Handcuffed Heiress

8. Unseen Attraction

8. Unseen Attraction

Niko
I waited until I was more than half an hour into my journey to call her grandfather. I wanted to make sure she was asleep.

"It's me. I found her. She's okay for the most part. She needs to be checked out at a hospital but she refuses to do so." He chuckled. "Of course she refused, Niko. The girl is smart. Going to a hospital would open the door for reporters to step through. She's still Marc Paxton's daughter. She might have been locked away at boarding school all these years, but she's still famous. You see just how much once she's out into the world. No hospitals. If you must, get her checked out privately by a doctor who can keep a secret." I sighed. "Frustrating isn't it?"
"You have no idea."

"I'm sorry you had to leave your home so late because of her."
"It's fine. You should know she also refuses to call her parents. She's seventeen years old. She shouldn't even have the right to refuse anything." My father chuckled again. "I'm glad you find me amusing, padre."
"I find the situation amusing. You're getting riled up by a seventeen year old girl."
"I don't know why you gave me the task of watching her in the first place."
"That's because I trust you."
"Well I trust you'll call her parents. I need to arrange pick up."

She shifted beside me. "I already told you I'm not going home."
"You weren't sleeping?"
"No."
"Let me talk to her, Niko." I put the phone in the cradle and pressed the speaker button. "Ciao, nonno."
"Kaitlyn-Rose Paxton, what mess have you created?"
"I'm fine. Thank you for asking grandfather."
"Your parents must be losing their mind. Are you that selfish? You should have called them the second you got to a phone."
"But I didn't, for exactly that reason. You know how mum and dad are. They're going to badger me with questions. I just want a night of peace."
"Then tell them that."
"You can tell them that, nonno. They'll listen to you. Besides, I already made a deal with Mr. De Luca."

My father snorted. "You aren't in any position to be making deals, Kaitlyn-Rose. Your parents must be worried sick. Now isn't the time to be playing childish games." I listened to them going back and forth, none of them wanting to give in to the other. "Niko, what did she threaten you with?" I sighed. "She'd make it seem as if I was the one that kidnapped her."

"Kaitlyn-Rose!"
"What? I don't want to go home. I'll get checked out. I'll treat my injuries. But, I'm not going home. You can deal with mum and dad."
"And just exactly where do you plan on going?"
"To Niko's house." My name rolled off her tongue like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Excuse me?"
"What? He calls you father. You obviously have had him checking up on me. So what's the problem?"
"I'm sure you know what the problem with that statement is." She laughed and I turned my head for a short second to listen and look at her.

"This is pointless. You're only going to agree in the end, or you can have fun explaining to your daughter why you've had me followed and watched all these years when you clearly made a promise you wouldn't interfere with her parenting."
"Okay then. You'll stay at Niko's for the night. I'll call your parents. You don't have to worry about them."
"What? Padre, you can't be serious."
"It's just one night, Niko."
"Love you nonno." She made a kissing sound and disconnected the call. She totally just blackmailed her grandfather and played me.

"How long have you known your grandfather was having you followed?" She shrugged. "Since I moved here."
"How?"
"Because that's who he is. When my mum moved to America he had her followed and watched, and she was a grown woman. I didn't think he would agree to my mum and dad's ridiculous proposal to not have me followed. But he's never interfered so I didn't worry too much about it." I nodded. "Still, he agreed to easily."
"He knows why. Nonno is always up to something."