“I, uh, haven’t figured it out yet.” I honestly replied, which made her laugh.
“Fine. Take me to your favourite place in Joburg. I’m willing to get to know you better as well.” Kiara stated and stood up. She picked her purse up from the glass table and redid her scarf around her neck. She looked back at me with a flick of her hair and smiled. “You coming?”
“Oh, uh, yeah.” I stuttered and quickly jumped to my feet. Kiara walked off, and I followed behind her. I tried to hide the excitement that she wanted to get to know me better and refrained from happily cheering. A voluminous smile spread onto my face as I quickly looked at Kedwyn as we walked past. He gave me a thumbs up and chuckled to himself.
“We’ll take my car,” Kiara remarked as we walked out of the grocery store. She interlocked her fingers in mine and pulled me towards a blue 1967 Camaro SS Convertible.
This car was a stunning Chevrolet with a rectangular shaped frame. It only had two doors, so the backseat passengers had to climb over the front seats. The car had the original solid white line painted across the front of the bonnet, just above the headlights. The roof could open and close depending on the weather. The interior was covered in white leather and in mint condition.
“This is your car?” I gasped and ran my hand gently over the door.
“Yeah, I have a thing for old cars,” Kiara responded and tucked her hair behind her ear. She looked so damn gorgeous when she did that. It made my heart melt.
“This was my childhood dream car. My Dad used to work at a repair shop, and they had this red Camaro that was never claimed. It just sat there and rusted away over the years as I grew up. I loved that car, but the repair shop owner refused to sell it.” I smiled as I retold the memory.
“I guess you would like to drive then?” Kiara offered and threw the keys at me. I caught them and beamed at her like a child that just opened his Christmas gifts.
“You serious?” I gasped, and she nodded with a giggle. I quickly opened her door, and she climbed into the passenger’s seat. I excitedly jumped in next to her, and the engine roared to life as I started the ignition. The sound was music to my ears.
The roof was open as I dropped the clutch and spun the tires before speeding off.
As I drove, the cold wind blew into my face. I loved speed. I joined in races and accelerated my way past vehicles on the roads every chance I got. I always loved to go fast. When I was younger, I learned how to drive a motorbike before a bicycle. My Dad would often take the vehicles he was working on in the repair shop for a spin. JB and I loved it when he clamped down the accelerate and shot forward.
As I got older, my passion moved more toward cars. My high school memories were mostly of how I stole cars and took them for joy rides. That and many overnights spent in jail and being at the hospital from an accident. The broken bones didn’t stop me for long; as soon as I could, I was back in a car and speeding down the street. I honestly have no idea how I passed the grades. I never studied, and bearly was at school to attend the classes.
Kiara’s laugh made me smile. She seemed excited by the speed I was going. Her silver hair and scarf blew in the wind behind her. I skid the tires as I drifted around a corner, and she held onto my leg with her hand.
“Jason!” Kiara yelled and seemed a bit scared, so I slowed down.
“Don’t worry. I won’t let you get hurt.” I reassured her.
“I don’t trust you enough to believe that.” She shook her head. Her nose and ears were red from the cold. She looked super cute, besides the frown placed on her lips.
“Hey, don’t frown, love. I’m sorry for scaring you.” I stated and touched her leg. I tried to show Kiara some attention while I drove. I had to focus on the roads, especially since I lived in South Africa. The people here don’t know how to drive.
“Just don’t do it again. Where are you taking me in any case?”
“My favourite spot,” I replied sarcastically with a laugh. “It’s an old cabin that my brother and I found when we were younger. I’m pretty sure that it’s abandoned, but we always used to come here and pretend we lived alone.” I added with a smile.
“Let me guess, you bought all your girlfriends here as well.” Kiara raised her eyebrow. I shook my head and drove passed the sign for Emmarentia Dam.
“Well, my brother JB did. It was his hookup spot. I didn’t date much. I was too interested in racing. After my Dad died, we didn’t come here much. So, you’re actually the first.”
“You never bought another girl here?”
“I did. Just not one I liked.” I replied and winked at her.
“You’re sad.” Kiara laughed and looked away from me. I could see her cheeks were a slight pink as she looked away. It was probably another one of her acts to make people think she was a bitch. I shrugged, and a few minutes later, I took a turn down a dirt road.
We went through a woodsy area and past a bunch of barren trees. The road had a few bumps and the overcast sky shined light through the dry branches. In the distance, I could hear the flowing water as it crashed against the river banks. We stopped by our destination, just outside the old cabin.
I hopped out and walked around to open Kiara’s door, but she beat me to it and opened it herself.
“I can help myself, thanks.” She stated and looked around.
The cabin was well hidden, and not many people would be able to find it unless they knew which turns to take. Kiara’s ankle boots pressed against the hard ground as she stood up.
The cabin itself was made of wood and looked like it wasn’t taken care of. The glass of the windows was thankfully not broken, and moss grew on the wood in patches. It had gotten worse since I last saw it.
“It’s uhm… cute. If you like that Forrest type of vibe.” Kiara remarked as we walked towards the front door.
“She just needs some TLC.” I smiled and turned the door handle. The door didn’t open due to the wood swelling at the bottom from the water, so I had to use force to get in. It flew open and broke away from the hinges as I pushed the door. With a loud crash, the door fell against the wooden floor.
“Fuck.” I muttered, and Kiara burst into laughter.
“Maybe you shouldn’t have pushed so hard.” She stated and walked in. Her boots clicked against the wood as she walked over the door. I walked into the cabin behind her and picked up the door to lean against the wall. The hinges were completely rusted and brittle, which is why the door broke off its frame.
I should probably come to fix this place up a bit.
“Sorry, I know this isn’t like the fancy places you usually spend your time in.” I apologized and ran my hand through my hair.
“I don’t mind.” Kiara sweetly said and held up her hand. “Want to give me a tour?” She asked as I took her hand in mine.
“Sure.” I happily smiled. Kiara seemed to like the old cabin as I showed her around. It warmed my heart as this was a place dear to me.
The cabin had a single bedroom with a metal frame bed but no mattress. There was an old painting of what the cabin originally looked like when it was first built. The room also had an ancient chest of drawers which had a hole on the side and was missing the drawers handles. The bathroom was a metal bath with a toilet. A cracked mirror hung against the wall, and I remembered JB broke my accident when he shot me with his slingshot. The cabin used to have running water, but now the pipes were dry. The lounge/dining area and kitchen were all one room. There was a small wooden table with a broken chair. Then another painting of a car that I hung up. JB also painted a tree on the wall, which was pretty well done. The kitchen had a few cabinets with an odd plate or cup in them. There wasn’t much, but the cabin was like a dream home for two young boys. While we were in the lounge area, I removed a loose floorboard. This was our secret stash spot in case someone broke into the cabin. There w
Kiara and I spent the night getting to know each other more by talking. I learnt things such as her favourite colour (which is red) and if she studied at university (the answer was yes). Kiara went to the University of Pretoria, aka Tukkies. She studied business management and told me stories of how she went to tons of parties. Kiara messed around on a pole at a club one night, then decided to join pole dancing classes. After that, she perfected the art and now can move in ways I’ve never seen before. She told me how her Dad always called her his angel, which is why she acts as the perfect daughter for his sake. I asked her if she ever wished her Dad could know the real her, but Kiara said she prefers to keep her life separate. She feels freer that way. I just sat there and listened when Kiara spoke. I could listen to her for days upon end. Her voice was beautiful, and she sounded so happy when she spoke about her Dad. They were really close, and she loved him with all her heart. Kia
I offered him a small smile while I shook his hand. Mr Van Kline had dark brown hair that was riddled with grey strands. He had a neatly trimmed grey beard and stern eyes that shouted ‘business’. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr Van Kline.” I gulped and could feel Kiara staring into my skull. “I heard whispers that your grandmother will leave her company in your name. Is it true that she is thinking of finally retiring?” Mr Van Kline asked. “We all know how stubborn my grandmother can be.” I awkwardly chuckled and hoped I was right. Mr Van Kline nodded with a small smile. “I know it’s time that she retires, but I think she’ll work for as long as possible,” I added. It was scary how easily lying came to me. “Uh, yes, that is true. I hope to see you around more often. It appears my daughter has kept you hidden.” He stated and looked at Kiara. “Sorry, Daddy. Mr Porter here claimed to not enjoy such functions,” Kiara replied and looked to stare at me. I felt a drop of sweat on my fore
I felt this anger build up inside of me. Not at her, but at whoever or whatever made me feel like she can’t be loved. I was also angry at myself for not having more patience. I shouldn’t have kissed her or asked her to dance or slept with her again at the old cabin. I made my way back inside to fetch my suit jacket and tried to wipe off as much water as possible. I still looked wet when I walked back into the grand hall where the luncheon was taking place. Mr Van Kline walked over to me when I grabbed my jacket. “Uh, Jason.” He smiled and placed his hand on my shoulder. “Sorry, Gregory. Kiara said that I should let you know she wasn’t feeling well, so she went home.” I explained to let him know what was happening. “Uh, I see.” He nodded and removed his hand. “My daughter ran away, didn’t she?” He suddenly asked, and I felt my body freeze in place. “I saw the way the two of you look at each other. I once looked at Kiara’s mom the same way. I think Kiara can’t accept that she can be
We had just finished a meeting with Mr Van Kline and a few other major businessmen. Mrs Porter had invited them over to her company to announce that I would take over in the next upcoming year. I had a whole presentation with new ideas and changes which Mrs Porter really liked. It felt like I was at school again and being graded. The men seemed to enjoy what I said, so it went well. “Thank you, Jason.” Sue smiled as I sat down. “As you can see, gentlemen, my grandson is more than capable of taking over my company. You will be in good hands.” “I agree.” Mr Van Kline added. “It will be my honour to work with you.” He smiled at me, which made my heart feel like it was glowing. Having Mr Van Kline like me was amazing; even though he didn’t know the entire truth, it still felt really good. The rest of the gentlemen shook my hand and congratulated me. As everyone was about to depart, Mr Van Kline walked over to me. “Gregory.” I smiled as he stopped next to me. “I would like to invite yo
Kiara's gorgeous lips curled into a small smile. Once again, I was struck by how beautiful she was. She could have been Victoria's Secret model or become famous for her stunning appearance on I*******m. How could one human be this attractive? "Why are you just staring at me, Jason? It's kind of weird." She giggled. "I just think you are the most beautiful woman in the world," I replied with a shrug. "You haven't seen everyone in the world, so how would you know?" Her eyebrows slightly wiggled as she asked the question. "I know my ideal woman when I see her, and no one can compete with you." "You always know exactly what to say, don't you?" She asked, but the blush on her cheeks told me she appreciated the compliment. I couldn't help but smile. Being around her made me feel so alive. I changed the topic and told her all about my deal with Mrs Porter while we sat on the edge of the jacuzzi. Kiara couldn't believe that Sue wanted me to continue the act as her grandson. She also ad
We climbed out of the jacuzzi and got dressed. Kiara kept giggling as we sneaked off towards her room. I felt like a teenager that didn't want his girlfriend's parents to know he slept over. "Shh." I softly chuckled as we walked into her room hand in hand. Kiara clapped her hands which made the light switch on. I looked around in wonder. Her room was massive. Long golden curtains draped down over a glass sliding door, which led out onto a balcony. She had an L-shaped desk in the one corner with the best gaming set-up I'd seen. Next to that was a dressing table full of jewellery, makeup and hair accessories that were probably every girly woman's dream. She had tons of pictures on her walls of who I assumed were her friends. Many were with her father, but not one featured her mom. The room was decorated with LED lights and had tons of cupboard space. The bed was massive and covered in teddy bears, pillows and fluffy blankets. Above the bed hung a painted picture of Kiara's naked back
I knocked on the front door of the Van Kline household, and soon afterwards, Mr Sandile opened up. "Oh, Mr Porter." He greeted me and offered me a friendly smile. "Evening, sir. I'm here to pick up Kiara..." I started to say. "I'm here!" Kiara shouted as she ran down the stairs. My eyes devoured the sight of her. She had on a pair of thick grey stockings, a black shirt and a fluffy white jacket. Her hair was put into a high ponytail, and she had on her glasses. "Enjoy." Mr Sandile slightly bowed, then walked off to leave us alone. "Let's go." Kiara beamed and grabbed my hand. Electricity shot through me."Shouldn't I say hello to your Dad?" I quickly questioned as she pulled me away. "He's gone to some charity event." "Oh," I replied and stopped in place. I yanked Kiara closer to me and held her against my chest. She gasped as I did so. Her lips were slightly parted as she looked up at me. "You looked incredibly beautiful today," I smirked and slightly pushed up her glasses wh