Chapter 14: She's Gone

Silence engulfed the room like fire in a forest. No one said a single word. No one breathed too loudly. Every pair of eyes snapped to Lina as if they already knew the truth.

"So," Milo said. The tension was so thick, his words could slice it. "I guess the blind date did go well—"

Another knock on the door interrupted the conversation.

"Come in!" Milo chirped, hoping to ease the atmosphere.

Milo was beginning to suffocate in this spacious dining room. No one said anything besides him. You could even hear a gulp from across the room.

"Ahem, my apologies for interrupting the meal," the butler began as he bowed his head in greetings. "But we have just received another package…This time, the sender and receiver are addressed, unlike the first package."

Milo cringed. Well, that certainly didn't help anything.

"And to who?" Evelyn sharply asked, her eyes narrowing onto the white box with black ribbon. The polar opposites of each package.

Lina breathed out slowly, not wanting to know the results. She quickly approached the door just as the butler handed the box to her mother. Just then, she heard a wretched scream from behind her.

"You brat! How dare you lie to your mother?!" Evelyn shouted at her daughter, shooting out of her chair and pointing an accusing finger towards Lina.

Lina painfully closed her eyes, tired of this nonsense. It was early in the morning and she was getting a headache. Holding back a sigh, she peered over her shoulder.

"At least he was courteous to send a note at the top of the package," Milo muttered, grabbing the card from the ribbon tied into a perfect bow.

Milo began to read the card out loud, much to his mother's grievance.

"To the girl with the most useful major, I do hope we can put it to use in the museum I've rented out exclusively for us. Yours truly, the desperate heir."

Milo's brows shot up in amusement, glancing at his sister who supposedly had no prospects, according to their mother. He let out a small laugh when Lina shot him a serious glare. This was certainly one way to start the morning.

"Now, now, Evelyn, let our daughter explain," Frederick softly said. "I'm sure she thought the date didn't go well, but in reality, it did and—"

"Don't try to explain for her," Evelyn snapped, glowering at the brat that stole her youth and repaid it with backtalks.

"What are these abominations?" Evelyn demanded, pointing to the two present boxes sitting on their lavish dining table.

"Abominations."

"You—"

"Enjoy your meal," Lina curtly said, exiting the dining hall to head to her room.

Lina let out the groan she was holding back. What has her life come to?

Flopping onto the bed, Lina reluctantly grabbed her phone.

They were great gifts and she certainly wasn't going to be an annoying female lead and try to return it to the sender. The pride of an heir was larger than this country and wounding it was starting a war, one she couldn't afford.

"Irritating bastards," Lina muttered under her breath, even though her mother could beg to differ.

Once her mother got over the anger, she was going to begin planning for a wedding. Lina could already picture the hideous dress her momzilla was going to shove her into, the irritating flowers at the wedding hall, and how many guests were present to the largest political marriage of the century.

"How the hell am I going to top a purse like that?" Lina grumbled, staring at her banking information, with enough zeros to buy a priceless present, but not enough zeros for a sufficient present.

Lina began to look through her contacts in search of someone that could help her acquire presents for her arrogant, but stalking senders. Finally, she saw a name that could help, but it'd cost her a fortune. A favor.

Gulping, Lina pressed the call button and placed the phone to her ear.

- - - - -

DeHaven Conglomerate.

The entire presentation room was silent. It was so quiet, you could hear the presenters swallowing hard. Their eyes nervously traveled around the room, landing on the ominous heir of the company. His expression was blank, his honey-toned skin was pale under the dim lights, and his eyes were aloof as always.

He said nothing, did nothing, and didn't even move.

Not once did his features change, not once did his face show any emotion. He was just empty and cold.

Seconds went by, no one spoke. No one moved. They held their breath and awaited the chairman's decision.

Finally, Kaden DeHaven stood up. Without a word of praise or acknowledgment, he strolled out. Usually, this would be a frightening sign, but better silence than sourness.

"D-did we do good?" A nervous presenter asked his colleague, who all looked at him, for he was new.

"Trust me," one of them slowly said. "If we didn't do well, we'd know."

"Boss," Sebastian said, once everyone was outside of earshot. "Your predictions have come true!"

"I've just received word that Miss Yang is downstairs in the parking lot," Sebastian said. "However… she's refusing to come up."

Finally, Kaden's icy features melted. He continued walking, but his eyes showed recognition of Sebastian's statement.

"We insisted on having her wait in your office, but she refused and said it would be inappropriate, claiming the relationship between you two was too distant…" Sebastian trailed off, understanding it was another mistake right away.

Kaden's jaw tightened, his eyes narrowing. Distant? The nerve of that woman. Who was it that kept staring at him? Who was it that cried at the sight of him?

Kaden sharply turned to Sebastian. "My office. Now."

Sebastian would have blushed, but he was as straight as a stick and would never bat for the other team.

"I'll let her know right away, Boss." Sebastian grabbed his phone to make a phone call to the security guard downstairs. As they spoke, his face began to pale.

"W-what do you mean she's gone?" Sebastian asked, his attention snapping to his Boss who looked like he was ready to murder someone.

"Hah… So she thinks she can run from me." Kaden let out a dark laugh. He spun on his shoes and stormed to the elevator, leaving his secretary behind.

Kaden wanted to see how far she dared to run from him, how far her little body could carry her, and how long it'd be before those little legs were swung over his shoulders, and her pinned underneath him. Once he caught up to her, she wouldn't stand a chance.