"Sorry, I’m not trying to stress you out or anything like that. I was just curious, that’s all," Hayden said reassuringly before he smiled at me.


    I haven’t gotten used to this version of the nice and proper Hayden yet. Although, it was a nice and rxing change to how he usually is. Sometimes, I couldn’t help but wonder if this was just a front that he’s put up to hide how he really feels.


    I bet he knows that Ethan came to see me, and we spent a quite a long time alone together in the ssroom. So why is he being so soft and nice?


    ’Be careful, Malissa’ warned the tiny voice inside of my head.


    "It’s ok. Thanks for worrying about me. So many things have been going ontely and I know that I’m behind on getting my act together…" I replied, hoping that he would drop this topic.


    Talking about the future, I wonder what Hayden has in mind for his future. He was so against taking over Torex buttely he seems to have changed his mind. I remember the boss telling me that Hayden will end up taking over but will that really happen? The truth was, for the two gangs to join together, Hayden needs to take over his gang as the new boss.


    Suddenly, the task of uniting the gang became that much harder. I nced over at the calm and collected version of Hayden that was sitting opposite me as the candlelight flickered in his pale blue eyes and wondered what he was thinking.


    "You haven’t been eating. Does the food not suit your tastes?" Hayden asked from across the table.


    I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to appreciate the food or put anything in my mouth.


    "It’s great but I think I’ve had enough for the night," I replied before smiling.


    "Shall we head back?" Hayden asked.


    I nodded in agreement. If I wanted to ask him about his decision to take over the mafia group, then I need to ask him somewhere private. The restaurant with people sitting at the tables next to us wouldn’t do. Maybe when he’s back at my ce, I could muster up the courage to ask him. What if he refuses to take over? What do I do then?


    Ethan isn’t going to back down easily and he’s so insane and delusional that it’s crazy. My head was filled with negative thoughts with every step that I took while Hayden escorted me to his car. After leaving the restaurant, Hayden didn’t say a word to me and that gave me time to think.


    I was so preupied with my own thoughts that when I looked up, I realized that this didn’t seem to be the way back to my ce.


    Suddenly, I felt slightly panicked. Was Hayden taking another route? If I’m not wrong, this seems to be the opposite direction to my ce. Where is he taking me?


    "Umm…this isn’t the way back to my ce, is it?" I asked in a sweet voice.


    He was silent and I started praying that he would not snap at me or eat me up in the car. Literally.


    "It’s not," Hayden replied bluntly.


    Some exnation or rification on where we’re going might be nice?


    "Where are we going?" I asked in a small voice.


    "My ce," he stated tly.


    His ce?! Now that I think of it, I’ve never been to Hayden’s ce before and I didn’t know where he lives. Although we lived in the penthouse together, that was just a ce that the boss rented for us. Technically, it wasn’t Hayden’s ce.


    "Really?" I asked without concealing the excitement in my voice.


    Happiness flooded my body all the way down to my toes. Hayden’s finally taking me back to his ce. This is a real big step in our rtionship, right? I smiled cheerfully at the thought of Hayden finally opening up some more to me. When I step foot into his ce, I’ll be in his personal space and then I’ll learn so much more about him. This is amazing!


    I’m so happy that our rtionship is progression forward.


    "Really…" Hayden replied warmly, and he turned to smile at me.


    He’s so handsome. Hayden has been so sweet and caringtely. Finally, my charming angel is acting like an angel. This is a dreame true.


    I spent the rest of my ride in Hayden’s car feeling all bubbly inside. My mind shifted to focus on imaging what his ce must be like instead of any ns to unite the gang or anything else. I forgot all about the objective that I initially had.


    A short whileter, we arrived at arge and tall iron gate. The sophisticated design of the dark iron gate remined me of an entrance to a medieval castle. The guards that monitored the gate performed a brief security check after they realize that it was just Hayden returning home. The gates then started to open automatically.


    I couldn’t see the house or building from where we are. Both sides of the road were surrounded by thick and tall trees. It felt like we were driving through a forest. I didn’t know that anyone owned this muchnd in the city. Soon, therge and tall mansion came into view. Truthfully, it wasn’t asrge as the boss’s base, but it probably had more stories.


    "It’s huge…" I mumbled.


    Hayden did not reply, and I began to wonder why Hayden needed a ce thisrge when he’s living alone. I mean, he’s living here alone, right?


    Hayden parked the car at the entrance of the enormous mansion and immediately a man who could best be described as his butler came to greet him. He looked over at me when I got out of the car with evident surprise on his face.


    "Master Hayden, it seems that you have a guest with you today. Should I make any special arrangements?" the butler asked before bowing politely my way.


    I smiled back and nodded my head in acknowledgement. Not being used to situations like these, I wasn’t sure how to react or what to do.


    --To be continued…