CHAPTER THIRTEEN: PAPARAZZI CHAOS- PANIC ENSUES.

Kalina's morning started like any other, with the rhythmic beat of music in her ears as she danced through her routine. Clad in a grey sports bra and matching shorts, she moved with purpose towards the front door, eager to embark on her morning run. But as she reached for the handle, a cacophony of noise shattered the tranquility she had been enjoying.

Outside her flower shop, chaos reigned supreme. Blinding lights pierced the early morning darkness, and a throng of paparazzi clamored for her attention. Questions flew at her like arrows, each one more intrusive than the last. "Hey Kalina, is it true that you're dating Dominique Castillo?" "Kalina, are you guys getting married?" "Kalina, are you pregnant for him?" The barrage of inquiries was relentless, overwhelming her senses and leaving her frozen in place.

Reality crashed down on her like a tidal wave, and panic seized her heart in its icy grip. With trembling hands, she managed to pull the door shut, but the onslaught of questions echoed in her mind, refusing to be silenced. "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god," she muttered aloud, the words tumbling from her lips in a frantic mantra.

Her mind raced as she paced back and forth in her flower shop, the walls closing in around her. Every fiber of her being screamed for escape, for respite from the suffocating weight of scrutiny. "I knew something bad was going to happen," she whispered to herself, a bitter realization dawning in the depths of her soul. "The moment I met that man, I knew he was going to bring nothing but chaos into my peaceful life. I knew he was bad news, but i am really starting to see that now."

Desperation clawed at her insides as she reached for her phone, fingers trembling as she dialed Aiden's number. But each attempt ended in frustration as the call went straight to voicemail, leaving her feeling more isolated than ever. "What is wrong with you?" she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration and fear. "Pick up your phone."

With each unanswered call, her anxiety mounted, a gnawing pit of dread forming in the pit of her stomach. The world outside her flower shop seemed to blur and warp, distorted by the harsh glare of the paparazzi's cameras. In that moment, Kalina felt utterly alone, a solitary figure adrift in a sea of chaos and uncertainty.

The sudden rattling of the flower shop door jolted Kalina from her thoughts, sending a shiver of fear down her spine. "Are they trying to break in?" she murmured, her voice trembling with apprehension. The very notion of an intrusion filled her with a sense of vulnerability, and she couldn't shake the nagging worry that she was being targeted.

With a quick decision fueled by instinctive self-preservation, Kalina dashed towards the stairs leading up to her apartment, her heart pounding in her chest like a drumbeat of panic. As she climbed, her fingers continued to frantically dial Aiden's number, each unsuccessful attempt heightening her sense of urgency.

In her trembling hands, she clutched her laptop like a lifeline, her fingers flying over the keys as she navigated to the news website. There, in bold letters, was the name of her flower shop "GARDEN OF PETALS", a stark reminder of the nightmare unfolding outside. With wide, frightened eyes, Kalina stared at the screen, her heart sinking as she saw her own mortified expression reflected back at her.

Her natural red hair was thrown up in a messy bun, strands escaping to frame her face in a disheveled halo. Blue eyes widened with shock and disbelief, mirroring the turmoil raging within her soul. Despite her efforts to appear composed, her trembling lips betrayed her fear, quivering with each passing moment.

Article upon article assaulted her senses, each one a damning indictment of what the world believed to be the truth. As she read the headlines, a bitter sense of irony washed over her, mingled with a weary resignation. "Apparently, I'm not Dominique 's usual type, he is usually into blondes how expected. " she muttered bitterly, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm as she rolled her eyes in exasperation.

Her movements were frantic, her body language betraying the turmoil raging within her. With each passing second, the weight of the world seemed to press down on her shoulders, threatening to crush her beneath its unforgiving weight. And yet, amidst the chaos and confusion, Kalina remained resolute, determined to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side.

The sudden ringing of her phone shattered the tense silence, causing Kalina to startle and snatch it up without even glancing at the caller ID. "Aiden, thank God. You need to help me, the paparazzi are like rabid dogs outside the flower shop. I can't go out," she rushed out, her voice trembling with urgency and desperation.

But the voice that greeted her from the other end was not the familiar one she had known since childhood. "Miss Morgan, this is Liam, Mr. Castillo's personal bodyguard," Liam's voice resonated through the phone, steady and composed.

"Liam?" Kalina's mind raced as she recalled the image of the handsome, built man with a military haircut who had always stood sentinel by Dominique's car during his visits. A mixture of relief and frustration flooded her senses as she realized the implications of Liam's call.

"Is that spawn of Satan there with you?!" she exclaimed, her anger bubbling to the surface like a simmering volcano ready to erupt. "Give the phone to him, I want to give him a piece of my mind," she demanded, her voice laced with venomous fury.

Liam couldn't help but smile at the fiery determination in Kalina's voice, admiring her audacity and courage to stand up to his formidable boss, who was the most feared man in the country. As Dominique's most trusted security personnel, Liam was privy to the intricacies of their complex relationship. At first, he had been concerned for Kalina's safety, but now, witnessing her fiery resolve, he couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration and confidence in her ability to navigate the storm brewing around them.

"No, Miss, he isn't," Liam responded with a calm authority that belied the chaos surrounding them. "But we are here to get you to safety," he assured her, his voice a reassuring anchor in the storm of emotions swirling within Kalina.

"We?" Kalina questioned, her confusion evident in her tone.

"Yes, Miss. Myself and two other trusted men of Mr. Castillo," Liam confirmed, his voice tinged with a hint of respect for his companions.

"Oh, so he couldn't come and face the mess he created. Instead, he sent you guys into the heat while he hides in his glass castle, I'm assuming," Kalina seethed with anger, her frustration palpable in the air.

Liam couldn't suppress the chuckle that escaped his lips, quickly covering it up with a clearing of his throat, she wasn't far from the truth, "Castillo Corp" was indeed a huge black glass castle. This fiery woman was not one to be trifled with, and he couldn't help but admire her tenacity.

"Miss, we have secured the perimeter, and we've noticed a fire escape from what I assume is your kitchen. Can you please go through there? We will be waiting for you down," Liam instructed, his tone professional and precise.

"Uhmm, okay," Kalina responded, her mind racing as she moved to follow his instructions, not bothering to change out of her running attire.

As she made her way down the fire escape, memories flooded her mind. This was the same route she and Aiden would sneak out through whenever she was grounded, a testament to her rebellious nature growing up.

Finally reaching the ground, Kalina was quickly ushered into the waiting black car, its sleek exterior a stark contrast to the chaos unfolding around them. With a swift motion, the car zoomed off, leaving the paparazzi in its wake, their shouts fading into the distance as they realized their prey had slipped through their fingers.