"See KFC there," her voice chimed suddenly, breaking the quiet hum of the car.
Rohan followed her finger and shook his head faintly, but he turned the wheel anyway, guiding them toward the drive-through.
She leaned closer to the window, smiling as she ordered. "Can I get a meal deal… two cookies and one BBQ Zinger?"
He turned his head just enough to look at her, brows raised in mock surprise. For someone so slender, she sure didn't hold back. He hadn't expected her to eat much at all. Her appetite was boundless.
But he didn't comment.
When the food was ready, he paid with his black card, tossed a tip into the jar without hesitation, and drove out of the lot. She was already unwrapping her burger before he'd even merged back onto the road, munching happily like she hadn't eaten in weeks.
He found himself watching her more than the road, the way she stuffed her mouth without a care. It was… oddly endearing.
Before he could let the thought linger, his phone buzzed against the console. He glanced down.
"Hey, Michael," he answered, voice clipped. A pause. "Alright, I'm coming now."
The call ended and Rohan pressed harder on the gas. The city blurred past as he drove toward the secluded address Michael had given him. When he pulled up, the area was quiet—rusted gates, broken fences, the kind of place no one lingered long.
He turned to her. "I'll be back. Wait here for me."
She just nodded, still chewing, barely glancing his way. No fear, no questions. Like she'd already gotten used to him.
Rohan lingered on that thought before stepping out.
Behind the gates, Michael stood waiting with a few men. A quick exchange—money passed, a package handed over. Clean. Efficient. Rohan didn't waste words.
When he returned, he slid the box into the back seat and settled behind the wheel. She didn't even ask what it was. Just kept eating.
He glanced at her again, trying to read her. Was she really comfortable around him now, or had she just stopped caring what happened? He couldn't tell. Either way, the quiet acceptance… he liked it.
They drove for a while before he broke the silence. "I've got a friend who owns a boutique. We'll stop there, get you a change of clothes."
Her face lit up, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, okay." Then softer, almost to herself, "Thank you."
Something warm unfurled in his chest.
Minutes ticked by in comfortable silence until he heard her whisper, so low he almost missed it: "Can you… please get me pads?"
His grip on the steering wheel faltered. Heat crept up his neck. Pads. Of all things. He rubbed the back of his head, unsure how to respond.
"Okay," he said at last, voice rougher than he intended.
When he pulled into a supermarket, he turned to her. "Wait here."
She nodded.
Inside, the fluorescent lights buzzed overhead as he moved down the aisles, trying not to look as lost as he felt. The shelves stretched in neat rows, stacked high with things he'd never needed to think about before. When he finally found the women's section, he froze.
So many kinds. Different colors. Different sizes. Which one?
He stared like an idiot until movement caught his eye—a girl stocking shelves nearby, sneaking glances at him and grinning. She was pretty enough, but his mind immediately flicked back to the girl waiting in his car. Pretty didn't matter. Not in the same way.
Still, he needed help.
"Hello," he said politely.
The girl blushed. "Hi."
"I need to get pads, but… I'm not sure which one."
Her smile grew. "Of course. What's her size?"
"Slim," he answered without hesitation. "About your size."
She nodded knowingly. "This way." She picked one off the shelf. "Here. I use this."
"Thanks." He pulled out some bills and offered them.
She blinked, surprised but took anyway. After a while, she asked, "Is it for your sister?"
His jaw tightened. "No. It's for my woman."
Her mouth snapped shut.
Rohan turned on his heel and headed for the counter. The cashier barely looked at him as she smacked her gum.
"How much?" he asked.
"Five hundred," she said, dragging the words out with attitude.
He handed her more than enough. "My change."
She scoffed, tossing her hair. "So you can give that girl money but now you want change from me?"
Rohan's eyes narrowed, his tone dropping to steel. "My change."
The roll of bills landed in front of him with a sharp slap.
Then—"Boss?" A voice called from behind. Rohan turned to see the store manager, his expression shifting immediately.
The cashier paled. "I—I didn't know—"
"Fire her," Rohan said flatly, already walking away.
Outside, he spotted her through the windshield. She was looking around, restless, her gaze flicking toward the entrance as though searching for him. She didn't see him right away, and he smiled faintly.
All this trouble—for her.
He slid into the driver's seat. "Looking for me?"
She rolled her eyes, smiling despite herself, and didn't answer.
He chuckled, started the engine, and drove them out of the lot.