Folding For You

Chapter 6: Killian

I stepped into the Arctic, letting the familiar dim lighting and sleek lines of the décor pull me into focus. It was one of the rare places where I could come to clear my head, though "unwind" wasn't exactly the right word for what I did. Still, it was close enough. I scanned the room and spotted Karlton and Kaleb seated in our usual corner. The waiter, well-trained as ever, slid our drinks onto the table just as I approached.

Whiskey for me, Dirty Martini for Karlton, and Hemingway Daiquiri for Kaleb. I raised an eyebrow as I sat down, surprised to see Kaleb before me. He was always late, the walking embodiment of chaos. If Kaleb had a motto, it would be "never on time." I smirked—if he were a cartoon character, he'd be the White Rabbit, constantly running late but never caring enough to change.

Kaleb caught my look and grinned like he could read my mind. "What? I miss my brothers a little extra tonight, so I came earlier than usual." His tone was light, but I could tell there was sincerity behind it.

Sitting with his usual calm, Karlton glanced up and shook his head with that dry humour. "Sure, Kaleb. Next, you'll tell us you've found a steady job." The words were laced with sarcasm, but Karlton was always like that—direct but never without some underlying affection.

As we settled in, Karlton shifted his gaze to me, cutting through the casual air like always when he wanted answers. "And what's your excuse, Killian? You're never late."

He took a sip of his drink, leaning back and waiting. Karlton never pressured, but he had a way of making you talk whether you wanted to or not. I felt my fingers tighten slightly around my glass. Usually, I'd keep something like this to myself, but I knew there was no avoiding it. So, I gave the facts as bluntly as I could.

"I'm in love."

Kaleb's reaction was immediate, nearly jumping out of his seat, eyes wide with excitement. Karlton, ever composed, raised his glass, eyebrows lifted. "Finally, Killian. We were starting to think you would die an old maid."

I glanced at Kaleb, already bracing myself for the nonsense that would spill out of his mouth.

"Wait, it's with a woman, right?" Kaleb asked, his expression exaggeratedly innocent, pushing the joke too far.

I shot him a look. "Kaleb..."

He raised his hands defensively. "What? I don't want to assume anything."

Karlton chuckled and placed a hand on Kaleb's shoulder. "Let's not get too excited, Kaleb," he said before returning to me with that severe edge he always carried. "So, who's the woman? What's the story?"

I took a slow sip of my whiskey, feeling the burn settle, grounding me. The truth was, she'd taken me by surprise. Two days. That's all it had been, yet she managed to get under my skin in a way I hadn't thought possible. I wasn't one to let feelings derail me, but there I was, floored. I looked at them both, waiting for me to elaborate.

"I met her two nights ago," I said finally. "And now I'm... floored."

Karlton frowned slightly. "Floored?"

Kaleb, of course, jumped in, rolling his eyes. "Oh my god, Grandpa. Floored, like... he's knocked off his feet, completely taken." He flashed me a grin, clearly enjoying being the one to explain modern terms.

Karlton waved him off with a sigh, ever the practical one, though I could tell Kaleb's energy had worn him down a bit. "Alright, alright. So, what's the problem, Killian?"

I looked down at my glass, swirling the whiskey inside before giving the only answer that mattered. "I don't do relationships."

Kaleb groaned, slumping back in his seat like we'd had this conversation a hundred times before. "Here we go again."

Karlton let out a low laugh, shaking his head as if the whole thing was absurd. "You know, it's ridiculous, right?"

My jaw clenched slightly. I knew he was right. It was ridiculous. I could feel it. I had no business in this situation, letting myself fall for someone after two days. However, relationships had never been part of my plan, and if nothing else, I was a man who stuck to his plans.

Except, now, she was making me question every one of them.

I leaned back in my seat, feeling the weight of their eyes on me. "You both know this about me. I like power and control. Relationships... they're messy. I'm not built for that."

Karlton sighed, his usual measured calm intact. "Killian, lighten up. It's not like your love for whoever this woman is will make the stock market crash."

On the other hand, Kaleb leaned forward with wide eyes, grinning like an overexcited kid. "So, when am I meeting my sister-in-law?"

I didn't crack a smile. I wasn't in the mood. "I need a reality check here. Doesn't a relationship take time? I don't want to rush into something only for it to be a disaster. And I don't want to end up hurting Sabrina—or getting hurt myself." I paused, feeling the last words were foreign in my mouth. The truth was, Sabrina had already started to chip away at the walls I'd carefully built over the years.

Kaleb's eyes practically bulged out of his head. "Wait, did you just say Sabrina? So, my sister-in-law's name is Sabrina?"

His words triggered a memory, sharp and sudden. I remembered Sabrina telling me about her unfair dismissal at RebelKinc Advertising, one of Kaleb's agencies. I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes at Kaleb. "I have something to talk to you about."

Kaleb blinked, clearly not expecting the change in tone. "About what?"

I didn't hold back. "Sabrina was dismissed from RebelKinc just because she was looking for another job. What the hell is going on at your shop?"

Karlton's eyes widened, caught off guard. "Wait, what? You're dating Kaleb's employee?"

I kept my composure, not ready for their judgments. "She doesn't know I'm a Kincaid."

Kaleb, ever the sceptic, shook his head. "Come on, Killian. The whole of Manhattan knows who we are. You're telling me Sabrina has no clue who you are? That doesn't sound right."

I stayed firm. "She doesn't. And I believe her. She's not playing some game here."

Karlton's voice cut in, sounding weary. "Killian, Killian, Killian... what are you thinking? You're not seeing the bigger picture."

Kaleb sat up straighter, his playful nature momentarily gone; his voice edged with suspicion. "Why would someone who worked for one of my agencies suddenly come up to you and fall in love when she claims she was unfairly dismissed? Doesn't that seem off to you?"

I shot him a look, my irritation barely held in check. "Don't you believe in coincidences?"

Karlton let out a slow breath, giving me a sad smile that grated at me. "Killian, there's no such thing as coincidence in our family."

I could feel the frustration boiling inside. I wanted to argue, to make them see that this wasn't some calculated move on Sabrina's part. But I also knew I wasn't ready to fight them on it—at least not until I was sure about her intentions.

I stood up, adjusting my jacket, and my voice dropped into that commanding tone I used in boardrooms. "Before this blows up in the media about your little shop's unfair dismissal, you better take care of it. And I want that Vincent-whatever-the-fuck his name is to be put on a leash. You understand me?"

I didn't wait for Kaleb's response. I turned and left the bar, my frustration boiling with every step. It wasn't just their doubts that got under my skin—it was the fact that, for the first time, I wasn't sure of my judgment.

And that was something I hated more than anything.