Chapter 11

VIVIAN

"Viv!!" Harley said annoyingly. "How long will you take?"

"Just a second, sweetheart," I said while pinning- up her hair. I had spent two hours styling her hair and still, it didn't work perfectly.

She glanced at her hair in the mirror. "Oh gosh!! What did you make of me?? It looks horrible!" She glanced at me over her shoulder, giving me a cold hard look, seeing her eyes seemed like I was looking into my own eyes. "I'm looking ugly."

My daughter was incredibly beautiful like her mother. "Never say this word again." I cupped her face. "You're my daughter and if you insult yourself it means you're insulting your father. Do you think I'm ugly?"

She quickly grabbed my hands. "No, dad! You're my gorgeous father. I'm sorry, I didn't mean that."

I smiled and kissed each of her cheeks. "Let me try again. I promise this time I'll make a Rapunzel bun."

"Rapunzel bun!!" She blurted. "No! It's a Cinderella bun, you don't even know Rapunzel had long hair, and she never had a bun. This time I want a Cinderella bun."

I checked a few videos on YouTube before starting her Cinderella hairstyle. First I pulled her hair into a high ponytail then divided it into two parts. "You have such beautiful long hair. Why are you wasting it in a bun?"

"Because Aston likes Cinderella." I caught her through the mirror, her cheeks red. "He will be happy to see me in a Cinderella get-up."

"Ashton!! He is fat and round. He reminds me of a baby elephant. And you like him?" I tucked her hair and pinned it up. "You should choose someone like your dad handsome, tall, and strong."

"Shut up dad!!" she snapped. "And please, don't talk about him like that. He is cute and funny."

I'm worried about her future. What will I do when she grows up into a woman? What will I do when she falls in love with someone? How long will I be able to hide her from my enemies? How long will I be able to protect her from this nasty world? My own life was uncertain and unstable. I didn't know when someone would attack me or kill me. I knew I would protect myself, but for how long?

"Have you finished, Dad??" Harley interrupted my thoughts.

"Yes, sweetheart." I placed some diamond pins in her hair. "You're looking beautiful." She was in a white gown and looked like a little Cinderella.

She checked her appearance in the mirror. "Wow! You have done a good job." She kissed my cheeks. "I love you, Daddy."

"I love you, sweetheart."

Rose entered the room and placed the breakfast tray on the table before glancing at Harley. "Wow!! Finally, I got an opportunity to see Cinderella live. You look adorable." She caressed her hair lovingly.

"Thank you, Rosy," Harley said, hurrying out of the room.

"Harley, where are you going?" I asked. "Have your breakfast first!"

"I'll be back in a minute, Viv," she shouted and disappeared.

"Sir, you have a lot of work to handle and despite this, you have spent hours making her perfect bun. I could do it in a minute if you ask me. Why don't you just give me a chance to take care of her?" Rose said.

I ran my fingers through my hair. "Because I don't want to make her feel that she doesn't have a mother. I know you would do it in a minute and much better than me." I smiled sadly. "I wish Isabella were here so that she could see how beautiful, and intelligent our daughter has become."

"She reminds me of Bella."

I closed my eyes swallowing the pain, it fucking hurt she was not with me. We had promised we would grow older. "You may leave, Rose."

Hunk! Look, she has your eyes. You know I have been wishing I had a girl who looks like her father. And finally, I have a daughter who has your eyes. There is a lot of fun having a girl, her dresses, her hair, and shoes? She will grow up into a beautiful woman and then men will chase her.

And I will chase all those bastards.

Her laugh echoed in my ear, and I let out a sharp breath.

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Today was Sarah's wedding and I was going to introduce Kia to my friends. I had already sent Harley because I did not want Kia to know I have a daughter. I did not like her guts; she always had venom to spit out. I hated her temperament. She had nothing good except her beautiful eyes. I could understand what she went through, she was raped and forced into sex trafficking, but it did not mean I was her culprit. Every time she watched me like she wanted to punch me in my face. Parking my car, I headed to her apartment.

"Wow! You look great." I heard Elio's voice. "But why do I feel that Mr. Miller is going to kill me because he strictly forbade me to bring this kind of dress."

My eyes ran down to Kia's body. She was in a red short dress which was strapless, barely reaching her thighs. Her dark brown hair fell on her back, in a straight fall. This is not what I expect! I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms over my chest quietly studying her. She got on my nerves. "You want me to rip off your dress right there?" I said calmly yet intimately.

She heard and spun around, looking at me and a moment later threw a fake smile. "Are you craving for me?"

"I'm craving your dress." I glared at Elio. "What did I tell you, Elio??"

He gulped and answered me, "I've brought the gowns, but she doesn't like any of them, so I designed a dress according to her. I thought you would like it, but it seems you don't..."

"Who paid your bills??" I narrowed my eyes on him.

He gulped once again. "You."

"Then who should have you obeyed?"

Now the fear was visible on his face. "You..."

"You can't talk to him like this! I was the one who asked to bring this dress."

I clenched my jaw, stopping myself from slapping her. She fucking disobeyed me! "Get out, Elio."

He looked at me. "But...." he stopped mid after seeing my cold expression. He glanced at Kia before walking out of the room.

I turned around to face her. She was already glaring at me, but it had no use. "What's your problem? Do you think everyone is your pet? He is a professional designer. You can't talk to him like that!!"

I went closer to her. "And I'm a professional killer, you can't talk to me like that."

I saw a slight fear in her eyes, but she immediately brushed it away. I slowly stepped closer to her. She quickly stepped back. Her expression hardened but her eyes were soft. I continued my step until I reached her. Immediately I grabbed both her arms and turned her around and began to unzip her dress, "What are you doing Asshole??!" She did not hesitate to yell at me. She fought me and stomped her foot as hard as she could. She was reminding me of a wild cat.

"I warned you, yet you dared to go against me!! You're living under my rule, and you have to obey me whether you want to or not. I told you clearly that I would not allow you to wear this dress then why the fuck do you dare to wear it," I growled. "I have been behaving gentleman, it doesn't mean that I would tolerate your shit." I continued to unzip her dress.

"Don't do this," she screamed. "Please, don't...I will change it."

I filled the gap between us. "It would be better if you listen to me next time because I won't give you another chance. Now get in the room and change this damn piece," I hissed and let her go out of my grasp.

After five minutes she stepped out wearing a bold red strapless gown with a sweetheart neckline. It perfectly fitted every curve of her body, making her look gorgeous. Her hair was straightened and fell over her shoulder. Her face was radiating. She crossed her arms over her chest and her face was red due to anger, "You know what?? You're the biggest Asshole I've ever met in my lifetime."

I ran my fingers through my hair, "Since you know what I am, I hope you will not disobey me next time."

We arrived at the wedding venue after an hour of driving. I went out and handed the key to my men, "Where's she?" I asked him quietly so that Kia could not hear me. She was standing on the other side.

"She is with Mrs. Robinson," he replied silently.

I nodded to him, "Make sure she wouldn't be alone."

He gave me an assured nod before walking out of my way. I glanced at Kia. She was still annoyed with me for what I had done an hour ago. She was unable to accept her defeat, she was a stubborn woman.

I ran my fingers through my hair while seeing her pouty face. I liked her when she was angry, she was attractive and sexy as hell, "Are you still mad at me?"

She crossed her arms, and a scowl darkened her face. I approached her on the other side and wrapped my arm around her waist. I felt her soft skin beneath my rough hand, she quickly reacted to my touch, "You know how sexy you're looking with your angry face and if you don't want me to fuck right there, then put a smile on your face," I whispered in her ear threatening her. She snapped me a cold look and did not utter a single word.

We stepped onto the red carpet which led us through the open heavy door. The hall was decorated beautifully with crystal chandeliers and soft spotlights. Only a few selected people were gathered there, most of them from high-profile.

"Oh my god!!" I heard a familiar soft voice, "Vivian!!" Alice blurted out.

She was with her husband Henry Robinson. She quickly approached us. I tightened my hand around Kia's waist, "Behave politely," I whispered in her ear.

Alice covered her mouth with her hand, "She is your date?!" She said excitedly and hugged her. Kia hesitated a bit before hugging her back, "I'm Alice. Finally, I will meet you," she smiled widely.

Kia looked at me before responding to her, "Kiara. You can call me Kia," she smiled, "By the way nice to meet you, Alice," her eyes turned to Henry, "I feel like I have seen you somewhere," she said to Henry.

"He is one of the best designers in New York not only in New York but in the entire country. So you have probably seen him on TV, in magazines, or in newspapers," I said and looked around, every man was staring at Kia except Henry. His eyes were always on Alice, "You're looking gorgeous, Alice."

Henry glared at me coldly in exchange, "Keep your eyes on your girlfriend."

I pulled Kia closer to me, "Thanks for reminding me."

"He has almost ripped off my clothes and forced me to..."

Alice quickly cut her off, "You don't need to explain it," she said shyly. She looked between both of us, "I'm so happy for both of you," her eyes were glittering, and she looked genuinely happy.

"Sir," a man appeared and whispered something in Henry's ear before giving him a brown envelope.

Henry nodded to him, "You guys enjoy it, I will be right back," he said and walked away.

Alice's eyes followed him until he disappeared, they both were madly in love, and sometimes I was envious of them. Alice took hold of Kia's hands, "Believe me, he will make you happy, Kia. He is a very caring, loving, and funny man. And Har..."

"Alice, I have something to talk about," I immediately cut her off before she talked about my daughter. I grabbed her hand and dragged her out.

"What's wrong, Vivian??" Confusion wrote on her face.

I ran my fingers through my hair and clenched my jaw, "Don't talk about Harley in front of her. She doesn't know anything about my personal life."

Her eyes widened, "Are you serious!! She is your girlfriend, and she has every right to know about you and your daughter. How could you do this, Vivian?"

She is not my girlfriend.

I glanced to the other side where Kia was sipping her wine and frequently looking at us, "Listen, Alice. I know she has every right, but I have trust issues. I can't trust her easily, I need some time to understand her. If I'm comfortable with that I will surely tell her everything about my daughter but not now. You know I have lots of enemies and I can't trust anyone easily, not even her."

She looked across the hall before returning to me, "Where did you meet her for the first time?"

"At midnight, I rescued her," I glanced at her one more time, but this time she was talking with a man, and what shocked me was that she was laughing. I clenched my hand into a fist, "I'll talk to you later, Alice."

She followed my eyes, "Okay."

I immediately approached her.

"I'm not a huge fan of History," Kia laughed while sipping her wine.

"How about trying something..." he stopped mid when he recognized me.

I placed my hand around her waist and pulled her closer to me, "Seems like you're having a good time," I looked at that man and gave him a threatening look, "Excuse us."

She squeezed her glass like she was about to throw it at my face. "What's your problem? Can't you see me happy?" She hissed, "And don't touch me I'm feeling uncomfortable," for the very first time someone said this fucking word to me. I did not like to make women uncomfortable. Women had been throwing themselves at me, they craved for my one touch, and this woman had a big mouth. She made me feel like I was her fan.

"You're feeling uncomfortable!!" I hissed and let her go, "Just enjoy your wine," I said and walked out of her way. I continued enjoying my wine and looked around. There were a lot of beautiful women in the hall.

"Hey," a voice said from behind. I turned over to see Pearl, "Mr. Hottie," she was in a black cocktail dress looking lovely.

I laughed softly, "Pearl, nice to see you here."

Fucking bad to see you here. She was sticking me like a magnet. I glanced at Kia who was watching us.

"You're looking hot in your black suit" her cheeks turned red.

"Thank you" I averted my eyes, shifting my gaze to the bartender.

She cleared her throat, "I've met Harley. She is looking adorable" she knew very well I loved to talk about my daughter, and she was using it to make conversation. Pearl was beautiful, intelligent, and kind, I could date her, but she didn't know anything about me. She didn't have any idea I was the biggest thug in town, and she wanted to date me. I didn't want to break her heart, she was innocent, and she deserved the best.

I stared at her down, swirling the wine slowly in the glass between my hands.

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