CHAPTER 8

Christopher

The next day, after I finished up with work, I visited Allison.

I hated to but I needed to have her ready to meet my mother.

I wouldn't have had to do so with any other girl, but Allison wasn't of this world and I could not jeopardize my only chance at correcting my mistake.

"My mother has someone tailing me." I told Charles from the back seat as I angrily flipped through the news.

More reporters, bloggers....hell! Even teenagers almost had my face all over the Internet with headlines of my alleged scandal.

Some reported that I had gotten married and then had a divorce.

A few others reported that I had a one night stand with a pauper and then refused to father the child.

I had never been so grateful for rich privileges.

The news about me never got published because before they did, I found a way to make them disappear.

In the business world, it was important to have such connection.

Unlike other normal citizens, the elites and business moguls knew what would be printed on the internet and the papers before the next morning.

This was how my company's major investments had sank. Our investors had seen the news even when it didn't come out and had withdrawn their investments from my company.

If the news was against an enemy or competitor, we found a way to twist it to our advantage and their downfall.

None of my competitors nor enemies had done that yet but I knew it wouldn't be long before they did.

I couldn't keep up.

Eventually, there would be a blog, headline or report that I wouldn't be able to have my hands on before it slipped.

Worse?

A competitor would get their hands on it and use it to plan my downfall.

But with my marriage with Allison, the entire Internet will be so occupied with my new wife, my company's investors will return and I'll have enough time to sort out my mess and clean up everything the Press might want to dig into again.

"I'll have it taken care of, Sir." Charles replied, as competent as always.

Surprisingly, Liam was nowhere to be seen around the house.

I thought Allison might want to have him around to get at him or go shopping just to splurge my money.

Before I would raise my hand to press the doorbell, the door went open.

Still in her nightwear, Allison stood at the door and folded her arms under her chest.

"Even with all that business knowledge, you still do not realize that it's considered respectful to let a person, especially a woman know of your visit beforehand." She was frowning but I didn't care.

"We're an aspiring couple. It's normal that I give you surprise visits. If we're going to look good for the Press, we have to practice." I frowned back.

"Well, I see Charles here is the gentleman I should be getting married to instead of you." She gestured toward Charles, smiling.

"What?" I turned to Charles who only gave that annoying bow.

"Next time, do not text her, especially not without my permission." I suddenly regretted letting Charles be able to communicate with Allison.

Not like he was going to plot something evil against me, with her or anything like that.

I just didn't like that he had texted her.

"I apologize, Sir." He bowed again.

"Life would have been so much better with Charles as my husband. Very gentlemanly, very understanding. I bet he wouldn't have left me with my ex boyfriend as my Chauffeur." She had returned her attention to me, frowning, again.

"Bickering outside your house, especially with your future husband isn't a behavior that will be much appreciated in my world. You might want to work on that, mischief." I walked up to her and pushed past her, into the house.

"And breaking into my house is a behavior that will be appreciated?" She rushed inside the house with Charles behind her.

He looked like he'd rather be anywhere but here.

"We have more important things to discuss than argue over baseless things, Allison. Unlike you, I am not jobless and I have more to do than spend my day rotting in bed." I eyed her nightdress.

It was almost one PM yet, she was still dressed like that.

I obviously have a lot to work on before exposing her to the Press, if anything, for my image.

I wanted to shift the attention of the Press, not doom myself.

"Well...." She dramatically folded her arms under her chest, her voice three pitches higher this time.

She wasn't done bickering, not yet.

"...I would still have my job if it weren't for you. I'm not dumb, Christopher. I know you framed me so you could have Charles bail me and then blackmail me into signing your shady contract."

I thought I was the only person who would be at her receiving end today but even Charles wasn't safe,

"So much for having the contract drafted with my best interest at heart."

Nobody was safe from Allison.

I remained silent until she eventually sat down.

Now she was done.

"Why are you here if you have so much to do?" She rolled her eyes.

"We're meeting my mother in a few days. I want to make sure you're ready to see her when the day comes."

I was supposed to be making sure my mother was ready to see Allison but this was the best I could do for now.

Her frown partially melted away and her lips curled into a sinister smile.

God, no.

No, no, no,no.

This was the scary side of the contract.

Allison wasn't just untameable.

She didn't like my mother and knowing her, she wouldn't care to hide it when they meet, again.

"I've met her before. Maybe many years ago but I still remember what she's like and I doubt your mother will have changed over the years. I honestly do not understand why you're bothered about our meeting. Matter of fact, if you want us to meet this evening, I won't object to it."

I knew she had more than those words on her tongue but she was only saving them for the meeting with my mother.

That was exactly what I was here to correct.

"I know what you're thinking of, Allison, do not even dare."

"And what am I thinking of, Mr Jacobs?" Her smile widened into a full grin.

She leaned back into her seat, looking both harmless and villainous at the same time.

I have never badly wished to know what a person was thinking.

"There are a few things you should know before you meet my mother....."

"Again." She quickly added.

Exhaling in frustration, I ignored her and continued, " Do not talk back at my mother, she'll feel disrespected but at the same time, do not be too timid, it makes you less of a person in her sight."

Before I could say anything else, she interrupted me again, "I know that already, Christopher. Moreso, timid and Allison cannot coexist in the same room. Your mother knows that I talk when I want to. Anytime I want to."

"Allison...."

"Go on," she continued smiling.

I looked at Charles who looked just as dreadful as I was of Allison meeting my mother.

It's been over fifteen years already yet, I still have no idea what happened behind the doors of the Principal's office, between Allison and my mother.

"If you don't already do, try to learn a thing or two about modern minimalist fashion. I don't know what it is, look it up on the internet. It's one way to get on her good side."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Hopefully, she did.

"I'll have a professional stylist prepare you for the meeting. Look your best and act your best."

I hesitated before adding my final word, "Please."

"Oh, come on, Christopher." She rose to her feet and stood behind the dining chair I was sitting on.

"Unlike what you think of me, I'm not a terrible person. You don't have to beg for a favour from me." The happiness in her tone-

she was enjoying this.

She was enjoying watching me beg and she definitely was already imagining how the meeting with my mother will play out.

Maybe I should have listened to Charles and gotten someone else and not Allison.

"Allison....." I tried to stand up but she pushed me back on my seat.

"I'll do it." Her hands remained on my shoulders.

"I'll do my best to be on my best behavior."

While I was still processing her surprisingly easy acceptance, she placed a soft unexpected kiss on my cheek.

My entire body went still, in shock.

Even Charles who seemed to be able to predict everything, was shocked.

"We're an aspiring couple. It's normal that I give my to-be husband kisses. If we're going to look good for the Press, we have to practice. Right?" She quoted my words right back at me and then left, leaving me and Charles in the living room.

When I finally snapped out of the shock, I realized that she had been wearing lipgloss.

That was not all.

When she leaned in to kiss me, she smelled clean. I could smell a faint fruity scent on her too.

Even her hair....

I touched my ear and shoulder.

Even her hair was wet.

Allison had not spent her day rotting in bed.

She had gotten up earlier than she made it seem and had showered too.

She only wore the night dress to spite me.

I might have just made the worst decision of my life.