Chapter Four

Third person's POV

The door opened revealing a very cheerful Mrs. Blaine whose white pearly teeth didn't go unnoticed since she had them all out in a smile. Her husband stood behind her with the same cheerful countenance.

"Elise!" he called out, taking Elise in a bro hug. "Long time no see."

"Chris my brother, you have made yourself a stranger."  Chris said whiles in an embrace with him. Bentley silently chuckled, uninterested in what was going on.

"I am sorry friend, I know I have no excuse for not visiting you. "

"Hannah, how have you been?" Chris asked, greeting her with a perk.

"Can I complain, My husband here takes really good care of me."

"That is so good to hear. I wish mine cared that much." Amanda said jokingly earning a frown from Chris

"Ouch, that hurt baby. I do care and take really good care of you."

"Yeh yeh whatever."

"So who do we have here? You must be Adele, and You will be Bentley." Amanda asked looking directly at Bentley.

"Yes, this is my daughter Adele and her brother Bentley."

"Wow Imani, you have become a big boy now. I now see why Elise takes so much pride in you."

"Thank you uncle. Dad has told me a lot about you and I must say I am impressed. You have got a nice house too." Bentley said, faking politeness.

"Oh forgive our bad manners, Please come in, come in."

Chris said realizing how cold it felt outside. The excitement he felt didn't make him realize it earlier. He led them into their living room where his two younger daughters and Amanda's nephew sat chatting.

"Elise, Hannah these are my daughters Elizabeth and Emma. That is Robert, Amanda's nephew"

"Children meet my very good friend Elise Cohen and his wife Hannah. That's Adele and their son Bentley."

"Hello Adele" Robert greeted causing Adele to look down in shyness. Bentley rolled his eyes when he spotted her blushing.

"Hi! Robert."

"Nice meeting you."

"Same here." It was impossible not to think too much about their exchange and Adele playing shy made it obvious they were attracted to each other. But how come? they just met.

Bentley only hoped she wouldn't do anything stupid that she would regret. She is already dating but what he just witnessed made him uneasy.

"My first daughter isn't in yet. Her car broke down so she is with the mechanic right now but she would be coming soon."

"Oh is that Luna? I was about asking of her." Elise said, his yet to be asked question already answered.

Bentley's POV

I got busy with my phone uninterested in their chat. But I contributed once in a while when dad asks me a question. I could tell they knew I was distracted because I had to ask them what they were talking about before answering their question. After dad trying several times to get me engaged in their conversation, he gave up. I am not really the family dinner kind of guy but my mum is right. It's been a long while since I spent time with them being the reason I agreed to come with them.

Amanda came out to announce dinner ready and we were all led to their dining room. We took a seat behind the huge table and trust me the aroma from the dishes was heavenly. I am not so much into foods but I appreciate a well-made meal.

"Hmmm smells good mum." Lizzy, their last daughter said from the far end of the table. Her other sister Emma sat in front of me sending glances my way but I pretended not to notice it.

She is a beauty though just like her mum. Her dad is not bad-looking but I can clearly see that she got her beauty from her mum. Blond her, plump lips, the body of a goddess. But that didn't move me. I have seen prettier girls than her but those didn't move either. Sometimes, I wonder whether I am gay because as a billionaire, I am expected to be a casanova but I'm not. I even hate the idea of spending time with a woman when that can be used to earn money. I watched on as Chris shared the grace after which Amanda asked us to help ourselves.

"Oh Amanda this is so delicious." Mum praised when the food made contact with her tongue and I couldn't agree more with her.

"My mum is the best cook I have ever known." Emma added taking her gaze off me.

"Dad are you sure sister will be coming?. There is something I need to discuss with her in person."

"I don't know anymore baby. She assured me she would be coming immediately after she gets her car. Guess she is not done with it yet." Lizzy frowned, her dad's word extinguishing her excitement.

"Mum! dad! I'm here."

An oddly familiar voice called out directing all our gazes to the door. My gaze grew cold when I realized who it was.

"YOU!"  

We both yelled simultaneously when she made eye contact with me. Why is she here? Fuck! can't I have a peaceful day anymore? Can't my day go smoothly without seeing her?

"What are you doing here Ms. Blaine?" I questioned raising my left eyebrow

"No, what are you doing here? Are you stalking me?" She foolishly asked ignoring my question

"You both know each other?" Dad asked having a silly grin on his face. The grin later turned into a full smile. Annoyingly Uncle Chris also had that silly smile on his face.

"NO!"

"YES" I shouted the same time she said no

"Okay yes! He is my boss......sorry ex-boss."

"I still am."

"The last time I checked you fired me. Remember?" She looked angry mirroring my exact countenance

"GREAT!"

Uncle Chris and dad both said out of excitement. Everyone turned to them in confusion.

"Then I think Chris, it is settled. Dad said to his friend leaving us all in the dark."

"Yes it is my friend." They shook hands as if sealing off a deal

"You knowing each other makes it all easier."

"What are you talking about dad?" I asked still confused but nothing prepared me for his answer.

"You see son, Chris and I have been best friends since high school. We had always planned to have our families close to each other but that couldn't happen because I moved away to New York when you were just Five. But we feel like life has given us another chance so we have decided to get both of you married."

"WHAT!!!!" I howled jolting up from my seat.

"You have what dad?" Mila cried out with anger

"You heard us baby. We have settled this and we have made up our minds that you will marry Imani."

"No! No! No! No! I will do no such thing." She said moving backward away from us. I stayed quiet just trying to contain my anger.

"I will never marry an arrogant, so full of himself money-conscious jerk who thinks so highly of himself."

"And I will never marry a stupid, lazy arrogant fool. I will never take such a wife." I said walking past her to retrieve my stuff from the living room then exited the house. I could hear dad calling me but my anger was greater than my respect for him. How could he do that?. How could he make such a decision without consulting me? What nonsense? Me? marry that fool? Never!! not even when my last breath will be taken away from me.

I got into my car, driving to God knows where. All I knew was I didn't want to go home. I wanted to be anywhere but home. I Didn't want to be alone with my anger, I might turn the whole house upside down. I remembered Collins called just when I was leaving the office to invite me to a tennis game but I turned him down for obvious reasons. I dialed his number then pressed the call button to which he answered on the second ring.

"Hi man." He answered with a tipsy tone.

"Does the offer for the game still hold?"

"Sure. I am even at the court with a few friends. You can come over. There are girls here too. Just the way you like them trust me."I gave him the middle finger before hanging up forgetting that he couldn't see it.

I turned around, taking a shortcut to the lawn tennis court that was about thirty minutes from where I am.