To Give And Take

CHAPTER 16

"Come over, Karlie ?" As soon as she walked down stairs, barely lifting off her feet from the last steps she was welcomed by her father's warm invitation. Behind him her current fiancé sat on the family dinning table with her sister and step mother, with a neat cut, a pair of leather shoes paired with his grey stylish shirt he looked like a noble hunk.

His appearance was warm and gentle, but she knew best about his charisma. Karlie's gaze only lingered on Rolland Tesse for barely four little seconds before she nonchalantly averted her gaze.

"Dad, do you need my help?"

She wasn't overly affectionate nor close to this father who had never been faithful in his life, whether in the past or present.

However, no matter how much she disliked his personality, she remained polite and fealthy towards him. It wasn't because this man deserved her respect, but the father who contributed to her existence deserved it.

"Nothing in particular, we were about to have breakfast, I was about to send your sister to inform you, but..." Mr White paused and looked at his daughter who was dressed elegantly. She wore a red shirt slightly exposing her smooth voluptuouse chest and the jewel hanging on her neck. Her black pencil skirt was slightly above her knee, accentuating her well defined hips and slender waist. Her long wavy ,dark brown hair fell on her back like waves, a few locks lay lazily on her white chest.

She wore a light make-up that accentuated her fiery and enchanting features. She was dressed professionally, yet sexy and enchanting, Mr White knew that this daughter of his was a beauty that could topple cities.

He looked approvingly at her outfit, he was afraid that Rolland Tesse might see her unkempt side, but he realised that it was an unecessary worry, after all, his eldest daughter had always been beautiful and elegant. He remembered that his late wife was also one of the most beautiful women in province C, Karlie inheritted a lot from her, but he always felt that her beauty was more profound compared to her mother's.

She didn't have much ressemblance with him, but he knew that she was his daughter.

"Dad?" Karlie snapped Mr White out of his thoughts, she had no idea what he was remiscing about, but she could guess it had something to do with her, more or less her mother. James White had always been guilty and remorseful towards his late wife, he ussually went in daze looking at her, but his remorse was a pointless regret.

"Sorry, Karlie, dad was lost in his past memories." His inquisitive comment gave others a sense of curiosity. It was those type of inquisitive comment that brought about a strong sense of mystery, bound to arouse curiosity.

"Does dad have something to say?" Karlie asked calmly, she pulled the sleeve of her red shirt, slightly exposing a pair of white slender wrist that had a female golden watch on it, with scattered little pearls. She peered seriously at her watch, ignoring her father's sudden stiff expression.

I'm afraid I won't be able to join you for breakfast." She made it clear before James White could make a statement, she wasn't oblivious of his intentions. However, she feigned ignorance with a quick and reasonable excuse to turn down her father's request.

James White's face turned dark with displeasure.

"It's still early, what's so urgent that it can't be delayed." His expression was filled with gloom, but despite being aware of this, Karlie was still nonchalant towards him.

"I have a job, you shouldn't have forgotten about it right, dad?" Karlie reminded seriously, she wasn't intimidated by her father's change of expression, years of experience had trained her mentality.

"Didn't I tell you to quit that job, your marriage with Rolland is scheduled for a few months, that should be your top priority.

Her father's chauvinism defined one of his character traits, a huge similarity he shared with the Tesse, but she had never complied to those chauvinistic request.

"That's the path I choose, dad." She reminded Mr James seriously, it wasn't the first nor the second time she made such a reminder. The reminders had piled into an accountable steps, but her father some times suffered from a false amnestic syndrome.

"I won't change because of anyone, you should have known it, dad." After speaking her thoughts she walked passed him without the slightest waver in her expression. She was still cold and distant towards James White, though he understood her personality, he still couldn't restrain himself from trying to tie Karlie White with a knot. He had always had control over everything in his life, but this daughter of his was similar to his late wife, both women could neither be suppressed nor controlled.

He hated this feeling the most, a feeling of being unable to take down a mere woman, his wife was thesame and now his daughter was even more stubborn. In the past he could still control her, but the more she grew up and became independent, the more he couldn't suppress her.

"Karlie you should have some awareness as a woman and a daughter ?" James White reminded with a commanding tone, laced with threats and a touch of pressure.

"Alright, got it."

Karlie replied calmly with an obedient tone, she didn't argue with James White, neither did she give off an arrogant aura. Upon seeing that she had acquisced, James White's expression softened, he was glad that his daughter could still be saved.

"Alright, you should sit with Rolland, accompany him for breakfast and serve him well, then you can both go to a place of his choice and..."

"Dad!" Karlie interrupted him calmly, she had her ussual firm gaze, she looked at her father and reminded nonchalantly.

"I have a job, so I'm too busy to accompany Rolland today." Without waiting for her father's reply she turned to face Rolland who had just taken a sip of his tea.

"You don't mind either, right." It was unknown if her comment was inquisitive, but its firmness seems to give him no way to refute. Before Rolland could give his reply, James scolded with a low voice.

"Karlie, did you forget the awareness we talked about?" His tone was cold with a hidden threat, but Karlie wasn't intimidated by his taunts, she calmly replied.

"Of course not, aren't I adhering to it? As a woman I need to work hard to support my future husband and as a daughter, I have to show fealthy piety and support my dad in his old age. Dad, do you actually think I am wrong?"

James White was speechless by her reply, he could neither refute nor agree with her which made him so fustrated that he choose to remain silent.

"If there's nothing else, then I'll be leaving, you can enjoy your breakfast." She said with a seriouse expression, her gaze paused on Rolland who looked elegant. It was difficult to see through a man like Rolland, but it wasn't impossible either. This man has lived his life in lies and everything else about him, whether personality or charisma were all deduced as a phony to her.

"Karlie, brother in-law came for you, are you just going to leave just like that? " Nelly rushed to speak, defending Rolland. "Can you not treat Rolland so indifferently, you..."

"Did he lay his complains to you?" Karlie tilted her head slightly, crossing her hand on her chest she gazed calmly at Nelly, but the moment their gaze met, Nelly was the first to give up. She couldn't hold Karlie's gaze, perharps because of guilt or other emotions that didn't escape Karlie's sharp gaze.

Nelly knew her weakness, averting her gaze away from Karlie was her cowardly weapon, despite the strong feeling of grievance she reluctantly admitted defeat. She hated being easily suppressed by Karlie White, but her mother had taught her to retreat in order to advance later with much pressure.

Taking her mother's life for an example cheered her aggrieved heart. In the past her mother had already retreated and gave her way to Mrs Yolande, today's situation in the White proved her strategy right.

"Sorry." Nelly appologized with much effort, but Karlie didn't cast her a glance of acknowledgement.

"Karlie, what's that attitude, your sister is just being concerned about you, do you have to treat her so coldly ?" James White scolded, his heart ached for his daughter who had lived under pressure due to her mother's ungloriouse past as a homewrecker. However, he failed to sympathize with his late wife who had died of depression because of his ruthless betrayal. James White had a selfish personality, with a partriachal mind inclinded to make women powerless.

Karlie understood clearly why a homewrecker like Linda Perez could easily take a leap from a mistress to a wife. As the saying went, 'birds of same feathers flock' her mother had made a mistake, but that didn't mean mistakes couldn't get a remedy, though regrets had no medicine, it didn't mean it was time to give up.

"Miss Perez, dad gave me the impression that my attitude towards Nelly White isn't considerate." Her question was directed towards Linda Perez, but her gaze lingered on James White, causing him to be stunned speechless.

"Had such thoughts ever crossed your mind?" Karlie's last sentence was firm and strong with a sense of oppression, it also reminded Linda about her ungloriouse past.

Linda Perez had never had a good relationship with Karlie White, but their relationship hadn't been bad either. Karlie's attitude towards her and daughters had made it impossible for anyone to spell put criticisms, she was neither warm nor cold. She had always shown a neutral attitude towards them, such attitude had caused Linda to misundertand and taking a wrong step.

She didn't like this daughter of another woman, but for the sake of the huge benefit a friendship with her held, she forced herself to make a friend of her. However, her efforts over the years were in vain, Karlie White could neither be suppressed nor controlled. As for her attitude towards her step sisters, it was regrettably beyond her expectations.

"Karlie, don't blame Nelly, she was just..." Karlie immediately cut her off with a stern voice that was neither overbearing nor imposing.

"I asked a question."

She wasn't ready for a long sermon, because her time was preciouse, but she had already wasted a lot of time to endure the morning ranting of the so called harmoniouse family.

Linda on the other hand pursed her lips, she had an aggrieved expression, her pale face made her look weak, poking James' heart. James White was a vain man who enjoyed women's compliance and definite reliance on him, just to satisfy his unecessary vanity. The moment Linda Perez looked at him with an aggrieved expression, the result was already placed on the table.

"Rolland, would you mind to drive me to the laboratory, my car is at the mechanics."

The moment she made the request, Rolland had already stood on his feet, cutting off James who was about to scold her. The words that had barely rolled out of his mouth were forced back into his throat, while Linda became even more indignant.

James White was protective towards her, but he was still a profit minded man who retreated in front of power, at the point of abandoning his self esteem.

"Uncle James, I'll take my leave with Karlie." Rolland said politely before following Karlie who had already walked ahead of him. Though Karlie wasn't enthousiastic and particularly affectionate like other women who loved romance, it was precisely her cold and indifferent personality that gave him the urge to possess and conquer her completely.

"Get in." Rolland said gently, helping Karlie into his white SUV, it was rare for Karlie to rely on him for anything. As long as she was willing to be pampered by him, he would be glad to follow suit, but her independence fustrated him. He couldn't wait to make her his wife and take complete possession of her everything.

"Do you want to stop by a restaurant so you can have your breakfast?" Rolland broke the silence as soon as he ignited the engine, he knew about her family situation. He also believed she wouldn't be willing to share a table with the woman who took her mother's place.

"I'll have my assistant send me some nutritiouse breakfast for me later." Karlie responded firmly, her head was lowered, while she seriously played with an iPad. It was unknown if she had encountered some problems, but there was a deep frown between her beautiful brows. He knew she was currently working on a new pharmaceutical project, which kept her busy most of the time. Compared to her other two sisters, Karlie White had a succesful career, with her fame she had gathered a lot of fans. She was talented, beautiful and meticulouse with a strong personality, her beauty was even more profound.

Many people envied him for getting a perfect fiancé, but he didn't feel that he had achieved much despite being engaged for so many years. Karlie was a woman with a strong character, since he couldn't suppress her, he decided to impress her and make her completely infatuated with him. He believed that his attitude towards her over the years had probably caught her heart.

"Have you thought about my suggestion ?" Rolland once again broke the pin drop silence between them with a reminder. His eyes left the road to look at her, his gaze unconsciously fell on her beautiful fair legs, his body unconsciously became hot. He quickly averted his gaze without a change of expression, only he knew that his manly desires had been poked.

"What suggestion ?" Karlie asked with a frown, she had no idea that the moment she lifted up her head, her fresh rose fragrance suddenly assailed Rolland, he also caught sight of her red sexy lips that was slightly opened. Her lips looked moiste and red as the blood red apple that had rippened, it was ready to be bitten.

Rolland drove the car towards a safe side to park, looking at his actions, Karlie frowned, she suddenly regretted her last ressort to escape from her father's ranting.

Oblivious about her thoughts, Rolland unbuckled his seat belt and leaned towards her with an ambiguouse expression, he was clearly infatuated with restraint. She didn't resist when his long slender fingers gently lifted her chin, forcing her to face his infatuated gentle gaze.

"Move in with me, ok."

His tone was pleading, laced with gentleness but it couldn't hide his hoarse voice, a low panting blowing hot air on her face. Faced with such a Rolland, Karlie might be inexpirienced on the sexual aspect of life, but she was knowlegdgeable enough to explain Rolland's reaction with a few words.

In the past she never agreed to his advances, at present she was even more firm about her decision, she was a germaphobe. She hid the disgust in her eyes and gently pushed away Rolland's face that had almost brushed her lips.

"No!" Her answer was firm, causing Rolland to be displeased with her answer, it wasn't the second time he had been rejected by her. He knew Karlie was a conservative person, so she never let him touch her, the most he had done with her was a peck on the cheek, a quick peck. Those moments could be counted with a hand, despite being rejected by her, he didn't force her.

It was easy to arouse a woman, with his experience he didn't believe that possessing Karlie would be a difficult task. The premises was that he had to make her stay alone with him, but no matter how much effort he put in, Karlie had proven to be the most difficult woman.

To be precise, she was the second most difficult woman, he had also taken fancy on Lucy Grey, but despite her warm and gentle personality, she was cold and unproachable. 'It was true that birds of thesame feather flocked', he experienced it.

"Why?" Rolland spoke with restraint and she could tell that he was restraining himself from losing his temper. Rolland had always had a very strong control of himself and he would never lose his temper in front of her. Rolland had an inherent temper, she wasn't ignorant of it, but she had never witnessed it. She lowered her gaze and looked at his clenched fist on the steering wheel, the veins bulging through his pale white skin explained a lot.

"Are you going to lose your temper at me?" Karlie spoke slowly with concision, she was neither scared nor panicked.

"Karlie, I've made this request for countless number of times, must you always have a concurrent reply to it?" Rolland said after taking a deep breath, he was very good at restraint, as for controling himself, it was an uncertainty.

"Rolland Tesse, I'm very conservative and abide in ancient rules of an unmarried maiden in our family." Karlie explained it patiently with sincerity, it wasn't because of her disgust towards Rolland, but a rule she had set with Lucy.

This highschool promise had followed them to their current age, it wasn't about a family rule, but a preservation of their dignity.

She wasn't a saint, but she despised the unruly behavior of wanton girls, as a germaphobe she couldn't stand any filth.

"Alright, forget it." Rolland said with a heavy tone, he was no longer putting pressure on her, giving Karlie an opportunity to breath a fresh air. She couldn't stand the sight of Rolland Tesse, her thoughts would always deviate towards the filth from other girls. Though he had the strong smell of collogne covering up other undetectable female smell.

Rolland's personality was clean and flawless, if she didn't have doubts and suspicions, it would probably take a lifetime to unveil him.

"I'll drive you to the laboratory."

Rolland didn't dare to look at her after igniting the engine, his gaze focused on the busy road, while he drove her to work, the whole journey was surprisingly calm. However, Karlie didn't attribute it simply on his firm control of himself, but the fact that she hadn't tied the knot with him.

A man like Rolland was scary, he was like a calm prior the storm, it was unknown when he would shed pretense and restraint with her. The thought of tying the knot with a man like Rolland caused her to have cold sweats. Without thinking further, Karlie immediately sent a message to calm her unsettled heart.

'I've thought it through.'

Her message was straightforward and concise, she wasn't worried it wouldn't be understood by the other party. They both had a tacit understanding of each other.