Chapter 5: Not having a boyfriend

"You're right, every young man deserves one, all he just needs is a search.."

"No need for that, Miss Alicia is very much single and well-mannered, so she is a good option, it will Smooth our friendship and even make our business fly higher." 

Yes, Harold had hit the nail on the head, Alicia smiled, she was dying to hear that, Dante closed his eyes. 

This man is annoying him? He just can't believe he is having this conversation with his father. 

"That will be very nice!" Mr. Lim said Dante moved his eyes to her, for the record, she was beautiful, not like he was in love with any other one, just maybe he could give this one a trial but the very minute, she acted like one of them, he is going to show her the door and that will be final. 

"Of course, it's nice," Harold said, then continued appreciating the girl in front of them like he had known her all his life, as irritating as the conversation may be, Dante still wanted to act nice and give this one a thought but there goes the naughty Alicia ruining her luck. 

"So I think, it will be wise if you two are allowed to do the introduction again," Harold added. 

"I hope I will have all the attention I need." Those were Alicia's first words and it sounded irritating in his eardrum, is she giving him rules? 

"Of course, he will, and don't worry, he will treat you well."

"Father!"

"Yes, Dante!" Calling his attention simply means one thing, Dante is no longer interested in this madness called arranged marriage. I hope you can give her all the attention, she needs. 

No way, are they all crazy? How could his dad repeat the same word he hated to hear? 

"I don't think that will be possible." The three turned their gaze to him, those words of him made the smile on Harold's face disappear, this son of his is always annoying. 

"Are you by chance saying that you are not interested in this?" 

"Father, you should know my stand but I really don't want to be disrespectful, I could give her a chance but don't tell me attention, we are not married and I don't think that that attention, she craves for I could give."

"Oh! I am sorry if my words anger you, I don't mean for you to give me total attention, you have work to do and I also go to work." 

Dante closed his eyes, he just wanted to turn her down but since she had corrected herself, why not let the sleeping dog lie, even though she had lost one point? 

As much as he hates marriages built on business relationships, he just wants to compromise. 

"Fine! I will give it a trial but for now, I need to go." Harold wanted to say something but Lim stopped him, indicating that he should allow him to leave, Deep down in his heart, Harold was boiling, feeling like a failed father, that couldn't control his son. 

"I am sorry Lim, I apologize for Dante's behavior."

"It's fine, it's not what apologizing, the young man must be stressed and he didn't reject her, just maybe he feared that he couldn't give her all the attention she needed, and for the record, we are friends, and not just business partners." 

Harold's heart finally rests, he is getting scared that his naughty son might have offended Mr Lim with his actions. Since the man is cool, he decides to apologize to her but before he can do that she speaks first. 

"Uncle, it's fine, I understand him, he is a busy man, so I shouldn't be expecting a hundred percent attention from him." 

"You are such a brilliant girl, I plead with you that you should be patient with him. I just can't wait for me to have one heir from you.' 

"No problem sir and thank you for taking an interest in me."

"Don't thank me, you should know good wine needs no blush."

Alicia smiled, she could admit that Harold had a good sense of humor than his son. If he was a young man, she would have gone for him instead of that rude son of his. 

****

The Calvins are having a silent dinner, that is how their meal is always like but this coldness is not the same as the previous one they always had. 

"Barbara!" She raised her head, only to stare at Calvin. "What is wrong?" 

"Dad, nothing, I am fine."

"It doesn't seem so."

"Come on Dad, I am perfect, you should know, that stress is one thing that could make anyone look pale." 

"Fine, I give up, we are having a family ball and your grandpa is attending, so we are having a ball."

"Really?" Claudia said in excitement like she didn't have an idea of what was going on. 

"Yes! So you should be prepared for it and it's by next weekend."

"Okay!"

"And that reminds me, you are to come with your date, Grandpa wants to meet your boyfriend..."

"Boyfriend?"

"Yes, boyfriend? If you don't have, maybe, I should start Matchmaking..."

"No, I have, so no need for matchmaking me. Claudia looks at Barbara, she is not serious, she doesn't freaking have a boyfriend." 

"Alright, that be it, the ball is all we will prepare for.' Another long silent go, Calvin is always the first to leave the dining, and Claudia looks at her.

"Stop looking at me."

"You and I know you don't have a boyfriend." 

"So you think?" 

"I don't think, I already know, you will just look stupid in front of the entire family." 

"Claudia, you should worry about that jerk of a boyfriend you got than worry about me having a boyfriend because I have moved on, and for your info, I do have a boyfriend, he is more handsome than Derrick, Derrick is not even close to his standard. So keep that loser all to yours."

Barbara pushed the chair leaving Hazel and Claudia in the dining. 

"I am sure, she is just blabbing."

"Let's wait and see her handsome boyfriend for the ball," Hazel stresses the handsome making Claudia more irritated. 

"Dammit! But I am sure, that stupid girl is just blabbing." Claudia also walks out of the dining, Barbara hits the wall behind the closed door of her room.

"What thou fuck? How could I possibly have a boyfriend on such short notice and what was I even thinking, telling Claudia that I have a boyfriend? Barbara, you have trapped yourself."

Still battling with herself, her phone rang, and she grabbed it from Kathleen. 

"Hey, Kathleen!"

"What's up!"

"Everything bad is up."

"Naughty girl, what is it this time?" 

"Everything is complicated."

"Fine, care to go to a nightclub."

"Perfect, I need the air." She grabbed her phone and went out. 

"My lady, are you going out?" 

"Yes Fiona, you should cover up for me, I will be gone the entire night." 

"Okay, ma!" Barbara hurried out, she needed to avoid being seen by Calvin, she was about to use the gate when she heard a voice behind her. 

"Miss Barbara! Are you going out?"

"Yes, Ethan, don't worry, I could take care of myself."

"I am sorry ma, Master Calvin will have my head on a tray if he finds out I let you out of my sight."

"Fine, let's go." As much as going alone is one thing, she wants but she just can't get Ethan in trouble, apart from him being her driver, he is a friend who cares about her. 

"After you ma!"

"Barbara!"

She could correct Ethan more than a thousand times in one day but he would still do the same thing, sometimes she just let him.