UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
CHAPTER 13 & 14
The room fell silent, Cassuis didn’t flinch or act as if they exit. Instead, he waited for them to leave but they didn’t. Why did they have to ruin the moment?
Tatiana finally got back to her senses and pushed him away from herself. He let her, taking step backward.
An awkward smile appeared on Tatiana’s face as her eyes dart from the three figure.
“I..t’s not what you think.. uhm, we were not doing anything” Tatiana stuttered badly.
That would be the first time Catelyn would see Tatiana lost for words. Tatiana had always been a straightforward, courageous woman. So who was the man beside him? Her eyes narrowed, seeing the striking resemblance of Dylan on the man.
“Mr.. King” Jolene struggled to breath. Catelyn got her answer. Dylan’s father?
Cassius simply tucked both of his hand into his pocket waiting for any of them to break the silence. The atmosphere was tense but he cared less.
“Auntie, you wanted to prepare coffee, I think Mr. King would like to have some” Tatiana spoke, trying to smoothen the situation.
Cassius gave her a brief look and returned them back to Catelyn.
“I’m leaving” He announced and approached the door. Tatiana didn’t stop him. He stopped before Catelyn and introduced. “Cassius King, nice to meet you”
“N..ice to meet you too” Catelyn smiled even though his face remained serious. After that, he left and Tatiana bit her lips waiting for the two women to throw her questions.
“I need to take some water” Jolene broke the silence and ran to the kitchen.
Catelyn approached Tatiana, she folded her arms below her breast.
“I swear nothing happened” Tatiana quickly explained.
“It was about to” Catelyn smirked. “He is a fine handsome man, Tatie. Did you tell him about Dylan?”
Tatiana exhaled, her mouth hung open and Catelyn got her answer.
“Delaying such a thing isn’t a good idea if you ask me. If he find out himself, which is definitely going to happen soon. He’ll be so mad at you. Beside, you promised Dylan he is going to meet him, Tatiana” Catelyn scolded.
“I know. He just got here and didn’t give me the chance to speak-”
“You’re afraid, and that is a personality you do not possess. Where is it coming from?” Catelyn ask and Tatiana sighed knowing it was true.
“Cat, I don’t know him well and I’m scared of what kind of person he’ll be to Dylan. He is engaged and I just.. I just don’t know what to think. What if he hates me?”
“He doesn’t look like someone who would hate you. In fact, he seems good to me, just cold” Catelyn chuckled.
“I’ll tell him, I promise” Tatiana assured and Catelyn nodded.
“You guys were about to kiss!” Jolene exclaimed from the kitchen.
“No Jojo, we were not!” Tatiana yelled back.
___
UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
That night Mason walked into his apartment with a smile, Maya who followed him in had a conflicted look.
“Isn’t that great Maya?!” Mason laughed excitedly. He held her face side by side and kissed her. “Fuck, I love you! Why the heck didn’t you tell me you could play cards?”
“I.. I never thought of that” Maya stuttered, her expression made Mason frowned, still holding her face close.
“What is wrong with you? I’ve just won millions of dollars to fix my company problem and this happened because I have such a loving wife like you Maya. You’re brilliant–”
“I do not want to gamble” Maya blurted, her voice barely above a whisper. Mason’s smile slowly disappeared.
“What are you talking about?” His brow slowly creasing. Maya’s lips shut in fear, he was getting angry and she needed not to be hit because of her state.
“Did I hear you say something, Maya?” He asked again and she shook her head vehemently.
“No, I didn’t say anything” The fear in her eyes made her made his anger worsen.
“Did you just–” He paused drawing his face closer and his eyes burn in anger. “Lie to my face?” He completed and Maya’s eyes widened, tears streaming down her face.
Was he going to hit her again? She can’t be hit, it’ll cause internal bleeding.
“I’m so sorry.. please don’t hit me, I might die” She begged. His hand held her face closer, his breath hitting her face as he glowed.
“Die? Oh that would probably be a fucking good news Maya. Your husband just got something that would solve his problem from you, he praised you and all you could do is lie to his face. That is not a lovely thing to do wife”
“Please, the doctor said I shouldn’t get–” She paused realizing what she was spilling out. She slowly lifted her gaze to him and a chill run down her spine.
He stared at her for an unmeasurable amount of time as she cried. Oh Lord, was this the end for her?
“You’ve been going to the hospital behind my back? You let the doctors see the lovely marks I gave to your body?” He asked.
“I was in pain. I had no choice. I won’t go back there I promise!” She pleaded loudly but the man lips curled up into a dark smirked.
He forcefully grabbed her hair, dragging her with him as she screamed in terror. He headed upstairs, and the apartment was soon filled with Maya’s painful cries.
___
UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
“Strange” Nathan muttered as his assistant explained everything to him. Jolene found Tatiana drunk and took Tatiana to an hotel, and the next morning, they left the hotel.
It was simply normal and fine but could she had slept with someone in the same hotel? Did she perhaps find solace in sex just go forget about him?
If yes, who? A gigolo?
“Find out each and everyone names that spent that night in that hotel. Make it quick” Nathan ordered and Flynn nodded leaving the place.
His phone buzz as he received a message from one of his spies.
Tatiana was planning to work on a movie. The director, Felix was well acquainted to him. Probably a best time for him to make his move and as for her child, he’ll get to see him some day.
___
UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
“Isn’t it weird mom, how someone can be friends with you one day and then suddenly acts like they hated you the next?” Dylan asked, his eyes wide with curiosity as Tatiana tuck him to bed.
“Did your friend do that?” She asked.
“Yes. He suddenly changed today, he won’t sit with me at lunch and when I tried to talk to him, he barely responded. It’s like he doesn’t like me anymore” Dylan explained, pouting his cute lips.
“Did you say or do something that might have hurt or upset him?” She asked calmly.
Dylan shook his head. “No, Mom, I swear! We were fine yesterday, and I don’t know what I did wrong.”
“What is his name dear?”
“Landon Redmond” Dylan replied and Tatiana paused for a moment. Landon? Paisley and Nathan’s son.
Tatiana composed herself and smiled. “Sometimes, people deal with their own struggles by pushing others away. It might not be about you at all. But here’s what I want you to remember: you can’t control how others behave, but you can control how you respond. Be kind, be patient, and be yourself. If Landon needs space, give it to him. And if he doesn’t come back around, know that you deserve friends who appreciate you for who you are.”
Dylan’s face brightened slightly, “Thanks, Mom. You always make me feel better.”
“That’s what moms are for, sweetie” She kissed his forehead and lay beside him, pulling him close to her embrace.
“Mom” He called again, barely above a whisper.
“Yes darling” Tatiana responded.
“You didn’t forget about your promise, right?” He asked and Tatiana’s smile dropped momentarily.
“I didn’t” She watched Dylan closed his eyes and watched him for a while before leaving his room. She took out her phone immediately she got into her room and checked the message she sent go Cassuis a day ago.
~I have something to tell you, please can we talk~
He haven’t responded and she has no way to find him. Heading towards the Kings company might be not be a good idea but still. She needed to spill it out.
***
UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
On the next day, Tatiana decided to visit Kings company. Catelyn was right, the earlier the better.
“Paisley is not only a bitch to herself and everyone, she is also a bitch to herself. How could she get into her little boy’s head just because of her selfish self…” Jolene won’t stop talking after listening to what Dylan words from Tatiana. “Maybe we should change his school. If Paisley knows about Dylan then the bastard Nathan knows about him too”
Tatiana sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “I knew I shouldn’t have come to this country, but I don’t have a choice, that’s why I need to tell him soon”
“He’ll probably be a little mad but I think he’ll be cool. Mr. King is cold but not to you I guess”
“He said I’ll face the consequences. Of what exactly? I didn’t steal anything from him”
“You stole his heart” Jolene teased.
“I’ll cut your tongue” Tatiana warned and Jolene chuckled. Tatiana’s phone buzz and she quickly pulled it out thinking it was Cassius but it was an unknown number.
“Hello, Tatiana?” Maya’s trembling voice sounded from the phone instead.
In the next twenty minutes, Tatiana’s car stopped before a quiet restaurant. She asked Jolene to wait in the car and went it. Her eyes scan the place and she spot a familiar figure disguise.
Almost all her body was covered.
“Maya?” She called lightly and Maya looked up, her face paled, eyes swollen with suffering swirling in them.
Tatiana took a seat before her, her cold gaze observe older sister, Maya carefully and her blood slowly boils.
“Uhm.. I don’t know where to start and I don’t know if I’m doing the right thing but I can’t take it anymore” Maya voice trembled a little, seeming to be in pain.
“He did this, didn’t he?” Tatiana asked, he jaw clinching.
“I’m not surprised you knew”
Tatiana scoffed, her tongue rolling in her mouth, something she does, whenever her head spin in anger.
“It’s been nine years you’ve been married to him, Maya. Don’t tell me–”
“We were cool at first but after two years he slowly change and now he–” Maya’s voice trailed off as Mason’s beastly acts on her. “I can’t take it anymore. He’ll kill me, he’s getting worst everyday”
Tatiana stayed silent, her look unreadable.
“I’m so sorry about what I said about Isabella. You were right, she needed justice and I hated myself for saying such a thing”
“You know something, don’t you?” Tatiana asked and Maya bit down her lips, her brain recalling what she heard.
“Only if you help me, I’ll tell you what I know… please, I don’t know what to do” Maya plead.
___
UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
After discussing with Maya, Tatiana head straight to Kings company but was informed Cassius wasn’t around.
“When will he be back?” Tatiana asked.
“He won’t be around today, ma’am you should come back in two days” The woman on the front desk replied.
“Thank you” Tatiana sighed disappointedly.
“Idol!!” A loud voice was directed to her making her halt. A man around his late 20s walked fast to her with a smile.
Tatiana recognized him, Hudson, Cassius assistant according to her research. Why was he calling her idol anyway?
“Tatiana, finally I got to see you in person” Hudson chuckled, his smile enough to warm ones heart.
“Idol?”
“Oh, I’ve watched all your movies. Shadow in the night, The devil’s in the details, Paranoid, Secret smile, Crazy for you and so more.. I’m deep fan of yours and I can’t wait to get more of your works. Sorry am I talking too much?”
“No, actually it’s really nice to meet you” Tatiana spoke politely.
“I’m Hudson by the way”
“Who wouldn’t know Mr. King’s assistant?” She chuckled.
“Are you here to see him?”
“Yeah, it’s Pretty urgent”
“He’s not available right now, he had been busy, he has an event tonight, I can send you the address if you wanna come” He said and Tatiana nodded.
As they speak, Indigo watched them from afar, her assistant busy cleaning her nails. Her expression curious as it focus on Tatiana.
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UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
As the evening drew near, Tatiana recieved the address from Hudson, and also a message from Director Felix, requesting her to come to the same event to talk about the movie and meet some producers.
Great, two birds with one stone.
She wore an elegant exquisite dress that glitters, her make up light making her look stunning.
“Is this a date?” Catelyn teased spotting her.
“Hudson asked me to dress well, it’s an important event” Tatiana replied, she bid Dylan and Catelyn goodbye before heading there. Without Jolene.
Unknown to her, an attack was set for her…
She reached the hall in no time and immediately she stepped out, she froze at the scream of the reporter.
“There she is!”
They all turn their gaze to her, Tatiana was quick enough to recognize it. Hatred.
Eggs, stones was thrown to her but she was fast enough to enter her car. They all gather around her car so she won’t be able to drive.
Insults, humiliation and cursed filled the air.
Cassuis was discussing with some business partner when his phone buzz and a video came in. His eyes darkened and his aura changed.
He silenced the men around him with a finger, his jaw clinched as he made a call.
“Get every name of those reporters assaulting the woman outside the hall, and banned them all. Paint their name black as long I remain King”
Meanwhile, Tatiana was still trapped in her car, sorrounded by hostile crowd. She tried to start the engine but they were all over.
Aren’t reporters supposed to ask questions? Definitely, someone paid these reporters to act this way.
One of the reporters suddenly got a message, and her eyes widened in terror. Banned. She fainted from the shock.
Another got his and froze. One after the other, their phone beeped and their attack ceased.
Tatiana slowly raised her head from the stirring wheel, she found them all staring at their phone, most was even crying.
A team of hefty men in black suit appeared, forming a protective circle around Tatiana’s car. Her face contorted into confusing not until she recieved a message from…
Him.
“Get down from the car, you’re safe now. Little Rebel”
UNDER HIS INFLUENCE : CHAPTER 11 – 20
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