Dawn groaned in bed as her arm started to feel the warmth of the sun passing through her window. With her eyes half-opened, she took a glance at her alarm only to realize that she should have been getting ready at this time. Even with her body's objection, she got up from her bed, did her morning routine, and headed outside.
It has been a week since that incident happened. Yet up until now, Dawn's mind is still in chaos.
"You'll be fine, Dawn." she mumbled as she headed towards her favorite restaurant just a couple of blocks away from her apartment.
When Dawn entered the restaurant, a delicious aroma welcomed her as she pushed the glass door. She could already feel the heavy grumbling of her stomach, so she immediately sat at her favorite spot and ordered.
Breakfast meal, as usual.
The staff already knew what Dawn wants because she is a regular customer here.
A couple of minutes went in a blur and, her meal arrived. Just by looking at it, she feel like she's drooling and she heard her stomach growl again as if she haven't eaten for days.
Dawn was about to put the large slice of pancake into her mouth when suddenly a stranger sat infront her.
"Uhmm, hi?" she greeted him awkwardly. But he didn't budge.
Oh please, I'm trying to be nice here, she thought.
"Excuse me," she said controlling her temper but still she got no response from him.
"Do you have any manners? I am eating here, can't you say 'excuse me' atleast?" Dawn told him almost yelling.
He just smirked at her and acted as if he didn't hear a single thing from her. What a jerk! She thought. This man has the guts to ignore her after his rudeness. Dawn roamed her eyes around the restaurant, and found an empty table. She looked at him once again and gave him a disgusted and irritated look before going to that empty table she spotted.
She was about to eat again when this same stranger sat in front of her, AGAIN! What's his deal? Is he bored or something? she thought.
Dawn raised an eyebrow at him hoping that he would understand how iritated she is. He smirked and ignored her afterwards. Because of him, she lost her appetite. This man just ruined her perfect meal.
Dawn slammed the money with the bill and goes off without even eating what she ordered.
She is having a bad mood through out the day and worse she got called to the boss' office again.
"What can I do for you sir?" Dawn asked as she enter his office.
"You will live in his mansion, being able to have a taste of richness, and you'll be able to help him. Do you still reject my proposal?" he greeted her with quetions without even looking at her.
To this topic again?she thought and sighed deeply. "I don't ever wished to have that kind of life sir, I am contented of what I have and what I have accomplished." she answered hoping that he will stop with this nonsense.
Mr. Woods sighed. "Dawn, I just want you to accept this for me."
"And what can I benefit from it sir? Except for money. What will I benefit from it that will make me accept this offer?" she asked him with questions that will make him think that he got the wrong woman.
But Dawn was surprised when she saw him smiled at her and then his face turned into a serious one.
"Dawn, you're adopted. And from what I learned, you're late adopted parents died not by accident, it was planned." he said with a tone that Dawn never heard of.
Dawn stood there frozen, unable to make any words that will come out to her mouth. She feel like she's in some kind of a void, with nothing but darkness all over her.
All she know is that she's adopted but she didn't know that her parents were murdered.
"How did you know about this?" Dawn asked confusingly while trying not to cry. She hate seeing herself cry in front of someone. It just feel that she'd shown them her weakness and she doesn't like that.
"I did a background check, I know you're perfect for the job so I hired an investigator to know all about you again so that I will know before I'll offer you this, and this is what I got." he explained.
"No no no, you're just saying that because you want me to marry your nephew!" Dawn can't hold much any longer. He just went too far. He even used my family! I can't take this anymore! she thought.
"Don't go prying on someone's life! It doesn't mean that you have power and money to do so, you're be able to do it freely. Know your place sir." she added and stormed out from his office. She feels like her anger was streaming out like hot lava.
What a bad day, she said while packing her things.
Even though she don't have the right and the position, she walked out from the building. "I have enough of this day." she mumbled as she went to the elevator.
And because of her bad mood, Dawn accidentally bumped herself to someone.
"Ouch, " she said as she touch her temple and caressing it. It hurts a lot.
She looked up to see the same stranger again from that restaurant. Could this day be any worst? she asked herself in disbelief.
"You again? Are you follo—"
Before she could finished her sentence she spotted Livius II walking pass through them with the same cold aura. He looked at them, and signalled this stranger to go with him. The stranger eventually followed him and went into the building, the building where Dawn work at.
After they're gone, she still stood there confused.
What just happened? she asked herself. But she just shrugged it off and went to her apartment.
She need to think about what Mr. Woods just told her. "Is it actually true?? My parents were murdered? But our house burnt down and they said that the cause of fire was the stove was left open making the gas roamed every corner of the house. They also said that my father was taking out a cigarette, and that's when everything blew up and it got burned." she told herself.
"I don't know what to believe anymore."
She messed her hair out of frustration, then she slammed her body to her bed. Dawn can't think clearly of what Mr. Woods said to her.
Is he right? If he does, then why would the firemen told me that it was an accident? Are they even telling the truth? Why would they even lie to me? She debated in her mind.
She hug her pillow and rolled her body over and over again. Overthinking really makes her uncomfortable. So, she texted her bestfriends to meet her up in their hangout place.
Dawn changed her clothes and headed straight to their hangout place. It's a place where they can talk about things and that place is where they actually meet up in the first place. It's like their friendship zone.
Dawn arrived 10 minutes late. She gazed upon the blazing sun and covered her face from the light that was passing through. She opened the glassdoor and looked around to see her friends talking to each other.
The one facing her is a girl with brown sparkling eyes with golden brown hair. Her hair today is in messy half-bun but it's not messy at all. It perfectly matches her perfect beautiful face. She is wearing a crop top jacket and a tattered jeans pair with converse shoes. That's Roanne also known "Ro" is a savage type but she is an outgoing, kind and adventurous among the three of us. Plus the smartest. She's the richest among the three of them because her family owned the chain of groceries. She's the one who always buy them many things for free.
On the other hand, the girl who's back is facing her is Kaira, the pretty cute one. She has a slight long curly red hair in pigtails. Her eyes is the same color as the sky. She has long eyelashes, cute heart-shaped lips, pinkish cheeks and her skin is white as snow. Everything about her is perfect from her perfect face to her perfectly slim body. She is like a living barbie. And her profession is modeling and an actress.
"Kaira! Ro!" Dawn happily called out their names as soon as she saw them. Kaira and Ro looked to the person who's calling their name and was happy to see Dawn going towards them.
Dawn sat beside Kaira and put her things down beside her.
"What's the rush? You texted us that something is going on. Care to tell us?" said Roanne.
For the three of them, Roanne is the oldest, then Dawn and the youngest is Kaira. Their gap is just days because they are born in November in the same year.
But instead of answering them, Dawn just let out a deep sigh. She put her head to the table and began pouting.
"Hey what's wrong dear?" asked Kaira.
"You know Livius II right?" Dawn asked still looking at the table.
"Well duh, everyone knows him, like who doesn't?" Ro stated as she called the waiter to order something to drink or to eat. The waiter nodded and headed back to the counter.
"Well, unfortunately my boss who's his uncle proposed to me that I should marry him." Dawn said without looking at them.
There's silence enveloping them for a minute. Dawn got curious to their reactions so she looked up only to see that they literally stop with their jaw's open wide.
Dawn laughed hard. Their reactions was priceless, she thought. The waiter came in and put Ro's order to our table and that's when they came back to reality.
"Is this for real?" asked Kaira surprisingly.
"No way, you're kidding right?" Ro exclaimed like she didn't believe every word she said.
"Do I look like I'm kidding?" Dawn said in an annoyed and irritated tone.
They looked at her intently trying to figure out if she's lying or not. So Dawn told them everything from the start to this day. In a matter of seconds they are convinced that she is telling the truth.
"No way."
"Unbelievable."
"I know, it's kinda unbelievable. Like hello? There's so many prettier, richer girls out there, why pick me? I feel like I'm being played." Dawn said and sipped the milk tea which Ro ordered for her. She sighed again and put her jaw above her arms.
"You don't like him right? Well, it's contrary to most of the girls here, they actually love him. Although he's cold and heartless. What's good in him is that he is rich, smart and undeniably handsome. Anyways, did you accept the offer?" Ro asked Dawn who was constantly sighing.
"I rejected it. I don't want to be his wife, even if his the last man in the world, I'd rather die single." Dawn said and took a sip of her milk tea.
They laughed and said, "That's so you."
Dawn sighed. "What shall I do now?" she asked.
They looked at her confused. "Why are you asking that? If you rejected it, means you have nothing to worry about." Kaira said.
"I hope that's the case but it isn't."
"Then what is?"
"Unfortunately, Mr. Woods said that he will find another girl fitted to the job, and told me that if he found none, he will force me to agree. And after a week he found none. Then he went below the belt today." she said to them.
"What did he do?" asked Ro as she was constantly sipping in her milktea.
"He offered me money, I refused and then he said to me that he knew that my parents didn't die from accident. They were murdered. I don't know if I should believe that now but it bothered me." she said while playing with the straw of her milktea.
"So let me get this straight, you said that he'll force you to agree if he didn't found one. And unfortunately he found no one. So, he told you about your family. What's wrong with that? He didn't threatened or hurt you right?" Ro said making me looked up to her.
"It just bothered me. What if he's right? What if my parents were murdered?" Dawn asked them.
Ro shooked her head and asked, "Did Mr. Woods offer you something other than marrying Livius?"
Dawn shook my head as a response.
"The pieces of the puzzle is complete now. He knew that your parents were murdered. And he probably knew who's behind it. That's why he proposed that idea. Probably to protect you. For how many years of working for him, he treated you like a daughter right? Then maybe he is just protecting you that's why he choose you. And maybe he also want to help Livius with his attitude and knowing you with your sunny and bright personality, he thought that it's like hitting two birds with one stone. You will melt Livius' ice while Mr. Woods and Livius protect you. It all made sense now." Ro explained while constantly nodding and holding her chin. She poses like a detective cracking a case.
Kaira and Dawn exchanged glances and they laughed. That's crazy! Who would have thought that Ro will think of such an idea?
"Did I say something funny?" Ro asked seriously while Kaira and Dawn are holding their stomach from laughing.
"Best deduction ever!" Kaira exclaimed.
"It sure is." Dawn agreed while wiping her tears.
But Ro, she didn't even laughed. She just looked at them seriously and confusingly. "You two are unbelievable." she said crossing her arms infront of her chest.
Dawn patted her shoulder and said, "Your deduction was cool but I can't believe it. It may sound good to you but to me it isn't. There's no way Mr. Woods knows who's behind my parent's death."
"Why not asked him?" Ro pointed to the door. Kaira and Dawn looked to where she was pointing. They were shocked to see Mr. Woods and Livius II coming in. Dawn glanced at her friends and Kaira's face is full of surprise and worry while Ro's face is telling her that she's challenging Dawn.
Dawn gulped and immediately hide herself from the two persons who just enter the cafe. There's no way they'll find out I'm here, she thought.
"Should I call them?" asked Ro while smirking. Dawn shot her a threatening look and said, "You wouldn't dare."
Ro smirked at her and began to raise her hand. "Mr. Woods!"
Dawn covered her face in embarrassment and in anger. She shot an evil look on Ro but she just said, "That's what's you get for laughing on my deduction."
Dawn looked at Kaira and she just shrugged telling her that she can't help her right now. She's in big trouble. She took a glance at her boss and was shocked to see them in front of them.
"Hello ladies," greeted Mr. Woods and his gaze fall upon to Dawn , "Oh, Dawn you're also here. It's been a while since I saw you three hanging out. It's good to know." Mr. Woods said suprisingly.
Does Mr. Woods know that I skipped work? Dawn thought.
Dawn awkwardly smiled at him. "Y-Yeah it's been a while." she said without having any eye contact to both of the men in front of her.
"Dawn, I'm sorry for what I did earlier and I understand why you said that to me. But I needed to tell you that." Mr. Woods said in an apologetic tone.
She looked at him and was surprised that Livius is also looking at her. "It's okay sir. I'm sorry too." Dawn said bowing her head as a sign that she is sorry for what she did.
"Mr. Woods, my bestfriends here want to clarify something." Ro said. Dawn began telling her not to continue her plan but she smirked at her. She whispered to Kaira pleading to stop her but she said she can't. Oh no, this is bad.
"And what is that?" Mr. Woods asked.
Before Ro can speak, many of the women here were running towards Livius and making a commotion.
"Livius as always, the magnet to girls." Mr. Woods said as he shake his head.
"Mr. Woods, why did you pick Dawn?" Ro asked immediately. Mr. Woods looked at Dawn and smiled. "I really admire your friendship. But as I said, she is fitted for the job."
"I'm not sir. There's many girls out there, take those girls for example." Dawn said as she pointed those girls that were crazy for Livius.
Mr. Woods sat beside Ro and looked at Dawn. "I'm sure you're the one." he said seriously.
"Maybe because you were protecting her since her parents died? And maybe because you knew who's behind his parent's death?" asked Kaira. Dawn shockingly looked at her whispering 'why did you say that?'
"I need to tell Ro that she's basically not right about her opinion earlier." she whispered. Dawn nodded in response and looked at her boss. Surprisingly, he was shocked about what Kaira had just said.
"H-how—"
"You're asking us how, then I guess my deduction was true afterall." Ro said triumphantly. She and Kaira was speechless. They both didn't expect Mr. Woods' response.
"Wait, is it true?" she asked in disbelief.
Mr. Woods sighed in defeat. "I guess there's no running to Miss Detective here. Yes, it's true. I am protecting you, Dawn."
Her jaws dropped and can't utter a single word. "I only knew that the killer of your parents is bad news and maybe they are searching for you. I personally don't know who to be exact but I'm investigating. Your late father and I are good friends since highschool and I will do him a favor, by protecting you, Dawn." Mr. Woods said in a low voice.
The three of them changed glances and she can see that they are worried.
Mr. Woods reached out his hands and grabbed hers. "Dawn, putting you in the hands of Livius will ensure your safety. He doesn't know yet, but tonight I'll tell him. I'm beginning to search for your real parents because maybe that's the reason your adopted parents died but for now, I got nothing. Just do me a favor. Let us protect you." he said pleading.
Dawn can see that Mr. Woods is serious and he really mean about everything he said. She glanced at Kaira and Ro and they were crying.
"Hey, why are crying?" she asked confusingly.
"It's just watching a soap opera." Kaira said while dramatically wiping her tears.
"I am touched by how Mr. Woods was saying it. It's like watching a father-and-daughter movie." Ro said also copying what Kaira did.
This girls are unbelievable, Dawn rolled her eyes at them and looked at Mr. Woods. He chuckled and amusement were in his eyes. "It's true that I treated Dawn as my own daughter." he said and can't help but to be teary-eyed as well.
"Mr. Woods! I salute you!" Ro said as she stood up and put her hands above her eyebrows saluting to Mr. Woods. Kaira also did they same thing.
Everyone is staring at them, also those girls who are clingy to Livius and Livius himself.
Do I know this girls who got out of the mental hospital? she thought.
Mr. Woods laughed hard as those girls were standing still, saluting like a crazy person. Dawn shooked her head in disbelief. Why do she have friends like this?
They sat down. "I think you should consider his offer, Dawn." Ro said.
"Yeah." Kaira agreed.
"You can still protect me even without marrying him right? Being married to him is not right." Dawn said.
Mr. Woods sighed. "I can't do the protecting alone. From the information I got, they're powerful. My power is not just enough but Livius alone can protect you." he said reassuringly.
She sighed in defeat. "I bet he won't agree just like I did." she said with hopes in her mind. That cold, arrogant man will agree to marry me? That's quite unbelievable.
"I confess that I will use you to make my nephew not as cold as he is now but knowing you're situation, it may be hitting two birds with one stone." Mr. Woods said.
"Bingo!" Ro exclaimed, "I was right, wasn't I?"
She nodded in defeat and also Kaira.
"I'll manage to persuade him about this matter. So, will you accept?" Mr. Woods asked. She looked at Kaira and Ro and they were nodding constantly saying that she should accept his offer.
She sighed. "What else can I do?"
"Yes!" Kaira and Ro exclaimed with happiness. And Mr. Woods happily clapped his hands.
"I'm so happy for you Dawn. You will be a wife soon." Ro said. "I agree, I can't wait to become a maid of honor." Kaira said and is dramatically dreaming again.
"What's the joyful remarks about?" said the voice beside her. It was Livius.
"Oh my nephew, this is Kaira Vlouse, Roanne Anderssen and lastly, Dawn Valerie. Girls, this is Livius II, my nephew." Mr. Woods introduced us.
They said 'hi' but he just look at them and said, "I'll be heading out now. These girls are killing me." and without greeting them, he left.
But the shocking thing he did was he looked at Dawn and smirked before going out of this place.
What was that supposed to mean? Dawn thought.