Chapter 10 Cara Refuses To Testify

Janet put on some music and headed to the kitchen to whip up a quick meal, but the sight of her pristine kitchen made her reconsider and she decided to order takeout instead.

She slouched down on the couch, ordered pizza for herself, and played a romantic movie to pass the time when she heard the doorbell. Upon opening the door, she was surprised to find Sebastian holding her pizza.

Janet parted her lips. She glanced around quickly before returning her attention to him. "What the fuck are you doing here?" Her question elicited a smirk from him.

"I decided to have dinner with you." He walked past inside and Janet banged the door close.

"You can't be serious!" Janet held his wrist while he grabbed wine glasses in the kitchen. "Leave or I'll call the cops!"

Sebastian scoffed. "Can you stop giving me warnings? Threatening me is a waste of your time." He poured wine into the glasses and walked into her living room.

"Fine! I'm calling the cops!"

"At least have dinner with me! I know you're hungry," he said. "Call the cops later. I won't run away."

Janet grinned slyly. "Just wait. We have the perfect lead to arrest you, and I'll be the one to handcuff you."

"Sounds romantic!" His dreamy eyes stirred Janet up. "You know how to turn me on perfectly. I'll be content at your mercy if you cuff me and take me to your bedroom."

"The cops will be here soon! Enjoy the last exotic meal," Janet smiled while he ate a slice of pizza and sipped coke.

"You can't see me behind bars, baby. Why are you being so hard on yourself?" Sebastian wiped his mouth and headed towards her. He gazed at her with deep eyes, causing her to step back and gulp nervously.

"You can't intimidate me!" Janet put her index finger on his chest to maintain a distance.

"I never said I want to intimidate you. I want to make love to you, just like the old times!" Her arm shivered as his cold fingers ran upside down.

"Behave!" She tried to insult him further, but he silenced her by stuffing pizza into her mouth, causing her to groan in annoyance.

A light flashed on their faces from the cut of the curtain and Sebastian watched the police cars outside her house.

Janet smiled as she walked to the window. "Get ready, baby!" She turned to face him, but he was gone. "That's what you do best, Sebastian. ESCAPE!"

***

New Orleans,

Aries walked into the suite in all his glory. He carelessly chucked his emerald green jacket on the floor, revealing the silhouette of a woman.

As he made his way to the bar, he poured whiskey into his glass, observing the woman with hazel eyes and dark blonde hair standing still, waiting for his next order.

"Strip!" He said without glancing in her direction. "And walk to me!"

The woman slipped out of her dress, and it bunched at her feet. She strode towards him and Aries could discern the clacking of heels. The woman snaked her arms around his torso, pressing her naked body against him.

"You'll never forget this night," she whispered in his ears. Aries fixed his gaze on the wall while he finished his drink, then slammed the glass down on the counter before turning to the woman.

He pressed his lips against her crimson mouth. His hand gripped her throat as he pushed her against the bar counter. "I hope you'll make me forget about those hazel eyes!" He caressed her body.

With her leg around her waist, she opened the buckle of his belt, and Aries watched her with eyes glazed over with lust. "I'll make you forget about every woman in your life."

***

The next day,

Keith let out a yawn as he walked out of his room, his eyes immediately drawn to the pitcher of orange juice freshly squeezed and placed on the center table. He picked up the glass and checked his phone for notifications. And the first message was from Cara.

"Hey, Keith! I'm off to a job interview. Tried waking you, but you were deeply asleep. I've cooked lunch be back in two hours. Thank you for the dinner last night!"

"What the hell!" He tried calling her, but her phone was off. "Is she fucking crazy or what?" He angrily stood from the couch and went out to find her. He called his team to track down Cara's location and, following their leads, he stopped the car outside the giant building.

He rushed out of the driver's seat and walked towards the building, where he found Cara crying on the stairs. He breathed a sigh of relief, then stormed towards her.

"Why didn't you tell me before leaving?" He raised his voice and Cara cried harder. "Now, why the hell are you crying?" His shout made her flinch.

"Don't shout at me!" Cara wiped her tears and Keith noticed her injured knees.

"What happened to you?" As he held her bleeding knee, Cara let out a shriek of pain.

"I slipped from the stairs. Don't touch! You're hurting me," she wailed like a child and pushed him.

"Stay still!" Keith glared at her, and she shut her mouth quickly. "Why didn't you call me?" He asked, and Cara showed him her broken phone.

"I asked people to help me, but no one stopped!"

"Okay, stop crying!" Keith comforted her. "Let's take you to a doctor,"

"No... no, doctor!" Cara refused, shaking her head and Keith huffed, picking her up in his brawny arms.

"As long as you're with me, you're my responsibility!" He looked into her eyes and Cara stared at him, his word held promise, and Cara seemed to believe him.

***

Alfred Doyle reached the Glazier's mansion on the outskirts of the bustling city, away from noise and chaos. He waited for Cynthia and Isla Glazier in the lavish living area and the servant appeared with his steaming hot coffee.

"So, what brought you here after so many days?"

Cynthia Glaziers descended the stairs in all her grandeur. She donned gray fitted pants and a designer coat and she walked to Alfred gracefully, taking the seat opposite him.

Alfred smiled. "Where is Isla?" He asked, and a brunette around the age of twenty-two appeared in a pair of blue jeans and a white crop top.

"Good evening, uncle!" Isla greeted him politely and sat next to her mother.

"How are you doing, sweetie?" Alfred asked.

"I'm good!" Isla flashed her gorgeous smile.

"What's the occasion, Alfred?" Cynthia asked again.

"Cara!" The name faded the smile from Isla's face, and a deep frown appeared on Cynthia's face.

"Cara... What about her?"

"She is in a relationship with Keith Wilson!" He said, pressing his lips and Cynthia laughed, sitting comfortably.

"She has a boyfriend! That beggar has a boyfriend, Isla. You better start working on yourself." Cynthia giggled, and Isla rolled her eyes. She had a clear idea of who would perfectly fit her status and patiently waited for him.

"Keith Wilson is the heir of the Ascent Group and the top-notch police officer of this city!" Alfred's revelation left Cynthia speechless.

"What the fuck!" Isla parted her lips in shock. "How did she catch such a big fish?"

"We're still figuring things out! Cara seems to have a connection with Keith Wilson and Aries Grayson." He said and at the mention of Aries, Isla widened her black eyes.

"Aries Grayson?" Cynthia raised her eyebrows. "The famous hotelier?" Cynthia didn't know how to react.

"We're in big trouble!" Alfred sighed. "You did wrong to let her walk away alive!"

"Mom, she can't have Aries. He is mine! You must kick Cara out of the picture." Isla gritted her teeth.

"Quiet!" Cynthia cut her off. "Do you think Aries would refuse association with Glazier Group?" The moment she asked Alfred, Isla's eyes sparkled with hope, thinking that this could be the opportunity she needed to connect with Aries.

"Mom, this is a perfect idea!" She exclaimed.

"Do you think he would refuse such a tempting proposal to associate with us?" Cynthia lifted an eyebrow.

"Aries Grayson.... I'm not finding the right word for this guy." Alfred cleared his throat. "Unpredictable! Versatile! Intimidating! We can't envisage what he would do next."

"But there is no harm in trying! We might crack a great deal. What do you have in your mind?" He added.

"Cara has to be restricted from all sides. That's all I have in my mind right now," Cynthia answered.

"Mom, Aries alone can wipe her name off this city and we don't have to move a finger. This man has connections." Isla stated, and Cynthia smirked evilly.

"And did you talk to the chairman of the Ascent Group? Does he know his dear son is dating a waitress?" Cynthia sneered.

***

Cara rang the doorbell of Keith's apartment. Janet opened the door, and her eyes quickly widened when she saw Cara in Keith's arms. "Wow!" She smirked and stepped back to let them in.

Cara hissed in pain as Keith gently placed her on the couch. "What happened to her?" Janet reached them.

"She injured herself!" Keith answered, and Cara showed her knee and elbow scratches like a child. Suppressing a smile, Keith walked into his room to freshen up.

"I just realized I haven't introduced myself properly. I'm Janet!" She extended her hand and Cara reciprocated the handshake.

"I'm Cara," she smiled politely. "I'm sorry for the other day! You got hurt because of me."

"It wasn't your fault."

Janet's smile widened as she saw Milo bounding towards Cara, a bright yellow ball clutched in his mouth. "I see you both have bonded well!"

"He is adorable!" With a grin, Cara tossed the ball into the air and Milo jumped to catch it.

"But he wasn't like this before you!" Janet said, and Cara looked back at her with knitted eyebrows.

"He was the most miserable dog in the adoption center. The lady said that he had been dealing with depression since he was brought up. He was inert, eating and occupying a corner, abstaining from engaging in any activities. They felt as though he was awaiting the return of his master!"

As Milo reached Cara with the ball again, she couldn't help the tears that welled up in her eyes. Janet observed her sudden mood change but remained silent.

The next morning, Cara groaned in pain while stretching her arms on the bed when Keith knocked at her door and walked inside. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm much better now. Thank you!"

"New phone for you!" He reached out his hand to her. Keith picked up on her excitement, but she was hesitant. "Take it!"

"I can't accept this! I can't afford it at the moment."

"It's a gift, Cara!" He said and Cara was fumbling with her fingers, not sure if she should take a gift from him.

He left the phone on her bed. "I'm running late! My number's on your phone. Call me if you need anything." He turned to leave.

"Keith!" Cara called him and he faced her.

"Thank you!" Her smile reached her beautiful hazel eyes.

Keith smiled. "Enjoy!"

***

New Orleans,

Aries carelessly tossed the stack of cash on the bed beside the woman he had brought the previous night, and without a word, she silently accepted the money. "Thank you for your service!"

"I'm scheduled for a meeting, so show yourself out before I come back," he said. When his gray eyes met with her hazel eyes, he was transported back to the night when he kissed a stranger in the dark alley.

The woman noticed a shift in Aries's mood as he glanced away to compose himself. "Do I remind you about the woman you were talking about last night?"

Aries clenched his jaws. "Don't poke your nose in my matter!" He left the suite and closed the door with a resounding bang. He leaned his head against the door just as his phone vibrated in his pocket.

"Hello,"

"So, a good fuck solved everything?" Simon asked.

"It didn't help!" Aries sighed. "Fuck! I've got to find her. I won't be at peace until I track her down."

The line went silent. "Hello?" Aries said and Simon sighed on the other side.

"Aries, would you listen to my advice if I suggest you something?"

"I would listen to anything that can give peace to my mind!" Aries said.

"If she is in your destiny, no one can snatch her from you. But if she is not, you'll never find her!"

"But how will I know if she is in my destiny? What a piece of absurd advice!" Aries shrieked.

"Believe it or not, life has a mysterious way of reconnecting people!"

***

It had been more than weeks now since Cara and Keith were living together. Milo and Janet were working hard to bring these two closer and their efforts were paying off as the pair slowly began to bond.

Cara took over the kitchen after recovering from her injuries and Keith enjoyed three delicious meals a day. Occasionally, he would sneak home for lunch with Cara and Milo, neglecting his job, something he had never done for anyone else before.

He scolded himself for his irresponsible behavior, but then he convinced himself that Cara might be feeling isolated and trapped in his apartment since Janet had resumed work, and Cara could not go out alone until the trial.

"Hey!" He smiled walking inside and instantly a delicious aroma hit his nostrils. "Cara, I was wondering, are you from a traditional American family?"

Cara's face instantly dropped. "Why?"

"Two meals is my usual intake. My eating habits have changed since you came." He laughed. "Who can say no to good food!?!" He added, taking the first bite in his mouth and moaning.

Keith and Cara were enjoying their meal when they were abruptly summoned by Keith's senior.

An hour later,

Keith took Cara to the police station, and the latter gulped in nervousness. "Hello, Cara! You look much better now." The chief smiled.

"I'm much better now, thank you!" Cara smiled and, for some moments, the chief appeared to be in thought.

"I feel I've seen you!" He narrowed his eyes. "Have we met before?"

"I don't recall meeting you, sir!" Cara politely answered, fumbling with her fingers under the wooden desk and the chief shrugged it off when another officer knocked on their door.

"Come in."

The officer sat next to Cara and opened the laptop. "Okay, Cara. Tell us everything you witnessed that night!" The officer said, and Cara nodded her head.

Keith walked out to answer his phone while Cara recorded her statement about the night outside the club, and the officer opened five pictures on the laptop screen.

"Did the middle one shoot the man's knee and attack Janet that night?" He asked Cara, and she took a few moments to answer.

"No!" She pointed to the other picture. "He is the one who shot the man!"

The officer gave each a look, and the chief cleared his throat. "Cara, it doesn't matter who shot the man and Janet. You must testify against Sebastian. This man!" He pointed at Sebastian's picture.

Cara looked at the screen and then at the chief. "But this is false. Sebastian didn't cause any harm to anyone then why should I testify against him? I refuse to do this." She firmly stated her ground.