The next morning – Saints Estate
The room was quiet, the curtains drawn, only the faint glow of sunlight slipping through. That peace shattered the second the door slammed open.
"Mi encanto!" Zarri's voice rang out, sharp as ever, her heels clacking against the marble floor as she stormed inside. She was already mid-rant, waving her phone in the air like a weapon.
"Do you know how insane I went last night looking for you?" she demanded, striding over to my bed. "Your phone? Dead. Your car? Still outside the club. And then guess who texts? That wolf of a man... Alex, saying Chaos took you home!"
She threw her arms up dramatically, eyes wide. "Chaos Riegrow, the ice king himself, swoops in like some dark knight and just, what? Carries you off without asking? And you let him?!"
Zarri plopped onto the bed beside me, tugging the blanket down just enough to get a good look at my tired face. Her eyes narrowed, suspicious and sharp.
"Spill it, Kashi. Every detail. Because if that man so much as breathed wrong in your direction, I swear I'll drag him through fire myself."
My head throbs, a lingering reminder of last night's revelry, and Zarri's voice only exacerbates the discomfort. "Chaos took... me home..." I mutter, struggling to recall the events. I blink hard, twice, and grasp her arm, my grip firm. "Chaos brought me home?" I ask, my voice rising to a near-scream, incredulous and bewildered.
Zarri jerked back at my outburst, blinking twice before smacking my arm lightly.
"Sí! Finally, her highness remembers," she shot back, her tone dripping with sarcasm.
['Yes']
"I've been saying that for the last five minutes, mi encanto. Chaos. Riegrow. Mr. Ice King himself. Carried you out of the club like some scene from a mafia drama."
She flopped onto her back beside me, groaning. "Do you have any idea what people would give to be in that position? And you.... you don't even remember it?"
Rolling back onto her side, she propped her head up with her hand, narrowing her eyes at me like a cat about to pounce. "So, tell me… what exactly happened between you two that he didn't dump you on the pavement like everyone else he doesn't care about?"
I rolled my eyes at her witty remarks.
Her grin widened slowly. "Don't tell me you actually kissed him."
She gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Wait... did you?"
The words tumble out, fragmented and hesitant. "What kissed him... I would ne..."
But then the memories flood back, and my eyes snap wide open in horror.
"Oh no," I turn to zarri, my voice laced with anguish. "Oh no, no no no no no," I groan, my words spilling out in a pained whisper.
Zarri bolted upright like she'd just won the lottery, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Oh. My. God." She jabbed a perfectly manicured finger at me. "You DID! You kissed him!"
She clapped her hands together, bouncing slightly on the bed like an excited child. "I knew it! I knew there was no way you'd spend an entire night alone with Chaos Riegrow and not combust. That man oozes sin. And you.... " she poked my shoulder, "you went and tasted it!"
Her grin turned wicked as she leaned in closer, Not giving me a chance to answer, lowering her voice. "So? How was it? Hot? Rough? Was it the kind of kiss that makes you question your entire existence? Tell me everything!"
Then her expression shifted, playful but sharp. "Because if you don't, mi encanto… I will march straight to X Holdings myself and ask him."
"Zarri pleaseeeeeee" I pleaded out loud in pain
Zarri dropped back onto the bed beside me with a dramatic sigh, throwing an arm over her eyes like she'd just been mortally wounded.
"Ugh, you're killing me, mi encanto," she groaned. "Do you know how long I've waited for some juicy chaos... pun very much intended and now you're denying me the details? This is torture!"
She peeked at me from under her arm, a sly smile creeping back onto her face. "Fine, fine, I'll let you off the hook… for now."
Rolling onto her side, she propped her chin on her palm, watching me panic with softer eyes this time. "But, Kashi…" she said, her tone losing its teasing edge, "don't think I didn't notice the way you said 'oh no' just now. You're scared, and that's not you."
Her brows furrowed slightly, concern flickering through the mischief. "What happened between you and him last night… are you sure you're ready for that storm? Because Chaos isn't just some man. He's…" She exhaled. "…he's dangerous."
Her hand slipped over yours, squeezing gently. "And you've already bled enough, mi encanto."
"It was just a drunk kiss, it meant nothing to him am sure. He'd realize I was drunk. A man like him wouldn't push this futher" I say to zarri
Zarri let out a sharp laugh, sitting up again with her hands on her hips, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Oh, please," she scoffed. "A man like Chaos Riegrow doesn't do 'nothing,' Kashi. If he kissed you back, drunk or not he meant it. That man doesn't waste his time on anything he doesn't want."
She leaned closer, lowering her voice with a sly grin. Zarri shook her head, chuckling under her breath. "You're trying to convince yourself, mi encanto, not me." She flicked my forehead lightly. "And it's cute, really, watching the great Kashi Saints panic over a kiss."
Her smirk softened into a small, knowing smile.
I collapse onto the bed, my mind reeling with embarrassment. "Oh no, how do I face him now?" I cried out loud, mortification etched on my face. "First he announces to the whole world I'm his woman, which I've denied to him countless times, and then I go ahead and kiss him." I bury my face in my hands, feeling like I've hit rock bottom.
I glared at Zarri who was still laughing at my expense. "What do I do now, Zarri?" I wailed, my frustration boiling over.
"Arrrgggh, how could you leave me in the club?" I grab a pillow and whack her with it, trying to vent my frustration. She, however, just laugh harder and grab a pillow, preparing to retaliate.
"You little devil!" she shrieked, swinging it back at me. "Don't you dare blame this on me!"
The two of us went at it for a few seconds, pillows flying, laughter echoing off the walls, my earlier panic dissolving into the chaos of the moment. Finally, Zarri flopped onto her back, hair messy, cheeks flushed from laughter, clutching the pillow to her chest like a trophy.
Breathless, she turned her head toward me with a sly grin. "See? That's the Kashi I know. Not the one crying over men, but the one who fights back, even if it's with pillows."
Her smile softened then, her voice gentler. "Listen, mi encanto… whatever happens with Chaos, you'll handle it. You always do. And if he makes you cry again…" she raised the pillow threateningly, "…I'll smother him myself."
She winked. "Now, get up. If we're going to survive this city, we'll need more coffee and a killer dress. Because you can't avoid him forever and when you do see him again, you'll want to look untouchable."
I nod, and we both head downstairs, Zarri's hand still holding mine. As we enter the living room, I see Grandfather and Frank sitting there, looking rather relaxed. I walk up to Grandfather, and before I can say anything, he speaks up, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"You devious kid, you drank so much and passed out. That brat Riegrow kid brought you home," Grandfather nags, his voice playful yet exasperated.
He turns to Zarri, "And you! were where you? Gallivanting, ey? You both will be the end of me, and I'm way too young for this stress," he sighs, shaking his head.
I turn to massage his arm, trying to placate him, while Zarri grabs his other arm and joins in. "Grandpa, we didn't mean to make you worry," I say, trying to sound as cute and innocent as possible, hoping to diffuse the situation.
Grandfather James groaned, swatting lightly at both our hands even as the corner of his mouth twitched like he was holding back a smile.
"You two think batting your lashes will erase my headache?" he huffed, though his voice was softer than his words. "Do you know what it's like to wake up at midnight and hear your heiress granddaughter was carried in by Chaos Riegrow of all people? The entire household thought we'd been dragged into mafia business!"
Frank, standing quietly by his side, cleared his throat, "Allegedly sir!" he says trying to hide the amused look on his face. "To be fair, sir… she looked perfectly safe in his care."
Grandfather shot him a glare sharp enough to silence him, then turned back to me and Zarri. "Safe? Safe?! That boy is a storm waiting to swallow anyone near him. And you..." he pointed at me, "don't get any ideas. That man may look like carved marble, but he's trouble through and through."
Zarri stifled a laugh, looping her arm through his. "Oh, lighten up, old man. Kashi's not going to run off with him."
Grandfather's eyes narrowed, first at her, then back to me. "Over my dead body she won't."
As Grandfather's words fade, Frank chuckles, and Zarri and I exchange a glance, both of us bursting into laughter. The tension dissipates, and soon we're all laughing together, the atmosphere lightening up.