Chapter 7

Alex didn’t know how it happened, but he knew when it did. The day things started to fall apart.

Things had been going fine before. He and Alicia were going strong. She was such a loving girlfriend and he sometimes wondered how life would have been if he had never opened himself to her and gotten with her.

He loved her. He loved her so much. She made him so happy and he wanted to spend all his life with her.

But then one night she’d asked him about children out of nowhere.

That night he’d been asleep and when he stirred awake he noticed she was sitting up in bed, lost in thought and looking tense, a little pale.

He gave her a concerned look and asked;

"Alicia, what's on your mind? Are you okay? Why are you not sleeping?”

"Alex, what do you think about having kids?“

He stirred, yawning, sleep still in his eyes, and replied,

“I don't want any children. I don't want to ever become a father. I don't need any children."

“What?” she said.

 He repeated himself. She looked at him for a while and then turned to sleep.

He didn’t think much of it and went back to sleep too.

The next day, as he was driving her, she brought it up again.

"Alex, do you really not want kids? You know, I know there are bags of troubles but I really love them."

She smiled and watched his face keenly. He didn't give away any expression but she noticed his grip tightened on the steering wheel.

"Well, they are indeed a bag of troubles and that's why I don't like them. I don't want kids. I don't want to have them."

That word tugged his heart as he spoke. The word 'kids' was out for him. He had been to conferences where having kids was emphasized but not for him.

So he wasn't hallucinating. He was saying the blunt truth.

Alicia looked at Alex, her mind racing.

"Why would you say such?" she asked, her voice breaking.

She didn't expect any honest answers but she had hoped he would.

A call came in on her phone. It was her Dad.

"Alicia, it's all over town that you are with Alex. What's going on?"

"Dad, nothing is going on. I am fine. Besides, I am not a child. I understand you are worried but I am fine. He is bringing me home already."

"I must never see him set his foot down here. Never!"

"Dad, do what pleases you."

He pulled over at the gate and she came down.

"We will talk, right?"

Alicia nodded. She didn't think she was ready to even talk now. His talk on having kids had made her uneasy. She was sure he could see through her already.

"Yes" was all she said and she headed in.

A beep on his phone. "Sir Alex, your stepmom is at it again. Your attention is needed, Sir."

With no further explanation, he rushed in and drove off.

 ………

"You look...." Zara called out.

"I am not in that mood to joke around right now. Just let me be."

"I thought you and Alex finally got your chance to be together, spend some time, and make babies of course! Didn't you?"

"Zara, it's way more than you think. I don't even know what I was thinking. I don't even know why I am upset at all of these when I was the one who went to him."

"There is more to all of these, right?"

"Yes, and I don't want to talk about it. I am tired."

"Tired? What did you do?"

"Zara...."

"Spill everything already. You know you are never that good at keeping things to yourself for long."

"He doesn't like kids. He said and even confirmed it."

Zara shrugged. "Why is that a concern to you? It's obviously his rules."

"His rules? I don't like them. I have always loved children and I have dreamt of having a house full of them. I can't fathom why."

"That's why communication exists. Let him know the reason why and besides, he hasn't done the needful yet. Why in a rush?"

"I don't know. I just feel this..."

"Go and feel it in the cold shower. I prepared your bath already. Let me just remind you; you can't find a friend as caring as me. So while I am here with you, hold me tight."

Alicia shot her glare. "I spoiled you. I should have curbed your excesses a long time ago."

She stood up and walked to the bathroom.

………

Mr George shifted his glasses as Alex walked in, stone-faced.

He always hated coming to discuss with his father and tried his best to avoid it.

"I heard about your escapades with that lady of the Dicksons. Is that true?”

“You are behind the warehouse accident right?” he asked.

“What?”

“I know it was three weeks ago. And I have been hoping it was not you. But I can't help my curiosity and suspicions any longer.”

“I am not behind it. And you haven't answered my question about the Dickson lady,” said George.

Alex still didn't answer the question. He instead looked around.

"Where is that evil woman you call your wife?“

"I thought I asked you a question first."

"I owe no one an explanation for the way I choose to live my life. Where is that woman?”

"You owe this family, Alex. Don't think that because you are one of the renowned young billionaires around here, you can do things your way. I can pull strings that will haunt you forever and you know that."

Alex snorted. He wasn't surprised to hear such words from his father. The feud had begun when he was six when his mother died in a fire, and since then, he concluded he had no one but himself.

"Dad, did you bring me all the way here to threaten me? How am I supposed to not believe that you and your wife are not the masterminds behind the warehouse incident?!" He yelled.

"How could you accuse my husband of such? You've not done your thorough investigations yet."

Leah, his stepmother said, walking into the room, one step after another, wearing her usual dark smile. She wore a bikini and a florescent colored long kimono.

"I wasn't talking to you!"

Alex hated this woman.

Ever since that day she had tried to have her way with him when his father wasn't at home. He had just been a teenager then and despite telling his dad. His father had not believed him and said he was lying.

That had further deteriorated their already messed-up relationship.

Since that day, Alex avoided Leah like the plague.

"I knew that already but I needed to defend my husband." She continued, giving him a wink while touching her hips up to her collarbone.

Alex turned to his father.

“I’m leaving. I have better things to do.”

"Like having some good time with Alicia?" Leah asked.

In a blink, Alex raced to where she was and pinned her to the wall. His hand gripped her neck firmly.

"Alex, what do you think you're doing?! In my presence?!"

"Dad, if you come any closer, I will snap off her neck and there is nothing you will do about it. Nothing, I repeat," He turned his face to her. 

"When next you call anyone, ensure you leave Alicia's name

out. I won't hesitate to deal with you if you mess up with me. I don't care if my dad adores you. I will clear you off in no time." He shoved her away.