Billie Bossa Nova

22.

Cordelia was like a beacon into Kai Rivera's entire childhood. She knew him front, back and center. Any question Billie asked, Cordelia knew the answer. Any detail Billie missed about Kai, Cordelia knew it. Not even Juanita knew him as well as Cordelia did.

Billie, Juanita and Cordelia parted ways after their long conversation. Cordelia was like the aunt she never had. She was free spirited, overzealous and flamboyant. It was no wonder why Amelia used to enjoy her company so much. The woman was a joy to be around.

Billie asked her a few subtle questions about Adan, all seeming more curious than suspicious. When did the Riveras move to LA? What countries does Adan frequent? So what is it that Adan did when he was not spending time with his family?

The responses she got back were along the lines of, I don't remember. I'm not bored enough to care. Adan, that bastard, probably went off to seek other women while my best friend tended to the kids.

That last reply silenced Billie, allowing Cordelia to steer the direction of the conversation. Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, all Cordelia could ever speak of was Kai Rivera.

He had never gone to school, Billie had learnt, much like her but for completely different reasons. While Billie was trained at CRO for all of her life, Kai was taught business studies and accounting skills by Ameilia to prepare him for leading his father's company. She also learnt that his mother had forced him to do fencing and play piano.

"Amelia thought that those were such elegant things for a young man to do, piano and fencing, and so Kai did it since he was two," Cordelia had said.

Apparently, Kai was also quite rebellious in his teen years. "He even used to disobey Adan! It shocked us all. This one time, we were on a cruise in Dubai; Amelia, Adan, Kai, Julianna, me and my current boyfriend at the time. Kai apparently wanted to stay back here in LA and go to some summer camp with his friends, but Adan wouldn't let him. So guess what he did?" Cordelia didn't give Billie any time to guess. "He got on a speed boat and sped right off! Next we knew, he was at the airport ready to leave, but Adan had blocked all of his cards. The boy was red hot with anger by the time we reached him!"

Billie couldn't help but laugh, imagining fourteen year old Kai with a scowl on his face as he realized that his father had him trapped in a trip he didn't want to be in. Forcing Kai to do anything was near to impossible, but it seems that Adan had done so successfully more than once.

She was almost saddened when the conversation was over and Juanita announced that she has to sleep. Billie had stayed a few more minutes to talk to Zoe on the phone before going up the stairs to sleep as well. Immediately when she reached the top, Kai's door swung open, which made her halt her steps. She made eye contact with Cordelia as she stepped out. The woman turned back inside, saying something to Kai. Seconds afterwards, Kai barely passed the threshold to attach their lips, granting Cordelia, whom Billie was well aware was Amelia's best friend, a fruitful kiss.

Red rushed her cheeks and her lips parted in shock. Her stun delayed her fight or flight and made her move just a millisecond before Kai glanced in her direction. Despite this, Billie still turned down the hall without sparing another glance at them as Cordelia walked off to the opposite direction.

"Ms. Eilish," Kai called. She cursed beneath a hissing breath before spinning around. His eyes told her to come over to him. Him entering the room, leaving the door open for her did more so.

Her heart clamped in her chest. Confrontations were never her favorite. Usually, they would mean the end of her mission or that she was going to be somewhat tortured into submission. Beaten black and blue until she admits who she was sent by, which she never would. For some reason, that situation seemed far better than being confronted by Kai Rivera.