CHAPTER FOUR.

*HI DAD*

“Or I could arrange for you to have your dinner here in your room if you don’t feel like meeting everyone tonight.” He suggested as he considered how tired she must have been from the flight and all.

“No, it’s fine.”

He nodded and stood up giving her a gentle pat on her head while smiling before he left the room.

It felt like a heavy weight was lifted off Olivia’s shoulders. She felt happy even if it was just for a while, she was glad her dad acknowledged her and didn’t make her feel like a burden.

She got up and went into her closet. Not touching the clothes that were already in the closet before her arrival, she looked through hers and chose what to wear.

Since it was night time already and she felt lazy, she decided on her purple pajamas not caring that she was going to be introduced to everyone and thier eyes will be on her. She just wanted to eat and then crash in her bed and sleep till whenever.

She placed the clothes on her bed and went ahead to take her bath. The bathroom was large and fancy and it wasn’t a surprise to her anymore to see the bathroom necessities lined up. Some of it intrigued her but she has no time to start observing them one by one so she concentrated on getting washed.

Fifteen minutes later, She was done dressing. Her hair was in a neat bun and she sniffed herself feeling pleased with the smell on her. She looked at herself in the closet mirror and was satisfied. .

She went out of her room and closed the door silently and as if on cue, the door on her right opened and two girls came out giggling. Their giggles stopped when they saw her and just like them, she just stared. One look to be older than Olivia while the other one looks about her age. Both of the girls share resemblance to Peter’s wife so She assumed these girls must be her half siblings.

“Hi.” She finally spoke with her palms raised giving them a little wave.

“And who are you ?” The younger one asked eyeing Olivia’s length in disgust.

“I guess she’s the unwanted one mom was talking about.” The older one replied absent-mindedly before they both walked off.

Olivia figured they were also going to dinner and it was wise to follow them since she doesn’t know the way to the dinning room but she just couldn’t do that. She waited till they were out of sight before walking in the direction they went.

No doubt the house was huge, She already took like three turns in two minutes without having any idea where she was going. She walked a little further and could have sworn she heard screams from somewhere but it was silenced just as suddenly as it came. She found herself going further till she got to a dead end with a huge metal door in front of her and walls on opposite side.

She had no choice but to go back the way she came even though the curious side of her wanted to open the huge door. As She willed herself to turn around, the door was opened and the 'cigarette guy' She saw earlier came out of the room wiping his hands with a black piece of cloth.

She settled on calling him 'cigarette guy' in her mind because she doesn’t know his name. He stopped when he saw her and his already cold face became more scary as his gaze hardened. She could see his eyes clearly now, they were blue. She quickly turned around to go back but his voice stopped her.

“Stop right there!” He commanded and she did just that.

“Who the fuck are you and what the hell are you doing here?” He asked in a deep voice that made Olivia tremble.

She turned to him but couldn’t say anything, she was so scared that even her lips were quivering and her heart was beating wildly. She had never been good at confrontations and will often shut down when she felt too intimidated.

He still left the door opened but Olivia couldn’t see anything as it was dark inside. She wondered if 'cigarette guy' was also one of her siblings, since he arrived with her dad earlier.

“A daughter. I’m lost.” She finally answered both his questions hastily but he doesn’t seem to understand.

She was saved when her dad came out of that same room, he has a hard expression on which softened when he saw her.

“Hey Olivia, what are you doing here ?” He asked walking closer to her.

“I couldn’t find my way to the dining room.” Olivia explained quietly.

Just as her dad was about to speak, another young guy came out of that same room and finally closed the door. Now, Olivia was very curious as to what they were all doing in there, the room doesn’t look like other rooms and it creeps her out.

The new guy’s gaze fell on her and he smirked moving closer.

“This must be my little sister.” He said staring straight into her eyes.

“Those eyes, really pretty and naive.” He said tucking her hair behind her ear. Olivia didn’t know what to say to that, she wasn’t scared of him though, he looked nice and playful.

“Get your hands off her, idiot.” Her dad said with a chuckle.

“Olive, this is Mason, he’s my friend’s son.” Peter pointed to 'cigarette guy'.

“And this idiot right here is Ace, your big brother and my first son.” He pointed to the playful guy. “ Guys, this is Olivia, my daughter.” He finally finished.

“Hi, nice to meet you.” Olivia said to the two guys.

Ace laughed while Mason just kept quiet.

“You're scaring my little sister, Mason.” Ace said and flung his arm over Olivia’s shoulders.

“You shouldn’t be here. This place is off-limits, okay?” Ace said to her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She apologized.

“Don’t worry, this big brother will show you the way.” Ace spoke as he turned them around with his hand still on her shoulders and starts leading her away but not before she heard her dad's amused laugh.

Ace kept staring at her while walking, She wonders how he knows the way when he wasn’t even looking ahead. She was getting uncomfortable under his gaze and tried to shift from his hold but he held her closer and tightened his hold but not enough to hurt.

“Trying to run away from this big brother ?” He asked while Olivia just looked away.

“Don’t try that again, I may get angry.” He said in an angry tone and Olivia was starting to freak out before he suddenly laughed.

“I was just kidding, you should have seen your face.” He laughed harder. “You know, I haven’t seen you smile, you should try doing that. Come on, loosen up.”

They got to the area where Olivia came from and took a different path which soon leads to the stairs. The girls with uniforms were staring at them while the men in black bowed whenever they passed them but Ace didn’t even seem like he noticed them, Olivia was observing every little detail. They climbed down the stairs, and he took her to the dining room.

The table was set already but they were the only ones present there. Ace dragged out the second chair on the right side gesturing for Olivia to sit to which she did and thanked him.

He took out the first chair and sat by her side not waiting another seconds before digging in. She watched as he handled the cutleries but quickly looked away so as not to be seen as a creep who watches people as they eat. The foods were set in a way she has never seen before, some food there were even foreign to her.

“Not eating?” Ace stopped eating and looked at her while she just looked away.

How was she supposed to tell him she doesn’t know how to handle this expensive food setting without feeling like she’s doing things wrong, even the sight of the knife in his hand scares her.

He took the plate in front of her but she didn’t look at him. After some time, he placed the plate back with food in it and he even cut the steak for her. She thanked him and took a fork from the cutlery in front of her. Just as she was about to dig in, a voice stopped her.

“Such a bad manners, she doesn’t even know to wait for the rest of the family before eating.” The younger girl she saw earlier spat looking at her.

‘I guess I’ll take that into notice, I eat immediately the food is ready when I was with my grandma, she never told me I have to wait for her before eating.’ Olivia said to herself.

“I’m eating already too, Michelle.” Ace replied the girl.

“We already consider that as a normal habit of yours, Ace. Everyone knows you will never learn.” Michelle spouted pompously rolling her eyes.

The others came walking in; Peter, his wife, the older girl earlier. Mason and yet again, two new guys Olivia hadn’t seen.

“Don’t speak to your brother that way, Michelle.” Mrs Summers said as she she kissed her husband before sitting down at the first chair by the left while Peter sat at the head chair.

The two girls sat one after another besides Mrs Summers and Mason sat beside Olivia. Olivia had stolen a glance at the two new guys, the first one looks younger and she noticed he looked like the male version of Mitchell while the other guy looked to be around Mason and Ace’s age.

“And I told you not to roll your eyes.” Mrs Summers continued scolding Michelle.

“Mooom, cut me some slack, he started it.” Michelle whined.

Peter cleared his throat and everyone looked towards him.

“So guys, you’ve all met my youngest daughter, Olivia Rose Summers.” He said to all of them, then looking at Olivia, he spoke again, “Olive, this is my wife, Margaret.” He gestured towards the first woman she had met when she arrived at the house.

“My eldest daughter, Ruby.” He gestured towards the older girl.

“My twins, Michelle and Michael.” She has met Mitchelle, turns out the younger guy earlier was Mitchelle’s twin brother, the resemblance was clear.

“And that is Derek; Mason and Ace’s best friend.” He introduced the last guy who was the only one that acknowledged her as he said a ‘Nice to meet you’ with a smile which she gave back.

“Nice to meet you all.” Olivia said not wanting to be rude after the introductions.

“Wish I could say the same for you.” Michelle murmured but Olivia was sure everyone heard.

“How’s your mom, Mason ?” Margaret asked while Ruby who was sitting across Olivia was busy glaring at her and that made it harder for her to eat her food.

“She’s good, Ma’am.” Mason replied curtly.

“Ruby and I planned to visit her at the hospital tomorrow morning.” Margaret informed with a smile.

“She was discharged this afternoon so she’s at home.” Mason answered not returning Margaret’s smile.

Olivia watched Mason secretly. She wondered if he has ever smiled, he always has a blank facial expression.

“Then home it is.” Ruby said with a big grin towards Mason.

To Olivia, it almost looked as if they were sucking up to him, she was curious to know why though. She looked up and saw that Ruby was no longer glaring at her and so she started eating in peace.

At the end of the meal, everyone was chatting away and she couldn’t help but feel left out. She just sat there quietly glancing from one person to the other.

“Ruby, since tomorrow’s Saturday, you will show Olive around the house.” Peter ordered.

“But we just said we were visiting Mrs Jackson, dad.” Ruby spoke.

“Michelle?”

“Going to the spa with my friends.” Michelle answered him.

“Michael?”

“Football practice” Micheal answered.

“Ace?”

“Gym with Mason.” Ace answered.

“I will show her.” Derek offered with a smile.

“Thanks Derek. You always come through.” Peter said.

“I always come through too, a boy’s gotta gym.” Ace flexed his arm muscles while Ruby gave him a stink eye.

“Don’t worry, Olivia. When I have the time, I will drive you around the city till you get bored of it.” Ace told Olivia with a wink and she giggled silently at his words.

Everyone left for their different destinations and Olivia went back to her room after a 'goodnight' from her dad and Ace.

'Well, Dinner went well.' She thought