Kassia's wounds had healed up pretty well, and today was the day she planned to tutor Caleb in the courses he found difficult. In return, he would pay her twenty-five bucks every week. To Kassia, twenty _five bucks was a significant amount-it could help her buy Chicago a new school bag and fresh sheets for her bed, as the old ones were worn out.
She decided to take Chicago along to Caleb's place, as their mother had not been home since their last encounter, a month ago. Kassia hadn't seen her since.
As they walked, Chicago sighed, already exhausted from the long journey. "We've been walking for hours, Kassia. My legs are aching," she complained.
"Chicago, will you stop whining? We're almost there," Kassia mumbled. "Besides, this is called exercising, you lazy girl."
"This isn't exercising," Chicago countered. "It's called trekking, and we're doing it because we don't have money for the bus." She glanced at her sister. "We're going to your friend's place, right? The one you hate-Caleb?"
Kassia nodded. "Yes, we're going to my friend's place. And you got his name right," she said. "I want you to be on your best behavior when we get there. "Don't act like a smartie pant."
"Kassia," Chicago said, frowning, "'smartie pant' isn't really a word, you know that, right? And besides, I have lots of assignments to do, so I'll be busy anyway."
A brief silence passed between them before Chicago spoke again, her voice softer this time. "By the way, how are your wounds? I still can't believe Mom did that to you. I think you should report her to the police."
Kassia shook her head. "Mom isn't stable, Chicago. Honestly, I think she was just in a bad mood that day. You know she loves us-she loves you so much. She may not show it like other moms, but that's just her way."
Chicago stopped walking, her expression filled with frustration. "So beating and shouting at us is her way of showing love?" she asked, disbelief lacing her voice. "Because Mom is never home, and when she is, she's always drinking. She even tries to steal my money, searches through my clothes, and yells at me to hand over anything I have. I don't think Mom loves us, Kassia."
Kassia looked away, unable to argue. The truth sat between them, heavy and undeniable.
Chicago's concerns still lingered, but Kassia tried to reassure her. "Chicago, please don't think like that. Don't worry about all that," she murmured.
Caleb's house was enormous-more of a mansion than a typical home. The security guard asked them a few questions before instructing the gatekeeper to let them in. The estate was so large that there were two separate houses within the compound, and they were directed to the main one.
Kassia rang the doorbell, and a woman answered. "You must be Kassia, Caleb's tutor, right?" she asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Kassia responded politely.
"Follow me. Caleb has been waiting for you," the woman said, leading them inside to an impressively spacious sitting area.
"Caleb will be down in a minute," she added before leaving them alone.
Kassia turned to her younger sister. "Chicago, take out your assignment now so you can finish it before we leave."
A moment later, Caleb came down the stairs, dressed in jeans and a stylish blue shirt. If Kassia didn't think he was insufferable, she might have admitted he looked good.
"Kassia, finally! I thought you had changed your mind about coming," Caleb said with a smirk. "Let's study on the balcony."
They studied for a few hours, though Caleb frequently complained and eventually insisted on taking a break. Kassia internally rolled her eyes, considering him nothing more than a spoiled brat.
After two hours, they decided to wrap up the session for the day. Caleb left Kassia alone on the balcony and went inside. After a while, she decided to look for him, only to realize that Chicago had left during their study session.
When Kassia went in search of her sister, she spotted her laughing with a man dressed in a three-piece suit. At first, she couldn't see his face since he was turned away from her. Curious, she walked closer, and when she finally got a better view, she froze.
The man was, without a doubt, the most handsome person she had ever seen. She knew it sounded cliché, but there was no other way to describe him. He was tall-at least six feet three inches-towering over her petite five-foot-four frame. His sharp jawline, captivating blue eyes, and dark hair, which looked incredibly soft, held her attention. For a fleeting moment, she felt the urge to run her fingers through his hair just to see if it was as silky as it appeared.
And then there was his beard. Kassia had always been drawn to men with beards.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard her name. Chicago was calling her, snapping her out of her trance. "Is it time to go home?" her sister asked before immediately continuing.
"Kassia, meet my new best friend, Cain!" Chicago beamed.
Then, turning to the man, she added, "Bestie, this is my big sister, Kassia."
Kassia glanced at her little sister, slightly taken aback by how mature she sounded despite being only five years old.
She extended her hand for a handshake, but Cain, as Chicago had introduced him, simply gave a curt nod and turned his attention back to the little girl.
"Princess, I need to go now, but remember what I said-you can come visit anytime you like," Cain said to Chicago.
"Okay, bestie. Bye!" Chicago mumbled in response.
Kassia watched as Cain walked away, disappearing up the stairs. She sighed, feeling an odd sense of distraction.
"Chicago, are you done with your assignment?" Kassia asked.
"Yes, I am," Chicago confirmed. "Can we go home now?"
"Stay here while I gather my things, then we'll leave," Kassia said.
The sisters left Caleb's house in the afternoon. Kassia checked the time-she had only an hour to prepare for work. Juggling multiple jobs was exhausting, but she had no other choice.
Today was Friday, which meant she had a shift at Mysia Hotel-one of the biggest hotels in New York City. Sometimes, she still wondered how she had managed to land a job there, considering her difficult circumstances.
A month ago, she had been forced to start over when her mother took all her savings and gave them to her current boyfriend. It felt like a miracle that she had managed to find work so quickly.
Kassia was desperate-Chicago needed to start first grade that summer, and she had no other means to support them. Despite everything, she was grateful to have a job at Mysia Hotel.
After arriving at work, she made her way to the locker room to change into her uniform. She had left Chicago in the staff room, where the little girl would stay until her shift ended at 11:00 p.m. Kassia had packed some snacks for her sister, ensuring she wouldn't go hungry. Chicago never caused trouble while she worked, and most of the staff adored her, so Kassia wasn't worried.
Work was chaotic that night-it was one of the busiest days at the hotel. While catching her breath in the laundry area, Katrina, a friend and coworker, leaned in to whisper to her. They both hoped the manager wouldn't catch them taking a brief break.
"Hey, girl. Work is crazy today," Katrina murmured, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Honestly, Katrina, I can't wait for our shift to end. I'm exhausted. My feet hurt, and all I need right now is a bed," Kassia admitted.
Katrina chuckled before mentioning that she had checked on Chicago earlier.
"That girl is always sleeping when she's bored," Kassia said with a small smile.
Before they could continue their conversation, their manager suddenly appeared in the doorway.
"Katrina, there are some guests in the VIP section. Go see what they need," he instructed.
"Yes, sir," Katrina responded before hurrying away.
Then, the manager turned his attention to Kassia. "Break is over. Get back to work."
Without protest, Kassia left, knowing she still had new guests to serve . A quick glance at her phone told her she had just thirty minutes left before her shift ended.
"Kassia, please, if you're done serving table six, take these drinks to the VIP section. These are their orders," Katrina called out, balancing a tray.
Nodding, Kassia took the drinks and made her way toward the VIP section. The lighting there was always dim, creating an air of exclusivity. She walked carefully, placing the drinks on the table without making a sound.
Seated before her were five men, all dressed in expensive suits. Her eyes scanned the group before they landed on a familiar face-Mr. Cain. She still didn't know his full name. He was seated closest to her, but he hadn't noticed her presence.
Dressed in a navy-blue three-piece suit, he exuded authority. Something about his demeanour seemed dangerous-his expression unreadable, his posture rigid. He was engrossed in his phone, typing furiously.
Kassia hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should acknowledge him, but she quickly reminded herself that she was just a server here. Without another glance, she turned to leave, her heart pounding a little faster than before.
______________________________________
Author's Note:
Hey, lovely readers! 💙💙💙
I know I really delayed in updating this chapter-I've been swamped with work and school, still trying to find that balance. So sorry for the wait! 😞
To make it up to you, I decided to make this chapter longer than usual. The word count is 1,624, making it the longest chapter so far! Hopefully, it's worth the wait.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments section-I love hearing from you!
XOXO,
CC