“Alistair! What a … pleasant surprise”, Layla said, as she swung the door open.
“Hey Layla. How are you… how are you doing?”
“I'm great. Oh please, come in”, she said, stepping back from the door. Alistair walked up the remaining part of the small stairs into the house and Layla shut the door behind him. He walked slowly in, feeling a little nervous.
“Where's your mum?”
“She's in her room. She was on a call but I'm sure she'll be done by now. Let me check on her and tell her you are here”
Alistair nodded, watching Layla walk out of the living room into one of the adjoining rooms. He turned to the windows, acknowledging the cozziness of the country house as he walked towards that end of the room. He'd wondered why they'd come all the way here to live, giving a lot of distance from the busy city. Here, you could barely hear honking cars, loud city ad screens or sirens. There was a still quietness about it, a comforting yet uncomfortable silence around it all.
“Alistair?”, Tricia Moore's voice came from behind.
“Nana”, Alistair responded, turning immediately he heard the voice. She stretched her arms towards him for a hug and Alistair responded alike, coming into her short ranged arms.
“Oh Alistair ”, She whispered to him, caressing his back hair like he was some long lost son. She finally let go of him, keeping still within arm's range.
“How have you been my dear? It's been so long since you visited.”
“I…”
“I understand”, she said, placing her hand over his. “You know I always do”
She gave him that kind smile, that smile that reminded him of so many unspoken memories in his head, memories that seemed so cloudy in his head now.
They hugged again and this time Alistair didn't feel like letting go. Her hands soothed his back slowly, just the way she would do when he was much younger.
“Come… tell me. How are you?”, She asked, leading him to sit beside her on the couch.
“I'm fine Nana. How have you been? How’s your health?”
“I've been well dear. Very well. Layla's been taking care of me and my health is better”
“I'm glad to hear that Nana”, Alistair said with a brief smile.
“Oh dear”, Tricia gasped like she'd forgotten something. “Where's the cake Layla?”
“Bringing it Mum”, she shouted from the kitchen.
“Oh that wouldn't be necessary Nana”, Alistair began protesting.
“I insist dear. Let me”, she said again with that smile of hers. Layla brought a slice of cream chocolate cake on a saucer and some iced tea in an averagely tall glass, all balanced perfectly on the tray. The aroma of the cake filled the room but the cake tasted even better.
“You like it?”, Tricia asked as she took the saucer from her daughter.
“It's almond and chocolate”
Alistair nodded, taking another chunk with his fork.
“Really? It doesn't taste like it”, Alistair said, looking at the slice in his hand amidst a mouthful of cake.
“But it's my favourite of your recipes anyway”
Tricia Moore smiled, filling her own fork with cake. She watched Alistair as he took chunk after chunk off the cake. Placing her saucer down, she excused herself.
She walked into the kitchen, going straight to the oven.
“Layla”
“Layla!”
“Yes mum”, Layla answered coming into the kitchen, one hand struggling to fix her earring.
“Why is this cake in the oven?”
“Oh that's the almond and hazelnut cake”
“But I thought I specifically asked you to serve it first”
“Yes but the cake wasn't done properly and I forgot that you had asked me to serve it first. Besides, Alistair is allergic to hazelnut. You couldn't have possibly forgotten, could you?”
“Oh dear, that's true. He is allergic”
“Mum… you can't keep forgetting sensitive details like that”
“I'm sorry. It won't happen next time. Thank you for reminding me”
“You are welcome”, Layla said, pecking her mum. She took a chunk of the already cut out cake on the saucer and headed for the door.
“Going somewhere?”
“Yeah, I have lunch date with my friends”
“Where?”
“Zikki's”
“And who is Zikki again?”
“Mum…”, Layla groaned.
“I’ll explain when I get back, ok? Love you” She blew a kiss and the door shut loudly.
“Layla wait up”, Alistair said, also passing the kitchen.
“Are you going to?”
“Yes Nana. I have to rush. It's … it's almost dinner time at the house.”
Oh you can stay for dinner dear, I don't mind”
“I wish I could Nana but I have to go”
“Ohhh”
He came to where she stood and hugged her.
“I promise to come visiting the minute I have the chance”
“Ok dear. I look forward to seeing you”
She smiled, watching as he walked out the door. She turned to the kitchen window, where she could see him escorting Layla to the road.
“Two adorable children aren't they?”
******************************
“Elara”, Ethan called as his voice echoed through the empty space.
“Elara”
“Mr. Ethan Sterling, why the heck are you shouting?”, She said, tipping over a little as she rested on the protectors. She was up the stairs and Ethan looked up to her.
Ethan licked his lips. “Oh I'm definitely coming for you”, he said as he moved to the head of the stairs and made his way up. In her panties and a loose singlet top, she walked towards him as he arrived at the top of the stairs, his eyes devouring her already.
She put her hands round his neck and they kissed passionately. She giggled as he hands moved inside her, she pulling in more.
“Hmm… I can see you've missed me”, she said, as she felt her panties slide down her thighs.
“You think?”
He carried her thick thighs to the room, laying her on the bed as he hurriedly removed his clothes. Soon, they were both in their birthday suits with moans and alluring groanings echoing in the house.
Alistair was yet to find out as he walked up the stairs, wondering who was in the house. His first guess was as good as correct as he met Elara's undies on the floor just in front of the room.
He pushed the door open and there they were.
“What the … shit!”
Ethan fell over to other side of the bed, breathing heavily.
“What are you…. Get out of here”, Elara said, her face never more annoyed. She gathered the duvet clothes to cover herself.
“Elara, I thought you said this bastard won't be a problem”
“He won't.. he's just…”, she said, amidst gathering the falling, heavy duvet to get to the door. Alistair just stood there, too dumbfounded to speak.
“Would you get out of here?”
“Elara, what are you…?”
“What? I'm ******* with Ethan Sterling, so? Think I want to be married to you? Get out of here!”, She shouted, banging the door in his face.
“Arghh”, Elara groaned. “My parents stupid decisions!”
“Forget him. Where were we?”
Their giggles filled the house again and Alistair just stared at the door, unable to speak. He finally walked away, a sorry and broken man.
Should he have expected more? He knew Elara wasn't his biggest fan but this… this was beyond the line. And look at him, thinking marriage would make her love him. She'd obviously been cheating on his all along.
“Get me another cup”, Ms. Wilde commanded the maid standing near her. The maid hurried out of the room and was soon back with another tea cup on a saucer. She placed it on the table in front of her madam, taking out the rejected one.“Where's my husband?”, she asked as the maid poured liquid milk into the cup.“He left for work early today ma'am”“Without letting me know?” she asked, slowing down suddenly as she placed some cut fruits in a bowl.“Ye..yes ma'am.”There was an uncomfortable silence that followed her reply.“Did he have breakfast?”, she asked, picking up the sugar tongs.She stopped as if listening for a distant reply from the maid that was right next to her.“No … no ma'am. He insisted on not …”“What time was the breakfast set?”The maid looked down and the room went dead silent again.“What time?”“ 5 …. 6.00 a.m ma'am”“And my husband left by what time?”“Four ma'am”Mrs. Wilde dropped the sugar tongs on the saucer. The sound of the metal clashing with the ceramic di
The red bubbly liquid filled the tall tulip glass in his hand.“Honey, have you seen this?!”, she said, walking into the living room rather more hastily thanusual.“The Voxx Group is having their first annual gathering in twenty years.”, Mr. Wilde said,sipping his chilled rose wine. “I'm aware”“And? Aren't we attending?”“Of course we are attending. But I have a business meeting today. It depends on when I finish”“And you didn't think to tell me Gerald? You had invitations from over a week ago! And I'm justfinding out today about this event?”“I've been occupied, Kate.”, He said in a cool tone, putting down his glass. “I'm busy”“Plus, you sit all day with your phone. How come you weren't aware?”“So? What has that got to do with this?”Gerald Wilde placed the glass out again for the wine chef to fill. He sipped slowly like he hadn't heard a word she had just said. He waved a hand, dismissing the young chef.“What do you want Kate?”, he asked, dropping the glass on the glass cent
“Dadd!!”, Elara whined on the phone. “You are not going to be done till another hour and the event is just fifteen minutes away from starting!”“Elara, I have said…”“And it just can't happen! Urghh”, she groaned loudly into the mouthpiece.“I have to go back to my meeting Elara”“Ok, ok, fine, wait. Release our own invites and you can cut down on my allowance by 5%”Her father was quiet for some time.“It's a one time offer Daddy. And don't you think I won't get it back”Gerald laughed. “I'll have my secretary mail the digital invites to you right away”“Perfect. Have fun with your boring meeting”, she said and hung up.Just then her mum walked into the living room.“Darling, this or this?” she asked, holding up the pieces of jewelry. In her right hand was a simple pendant necklace with a heart shaped diamond designed with shiny little threads of silver criss- crossing the face. Her left hand had a fine gold torque necklace in its open box with matching earrings, bracelets and rings.
He moved into where the main party was holding, where the elegant tables and chairs were arranged. Middle aged people talked in groups, very elegantly dressed so you could guess at once that they were rich. Most of the young people were in groups of two and three and their groups seemed clustered together to one side of the space from the supposed entrance.“Oh, there's Mr. Wilde”, he spotted as his eyes moved slowly across the open space. He could see him with some elderly men of his age discussing in low volumes near the stage.Alistair couldn't believe that he was in this very Voxx meeting - the first after twenty years of his parents’ death. What shocked him the most was his sharp memory of the faces - he could still tell and recognise the owners of some of the enterprises under the Voxx Group and some of his father's closest partners. As his eyes darted around, in search of a free seat, he hoped earnestly that no one would draw attention to him.But how wrong he was.“Isn't that
Alistair looked at the document shoved into his hands. He was confused.“What… I.. I don't understand”“Sign the freaking papers, Alistair!”, Elara shouted, glaring angrily at him.“I don't understand, Elara. What.. are … are these divorce papers?”Smack! That was the third time he had been slapped in a row.“Have you suddenly lost your ability to read? Or is it your ability to comprehend that's the problem?” , Elara insulted, casting her wicked glares on him.But Alistair's mental faculties didn't want to comprehend at that moment. They were blank, they remained blank and that was how he wanted them to remain.“I have had a whole year. A whole year Alistair! A whole year of putting up with your… your stupidity! And… and … with the …. disgrace… and with the … the… Urghh!”, She shouted in frustration, tugging furiously at her hair.“You see what you are doing?! Do you see what this bastard has caused for this family, Gerald? And I warned you, didn't I? And you didn’t fulfil all the pla
“Alistair”, Nathan said, getting to his feet as soon as he saw him. He walked over more briskly than Alistair entered the room, engulfing him in a hug. Surprised but not shook, he slowly hugged back, memories flooding him all at once.“Nathan”, he said slowly, in a raspy, loud whisper.“It's been… so long”“Yeah like fifteen years”, Alistair said, disentangling from the hug.“Still can't believe it's you”“I….me neither”“Ahemm”, the lawyer's deep cough brought both young men to reality.“Oh… ummm.. sorry. Back to business please”, Nathan said as he unnecessarily adjusted his suit, leading Alistair to where the fairly long conference table was.“Take a seat please”, Nathan instructed as Regan walked up to pull out the chair.“Thanks”, Alistair said to Regan, taking his seat slowly.An awkward silence filled the room as Nathan signaled all the men in the room to leave, except Regan of course. Nathan cleared his throat, obviously a little nervous to start.“Umm… Mr. Alistair, this is y
“What’s the meaning of this Nathan? Huh? Why didn't you inform me that this was what this meeting was about?”“I’m sorry sir. I was only acting on Mr. Voxx final instructions.”“Mr Voxx is dead! And I adopted his son. I am closer than a next of kin. I should have been told about this!”The elevator doors swung open. Mr. Wilde stepped out angrily, headed for the building's exit door. The automatic doors slid open and Mr. Wilde came to out where his car was parked.“I want a copy of that contract document, Nathan”“I'm sorry Mr. Wilde but you don't get a copy. But you will get to sign in consent as a voluntary adoptive parent to Mr. Alistair's inheritance.”“I'm not asking you Nathan. That's an order. And if I don't get a copy, forget my signature being in that consent.”“Oh you will sign it Mr. Wilde”, Nathan said, his tone suddenly raspy and dangerous.“You have too much to risk. After all, isn't he still the bastard son in law of yours?”“What … what are you talking about?”Nathan sm
Alistair woke up rather too suddenly, his seemingly pleasant yet nightmare of a dream stirring his consciousness. For a moment, he was bewildered, stirring at the suite he was in, confused. The chandelier lights, though dimmed, seemed to bright for his eyes. He squinted, his realization first of his non-aching body.Moving around, his soon found the bathroom and washed his face. Then realization dawned him. The events of last night.Anyone who'd known him and witnessed the previous night could have given him an award for composure. Apparent composure though. No one knew or rather, he should say no one knew yet the things he already had set in motion in his imagination.But his sudden wealth had shook him. Even Nathan knew that at some point, he'd drop the nonchalant, indifferent attitude he was wearing. He was beyond awed. And the irony of events as well? Hadn't it been few moments away from his utter embarrassment and divorcement? A smug smile appeared on his face as he wondered the