The worry on Antony’s face turned into confusion. "Juliana did something that upset you? But what does Juliana have anything to do with how you... suddenly wanted to get touchy with me?"
"She didn’t do anything to me," Kaija replied. "I just found out through Esko on the way back that... she used to be... someone very close to you, though she’s a woman. And unlike what you told me, I heard you two were more than just... some mere coworkers."
Her hands spread out in a helpless gesture. "I just felt strangely mad after learning that... So mad I wanted to make it clear to you that... well, that you’re... you’re very special to me too!"
Antony’s face went still as he took a good, long look at her. Then suddenly, a chuckle slipped out of him.
"I might be inexperienced when it comes to relationships, Kaikai, but you’re not mad," he corrected squarely, "you’re jealous."
Kaija’s face went taut at his words, momentarily speechless. "You can... say so!" she pouted, hopping off his lap with a sulky face. "Alright, I’m sorry for being childish. Promise you I’m not mad anymore. Let’s get working!"
"Wait." Antony’s hand shot up, pulling her back in place. "Are you sure that’s all?"
"That’s... that’s all..." Kaija replied, cheeks blushing red under his scrutinizing gaze.
"Hmm, good," Antony nodded. Then his fingers dug into her cheeks, spreading them out.
"First of all," he said, voice as firm as his face, "whatever rumors you might have heard from Esko about me and Juliana, they were simply not true. She liked me. I didn’t like her. We were strictly professional, and I didn’t lie to you."
"Second of all," he squeezed more of her puffy cheeks. "You should have asked and confirmed directly with me, instead of seducing me all of a sudden. Hmm, not that I didn’t like it... You should do more of that. But what I’m trying to tell you is... share with me whatever thing that bothers you. How come I’m the one who has never been in a relationship, but understood those basic principles better than you?"
Kaija’s face twitched unbidden, her voice dropping small.
"Aye aye, sir," she said, giving him a small salute. "Even when you’re just Antony to me now, you still prove to be my number one instructor..."
The fingers squeezing her cheeks dug in tighter, making her face squirm with pain.
"You’re a cheeky little thing," Antony grumbled. "You’re so poorly behaved that I feel obliged to escort you to the Open Hall once again this weekend."
"Antony, you don’t have to—"
"I do have to," Antony said firmly. "I’ll go there and prove to you there’s nothing between me and Juliana, and you’re gonna get that silly thought out of your mind."
Kaija’s face instantly eased into a bright smile at his words. "Alrighty, sir!" Then her voice suddenly dropped to a soft, seductive whisper. "But you know, I can’t promise I won’t keep behaving poorly whenever I get to have some private time with you..."
Antony’s hand suddenly went stiff, his lips quivering faintly in shock. "We should get to work. Otherwise, I’m afraid I might have to interrupt your work further." The dangerous subject was lifted off his lap immediately.
Kaija’s eyes widened in surprise at Antony’s serious response, though she was only teasing him. When her gaze lowered to the place between his legs, the length that had entered her just minutes ago was still hard all the same, though it obviously had just finished firing a round.
Kaija gulped, blinking continuously. After a long calculation of chances that they might go on for longer than only one round, Kaija wisely climbed off Antony’s lap, and obediently put her clothes back in place.
They cleaned each other up along with the messed-up couch shortly after, and got to some serious songwriting work.
When Antony finished fiddling with some samples on his laptop at the desk, Kaija had dozed off on the couch. The lyrics paper she worked on was left scattered beneath her sleeping face.
Antony’s lips curved at the sight, eyes softening with indulgence. The jacket hanging over his chair was lifted and placed over Kaija’s sleeping form, before he scooped her up and out of his office.
The lights to Kaija’s flat in Building S were already on when Antony walked in. A faint scent of smoke lingered in the air, making his brow draw together.
"Baby?" a male voice came from the master bedroom. Its door was already wide open, followed by the man’s own footsteps.
The face coming out of that room went still the moment his silver gaze landed on Antony standing at the door.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Antony asked, voice tight with displeasure.
Charles was wearing absolutely nothing but his black boxers. His messy hair told Antony he had just crawled out of bed. Not just any bed, but Kaija’s bed.
"I live here," Charles replied curtly. "You got her overworking again? You have any idea how late it is now?"
"You don’t live here," Antony shot back coldly. "You live on the other end of this floor. And no, I didn’t overwork her. You’re the one overworking her with all the interviews and photoshoots and album plans you have waiting for her."
"Those are necessary promotional activities. What is unnecessary here is you carrying her back. Next time, just send me a text. I’ll come bring her back."
Antony paid him no mind. "As you can see, I can handle this just fine without bothering you making it all the way to my office, brother. Now go back to your flat and sleep there. I’m not going to leave if you’re going to stay inside her flat like this." He walked straight into the master bedroom.
As expected, Charles stopped him cold. "You got to lay your hands on her once yesterday, and you think she’s yours now?" he scoffed. "Give her to me now and leave, before I make you."
"Why don’t you both stay, hmm?" Kaija’s voice suddenly came, and the two men’s faces went blank.
"There’s enough rooms for you two to stay, one for each," she added, stirring awake in Antony’s arms. "Let’s not argue anymore, yeah?"
"Okay, Kaikai," Antony replied at once. "I’m staying."
"Kaikai?" Charles’s face tightened with displeasure. "Where do you even get that cute name? Who allowed you to call her that?"
"It’s her nickname," Antony replied with a deep scowl. "And I get to call her that because she allows me to. Speaking of which, who allows you to call her baby?"
"Come on now, please don’t fight over just names," Kaija said, rubbing her eyes awake. "You can put me down now, Antony. I’ve troubled you enough."
"It’s fine, Kaikai," Antony turned around at once. "Let me take you to your room."
Charles’s hand shot up, stopping him cold at the shoulder. "Give her to me, then leave, brother. Your responsibility here is done."
Just as Antony was about to spin around and throw another icy glare at his half-brother, Kaija’s voice came. "Just put me down, Antony." Her hand stroke gently against his chest. "It’s fine, and I have something to say too."
Reluctantly, Antony lowered Kaija down to her feet.
Folding her arms squarely in front of her chest, Kaija said, "Now, are you two staying or going? You better choose fast, and don’t make me choose for you, please, for the love of God. I’m too sleepy for that now."
The air in the room chilled several degrees instantly. Before her, the two men stood, throwing deadly glares at each other.
"I’m not going to leave, brother, you know that," Antony said coldly. "I live one building away, and it’s late now, while you live just a corridor away. So why don’t you just get dressed and get your ass back to your flat now, so Kaikai can go to sleep?"
"You know very well I ain’t going to leave either, so why would you even bring such a ridiculous idea up?" Charles shot back, equally icy. "You want me to get dressed? That’s just gonna make her wait. You’re already dressed. Get your ass out the door quick so she can go to sleep."
"Alright, forget it," Kaija muttered. How could she possibly forget that these two grown men would turn into babies the moment their jealous mode was on?
Her heel turned straight toward the master bedroom. "I knew it was a terrible idea letting you two choose. If you’re leaving, just leave anytime you want. If you’re staying, there’re three more rooms for you to choose. Pick anything you like, okay? I’m going."
The door to her room slammed shut, before either Charles or Antony could utter another word.