Chapter 7

• As Kathleen walked in, all eyes went on her, people admiring this elegant lady in front of them, but her eyes were focused on one person, Aiden Smith.
• People began murmuring among themselves as she locked her arms with Lucas.
• "Is she Lucas's girlfriend?."
• "Oh my!. She looked so beautiful!."
• "I know this face, isn't this Aiden Smith's ex-girlfriend?." A woman said and the others gasped.
• "What?. It can't be her. We all know she looked beautiful but not to this extent, and she had become more than ever."
• "Yes, and she left someone like Aiden Smith."
• "Who does she think she is?,"
• "She attracts rich men and now Lucas is her next target."
• In all those horrible words against Kathleen, she didn't look bothered at all, in fact she was happy she gave them things to talk about. Among those gathered around there, no one can ever match up to her, I mean the Houston family was the richest among all of them and she made sure it stood that way.
• Clara who looked at her coldly, locked hands with Aiden, Aiden's gorgeous ex is back, what's her gain?. Each step Kat took toward them meant something to her, she had come to spoil things for her and she would try every possible means to end her. No one can take Aiden away from her!.
• Aiden moved from where he stood and walked up to Kat. He kissed the back of her beautiful hand and smiled with so much adoration in his eyes. Kat's eyes softened, she tried to keep her feelings hidden.
• Aiden pronounced her name, "Kathleen Garrido." Her heart leaped with joy.
• Kat smiled, this was the first time he heard him speak after five years and it gladdened her heart the words were simply her name.
• "You look beautiful." He stated, then looked at Lucas. "With him!. Welcome to Seattle." Kat frowned, her eyes went back to cold. What does he mean?.
• Lucas noticed what was going on and said, "Thank you, Mr. Smith. Perhaps, it's fun for us, I heard businesses are going well."
• Aiden scoffed and told him, "Seattle is a home for business."
• "That's so nice, Mr. Smith. It's quite a relief that I'm in the right place." Kat cut in, pushing all emotions behind her.
• "Saying this calms my heart, I hope we catch up some time," Lucas told him, trying to pass him by.
• "I hope inviting you to dinner in my home isn't a bad idea."
• Kat and Lucas looked at each other, Clara was stunned. Her face heated up and her lips parted. How could he do this to her?.
• "How can I reject?. We're business associates, aren't we?." Kat smiled evilly and followed Lucas to the other men.
• "Lucas. Congratulations!." A man walked up to them. He had a waiter bring him wine and Lucas took two glasses from the tray.
• "All credit goes to Ms.. Kat." He urged Kat to come nearer. Others were drawn to their discussion. Kat sipped her wine, watching everyone in silence. She didn't speak much and as a therapist, she had this tendency of observing people before coming to light. This is how she finds them worthy of doing business with her.
• "Who's that young lady beside you?. Is she the one?." The man asked him and Lucas chuckled softly. He had his other hand placed in his pocket.
• "Don't tell me you don't recognize the gorgeous woman beside me. Look at her, doesn't she look like Kathleen Houston?."
• There was a pause, the man's eyes firmly watched Kathleen for a while. Realization dawned on him and he said in a raised voice, "The grandchild of the Houston family."
• People who heard that gasped, others were stunned except Alden and Clara who knew her already.
• "The grandchild of the Houston family is a woman."
• "How could a woman handle such a great organization?."
• "When I heard the grandchild of the Houston family was going to get a place on the board, I didn't know it was going to be a woman."
• "A woman in the board?." One of them scoffed, "Absurd." She finished with an eye roll. The side talks were killing her already. She wanted to turn and tell them to f**k off but couldn't, she was a role model and models get to live by example.
• "Nice. Just nice. A woman like her has so much potential. Ms.. Kat, we'll get to speak in private later, I have a proposal for you." The man told her and her eyes glinted, a business proposal? no one has ever impressed the chairman enough to win that seat. Discussing the business with him was all she ever wanted..
• Around ten o'clock that night, the party ended and guests started to leave. Kat was sitting and watching Aiden all through, they would lock eyes together and he would be the one to look away. Then the lady beside him wouldn't let the chance to have him slip off her fingers. That must be Clara.
• She was pretty, very slender, and had curly blonde hair. She looked extremely good in her red horsetail ball gown. She looked like a queen, and the way she clung to Aiden made Kat suspect her even more.
• The lady was cunny, she observed.
• Then their eyes met and Kat looked away embarrassedly. She stood and walked outside to her car parked outside. She was about to get into the car when a waiter approached her. She stopped and waited.
• The waiter gave her an envelope and whispered inaudibly to her ears before walking away. She opened the car door and climbed in. Inside the car, she tore the envelope and looked at the small note.
• WE'LL TALK TOMORROW WHEN YOU COME.
• YOU & ME.
• She folded the paper and threw it through the window. Why would Aiden ask to see her?. What does he want?. Looking at the content of the paper, you would notice it wasn't business at all. What was it that needed to be conveyed?. Kat wondered.
• ~
• Finally, the car managed to stop at Kat's hotel and she stepped out. Lucas tries to lead her back to her room but she stops him abruptly.
• Kat said, "Let's not act like everything's fine between us, Lucas."
• Lucas raised his brows at her, "I've apologized, what else do you want me to do?."
• "Nothing. Now, can I go on?." She sarcastically asked and turned to leave.
• "Wait for a minute." He said and she turned.
• "What do you want?." Kat snapped."I'm sorry, believe me, I am."
• "What if I agree? what do you do afterward?." She asked, tactically. She wanted to know when he was leaving town.
• Lucas hesitated, "You are part of why I'm here, I want to make sure you're not angry with me." He stated, Kat sighed and folded her arm under her breast.
• There was silence.
• She asked, "When do you leave Seattle?."
• He breathed out and replied, "Tomorrow, after dinner."
• "Cool then. I forgive you." With that being said, she turned around and walked away.