Chapter 8 Shopping Gone Wrong

• "Smurfette."
• Anger rushed through me, and I hustled out my car keys from my purse.
• "Smurfette, wait!"
• Footsteps neared, and I tried to insert the key in the lock, but the shaking in my fingers made it harder.
• "Smurfette." His hand wrapped around my wrist, seizing my struggle, and I jerked it off.
• "Don't call me that," I yelled.
• Taken aback at my outburst, He stared. "Why?"
• I could clearly detect the hurt in his eyes. But why would he be hurt when it was supposed to be me? My fingers curled into fists, and I pushed at his chest with all my rage. "You betray me like that, and you still have the audacity to ask me why?"
• "What? What're you talk-"
• Another push from my hands cut him off. "I should be the one asking you why. Why?" And another push faltered his steps, colliding him against a pillar at the parking lot. "How could you?" I didn't know what got into me, but all I saw was blurred red from the tears. Perhaps the emotions I had been bottling up, finally broke out.
• My hands lifted again, but before they could continue their destructive actions, he caught them in the middle. "Stop it, Hazel!" Clutching my arms, he shook me like a bottle of whiskey. "Stop it and listen to me."
• "No! Let go of m-"
• "For God's sake, listen!" His booming voice snapped my insanity, and I finally calmed down, my shoulders slumping.
• "What is there to listen to anymore?"
• "Everything," he replied, emphasizing on the word.
• I looked up, and he leaned, wiping my tears with his thumbs. "I didn't betray you, Smurfette. I can never."
• My brows furrowed in question.
• "Montero didn't send me here to destroy the Kingstons. I came by myself."
• My frown only deepened at his revelation. If Montero didn't send him, then why would he want to destroy the Kingstons?
• "I'm not here for the Kingstons either. I'm here for you."
• "Huh?"
• "I'm here to help my little sister."
• "H-How-Why? How did you know?" My head was a buzz of clutter now.
• "You think just because life distanced us, I forgot you?"
• This time I stared at him, my heart fluttering in the warmest way.
• "I've been keeping an eye on Montero. The moment I found out what he blackmailed you into, I couldn't stay put anymore. I had to take action."
• "B-But how did you manage it? Th-This job... How?"
• "I have my ways." He gave me his brotherly smile that I was so accustomed to.
• He had left everything to come help me, and I accused him of betrayal. I hurt his feelings. I hurt him physically. Oh God! I couldn't control myself anymore as the regret elicited me in a series of sobs, and I threw my hands around his shoulders, hugging him tight and soaking his shirt. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Blake!"
• His arms wrapped around me, and fingers rubbed a soothing circle on my back. "It's alright. I'm sorry I didn't come earlier, aand that's not what you call me."
• A weird sound of chuckle mixed with sob left my mouth. "Y-You don't like that nickname."
• His lips stretched into a cheeky smile. "I don't, but I don't hate it either coming out of my li'l sister's mouth." He booped my nose.
• "Okay then, caveman." I sniffled, using my nickname for him and chuckled again.
• "Alright. Let's take you home. It's getting chilly out here."
• He helped me in the car, hopped into the driver's seat and started for my house while I stayed silent, digesting everything. A question popped into my head, and I straightened up. "How did they not recognize you? Your surname?"
• He gave me a glance. "I changed my surname to my mom's long ago, and I don't have a dad. At least, that's how it is in my documents."
• I watched him. That oval face shape and dark brown hair screamed the resemblance to his father clearly. If one observed too closely, it'd take only a moment to make out the relation. The relation to his biological father that he hated the most in the world.
• "Does Montero know?"
• A corner of his lips pushed downwards in distaste. "I don't care."
• Yes, he was Montero's biological son and my step-brother, yet he was more than a real brother to me. Both of our hatred towards Montero had bound us together.
• A long sigh left my lips as I reclined my head on the car window, the exhaustion finally seeping through and looked out at the passing figures: couples walking with intertwined hands, mothers shielding their children from the noxious world, and girls of my age laughing like there was not a worry in the world. Though Blake's presence comforted the loneliness cradled my world, there arose a new fear in my heart.
• What if Blake's interference angered Montero even more? Would he make things harder for me? Or worse, would he harm Blake?
• My thoughts were terminated by a hand caressing my head. "Rest, Smurfette. I'm here for you."
• And all my fear vaporized like smoke in thin air. No matter what, I needed my brother with me, then I could tackle even the Alpine mountains.
• With that my eyes drooped, and sleep lulled me to a land of tranquility.
• When my eyes opened again, the sun was shining bright outside my window, and even a brighter Blake welcomed me inside, holding two identical shirts in his hands. "Rise and shine, Smurfette. We're going shopping for the seniors!"
• "Wat?" I asked, scratching my head.
• "I'm gonna visit them after years. You think I'm going just like that?"
• "Oh..." Stretching my arms above my head, I let out a loud yawn when a heap of red fabric hit my face.
• "Get your fat ass outta the bed and put it on."
• "Aye!" My lips pouted in a scowl, and I threw a pillow at his retreating back.
• "You ain't getting any pancakes," came his reply.
• "Pancakes!" I gasped, jolting out of the bed in a flash and running to the kitchen. Though he wasn't even nearly a decent cook, his pancakes were something I could fight for.
• ~~~~
• After a tummy full of yummy breakfast, we both siblings ventured on a cloth hunt mission in the Water Tower Place, buying racks of clothes and food for the elders. I could already imagine the felicity in their eyes, not just from the gifts, but from seeing Blake after so long. The women would be a little too delighted than the men though for he was known to be their handsome hubby.
• Speaking of him, I knocked on the changing room door for the third time in the last five minutes. What the hell was he taking this long for? "Caveman! If you take one more second, I'm leaving you here!"
• "Patience, woman. I'm meeting my wives. I need to look my very best," came his muffled voice from inside.
• Letting out a huff, I strutted to the exit. "I'm leaving!"
• Before I could hold the door, it opened itself, revealing a squad of men in black suits and shades. I jumped out of the way as they swarmed in, taking positions around the shop and flipping the open sign hanging at the door to close.
• I frowned. What the hell was going on?
• The woman who showed us the clothes earlier, ran to me with pleading eyes. "Ma'am, can you please step outside? The shop has been closed for a very important customer."
• Who the hell was so very important that they had to close an entire shop for his shopping hour? Also Blake was still inside. "I would, but my brother's in the changing room."
• "Can you please call him out?"
• "That's what I have been doing, but apparently, he isn't done yet."
• "Ma'am, ple-"
• Someone cleared their throat, grabbing our attention, and my eyes widened. There stood Dimitri Kingston, in all his glory, accompanied by two more suited male. On his signal, the woman nodded and disappeared inside the shop along with one of the men who came with him.
• The said VIP was him? And from all the excellent stores in the mall, he had to choose this particular one? Here I was, being happy, thinking I wouldn't have to see his face for a whole long day.
• Shoving his hands inside his slack pockets, Mr Kingston strolled towards me, a thick, dark brow arched in inquisition. "What're you doing in a men's shop, Ms Green? Shopping for your boyfriend?"
• "What? N-"
• Cutting me off, the changing room door opened. "How do I look..." Blake trailed, being aware of the changed environment in the store and noticing his soon-to-be boss. "Mr Kingston." He nodded.
• A tiny frown emerged in-between the CEO's brows, and he looked back at me, eyes a bit colder than before.
• "Mr Kingston, I found some suits for you to try on." The man came back with the woman and racks of lavish suits.
• Giving a nod of his head, he walked off and sat on the sofa across the room, lifting one leg over the other.
• "What's going on?" Blake whispered, coming beside me.
• "Uh, boss's shopping," replying, I glanced at him from head to toe, and my brows knitted in disapproval. "You really are a caveman."
• "What? Don't like it?" He twirled in his shiny red suit.
• Rolling my eyes, I padded to the shelves and ran my index finger over several suits before stopping at a hot burgundy one. Drawing it out, I placed it in his hands. "Here, try this."
• With a satisfied glow in his expression, Blake sauntered back to the changing room, leaving me in the vicinity of the CEO who I could feel was burning a hole in the back of my head with his penetrating gaze.
• Gulping, I peered back as he stood up and stretched his arms in the air. Instantly, the men in black got in action, sliding the clothes off his body in smooth motions. I took a sharp inhale as my eyes couldn't help but roam around his perfectly sculpted body. Those taut abs and sleek skin were a piece of sterling art, made only to glorify the eyes devouring them.
• My eyes rose higher in a gawking state and met his pair of smirking ones. Blood rushed in my cheeks, and I looked away, suddenly finding men's ties much more fascinating.
• Great, Hazie! Now everyone knows I was checking him out.
• When Blake came out again, a smile spread over my lips. He looked a lot more dashing in that color than in the glaring red. "You're gonna set the house on fire, caveman."
• Walking, I stood beside him before the floor-to-ceiling mirror when my eyes darted to the figure at the background, and my heart rate dangerously palpitated. Marine blue sharkskin fabric accentuated his broad, firm physique like it was tailored only for him.
• I wetted my dry lips. With that look this man couldn't just set fire on hearts but on the entire universe. I took another long moment to consume more of his handsomeness, and that's when I saw it, the glinting black metal in motion.