CHAPTER ELEVEN: BEST FRIEND’S WARNING AND BREWING STORM.

Fuming with frustration, Kalina stormed through her flower shop, her footsteps echoing off the walls as she muttered under her breath. She needed someone to talk to, someone who could calm the tempest raging within her. Without hesitation, she reached for her phone and dialed the one person she knew would always be there for her: Aiden, her best friend.

As the phone rang, her heart pounded in her chest, and she couldn't help but pace back and forth across the small shop. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Aiden's familiar voice greeted her, a soothing balm to her frayed nerves. "Hi, Kalina. It's been a minute," he said, his tone gentle and caring.

"Hey, Aiden," she replied, her voice tight with emotion. "Can you come over, please?"

Aiden's tone shifted instantly, sensing the urgency in her voice. "Okay. What's going on? What happened?"

Kalina took a deep breath, struggling to compose herself. "You wouldn't believe me if I tell you. Please, are you free?"

"I have a couple of hours before I resume my shift at the club," Aiden replied, his voice now serious. "I'll be there in 20 minutes."

"Please hurry up," Kalina pleaded, her hands trembling as she clutched the phone tighter. "I'm locking up the flower shop. You know where the spare key is. I'll be up in the living room."

"Okay. I'll be there as soon as I can," Aiden assured her before dropping the call.

With a sigh of relief, Kalina leaned against the counter deciding to just wait at the flower shop for him, her emotions still swirling inside her like a storm. She closed her eyes, trying to steady her breathing as she waited for Aiden to arrive. The minutes dragged by slowly, each one feeling like an eternity as she battled with her tumultuous thoughts.

Finally, she heard the familiar sound of Aiden's footsteps approaching, and she hurried to unlock the door for him. As he entered, she was struck by the concern etched on his face, his eyes searching hers for answers. Without a word, she hugged him so tight with him returning the gesture before leading him upstairs to the living room, where they could talk in private.

As they settled onto the couch, Kalina couldn't help but feel a wave of gratitude wash over her. In Aiden's presence, she knew she was safe, and she knew that no matter what happened, he would always be there for her. And for that, she was endlessly grateful.

Aiden stared at Kalina with disbelief etched on his face, his brow furrowed in concern as she recounted the harrowing ordeal she had just experienced. "You're joking, right?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"I wish I was," Kalina replied, her tone grave and serious, her eyes filled with a mixture of fear and frustration.

Aiden shook his head in disbelief, his mind racing as he processed the information. "Is he crazy? Kalina, you need to stay the hell away from Dominique Castillo. You don't know the kind of person he is."

Kalina nodded solemnly, her gaze meeting Aiden's with unwavering determination. "I've done my research. I realized that his brother Nikolas Castillo is the owner of the club I work in. And trust me, although Nikolas is all sunshine and rainbow, Dominique is the opposite. Dominique is as evil as they get, he is the devil's reincarnation on earth so you need to stay away from him," Aiden warned her, his voice urgent and filled with concern.

"I'm not the one that goes around looking for him. He is the one that came to my flower shop," Kalina defended herself, her hands trembling with emotion.

"I know, I know. Just, whatever you do, try your best to avoid him as best as you can. Okay? Please promise me that you will," Aiden pleaded, his eyes searching hers for reassurance.

"Okay, I promise," Kalina replied softly, her voice filled with resolve as she met Aiden's gaze.

"Alright, I think my time here is up. I need to get to the club before my manager throws a fit. I will talk to you later, yeah?" Aiden said, standing up from the couch and placing a gentle kiss on Kalina's forehead before turning to leave.

As Aiden walked out the door, Kalina's heart continued to race, a whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She couldn't shake the feeling of unease that had settled in the pit of her stomach, fueled by Aiden's words of caution about Dominique. She didn't understand why Aiden looked so scared talking about him, but she was determined to heed his warning and stay far away from the enigmatic man.

With trembling hands, Kalina retreated to her room, her mind buzzing with a thousand thoughts and questions. She needed answers, she needed to understand who Dominique Castillo really was. Picking up her laptop, she typed his name into the search bar, her heart pounding in her chest as she braced herself for what she might find.

As the search results flooded her screen, Kalina felt a surge of fear and uncertainty wash over her. Article after article painted a dark and sinister picture of Dominique, ranging from allegations of womanizing to rumors of his involvement with the mafia. Her hands shook as she scrolled through the pages, each revelation more shocking than the last.

But it was the mention of a dungeon and rumors of murder that sent a chill down Kalina's spine, her breath catching in her throat as she struggled to comprehend the gravity of the situation. She didn't know what to believe, and she didn't even care to know if it was true or not. Slamming her laptop shut in a flurry of urgency, Kalina made a decision in her mind then and there: she would stay far away from Dominique Castillo, no matter the cost.

Unaware of the storm brewing in the shadows, Kalina carried on with her day, oblivious to the fact that a seemingly innocent encounter of her tripping and Dominique catching her earlier that day had been captured by the paparazzi, ready to be splashed across the headlines and turn her life upside down in ways she could never have imagined and would soon thrust her into the unforgiving spotlight of public scrutiny.

But for now, all Kalina could do was cling to the decision she had made and pray that she could outrun the storm that was brewing on the horizon.