Alex held her breath as she waited for her father’s response.
She had high hopes. The moment Alex heard her mother speak, her heart jumped out of her chest. She had a parent on her side. Now, there was only one left to convince. With Angie in favor of Alex’s request, the outcome seemed more certain. After all, her mother possessed a reasonable voice and knew how to compromise—while also getting what she wanted.
Since her father loved his wife a lot, he’d undoubtedly wouldn’t risk getting her mad.
Well, too mad, at least.
“We won’t speak of this matter until next Friday” Ethan relented. He still wore a displeased look on his face, “I won’t accept any extension about this discussion. Are we clear on that?”
“Yes!” Alex exclaimed, relief washing over her shoulders. With that, she overcame another hurdle. This week and a half could possibly change things, including her father’s mind. She had to do her best and hope the rest would be fine too.
Angie kissed her husband’s cheek, “Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
“Yes, but I will have to call my secretary about this. I’ll receive all the work through emails.”
Both females in the room blinked at him.
“Wait, do you mean…” Alex said softly, “Are you—Are you guys going to stay here?”
Her father glanced at her, the scowl on his brows deepening, “Well, of course, we’re staying here. The consequences of the matter are still fresh. I’m not about to let you out of my sight while things are this way. Who knows which of our enemies discovered that you are here?”
He clicked his tongue behind clenched teeth, “I won’t let anyone else supervise. If I want this done right, I will have to do it myself.”
Angie exhaled sharply. She expected as much which was why she planted the idea in his head. This way, both of her loved ones could get what they want. Hopefully, nothing would trigger another fight soon.
“I’d surely love to take a look around. We haven’t stayed long enough to do so in the past” She remarked with a smile. Tightening her hold, she nudged her hips against Ethan’s, “Mind taking me on a date?”
Incomprehensible noise slowly made its way up to the second floor. Their sound waves entered the open doorway and reached three pairs of ears. Alex and her parents turned their heads towards it. Confused expressions stared out into the hallway as the voices grew louder by the second.
Ethan was the first one out of the door. He grasped the top of the railing near the stairs, leaning over it. He glared at the space between the front door and the foot of the stairs. Faces he didn’t recognize loitered in it.
“What’s with this commotion?” His voice boomed.
Alex and her mother jogged until they reached him. They followed his line of sight. A group of teenagers stood downstairs. They all had bags over their shoulders. They gave the impression that they came directly after classes ended.
They had been chattering among themselves until they heard Ethan.
4 boys and 2 girls looked up, their eyes widening. They fixed their postures and sealed their lips. None of them dared to say anything.
With a scrutinizing gaze aimed at them, how could they not be intimidated?
“Oh!” Angie gasped delightfully, breaking the ice, “Nice to see you again, Logan. You too, Jae.”
The Parker brothers mumbled their replies. The rest of the party shifted their attention towards the twins. The questioning look in their eyes was evident. Neither Logan nor Jae supplied them with answers. They merely kept their focus on the railing.
Soon, their companions also dropped the subject and waited.
“I can’t say I recognize the rest though” Angie continued to say. She glanced at her daughter, “Who are they, Alex?”
Alex pressed her lips together. She spent the time suppressing the fit of giggles that rumbled in her chest. She had never seen the others behave in such a way. They acted like a bunch of kids in kindergarten. She relished in the moment while it lasted.
Then, she sighed and folded an arm over the railing. She placed an elbow over the back of her flattened hand. Her cheek rested against her open palm. Shaking her head at the visitors, the corner of her mouth twitched in amusement.
“They’re my friends.”
Without checking, Alex knew her mother was shocked. Her father was too. Actually, it seemed that everyone had the same expression based on her friends’ faces.
A snort leaked out of her lips. She couldn’t help but find their reactions funny. What else could she call them? They didn’t belong in the strangers category. Besides, if she didn’t acknowledge them, who knew what her father would do?
Since everything was out in the open, she didn’t need to hide them.
Alex suddenly froze. Realization came to her. Dread clouded her head. A bad premonition nagged at the back of her mind. She peeked at her father’s face from the corner of her eye. Compared to her dark cloud, a thunderstorm seemed to have taken over his.
Did she just spill a secret at the wrong time?
“How—”
“Alex, that’s wonderful!” Angie interrupted Ethan. She tackled their daughter and engulfed her in another bone crushing hug, “I can’t believe you have so many friends! I have never been more proud of you! Come and introduce them all!”
She released Alex quickly and grabbed her hand.
Alex stumbled as her mother dragged her towards the stairs. They rushed to climb down, their feet thudding against the wood. Neither of them looked back.
Angie let go of her daughter as soon as they landed on the first floor. She clasped both of her hands and placed them near her chest. An ecstatic smile stretched on her lips. Her eyes twinkled brightly while she assessed each visitor.
Logan and Jae quickly stepped aside. They had already met her. They also figured that she was more fascinated with the others. Logan positioned himself beside Alex who had her arms crossed over her chest.
He shifted his gaze in her direction, “How are you?”
Alex shrugged, holding it for a few seconds. She kept her focus on her mother’s movements, “It could have gone worse but it’s not over yet.”
“How long?”
“Until next Friday.”
“Damn” Jae cut in from her other side, “Just in time for the championships, huh?”
“Championship?” Angie gasped, turning towards them.
The three teenagers jumped. They hadn’t expected her to show interest. They didn’t think she’d hear them at all while the others were around.
“Oh, you’re both on the basketball team, right?” She recalled, “You have a game next week?”
“Yes, we do, Aunt Angie” Jae cleared his throat. He gestured a hand to another person in the room, “Max is also a part of our team. I don’t think you’ve met him yet.”
Logan offered an open palm behind Alex. His twin caught sight of it and slapped it with his own. Alex heard their exchange. She bit her bottom lip, hoping to not give herself away. She quietly commended Jae’s skills to redirect the topic.
Max’s face paled when he heard his name. The others around him moved aside. Angie easily made eye contact with him. She raised her hand towards him, “I’m assuming you’re Max? I’m very pleased to meet you. How do you know my daughter?”
Max shook her hand. He took a deep breath and attempted to grin. It seemed to deform his face instead of making it charming, “Yes, I’m Max. It’s very nice to meet you, Aunt Angie. I can see where Alex got her looks.”
Alex shut her eyes, covering them with her hand. She was pretty sure she heard that line many times. No doubt her mother also had the same experience. Couldn’t these guys think of better lines?
“I’ve heard that one before, boy” Angie replied sarcastically. Her sweet look on her face made it more frightening, “Had anything else up your sleeve?”
Alex snorted, clamping her hand over her mouth. Oh, her mother was in the mood for some savage today. She couldn’t wait to see what else will be in store.
Gulping, Max scratched the back of his head. He smiled sheepishly, “I would but you deserved better quality than those.”
Angie cackled. She patted his shoulder, “Honest. I appreciate that.”
“Now, that! I have a lot of.”
Groans of protest flowed into his ears. He glared around him. None of his friends hid their objections. He wagged a finger at them, “See? That is proof that you know my bad sides. What could be more honest than that?”
Lauren blew a raspberry, “Who cheated again in a Math competition against his friend?”
Max rolled his eyes.
“Lauren, my dear—” He began to say but thought better of it, “Lauren, Colin’s dear, whatever do you mean? All is fair in love and war.”
“I agree with you!” Angie added to the conversation. She pressed a finger against the side of her face. A mischievous smirk blossomed on her lips.
“Did you know that I snagged Alex’s father from a slut because I sneaked in some laxatives in her drink before the waiter served it?”
