Chapter 5
Stephanie limped back home, flinching when Titan lunged and changed into a human person as soon as she stepped inside Titan's home.
She froze as she saw him grow taller and bigger because everything happened so quickly that all she could see was a tiny cloud that had come out.
She had no time to respond as he turned to face her.
She couldn't help but follow his toned, bare body with her eyes, from head to toe. He wasn't big, but his chiseled physique made her eyes sparkle.
As soon as they locked eyes, she blushed.
"What are you looking at?" Titan raised an eyebrow before realizing he had nothing on. He then looked down. He instantly turned away, flushed with embarrassment.
"Nothing. Uh, let me get you some clothes."
Stephanie was going to leave, feeling uneasy, to get some from his closet when he interrupted her, leaving her gulping.
"Why did you have to do that for me?"
She turned, facing him. "What do you mean by that?"
He turned his head to the side and caught a glimpse of her standing there. "There is no need to give your life to save a cat."
Stephanie declined to answer and cleared her throat instead, shaking her head. You'll never understand, Sir Titan. "It was nothing. It's alright."
"You almost got yourself killed when the car hit you, Stephanie!"
She declined to answer and turned her back. "Anyway, I have to get you some clothes to wear… and I got to go home, too."
"Where are you going? I thought Simon told you to stay with me and keep an eye on me."
"I have to do something important, Sir Titan."
"What's more important than me, Stephanie?"
When she heard him shouting her name in his icy, cold baritone, her chest constricted.
She cleared her throat once more, gathering the confidence to say a little bit more as her fear increased.
She sighed and said, "It's none of your business."
Titan's eyes widened as he heard her response, appearing a little irritated. But she was correct. Who was he in her life? He was simply her annoying employer.
Stephanie went to his closet without saying a word and brought some clothing for him to wear.
Titan's home was silent as he continued to get ready, while she collected her bags and made her way to the front entrance. "I have to go home, sir."
"I'll take you home."
"No, sir. I can manage."
Titan offered in a hurry, and he and Stephanie left the house together without saying anything. But as they got close to the gate, he saw that she was limping.
"You don't look good, Stephanie."
She shook her head, dismissing the pain she was feeling while walking. "I'm alright."
He turned around because he couldn't stand to see the scene any longer and walked back to his house, leaving Stephanie to keep going until she reached the gate in an attempt to find some relief.
She moaned as she walked a little distance more before her legs gave out, forcing her to stop and check her hurt foot while gently massaging it.
Titan noticed her suffering at that very moment as he stepped behind her.
Despite his desire to turn away from what he was seeing, he eventually seized her hands and pulled her up as gently as he could.
Stephanie looked up as he stood holding her by the arm, taking in his enormous stature. His dark hair, which contrasted with his sunset-colored eyes and was a little messed up, captivated her. She couldn't stop admiring them.
"What are you staring at?" Titan interrupted.
She blinked and averted her gaze, shaking her head. "Nothing."
Titan pulled her, bearing her weight, without uttering a word as they made their way to the garage.
He pressed to open the garage using the keys he was holding. His black automobile was visible when the door drew up.
Compared to the one she last rode with Simon in, it appeared to be larger and more compact.
The vehicle's lofty top, spacious interior, and all-wheel-drive system were immediately apparent.
It has a screen display for navigation as well as other entertaining functions like watching movies, listening to music, or turning on the radio.
He motioned for her to sit on the passenger seat as he approached the expensive black leather driver's seat. "Hop in."
Before getting in the car, she caught herself glancing at him once again and took note of how tall he was—almost touching the roof of the vehicle.
She couldn't help admiring the young man's appeal despite his frightening air and penetrating look.
His presence alone was enough to instill terror among the workers in his company. He was a young, wealthy businessman.
Titan was a handsome, well-groomed, tall, and skinny man who attracted the attention of ladies. There was no question about it.
He was aware of that facet of himself, and she felt he was sufficiently narcissistic to relish the attention.
In meetings, he always had the final say. Even Simon was unable to persuade him to reverse his choice.
She recalled hearing her coworkers discuss how the former CEO's father had a similar aura.
Given his age, they anticipated that Titan wouldn't be the same. However, they were in the wrong as he was even worse than his father, he was.
Yet, they had no idea that he was simply adorable and as heavy as a kitty underneath it all.
Who would have imagined that the same strong man would need someone like her?
A typical intern facing the loss of her home.
As she continued to stare at him, she found herself asking herself more and more questions.
What had he done wrong in the past to warrant a spell being performed on him to transform him into a cat?
As they continued exchanging gazes, with her face pulled up a bit to look at him, she asked, "Why are you doing this to me? You know you aren't the nicest person I know. So, why take me home?"
He let out a sigh and looked down at her eye view, tilting his head and raising an eyebrow. "Because I want to. Is something wrong with that?"
She nodded. "It's unusual for you to act like that, sir. This isn't you at all."
He didn't yell at people, Stephanie guessed, but his stillness and his piercing gaze were enough to frighten those around him.
Even her fellow interns were wary of visiting his office, and whenever they did, it seemed as though they were entering a fierce cat fight.
She was frequently required to make reports over the past thirty days on behalf of the other interns who lacked the guts to even approach his office door.
She sighed. "Because you want to… uh-huh," she repeated, paused, and looked at him, who was still slightly looking down in her eye view, "I would believe it if it were Simon. But you?" She scoffed, letting out a snort, and averted her gaze, pulling herself away from the car. "No way, Sir Titan. I don't think you're that type of person who does that."
He clucked. "Just get in. I'll take you home," Titan uttered as he opened the car and entered.
Stephanie boarded the vehicle while he sat in the driver's seat, acting as if she still had alternative options. She gasped as she stared down at how bloated her foot had become, her eyes widening. She winced at the dull agony and said to herself, "Shit."
"Fine." She pushed in the passenger door, took a seat, locked the door, and fastened her seat belt.
Titan gave her a quick look before starting the engine.
She saw that she was fidgeting while driving, picking at her fingernails, staring at the horizon, and checking her phone as if she were waiting for a crucial message.
She was aware that she needed to get home right away and get ready for the appointment with the landlord who had texted her in the morning.
She became increasingly apprehensive and agitated as she made her way closer to her house.
What should I tell the landlord about my financial situation?
I have nothing with which to pay the rent tonight.
I'm lost.
Titan observed it as well, even though he didn't say anything when he briefly glanced at her while he was still driving.
Given the routines she was following, he kept wondering what was going through her head.
Why did she need to put her life in danger for him?
Nothing more special than money, he supposed. What else would he anticipate from somebody like her?
She now appeared to be becoming tenser.
Why? He wondered.
She might have had a different goal in mind.
He should know that.
Even though he wasn't saying much, he was assessing Stephanie's worth to him by examining her behavior as though he were recording it in his mental archive.
He couldn't figure out why he was acting that way.
Titan's instinct was telling him a different side of the story despite his inhibitions.
Something inside him was urging him to do the opposite, to find reasons to draw her closer rather than the other way around.
There must be a reason why he was drawn to her. What was it, though?
But no matter how many times he pondered these issues and thought back to that fateful night when they ran into one another, he was unable to come up with any solutions.
It felt appropriate for him to be sitting next to her at that distance.
After what transpired and what she accomplished for him that day, Titan felt more secure and devoted to Stephanie.
Titan had to stop and wait for the green light when they got to the intersection.
With his developed keen reflexes and sight due to his extensive time spent as a cat, he glanced over at Stephanie as he was doing this and saw that she was wiping her sweat-dampened face.
It was then he became aware of Stephanie's tiny actions as a result of his meticulous observations.
If he weren't sharp enough, he wouldn't have noticed these things. As her boss himself, he wouldn't have cared at all.
Meantime, he struggled to forget how she had given up her work and even her life to save him despite his best efforts.
He was very aware that he may be in danger if she hadn't arrived in time or hadn't discovered him there.
The more curious he became because Stephanie doesn't seem to be interested in speaking with him as a person rather than a cat.
In this mind, she had the option to let him stay.
She ought to have opted to remain in the workplace.
But why did she have to lie and take a life-threatening danger for him?
Nothing made sense to him about it.
Titan glanced at her and noticed her troubled, nearly tearful countenance and thought that would help him locate the answers he was seeking.
She kept fiddling with her fingers and staring off into the distance and behind.
Then, he cleared his throat. "Thank you."
Although there were other ways he could have put it, these were the only sincere words he uttered to break the awkward pause as Stephanie remained silent.
She was distracted from her fidgeting when she heard a man like him express honest gratitude. She couldn't believe what she had just heard, and her brown eyes widened.
This idiot just thanked you. She pondered.
It didn't take long before she was once more gazing into those gorgeous eyes of his that she had loved so much when that bastard was still a cat.
She briefly blinked before turning her attention away from the road and noticing the orange light lighting up since she couldn't gather her thoughts to respond to him.
As the engines sputtered out clouds of smoke in a variety of colors, from gray to white, the automobiles parked along the busy road prepared themselves as they waited for the next green light to turn on.
She cleared her throat just before the go signal. "For what?"
"Everything." Titan let out a faint smile on his face before he stepped on the gas and drove.
Instead of going home, Titan detoured which surprised Stephanie. "Wait, sir. This isn't the way to my home." The car screeched as he turned to the opposite lane. "Where are we going?"
"We have to go to the hospital."
She was almost leaping out of her seat, shaking her head. "No, I said I'm fine. There's no need for you to bring me there. I'm OK."
Without saying anything, he gave her a quick glance and raised an eyebrow as he continued to drive to the adjacent hospital.
Stephanie gave up trying to convince and sighed while focusing on the horizon.
He unlatched his seat belt when they got to the local private hospital's emergency room, then he looked at her and unlatched hers as well.
Titan's chest tightened as he left as she struggled to continue walking while limping and moaning in a poor condition.
He rushed to her and grabbed her arm with an irritated sigh.
She nonetheless pushed it. "I can manage."
Titan drew back and joined her as they continued to walk.
Her eyes widened, though, as she lifted her head to confront the soaring heights of the hospital.
She looked at him in disbelief. " I've never been able to afford it here, sir."
He didn't say anything.
Despite her continued insistence on her independence, he couldn't help but worry about her. He observed her as nurses attended to her, sitting with her on the bed and administering care.
After it was finished, Stephanie turned to face him while he was looking at her hurt foot in front of her.
He began following her figure with his eyes, starting from the bottom up, while keeping his hands in his pockets.
Stephanie was frozen by his intense gaze until he got close to her.
Then, he sighed. "Are you okay?"
She nodded. "I'm fine." She smiled.
Titan was interested, but not because of the smile. As her eyes gradually became watery and bloodshot, he could feel the weight she was carrying even though she refused to tell him more than what she was saying.
"Why did you do it?"
She sighed and avoided looking at him. "I don't want to lose my cat."
"My cat?"
She attempted to stand up while giving another nod.
He wanted to reach out and touch her hand as he had earlier. She shook her head, though, and shoved it. "I can handle it."
Titan nodded but he was worried. "OK."
They kept walking till they arrived at the car, got inside, and drove off to Stephanie's house.
But his thoughts kept returning to her confession.
As they approached Stephanie's neighborhood, Titan's eyes began to stray and scan the area. He made several U-turns as he explored his new surroundings.
It was pretty humble, in contrast to his apartment.
The adjacent duplex dwelling complex was set out in a grid and coated with various waste materials. Rusted gates with little, deserted gardens filled with dry flowers surrounded them.
When he remembered seeing Stephanie sobbing in front of her parents' gravestone, it became evident to him that she was leading this tough and terrible life.
That hit him square in the gut, making him feel bad for having previously judged her motives.
"Sir, come in." She motioned for him to come inside her nearly derelict house. It lacked the high ceilings and proper couches he was used to.
She stooped and took a Monobloc chair in her hands. "Sorry, it's a little crowded in here."
"It's OK." Titan rushed up to her and interrupted her when he overheard her groaning as she lifted the plastic chair. "Let me take it."
She gave it to him. "Thank you. It can be put anywhere you choose to sit."
He peered up to make sure he didn't miss any area of the home while seated in the chair that was too low for his height.
Unpacked boxes littered the space, giving the impression that Stephanie had just moved in and was short on time.
"Do you like something to eat or drink?"
Titan shook his head. "No, I'm good."
She noted the expression on Titan's face as he continued to scan the area with furrowed brows. She groaned. "Are you okay?"
Although he wasn't feeling well, he nodded. "Yeah, I'm OK."
He was shocked on the inside. He fought to put his thoughts in order to what he was learning but was unable to speak.
"I live here… though it doesn't look like it, but this is a home for me."
"Home…"
She grinned and nodded. Yeah," she nearly stumbled, feeling ashamed of how her home contrasted with Titan's lavish apartment. It appeared to be too run-down for a visitor like him.
He was disturbed by her smile since her eyes weren't deceiving him. "Is this the reason you needed the money so badly?"
A loud knock startled them to their knees before she could speak.
While Stephanie moved in his direction and unlocked the door, Titan turned his head and stood. Someone shoved the door open for her before she could fully open it, banging it against the wall.
Her eyes widened as she noticed the elderly landlord, a man in his sixties, standing in front with a folder full of documents in his hand.
He appeared to be from the Middle East, stocky, angry, and a little taller than her. His beard was white and gray, and he had a bald head. His eyeglasses hung from his neck, and he wore a gold watch on his wrist.
"What's this, Mang Marino?"
"You have zo move out. I can't aczept any more excuses from you, Ztephanie!" he sputtered in an accent. "I'm fed up with your promizes that you work for Zitan Sandoval. I don't believe you!"
When Titan heard his name, he struck a noticeably piercing gaze at the elderly guy. Mang Marino arched an eyebrow and cocked his head.
"Who are you?" He looked at Stephanie again and continued sputtering, "You can't even pay your rent, now you bring a friend to live with you? You know that's an additional cost."
"But—"
"No moh dizcussionz." The man pushed the folder onto her chest, almost throwing it at her.
Stephanie tried to catch the falling papers in frantic.
"Zign it, and we're done. I'll come back tomorrow to get dez paperz. Zo, make sure you have zigned it and leave tomorrow."
He turned his back on her as she attempted to gather up the papers that were on the ground and walked back to his car without hearing her side of the story.
She muttered, "If he would just give me a little more time."
Titan was paralyzed as he watched the events unfold so quickly in front of him and recalled similar incidents when he had treated the employees similarly.
He was aware that, ever since the curse had been placed upon him, his annoying conduct had gotten worse.
He turned to Stephanie after glancing at the elderly man returning to his vintage truck while she was turning the pages of the contract, facing down.
But then, Titan observed the soggy papers from her tears.
She tried not to sniff, but they were audible in his cat-like abilities.
She was hugging the folders the elderly man had given her, so he could see she was crying. "Are you alright?"
Yet she smiled at him, lifted her face up, and answered, "Yeah, I'm okay. Stephanie Reyes here. I'm a survivor. This won't break me, Sir Titan," she said, turning him down out of concern that she would upset her boss unnecessarily.
"Anyway…" She then grasped the knob while struggling not to cry in front of her boss. She felt constricted as she did so. Her lips were pursed, and her eyes were closed.
When she turned and was ready to speak, she shut the door.
But then, he seized her and encircled her in his arms.
When Titan's warm hand touched the back of her head, her eyes opened in shock. " What are you doing, sir?"
"Stephanie, you're not alright. Don't be hesitant. Just cry."
"But… sir?"
He pressed her face against his chest and replied, "Don't worry. It's OK."
She finally lost all control when she felt his unexpected warmth.
She began to shake her head and cry out, her sobs becoming louder and louder until they were almost hyperventilating.
"What went wrong, I wonder. Despite my best efforts, I still lost everything." She repeated the same phrases over and over.
I don't know what to do now, Sir Titan. I don't know where to go. She thought.
Titan simply didn't respond, tightening his grasp in place of speaking.
He slowly put his chin and nose on top of her head, closed his eyes, and drew her closer.
Don't worry, Stephanie. I'm here. Titan thought so, too.