Lianne sighed.

It wasn't that she hated her father. She loved him.

There was just this love-hate relationship because he didn't really know how to deal with her. Lianne was also well aware of how much he loved her, but it didn't make what he said, or did, hurt any less.

Even when he didn't mean it the way he said it.

She was sure that he was going to give her some life advice on the way home and most likely full of 'not disturbing Mr. Kyle so much' speech.

Once she reached her brother's class, she noted tha the teacher had stopped the lessons and the class was doing some work. She knocked politely, and requested to see Joseph.

Joseph, upon hearing his sister's voice, looked up and then at the teacher. She nodded, saying, "Five minutes."

Thanking the teacher as he passed her, he walked out and asked her in the corridor, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong," Lianne said, "I'm heading to Smith Industries to meet up with Kyle, then going back with Papa. We have permission to leave."

Joseph shook his head, "No, but are you sure this is a good idea?"

"Why is it a bad idea?" Lianne countered back.

"Well … he's … you know, THE Kyle Smith," Joseph said awkwardly, "And a guy, and …"

Lianne gave him the 'are you serious' look and he shut up.

"Don't you start," Lianne said, "You know very well that he's a close friend."

"I know, I know," Jospeh said, putting up his hands, "It's just that people will talk .."

"I don't care about what people will talk about," Lianne cut in, "As long as the ones close to me know the truth, the rest doesn't matter."

"It's not that simple," he hissed, "Rumours can be very bad and hurt you."

Lianne shrugged, "Only if I let them hurt me."

Joseph sighed and waved her off, "You go ahead. I have lessons to catch up on so just ask Papa to pick me up like normal."

"Okay," Lianne replied, glad that he dropped the matter.

Joseph watched his younger sister go, the uneasiness in his heart not quite appeased.

He understood what she was saying, but how can she be unaffected by what people may say? He knew very well that Lianne looked up at Kyle and nothing else, and Kyle - for some strange reason - treated her very well.

There was absolutely nothing going on between them. If there had been, there was no way that either he, or his father, would allow Lianne to go and meet up with Kyle so much.

It was just that … people were starting to talk.

It wasn't much yet, and appeared to be more like curiosity, but isn't that how it started?

He clenched his hands.

He was already bothered by what people were saying about his sister and Kyle … imagine if they knew how he felt about Kay?

That was worse.

In truth, the rumours that were starting didn't really paint Lianne in a bad light. She was the 'naive youngster' that the 'evil lecherous pedophile' was lusting over.

Kyle was the bad guy in this.

Joseph couldn't imagine if word of his feelings for Kay got out. Wouldn't they paint her in the same dirty brush? That she was some vixen who seduced such a young, impressionable boy?

The thought of anyone slandering her made his blood boil.

He turned back to his classroom, determined more than ever to never let his feelings for Kay see light. It must never be.

Unlike Lianne who couldn't be bothered by such rumours, he was the type that would be extremely affected by them.

✿ Author only posts on w.e.b.n.o.v.e.l. ✿

Lianne walked out to meet up with Zero, while wondering what sort of 'emergency' that Beatrice was referring to. Sure, she said that Mama was being cranky but she couldn't imagine how scary that would be.

Then again, she only knew her as her mother, and not as the youngest ever CEO.

For Beatrice to send out an S.O.S, it meant that the situation must be pretty bad.

Lianne couldn't help but laugh a bit at that because she really couldn't imagine her mother being so scary.

In fact, she was kinda looking forward to seeing it.

Her mother, being all bad-ass.

Her eyes lit up upon seeing Zero waiting outside, standing at the car.

He was waiting underneath the trees that lined the street, and Lianne's breath caught at the vision he was.

Dang, but he's so pretty. The way his hair glistened in the sunlight that peeked through the trees, and the way the shadows were so perfectly captured on his features that made the whole thing so picturesque.

Her hands were itching to sketch that scene, but she knew she couldn't because she didn't have the time.

She whipped out her phone and took several pictures, hoping to capture it for all eternity and use it as reference later on. It wasn't perfect, but it was better than nothing.

Zero watched her as she excitedly kept on taking pictures of him, and he didn't move, allowing her to do so.

Usually, he would have stepped away when such a thing happened (and it happened a lot, with girls normally trying to taking pictures of him sneakily), but this was Lianne. Someone special to Sir, so he wouldn't deny her anything.

Lianne came over to him, smiling happily, saying, "Thank you, Zero, for letting me take pictures of you."

Of course she knew that he allowed her, and she had to thank him, right?

"Anything for you, Ms. Lianne," Zero replied respectfully, opening the door for her.

"Thank you," Lianne said politely, going in, "But can't you call me Lianne?"

"No, Ms. Lianne," Zero answered, getting into the driver's seat.

Lianne would have preferred to sit in front, beside Zero, but she knew that would make him go into hysterics or something. He was just so uptight!

It made her want to tease him for it.

But she wouldn't.

…

...

Not much, anyway.

"So, Zero," Lianne began, as she studied the back of his head, "What's up with Kyle?"

"Nothing, Ms. Lianne," Zero answered.

"Oh come on," Lianne pressed on, "If Beatrice could reach out to me, it must be bad?"

"Not really, Ms. Lianne," came the stoic reply.

Lianne grinned and leaned forward - as much as her seatbelt allowed, "If you can't tell me, then I may not be able to help."

"Just you being there calms Sir down, Ms. Lianne," Zero replied.

"That may be," Lianne said, tapping the back of the chair, "But if I don't know the extent of how bad it is, I won't be able to talk to him about it. Perhaps, prevent future ones?"

Zero was quiet.

"Oh, come on, Zero," Lianne said sweetly, trying her best to sound coquettish while inwardly cringing, "You can tell me."

Zero didn't say a word.

"Please?" Lianne pressed on, making her voice as sugary sweet as possible, "Pretty please with sugar on it? And chocolate sprinkles?"

Zero pressed his lips together, and peeked at her through the rearview mirror, only to see her looking at him, blinking her eyes innocently.

He focused back on the road.

"There's nothing much to say, Ms. Lianne," Zero finally answered and went silent again.

Lianne pursed her lips and leaned back on her chair.

She gave a smile and thought that he was a tough nut to crack. Still admired him, though, for he wouldn't budge or spill anything even though she was 'special' to Kyle.

Still, he would have cracked sooner or later, if the way he gripped the steering wheel was any indication. He was trying so hard to be firm and unmoving, but he wasn't as calm as he appeared to be.

Interesting.

Lianne put her earphones on and started playing her game. However, although she appeared to be playing, in reality, she was thinking about borrowing Zero once in a while.

You know, to draw.

Tease occasionally.

Maybe Mama wouldn't mind letting him be her security detail for a while as a cover?

Just thinking it made her smile widely. Zero, who glanced in the rearview mirror, saw this. He had been relieved that Lianne had finally stopped asking him questions and was engrossed in her game.

However, seeing that smile ... a sense of foreboding arose and he broke out in a cold sweat.

Zero gulped and pushed the thought out of his mind. Whatever it was, and whatever she was perhaps up to, he would face it head-on.

it was Lianne, after all.

She wouldn't do anything bad to him, right?

Zero parked the car in the special spot in front of Smith Industries. However, just as he got out, Lianne had also pushed open the door and got out without waiting for Zero to open the door.

Much to Zero's dismay and frustration.

"It's fine, Zero," Lianne said with a smile upon seeing his dejected face, "No need for any special treatment. Having you drive me is a huge privilege already, okay? I'm ordinary."

"No, you're not," Zero insisted, shaking his head, "You are Sir's …"

"Ah ah ah," Lianne said firmly as she passed him by, "Ordinary."

Zero closed his mouth, not able to retort as she was already in front of him.

He followed behind her, observing her straight back and he thought to himself, 'Hardly ordinary.'

She may be 13-years-old, but the way she talked and carried herself showed otherwise.

Zero was impressed and respected her highly.