CHAPTER 1
Alessia’s POV
“Mail these files to me and call Mr. Clark. Set an appointment for tomorrow. I need to discuss the finances with him as soon as possible,” I say to Isabella, my assistant and probably only close friend while signing the necessary papers.
“Sure Al, I’ll do that. Also, Mr. Jones had called earlier to discuss some things. He’s not happy with how everything is going,” Isabella replies.
“Yeah, I thought he’ll call soon to discuss the matters. I need to convince him that I have everything handled. Also, would you please bring me another coffee? I need all I can get right now to finish off the work,” I said sighing while finishing off the last papers and handing them to her.
“Don’t stress too much Al. Take some break for the rest of the evening and you can start back strong from tomorrow,” she said smiling crazy. Wish I had her enthusiasm.
“There’s no time for that Isabella and you know it too. Anyways you can leave and please don’t forget to mail me the files,” I said while getting up to bring some more files I need to look at from the shelf.
“You work too much girl but sure I’ll mail those to you and set an appointment with Mr. Clark for tomorrow. Good evening boss,” she said while collecting the files I just signed and winking at ‘boss’. She knows I hate when she calls me boss.
It was almost six in the evening. I just wanted to go back to my apartment and have a relaxing shower but these files were staring at me, waiting for me to go through them. Huffing and puffing, I sauntered back to them. I was about to pick up the first file when I got a call from my mom.
“Hey mom,” I say already dreading an impending lecture.
“Hey Al, I haven’t heard from you for quite a while. Have you forgotten your mom young lady,” her stern yet playful voice came from the other end.
“No mom, just busy with some work lately,” I said sighing for the tenth time today probably.
“Well I made your favorite lasagna, come home and join us for dinner,” ah how much I wanted to have that delicious food but again, those damn files were still staring at me.
“Sorry mom, wish I could but I have too much work right now.”
“Okay then, sorry honey but I have to use this card now,” she said sounding not at all apologetic.
“Mom no, please don’t call him,” I said sounding panicked. I know what she’s going to do and let me tell you it will work one hundred percent.
Mommy, mommy, yes mommy...
And that cute voice ladies and gentlemen is my munchkin’s. Charlie, my only weakness in this entire world I tell you. He’s seven years old, almost eight. ′A big boy’ in his words.
He is my cousin technically, my mum’s sister’s son. But my uncle and aunt died in a car accident months after his birth, so mom and dad decided to adopt him. He knows about the accident but I don’t think he has understood the full extent of it yet. He might be my cousin actually but he is more important than anyone else to me. He is nothing less if not more than a sibling to me.
“Al?” came Charlie’s voice from the other end.
“Hey Kiddo, how are you doing?”
“I’m awesome sissy. You know I got an A on my math test today,” he squealed and went on with how much effort he put in the test. Listening to him blabber on and on about anything and everything is the best part of my day. Always.
‘Ahem, baby do you know sissy is not coming for dinner’
Ah, I really hate my mom sometimes. She knows Charlie would be mad about it and do anything to convince me to come home. Ah, the joys of life.
“Sissy, why are you not coming home for dinner? Mommy made your favorite lasagna,” he starts whimpering on the other end.
See, now this is where things become difficult and my mom knows that very well. She uses him as bait for both dad and me. She clearly knows that both of us cannot say ‘no’ to Charlie. Just one look at ‘those eyes’ and you’re done for. This is why he is pampered so much. We pretty much get him whatever he asks for within reasoning of course. But right now, those files are making it very difficult for me to say ‘yes’ to him.
“Charlie, bud, I really do want to come home, but look sissy has a lot of work right now. I promise I’ll meet you soon though,” I plead but I know he won’t let go easily. Especially since I haven’t met him for quite a while now.
“No please sissy, you pinkie promised me last time that you will meet soon, but now you’re breaking it,” ah this kid.
“I’ll make it up with you later, okay?“, I hope he agrees.
“Please come. Pretty please with a cherry on top,” he said in the cutest voice ever.
“Okay fine, you knew I’ll say yes anyway,” I sighed. Sometimes I wonder how we’re so different. He is way too dramatic but then again he is just like my mom who is another drama queen. Must have received the gene from my aunt.
“Yay, alright mom my work here is done. I would like my payment in ice cream please,” that little minx.
“Dinner is in an hour, hope to see you here on time otherwise you know I won’t think twice before telling him his sissy is late. Alright, young lady?” my mom’s stern yet playful voice comes through.
“Yes, mom got it. You and Charlie need to stop with these manipulating tricks you know.”
“Oh honey, then who will take care of your dad and you huh?”
“I’m twenty-five mom. I can take care of myself”
“Uh-huh, of course. So, when did you eat last?”
Oh shoot, I forgot to have lunch today. In my defense, it’s really rare when I skip meals. It’s only when I have too much work. Today was just one of those days.
“Well.... umm you see umm, actually I gotta go. I’ll meet you in half an hour,” ah that was close.
Huh, now I’ll have to take all of these files home. Don’t I just love that for me huh. Goodbye sleep. Hopefully, we’ll meet soon.
I take my bag and head downstairs when I see Isabella.
“I thought you left,” I say while entering the elevator.
“Oh yeah I was just leaving but then I got Brandon’s call,” she said blushing. Now Isabella is by no means the shy kind, she’s very bold in fact but apparently, Brandon can make her the complete opposite of it.
“I love how red and happy you get as soon as Brandon’s name comes up,” I laugh while teasing her.
“Oh come on. Just because of you, he knows that I publicly embarrassed that ex of mine all those years back for cheating on me. He till date teases me about it,” she whines.
Well, I might have told Brandon about the time when she dumped her ex in front of all people at a frat party when she caught him cheating on her. The best part was how she dumped her alcohol on him for payback since he used to hate the public attention. When Brandon got to know about this, he was shook, to say the least. Apparently, my dearest friend here is nothing but sweet and innocent with him. Must be the love.
“Well, he’s your husband now. He should know all your crazy antics. Anyway, I need to go somewhere right now urgently. So could you please send the files on my desk to my apartment. I want to go through them before tomorrow’s meeting.”
“Yes of course. Have fun.”
“Bye girl,” and with that, I walk towards the doors where Joseph is waiting for me.
“Evening Joseph, how many times do I have to tell you not to open the doors for me,” Joseph is in his late forties now and the best driver I could ever ask for.
In response, he just smiles sheepishly at me indicating that he still won’t listen.
“So where to boss,” he says jokingly while looking at me through the mirror. He also knows I don’t like when he calls me boss. These two never let go of any opportunity to tease and annoy me.
“Home Joseph and you can go back after dropping me off. I’ll probably just take a cab to my apartment after dinner.”
“Are you sure, Al? I don’t mind waiting.”
“No really. I’ll be fine,” Charlie would probably want me to stay for some time after dinner and I need to discuss some details about the upcoming projects with dad too.
I live in my apartment just because it’s more convenient that way. And I need my mom to understand that I’m an adult now and can handle things on my own. It’s too overwhelming sometimes the way she gets concerned about little things like my laundry. I mean come on, I am an adult now, but then again it’s just a mom thing I think. I am definitely grateful though that I got someone who cares so much about me. It’s just so easy to complain about what you have that we forget how lucky we are to have them.
Reaching my parent’s home, I walk towards the door only to see Charlie standing there playing alone with a ball.
“Hey baby,” I say walking towards him and snatching his ball.
“I AM NOT A BABY SISSY,” he pouts while crossing his arms. Well looking at the pout and his cute face, that’s hard to say but well... okay.
“Okay, okay you’re a big boy. Now, why are you playing alone here with this ball huh?” I ask while moving towards the kitchen to find mom.
“Don’t you remember, I told you I’ll beat you in basketball the next time we meet. I am taller than before now and I promise I’ll beat you this time and say ‘IN YOUR FACE’. Meet mom and come fast to play. I’m waiting to beat your ass,” he shouts while running off outside to play.
“Charlie, you’re not supposed to swear mister,” comes my mom’s voice from the kitchen.
“You do know that he’ll just do it more often if you say that right,” I say while hugging her.
“That little guy is going to give me grey hair soon if you don’t before,” she says while hugging me back.
“Now hey, I don’t give you grey hair. I am a very good kid you know,” I say amused and offended at the same time. I mean come on, not to brag or anything but I have been way easier than Charlie.
I hope.
“And how many times do you think I had to call you so that you even considered joining us for dinner or come meet us?” She says giving me a look of disbelief.
“Well..... Umm..... Ah, do you hear that. Looks like Charlie’s calling me. Bie,” and with that, I dash away.
“Yo munchkin. Come on, let’s start,” I run towards where he’s standing. Dad got the basketball hoop installed when I was merely four. Even though we are fortunate enough to buy a mansion, mom never wanted too much space. She wanted an average-sized home just enough for the family and a little away from the civilization.
When I fell in love with basketball, it was difficult for me to play alone at home, that’s when my dad decided to get it installed for me. I still remember how I used to spend hours here practicing. I have always loved this sport all through high school when I played for the school team. I stopped playing once I started college and made ‘The Andersons and Co’ my main focus though, but it’s nice to play it once a while even if it’s with a seven-year-old.
Oh sorry, almost eight.
That’s why Charlie always competes with me whenever I come home. Even though he loves soccer more, he still wants to be able to beat me in basketball someday. If it gives me a partner to play with, I’m all up for that definitely.
“Okay let’s start sissy,” he says while throwing the ball up.
We play until mom calls us for dinner like we always do. If you’re wondering who won, well it was me. Some might wonder why I never let him win but I know he wouldn’t appreciate that. Even though he loses every time, we both know he’s improving gradually.
My mom always makes my preferred dishes when I join them for dinner. So, I enjoy my meal while talking to my family. Dad joined us too once he came back from some meeting he went to. I am highly confused about it. I mean even though he has retired and handed the CEO position over to me, he keeps checking up on everything. But he makes sure to check everything through me or keep me in the loop. This time though he is being really secretive about it and I am totally confused why. I’ll have to talk to him after dinner. Mom doesn’t let us talk about business ever during meals. It’s family time according to her but honestly, isn’t talking about the ‘family’ business also quality ‘family’ time. But then again you never question mom, if you don’t want to go through her wrath.
“Al, meet me in the office after dinner. I need to discuss some things with you regarding the company,” he says while kissing mom’s cheek, ruffling Charlie’s hair and, walking in the direction of his office.
“What no love for me,” I say jokingly while placing my hand over my heart.
“Come on, you drama queen. This is important,” he says laughing and walking off.
Well, now I really wonder what the meeting was all about. Also, who was it with?
