Chapter 14

Mason's POV:

I stared at Nikita, gobsmacked. I can't believe what she just said, it has to be a joke, right?

"You're kidding me, aren't you?" I said, my voice equally low and serious.

"Why would I? We were once in a relationship, weren't we?"

"But you were married to CG,"

"What if I was? Bastard didn't touch me for once, not to talk of having sex with me," she muttered and scoffed.

It was still all hard to take in. Ximena is my daughter? She never had sex with CG?

"Wait, didn't CG know that Ximena wasn't his daughter?"

"Of course he did, just didn't have the strength to fight me. And I played along. Wait, what was I supposed to do? Be patient and wait for him to love me? A woman's gotta do what she gotta do, even if that means being unfaithful in marriage."

"If you knew all of this? Why did you keep it from me?"

"I figured you wouldn't want to take responsibility for the pregnancy. Besides, it was all part of the plan. If you knew earlier, God knows what you'll have done. I only kicked Alya out of the Beamer girls, and you wouldn't let me rest. God knows what you'll do if you knew Ximena was your daughter. And like me, you were also married. I didn't want any scandal."

I took in a deep breath, thinking deeply. In a way she was right. If I knew Ximena was my daughter, I wouldn't want to take responsibility for the pregnancy because I was married. Despite that, it wasn't adding up.

"Wait… Which plan?" I asked. Nikita stood up and looked around, just be sure no one was listening. I have a feeling what she's about to tell me something top secret. Once she was satisfied, she came closer to me and lowered herself, talking quietly.

"Well, all of it. How do you think I was able to get everything from CG, including the company, if I wasn't his wife and the daughter I had wasn't his?"

The second what she said registered in my head, I widened my eyes in surprise and shock.

"No way… You didn't…" She cut me off.

"I did." She said without fear.

"You killed CG?"

"Made sure he was buried right in front of me."

This is crazy! Nikita was even eviler than I'd thought.

"The guy had planned to humiliate me publicly as we got older if we continued with the facade. I had to do what I had to do. He even had a wife before he married me!"

"He did what!?"

"You heard me. So I had to make him leave before he caused problems for me and made me lose everything I ever worked for."

"You're insane!"

"Thank you. I'll take it as a compliment. It's difficult being evil. Now that you know what I've kept secret for years, can you please stop forcing me to put Alya back on the team? You're also hurting Ximena!"

I was dumbfounded. I didn't know what to think. I have two daughters, one from my late wife and the other with Nikita.

"Ximena doesn't know CG isn't her father, does she?"

"No and I plan to keep it that way." She replied. I sighed and looked at her.

"Guess nothing can be done now, can it?"

"No. It's what I've been trying to tell you all along."

After a while I stood up, planning to leave. Then I stopped and turned.

"Eventually the girls will have to know the truth but I'm willing to let you off the hook for now."

"Thanks Mason."

I said nothing as I left the room.

***

Lila's POV:

I'm still staring at Chad, my mind reeling from what he said. He likes me? In what way?

"Uh… What?"

"I said I like you, Lila." He repeated, and I cleared my throat.

"Oh, I know, that's what I heard… I mean, I think that's what I heard… What am I even saying? That's what you said!" I stuttered, embarrassed, and he chuckled. Oh gosh, this is harder than I thought.

"So, do you like me or not?" He asked, and I stared at him.

"Well… I like you… As a fan but as a person? I'm still trying to figure that out. How do you like me?"

"As a person."

"Well, in that case… I guess I do like you." I whispered.

He smiled. "Well, don't be too hard on yourself. It's no rush. We'll cross the bridge when we get there." He said and continued eating. I nodded and gently bit into my bun, chewing thoughtfully.

"We have to hurry. I promised I'd get you back before nights outs and we have less than an hour for that to happen." He said sometime later.

"Well then, let's go. I'm already full."

"You're sure? You said you were starving."

"And I've eaten a lot of things. Come on let's go." I said and stood up, staying beside and gently holding his hands.

"Well in that case, let me pay up."

"okay."

He called on the waiter and after we settled the bills, we walked back to the car. Once again, he caught my swinging hands and held it. I couldn't help but smile. Once we were seated, the driver started up the car and we drove back to the Base.

***

Chad dropped me off at the entrance to building.

"Hey, can I get your number?" Chad asked as he brought out his phone and gave it to me. I collected it from him and put down my phone number.

"Great. I'll save this and call whenever I need to talk to you."

"I'll be expecting that." I said sincerely. And thank you for the meal. Have a good night sir… err Chad." I quickly corrected. He nodded and pulled the face mask down his face, lowering himself and placing a soft kiss on my cheeks. I held my breath.

"Good night Lila." He said quietly, his face still close to mine so I could feel his breath. Hmm, exotic.

Straightening up, he walked backwards a bit while waving at me. Then turned around and got into the car, driving out with the bodyguards right behind him. I kept waving, even though he was long gone. Then sighed and walked. It was already quiet inside but once the workers saw me, they let me through. Maybe they had already recognized Chad.

I walked up to my room and used my access card. The door opened and just before I walked in, I could hear hurrying feet. I walked in anyway and noticed the girl's face were flushed.

"Um, hi girls," I carefully said as I went to my bed. Paige and Zoey kept looking at me skeptically, but it was Zoey who spoke up.

"Who's that guy?" she asked.

"A friend." I replied.

"A very rich friend." She stressed and I looked up at her.

"Yeah, kinda."

"That likes you." She said, and I froze. Then shrugged it off. "Whatever."

"What's his name?"

I almost said Chad but I thought better, it'll only lead to more questions.

"Conner." I lied.

"I'd like to see this Conner of a guy, that likes Lila." Paige muttered and they chuckled. I scoffed and tried to make light of it.

"Come on, we're just friends. Pick your mind from the gutter." I said, but the giggle only got louder. I gave up and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth, with Chad's words replaying in my head.

'I like you,' he said. Oh gosh, Chad likes me! Whoopie!

***

The next day was practice as usual and we were doing incredibly well. Then one of the officials informed us we would be split into groups and each of us would go to see every Beamlights building. I was among the first batch, and that meant I'd be seeing all the buildings belonging to Beamlights.

We all got ready, and we rode together on a bus. Once we got to the headquarters, we came down, and it was there our tour began. We were shown various departments, from the ones with the tasks of managing all musicians, to the music writers and video makers, every single one of them.

"Things you need to familiarize yourself with if you want to be a pop star." Mira added as we got down notes.

"Lila?" Mira called while we were busy with the sight-seeing.

"Yes ma'am?"

"Could you please get me a cup of coffee downstairs?

"Oh… Okay ma'am."

"Thanks." She said, and I nodded. I walked down to the elevator and clicked on the button to open. Then walked in as the door closed in after me and rode me downstairs.

***

Dean's POV:

I was at the headquarters, in our dance room, just fooling around. I had wanted to avoid Chad today since he was out all day yesterday and I suspected he was out with that girl, Lila.

Eventually I got thirsty and needed a drink. I checked my water bottle, but it was already empty so I went down myself to get it.

Using the elevator, I reached the snacks corner and got myself a can of energy drink. On my was I popped it open and drank some contents. Since my earphones were in my ears, I really wasn't paying any attention to anything in particular.

Just as I was about to make a turn, another person from the other side bumped into me and the next thing I felt was hot liquid spilling all over my clothes, making me feel intense pain in the areas that it touched. I was too stunned to speak even as the person collided into me, forcing me to hold her in place.

Immediately angry, I looked down at the person ready to tongue lash the person but one look into her starry eyes and I froze.

Who is this girl?