Kiyara
The following morning, I woke up in my bedroom to see Ezekiel walking in with breakfast. I looked shocked, thinking Ezekiel only knew how to make instant noodles, but he brought me a full, delicious-looking meal. I smiled slightly at him as he met my eyes.
"I heard girls love breakfast in bed," his deep morning voice was so angelic that I immediately felt lucky to have a boyfriend like Ezekiel.
"They do," I said in a whisper. I went towards the bathroom to freshen up, then came back wearing a towel. Ezekiel saw me, and his eyes brightened, but I frowned and immediately went towards my walk-in closet to change into a knitted sweater and shorts.
He looked a little disappointed, but I wasn't ready for him. He smiled and came over to give me a soft kiss. When I tasted his food, I was shocked and amazed. He should be cooking for five-star hotels—what was he doing with E-Tech? I widened my eyes, and he smiled.
"You love it?" he asked, looking very charming. I swallowed down the food and nodded.
"Yes, it's really delicious. Ezekiel, where did you learn to cook like this?" I asked in amazement.
"I paid the owner of Morent to teach me while you were busy with your work," he said, smiling at me.
"Really? I thought you would also be busy with your office work."
"Uh...yes, I was, but nothing is more important than learning to impress my woman," he looked serious while saying it, and I frowned at him, which he ignored, knowing what I would say.
"I'm not done learning yet, though. Maybe you can learn with me?" His icy blue eyes found my light brown ones as I gulped down the orange juice.
"No! I would prefer if you do the cooking instead," I smiled.
"Great, then maybe you will stop cutting yourself with kitchen utensils," he joked, and I pretended to laugh.
"Haha, very funny. We both know that I'm like a pro in the kitchen," I said with narrowed eyes.
"Hmm," he said mockingly.
Then his phone rang. He picked it up.
"What is it?" he said, sounding a little annoyed.
"Oh," he smiled and then cut the call.
"What's wrong?" I asked, worried and curious.
"Ariel fought with a reporter," Ezekiel smiled, and I frowned and got out of bed.
"What?!" I said.
"Guess it has something to do with you." He held my hand, and I followed him downstairs. He turned on the TV, and we saw the news report about the reporter who got hurt by Ariel. The reporter looked really beaten up while talking to the people about what Ariel did to her.
"Oh no," I covered my mouth, but I caught Ezekiel's amused face.
"Why do you look so impressed?" I asked him, looking at him like he did something unbelievable.
"I am very proud of Ariel. If I were her, I don't think the reporter would still be alive to report me," he smirked.
"You and Ariel are just so..." I couldn't find the proper word—impulsive? Hasty? Intolerant? Or harsh?
Ezekiel chuckled, and I rolled my eyes. I was planning on calling Bella, but then I realized my phone was with her, so I borrowed Ezekiel's iPhone and decided to call her.
"Bella!"
"Kiyara?" Bella said at the other end of the phone.
"How is Ariel? Where are you guys?" I asked, worried.
"Uh... Ariel...she was calm, but...uh... she turned angry again after hearing the news. I think we need to buy her a punching bag. We are at the station; she is getting bailed out."
My eyes widened at the last sentence, and I panicked.
"The police station?! I knew this would happen." I immediately grabbed my car keys.
"Yeah, but don't worry, your-" What? No, I have to worry. I'm coming now!" I interrupted her and headed towards the door when Ezekiel stopped me.
"You're going to the station?" He asked with one eyebrow lifted.
"Yes," I said, and Ezekiel sighed.
"Okay, I will drive." He opened the door, and we got into a Porsche and went to the police station.
I ran towards Ariel when I saw the handcuffs about to get unlocked around her hands.
"Ariel," I said, worried. "Are you okay?" She looked at me with a frown, then at Bella.
"You told her?" Bella shrugged, "I had to." Ariel sighed and faced me.
"Don't worry; I enjoyed beating the witch," Ariel said proudly, and a proud smile appeared on Ezekiel's lips. I held Ariel's shoulder.
"You shouldn't have done that. Now you will be affected because of me," I looked sad, and Ariel held my shoulder.
"We are like sisters; there is nothing in sharing your pain."
"Exactly," Bella agreed with Ariel.
"But now, because of me, you entered bare, and-" I got shushed by Ariel.
"I enjoyed every last hit I landed on that wench," Ariel said coolly and went out of the police station while we followed her.
"I have called my driver to come pick me up," Ariel said, and I told her, "Don't worry, let me drop you off."
"No, I'm not going home, Kiyara," I looked confused.
"Then where are you going?" I asked.
"Probably to Shawn's," Bella said mockingly, and Ariel looked sad.
"Yes, I just want to confirm if he still wants our relationship active," she forced a smile. Her driver came to pick her up, and I waved to her as she waved back. Then I sighed.
"I need to go handle some paperwork. If you want to follow me to the offi-"
"She won't be coming," Ezekiel, who had been quiet, said to Bella, and she nodded and went, getting into her BMW.
"Why did you have to decide for me?" I asked with folded arms.
"We all know that you still need time to get back to your normal self. That's why she did not insist and left," Ezekiel took my hands and led me to my Porsche. I sat in the passenger seat and immediately got a message from an unknown number.
"Stay away from Ezekiel King," I frowned upon seeing it and gulped, looking at Ezekiel, who was focused on the road with his right hand on my lap. He looked at me and smiled, and I returned the smile nervously.
Who was this? A stalker? The person that uploaded the video? Ezekiel's enemy? My enemy? I was worried, thinking about the text on the way home.
Ezekiel
I was really proud of Ariel Foster for what she did to that unbelievably rude reporter. I think I should give her a small gift. John told me about every single detail of what happened. He was really good at tracking people and getting information on them.
If I had been with the reporter, she wouldn't be alive to report me. It's the same thing I said to Kiyara. I know you might think, "She's a woman," but aside from Kiyara and her loved ones, everyone else is an animal I can't really care about.
I drove Kiyara back after her meeting with Ariel at the police station. I was worried to see her acting really strange. I acted as if I didn't notice, but it was clear she was worried. I thought maybe she was still concerned about Ariel and decided to cheer her up by buying her some vanilla ice cream, her favorite. There was just a second of happiness before it vanished, so I stopped by to buy her some cotton candy. She was happy for a moment, but then I decided to stop at a supermarket to buy her a lot of sweets.
I had read that the best way to make someone feel alright is by giving them something sweet.
I tried with that, but Kiyara looked annoyed when I stopped the seventh time.
"What now? Gonna buy me a whole village filled with cotton candy?" She frowned at me while talking.
"If I have to," I looked confused. I thought girls liked these things.
"What?... Ezekiel, why are you buying a lot of sweets?" She said in a calm tone, and I gently explained to her about what I read on the internet about women getting better after taking sweets.
She facepalmed herself and sighed. I looked ahead and started driving with a smile on my face while hearing her sweet lectures on how everything on the internet isn't real. At least now, she wasn't worried.
Later That Evening
Back at home, Kiyara seemed more relaxed, and I decided to make us a special dinner. While I was in the kitchen, Kiyara sat at the counter, watching me with a curious look.
"You really are full of surprises," she said, resting her chin on her hands.
"I aim to please," I replied, chopping vegetables with precision.
As the evening progressed, I noticed Kiyara becoming more at ease. We talked about our favorite childhood memories, dreams for the future, and even laughed about silly things we had done in the past. It felt like we were building a stronger connection, one moment at a time.
After dinner, we settled on the couch with a bottle of wine. Kiyara snuggled up to me, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. The tension from earlier in the day seemed to melt away.
"You know, I'm really grateful to have you in my life," she said softly, looking up at me with those beautiful brown eyes.
"And I am grateful for you, Kiyara," I replied, kissing her forehead. "No matter what happens, we'll face it together."
As we sat there in comfortable silence, I couldn't help but think about the message Kiyara had received earlier. I would do whatever it took to protect her, to keep her safe. Whoever was behind that message would soon learn that messing with Kiyara meant messing with me.
Meanwhile
In a dimly lit room across town, a shadowy figure typed away on a laptop. The person grinned, satisfied with the chaos they had started. Little did they know, they were up against someone who would stop at nothing to protect what he loved.