Chapter Seven

Alex's POV

I loosened my tie as I stepped into my apartment, meetings were always long and suffocating,a room full of people that hardly gets anything right.

I shrugged off my jacket and tossed it onto the chair before moving toward the window. The city stretched beneath me in glittering lights, alive and loud, yet distant.

Memories of her invaded me. The shock in her eyes when she saw me this morning, the same fear when she entered my suite thinking it was empty.

Who is she?

Why did she look like she had seen a ghost?

And why the hell did she feel familiar?

I ran a hand through my hair, trying to recall where I've seen her, but nothing, just a feeling I couldn't figure.

A knock at the door jogged me out of my thoughts.

“Come in,” I called.

The door opened. “Boss,” Mark greeted.

I shot him a look. “Again with the boss? It's Alex. How many times do I have to repeat myself?”

“Sorry Sir,” he said quickly.

I exhaled sharply. “Suit yourself. What do you have for me?”

“Your father will be in town tomorrow. He asked to see you.”

I scoffed. “Do you know why?”

“No Sir, but the Cheldeans are hosting a party tomorrow night and he will be attending.

“Of course he is,” I muttered, “Anything else?” I walked to the closet.

“You have a meeting tomorrow with the council in the morning, after that another in Bristol.

“Get the plane ready. We fly tomorrow.”

“Yes Sir”

“Mark, get me something to eat.”

“Alright Sir”

“If you call me ‘Sir’ again, you are fired!”

He cleared his throat. “Got it…. Alex.”

“Shut the door behind you.” I yelled while stepping into the bathroom.

The bathroom door had barely closed behind me when a knock echoed through the apartment.

Why is he back so fast?

I opened the door and was greeted with a surprise.

“Father!! what are you doing here?”

“Is that how you greet your father now,” he pushed past me and stepped into the room.

“I mean, you are supposed to be arriving tomorrow and how do you know I was here?”

“Well… you weren't picking up my calls so I came to see for myself what you’ve been up to,” his gaze swept across the room.

I rolled my eyes.

“The Cheldeans are hosting a party this weekend, I want you to come.

“I’m busy,” I replied quickly.

“I'm not asking Alex.”

“Come home for dinner tonight, your grandmother wants to see you,” he turned and walked out of the room.

I slammed the door the moment he left,

I picked up my phone and called Mark.

“Hello” he answered immediately, like he was waiting for my call.

“Find Daniel, I'm not attending that circus alone with my father.” I said to him and hung up.

******

“Good evening Mr Alex” the Butler greeted me immediately after I arrived at the house.

“Mr John, how are you” I responded

“I'm fine,” he said with a smile.

“Let me take your jacket,” he stretched out his hands, “your father and grandma are waiting at the dinner table.”

“Thank you” I handed him and went inside.

“Look who finally came to see me,my long lost grandson,” Grandma teased when she saw me.

I chuckled.

“Hello grandma,”

“Come, give a hug, what's with all you Carter men?” She laughed. “Always so serious.”

“Don't you miss your grandma” she asked as I gave her a hug.

“Grandma, I can't breathe,” I said between breaths, “you are squeezing me,” I pretended to choke.

“You naughty boy,” she laughed and smacked me on my shoulder.

“Come sit, you look so skinny,” her eyes roamed my whole body.

“Grandma, stop doing that, I'm no longer a child,”

“But you are sulking like a child right now,” she began to stuff my plate with food.”

“Where is dad?” I asked.

“He went to attend to a business call, he will be back soon.”

“Where is Daniel?” She asked.

“You know how he is grandma, I haven't seen him in a while.”

“You should get him to be serious with his life Alex, he needs to stop acting reckless and uphold the family name.”

I sighed, "I know grandma, I'm trying my best.”

“Your best isn't enough!” a familiar voice echoed from the stairs.

My eyes darkened.

“Father,” I said through my teeth.

Grandma cleared her throat.

“Come on now, the food is getting cold,” She faked a laugh.

We ate in silence as it has always been. One of the rules of the Carter's is never to bring up any form of discussion on the dining table and it has been like that long before I was born.

“Come sit with me son,” Grandma said to me after dinner.

We sat beside the fireplace.

“This used to be your favorite place as a child,you and Clara would run around the fire singing, ” she chuckled.

I took a deep breath. “I remember grandma, I wish she was here,” I took a sip from the cup of coffee.

“We all do,” she sighed.

“When are you getting married Alex?”

I almost choked on my coffee. “Grandma!”

“What! I'm not getting any younger and I need to see my grandchildren.”

“Uhmm grandma, I have a meeting tomorrow, I need to go and prepare for it.”

“You can't skip this conversation forever Alex Carter” she yelled.

“Yes I can, Good bye grandma,” I kissed her on the cheek.

I'm sorry grandma, your wish can't come true. I whispered to myself as I walked out.