CHAPTER35

"So what you're saying is you knew he wasn't your father for about two months and yet you couldn't get him to confess" Melia concluded as we got into the line leading to the plane. "Yeah" "But if you knew, you could have at least found a way to break up this engagement pact for the fact that you aren't related" I pressed. "Yeah well, I could have but he's extremely dangerous and we don't exactly know what he has on your father" "So that's the only reason?" Ryan teased. I knew what he was trying to do. "Amongst others" Lexis gave in not before gazing at me which caused me to turn all shades of red. "Stop embarrassing her" Aiden defended. Once I got to the front of the line, I handed my boarding pass as well as my passport to the flight lady. She collected it, her gaze lingering on Lexis as she stamps it and hands it back over to me still smiling at him. With jealousy burning in me, I decided to play with her. I brought up my hand containing the ring and wrapped it around his hand where it could be clearly seen and I smiled evil at her. Immediately her eyes fixated on the ring, she blushed in embarrassment, dropped her gaze, cleared her throat and quickly gave Lexis his papers leaving my friends choking from laughter. I thought so. Lexis chuckled after making sure we were far away from her "You didn't have to be so mean. I wasn't even interested in her" Now he's going to get the idea that I liked him "I don't care if you're interested or not. I was just doing it for the fun of it" I shrugged nonchalantly, turning away from his gaze. "Oh it didn't look like just fun to me" Ryan laughed. "What happened to my best friend over there?" Melia said in laughter. Oh, forget it. I ignored them and walked into the first-class cabin, taking my seat. "So, Adrian kept us together which means you're stuck with me" he smiles putting away his bag and settling down. He says it like it's a bad thing "Yay" I tried sounding sarcastic but failed. Miserably. As the air hostess began giving instructions, I began fiddling with my shirt. I don't know how I'm going to survive this one hour plus plane ride beside Lexis without blurting out my feelings to him. "Relax I don't bite" he squeezed my hands reassuring me and I genuinely enjoyed the warmth. "You look extremely beautiful" he suddenly spoke out, turning me red. I pinched the inside of my cheeks "Stop! I don't do well with compliments" "I wasn't complimenting you. You really are beautiful" he mumbled. "You are not helping the situation" I moaned in embarrassment referring to my red state. He just chuckled but stopped pressing on, his eyes still lingering on me. Breaking the silence, I asked "Just out of curiosity, what were those other reasons for not wanting to call off the engagement" He grinned and replied, "You really want to know?" I nodded "Okay, You're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. I love our talks and the way you fall asleep on my chest when I insist on you sleeping by me, I love how you laugh even when I'm a jerk to you, I love the fact that you're still here despite everything I've put you through. Your smiles make my day brighter and sweet. You are just perfect and every day I hope that there is someone who can give you everything you want in life, and I hope that person is me because having you in my life has been such a gift and for all that, I'm not sure I want to let you go" he heaved out. Every bit of my heart exploded at his words, I couldn't form coherent words to reply, my knees were so weak, I was glad that I wasn't standing. Taking a deep breath I asked, "Then what are you waiting for?" "As much as I want this now, I need you to prepare" his eyes turned dark with a whole new emotion "Cause I'm quite a handful" he muttered into my ear. I gulped and turned towards the window that was when I realized we in the air. ***** Once we landed and got our bags, Aiden led us outside the airport to get a ride to his house. "Mind if I flag down a cab?" Melia asked "Yes because we will not be taking just any cab home. We are going with my limo" he started proudly. "Uh, who are you?" Ryan groaned as the limo came to us. "Well that's a story for a different occasion" Aiden replied leaving me in confusion. **** "Lorrie" Carter called as the car started moving. "Yeah" I replied. "I think Ames is starting to suspect that somethings up with me" he whispered "Don't you think it's time you let her know what's going on and stop leaving her in the dark?" I suggested. He rubbed his face with his hands "You don't get it do you? I don't want to hurt her if I don't make this" I frowned "Why the hell would you say that? You are going to male this and I will make sure about that" I locked eyes with Lexis and noticed he might be listening in on our conversation "You know what, we will talk about this later but for now, think about it" then I turned to face the window when I noticed that we entered a house, palace, mansion whichever but man that house was huge. Coming from a girl with a successful father, I must say that the house was mighty gorgeous. As we approached the mansion, I couldn't help but hold my breath as I took in its magnificence. The gates protecting the home were made of shiny black stone and the mansion made of polished white rock. Marble statues stood tall and mighty by the entrance and I couldn't seem to take my eyes from the brilliant details on them. I forced myself to look away, however, as we walked up the steps and into the building. Aiden never really told me he was this rich which makes me more confused. As we got out of the car, I took in a deep breath to savor the freshness of the air and joined the rest in entering the house. The house was welcoming from the open door to the wide hallway. Upon the walls were the photographs of Aiden and his parents, obviously so loved. The floor was an old-fashioned parquet with a blend of deep homely browns and the walls were the greens of summer gardens meeting a bold white baseboard. The banister was a twirl of a branch, tamed by the carpenter's hand, it's grain flowing as water might, in waves of comforting woodland hues. Under the lamp-shine, it was nature's art, something that soothed right to the soul. "I'm impressed Adrian" Lexis teased. "All this just makes me feel like I don't know you that well" I murmured. Before he could reply, a man in his late fifties dressed in a well-tailored suit walks in. The resemblance between him and Aiden was quite uncanny, that was when my head clicked that it was Aiden's father. When Aiden saw him, he gave the man a heartwarming hug as they spoke in hushed tones. They turned their attention back to us then Aiden's father smiled genuinely at us and spoke, a more mature version of Aiden's voice "Welcome, it's a pleasure having my son's friends come over and I do hope you enjoy your stay. Oh, and the name's Bart Simmons." "Nice to meet you too and thanks for letting us stay here" I smiled at him and stretched forth my hands to shake not before he pulled me into a hug. Oh, a hugger. He hugged the rest then excused himself. "Yo Mike, you back in town already?" a voice hollered and we all looked to the direction of the voice. I wonder who he was talking to. Aiden signed irritated as a guy presumably around our age walked over to him for a brief man hug. "Uh guys, my cousin Nathan. Nathan, this are my friends; Lorraine, Brooke, Carter, Amelia, Ryan and Lexis" "You just had to say my name last Adrian" Lexis replied sarcastically. "I wasn't even planning on saying your name" Aiden retorted. "Mike man a lot of crazy shits been going -" "Sorry who's Mike?" Brooke asked interrupting Noah "Uh oh" Noah whispered and walked away. "Ur- I've been keeping a piece of information from you but um, my name, well my real name is Michael. Michael Simmons. This isn't going to be good.