Bedmates Soulmates

Manan Di Menace?

Man-child Or Menace?

Kira stared at him, open-mouthed.

Kai jumped in his seat.

The new friends exchanged glances from the rearview mirror.

"What's gotten into him?' Kira asked with her eyes.

'Don't know,' Kai shrugged, his eyebrows dancing like Crayon Shin-chan. Just another one of his mood swings, I guess." Kira concurred with a nod.

Austyn's eyes snapped open. 'Are you two badmouthing me?"

The karaoke twins shook their heads at the same time and said in unison, 'No we're not!"

'Hmph.' Austyn closed his eyes again, still hot under the collar.

The rest of the car ride was conducted in absolute silence.

Kai stopped the car in the villa's circular driveway, jumped out and pulled open the door for his boss with a slight bow. Austyn strode to the front entrance without a word.

"Thank you,' said Kira as Kai held the door for her. Also, thank you for sending us home.

"You're welcome, Young Madam. Kai offered a pleasant smile. 'Just doing my job."

Then he leaned in and whispered, 'Boss had a few glasses of wine during dinner. I think that's why he was

a bit out of sorts just now. You may want to keep an eye on him.'

'I see. Thanks for the heads-up."

'I think I'd better be making a move now. Good night."

'Good night, Mr Scott.'

'Oh, you can call me Kai."

'All right. Good night, Kai."

'Get over here!' Austyn barked from the front door.

What could they possibly talk about for so long?

Were they saying goodbye to each other, or was she sending him off to the war?

Kira, standing with her back to Austyn, rolled her eyes. Does your boss always turn into a belligerent Hulk after he drinks?

Kai offered a Pan Am smile.

Not speaking another word, he got into the car and sped away.

Kira opened the front door to find Austyn blocking the foyer.

He had his arms crossed in front of his chest and stared down at her, like the statue of a door god.

2/3

"What are you doing? Kira had to tilt her head up to see the man's face.

Her husband fixed his deep, impenetrable eyes on her face.

It made her hair stand on end.

After a long minute, he mercifully looked away.

The man raised his right leg, standing on one leg like a proud red-crowned crane. 'Slippers." "What?"

He kicked his right foot, clad in a leather shoe. 'My slippers."

What the hell?

Did he barricade the doorway with his body simply because he wanted her to change his slippers?

What was he, a man-child?

Did he need help to untie his shoelaces as well?

Kira gritted her teeth, her hands balled into fists. 'Do it yourself. Surely, a smart man like you knows how to put on a pair of slippers.'

The man squinted at her. 'You're not going to do it?"

She mirrored his posture and crossed her arms. "No."

Austyn drew himself up to his full height.

He took one step towards her.

She was now staring at his solidly built chest.

Surprise flashed across his eyes.

The girl was usually docile as a lamb.

She carried out his instructions without a peep, even when it was something she was averse to.

Like in the bedroom.

He knew she was extremely reserved and passive in bed.

But

as soon as she sensed his displeasure, she would shift gear instantly, throwing her arms around his neck and offering him placatory kisses.

She was perceptive, placid, and pliant.

Their past year together bore out his observations.

Kira had never gone against his wishes or said a cross word.

But now...

Austyn realised he'd made the common mistake of judging a book by its cover.

Just because she looked meek as a lamb didn't mean she WAS a lamb,

The mild-mannered girl who wouldn't say boo to a goose was gone now, replaced by this feisty young woman raising a defiant chin. Austyn knitted his brows.

It was like waking up one day to discover his gentle Dutch bunny had grown fangs.

Man of id or Menace"

He did not like this feeling of things, or people, getting out of control.

The M Group's president was used to being the one in charge.

If two men rode a horse, he must ride in the front.

It had to be this way, be it in business or domestic affairs.

'Are you sure?' Austyn said slowly.

Kira swallowed hard.

She was feeling a lot less confident than she sounded

The man had a glare that could wither the planet's hardiest plants.

But she'd already defied his order.

She couldn't unsay it now.

Might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb, she decided.

Kira puffed out her chest, tried to make herself look as big as possible, and imitated the man's icy, commanding voice. 'No! I do not want to change the slippers for you!"

He had all four of his limbs and a fully functioning brain.

The man marched through the door in a straight line, which meant alcohol had not impaired his motor skills.

He could do it himself!

Austyn's lips curved upwards into a cruel smile. 'Do you remember who paid your father's medical bills?"

It was a shot through the heart.

Kira stood rooted to the spot.

His words, delivered in such an off-hand manner but filled with so much ill-concealed menace, doused, her in ice water.

For a moment, she couldn't believe her ears.

He was threatening her.

With her father's life.