM, he isn't the type of person to wait for a storm to sweep him away.
And then the time came.
Time: 10:00 PM
I checked my phone and saw his messages, and just then, exactly another message came:
—Are you coming? Leave it. You have probably read the rain news, right? I guess I'm just stretching this break for too long. I gotta work for the company too, I can't just sit around.
Thank God he understood. I left my phone and pressed my head into the pillow. The rain didn't come until 1 AM.
I was wide awake, couldn't sleep because I was thinking something.
La Mes would be angry that her first copy was accidentally burnt—and more angry because I lied. Cupra is angry, but Nickel said he'll be fine. Gehrmensch, at best, would ignore me and go back to his job. Momo is coming after me because I rejected her a second time, even after her warning.
I'm so lazy to work it all out. I should've told the truth to La Mes. I should've apologized to Cupr... No, it's his thing. I should've gone yesterday when I was free, even if it was just some veggies, Gehrmensch... No. I wonder what it'd be even?
Should I check it now? He probably has left the place. The rain was lighter.
3 AM was the time. I wore a long coat and took an umbrella. Walked out.
It was my fourth day, technically.
I sat in the late-night cabs which were provided by the hotel and went to the location. The driver was a woman, so I felt safe. The umbrella was dark and rich brown—J-stick.
I reached the place; it was a garden. The rain was minimal but didn't end right away. I got off the seat and saw.