Chapter 8 - WHITE LIES

"You don't have to do that, sir. You can just continue to do your business without sending me home. I'll be fine on my own." Cayenne responded with a faint smile. Her neighborhood would probably erupt into a week-long gossip, and she would be the subject of that gossip. She didn't like that. Her last statement made Stefan smile at her. They were similar in some ways when it came to facing the world with their strength. The difference was, Cayenne didn't need recognition since her family likes her so much and she likes them back. "How about I drop you off one block away from your home? You don't want anyone to gossip about you, right?" 'ACK!' Cayenne wanted to run away that instant. "How did you manage to read my mind?" "I didn't read your mind, but you told me about that last time." "Oh." Cayenne tried to remember when it was that she told him about that, and it hit her that it was during the night he gave his proposal. Just as she was thinking, Stefan was dragging her towards the basement, where the parking lot was. She didn't fight back anymore and just bowed her head to avoid making eye contact with anyone. "Don't worry, I won't ask you about the proposal," Stefan informed her in case she'd be pressured by his presence. With that announcement, Cayenne felt a little better and loosened herself. "Okay." She responded softly before getting inside the car. She thought that his driver would pop out somewhere and would drive the car, but she didn't expect that Stefan would drive it. It was just the two of them. "Uh..where's your driver, sir?" "Ah. You might be wondering since he was always with me." Stefan chuckled as he maneuvered the car out of the parking area. "He's got days off, too. Saturday and Sunday are his non-working days." "I see. I thought he worked for you 24/7." "I am not an abusive employer, okay?" "I didn't mean it that way. I'm sorry." Stefan laughed while watching, getting all flustered and red in her face. "It's okay. I don't mind. Besides, I'm used to people calling me names behind my back." "It does not bother you?" "Nope. I don't care. I don't live for anyone's opinion. I am tired of doing that already." Cayenne didn't know what to say in this situation, especially since she was one of those people who called him names behind his back. She sat straight and kept her eyes on the road to make sure that her eyes wouldn't stray and look at him. "How about you, Yen? Oh..I can call you Yen, right?" She nodded her head after hearing his question. "Let me call Ayen instead. In that way, you would know I am the one calling you." "It's fine." She didn't care about the names used to call her as either. He can call her whatever he likes. Even if he won't say her name, she would be able to tell who's who from his voice. They talked about random things as he drove the car, but their happy time ended so soon. Cayenne arrived one block from her house, and she asked him to stop the car. "Thank you so much for giving me a lift, sir. See you next week." "See you." He made a U-turn and left the place to go back to the hotel. He didn't have any business near her place. It was just an excuse to spend time with her and get to know her a little better. Cayenne went home earlier than usual and found her brother doing house chores. "Morning, sis. You're early today." Kyle stated with a smile. "Are you hungry? I made fried rice from the leftovers last night." "That's so smart of you," Cayenne responded. She went to the kitchen sink, where Luiz was washing the plates. "Let me do that. You two do your homework." "I don't have any homework or activity," Luiz responded slowly. He was the quiet type of guy, and he talked really softly and low. He was softer than the girl, but you can never bully him. He was strong despite her timid attitude. "I can do this, sis. Just go and get some sleep. You've been working non-stop this week again." "Okay." Cayenne left her uniform in the laundry basket before going inside her room and taking a half bath. It was the weekend and she didn't have to work in the café or in the hotel. She can do whatever she wants with her weekend. A smile appeared on her face when she thought of a plan. She quickly took a bath and dressed up before going out again. She was just about to make an announcement when her phone rang. "Where's my phone?" She checked her pockets and realized that she had left it inside her room. She went back inside, and when she saw the number flashing on the screen, her smile turned to a dreadful expression. With trembling hands, she answered the phone, and a heavy sigh came from the other line. Yesen, can you come to the hospital? Your mother is refusing her medications again." She knew why her mother refused the medication and chose to face her death. She didn't want her daughter to suffer because of her, but Cayenne didn't want to lose her mother either. "I'll be there,oc." She responded shortly. The doctor told her other information about her mother before the call ended. She went outside again to find her brothers. "We are going to the hospital." They didn't know what happened,e d bbasedase on her expression, it shouldn't be good news. The two of them quickly changed their clothes to accompany their sister. Cayenne took some fruits to give to her mother and made sure to bring her wallet and phone with her. "If mom asks you what work I've been doing, tell her that I am now a manager in a hotel. Don't let her know that I'm working day and night. She will be stressed about that." Cayenne reminded her siblings. They had been lying to their mother to make sure that shwouldn't't worry about anything. She only knew that Cayenne worked in a hotel, but she didn't know anything about her other jobs.