Living alone
Carissa raised her head to look at the lady and spoke with hatred visible in her voice, “Dad I want to talk to you alone”.
A disdain flashed in the eyes of Mrs. Zak. Her father looked at his wife and then daughter and spoke in a scolding manner, “She is your mother you can talk in front of her”.
An evil smile appeared on her lips. “Then I want to tell you I am moving out”. She chased straight to the point.
Mr. Zak shouted at her, “What the hell are you talking about? Is this your new adventure?”
“You can think what you want. I obeyed your every decision from last year and did not cause any trouble. I fulfilled my promises, don't you think it is unfair to me?”
“I am doing everything for your sake…….”
“I don’t want you to do anything for my sake. You have other children too. Take care of them. I can support myself. And lastly the things you are doing for me won’t be mine in the future so don’t bother about me”.
Carissa's mother died when she was four years old. Her father remarried after two months of her mother’s death. He was already having an affair when her mother was alive. At that time she was so young to think of anything. But judging from her step mother behavior and from her investigation her step mother is also involved in the accident that caused her mother dead.
Carissa has a step brother Jaiden and a step sister Jia. They are in Canada right now for their studies. Of course their biological mother doesn't want her to get anything from inheritance. She is working hard to chase her out of the family.
When Carissa said these things won't be her something flashed in the eyes of Mrs. Zak. It was unimaginable for her to know that Carissa can see through her scheme. She thought Carissa was busy in having fun and didn't care about anything. It made her uncomfortable.
“What are you saying Carissa?” Mrs. Zak made her voice as soft as possible. As she cannot say anything to her in front of her husband.
A smirk appeared on her beautiful face, “You clearly know what I am talking about.”
“Shut your mouth right now Carissa. Is this a way to talk to your mother?” Her father was furious with her behavior.
Carissa looked at her father in disbelief, she wanted to tell him that she should also behave like a mother and stop playing schemes behind his back. But she became quiet as she did not want to complicate things.
“I came to tell you I am moving out. The company has given me an apartment. I want to be independent now. So I hope you will understand”. She came to the purpose of her arrival.
Mrs. Zak looked happy when she saw a thorn getting out of her way.
“I don’t want you to live like this”. Her father was opposed to her decision.
“I will come back if things are hard. You can think of it as an experience.” She tried to make him understand. "Please dad. I promise I will not cause any trouble."
Mr. Zak looked at her sincere eyes. He knows her daughter is very stubborn. If she has made a decision, it is impossible to change it. Before she caused trouble it was better to let her do what she wanted.
"Okay then". This is all he could say.
Finally she was free. Carissa took a sigh of relief and went to her room. She was happy to get away from this despicable family.
On the weekend she shifted to the apartment quietly. Noah and Aaron were not in the country so she hired the people to help her in shifting. As the apartment was already well furnished she only needed to take her daily necessities with her.
Noah was going home from the airport after a hectic trip he unlocked his mobile phone and saw a number of messages. His phone was turned off during flight so he did not know. They were all from the same person. He opened and started reading them.
“When are you coming back?”
“I have shifted to an apartment".
"I am holding a housewarming party with my friends tonight. If you are back then you can come too”.
He spoke in a commanding manner to the driver, “Head towards the apartment complex”.
The driver took a U-turn following his command.
There was a knock at the door. She ran to open the door. When the door opened a tall and handsome figure dressed in a black suit appeared in front of her. He looked tired, his hair was falling on his broad forehead, but he was looking very hot. Her heart skipped at a beat.
Meanwhile, Noah frowned looking at her. She was covered in flour.
“What are you doing?” He spoke in a very cold voice.
Carissa glanced at herself and felt embarrassed. She laughed awkwardly, “I am trying to cook”.
His brows frowned more as he stepped in the house. The kitchen was a mess.
“Are you cooking or trying to burn the house?”
“Hey, can you stop criticizing me. It is my first time cooking and I am trying my best”. She was displeased with his response.
He sighed looking at her, took off his coat and folded his sleeves till his elbows.
“Step aside. Let me try”. Noah said seriously.
“You are trying what?” Carissa was shocked, “You know how to cook?”
“We will see later”. He spoke while washing his hands. Then, he glanced at the recipe. Carissa was cooking cream pasta with grilled chicken and brownies.
According to the recipe he started to cook. His movements were swift and elegant indicating that he has a lot of experience in cooking.
“Wow. You are good”. She complimented him.
“Of course. I am not like you”.
“Yes yes you are perfect. Narcissist prince".
He glared at her.
After an hour everything was ready. She neatly placed dishes on the table. When Noah saw she was setting table for two he asked, “Aren’t your friends coming?”
“My friends? Oh I was talking about myself. I am my own friend. I don’t have any friends”. She paused, “My father made them leave”. She looked downcast.
He felt bad for asking such a thing.
“Okay come and let’s eat”. Carissa tried to lift the mood.
The food was very delicious, “you are a good cook. Do you cook often?”
“No, I don’t have time for such things”. Actually in reality he has never cooked before. At his home there are top class chefs to cook for him and he is not a fan of eating. As long as something fills him he is satisfied.
He just followed the recipe today and it turned out to be yummy.
“Is the place okay?” He was concerned.
“Yeah, I am fine here”.
The rest of the dinner was eaten in silence. After eating dinner he helped her in cleaning the mess she made. The house was once again neat and clean.
“I made you work. Let me make a coffee for you. You can watch TV”. He just nodded while looking at TV.
He was very tired. In his tour to Italy he could not sleep for more than two hours. Naturally, he was feeling sleepy. Without his knowing he slept on the couch.
Carissa came with a mug of coffee in her hands and saw a sleeping beauty in front of her. He was sleeping while sitting. What should she do now?
“Noah”. She called him. There was no response.
“Noah”. This time her voice was louder but he did not show any movement.
She came to her room, brought a blanket and threw it at his face and went to her room.
She went back to her room and locked her door. When he heard the door being locked a faint smile appeared on his handsome face. He laid on the couch lazily but it was small for his tall body. His feet were sticking out of it. But he was too tired to think about all these things.
Carissa also took sleeping pills and slept.
Later at night, a sound of someone screaming woke him up. Noah stood up and ran towards her room. But it was locked. He knocked at the door and spoke in a loud voice, “Carissa opened the door”.