ZACHARYMr. travis signed the contract and said, "félicitations pour la conclusion de l'accord" extending his right hand towards me. "nous serons ravis de faire affaire avec vous".Macherey, a french based automobile company and the Hawkings airlines, which our corporation has recently taken over is forming a merger. After quiet a bit of negotiations the deal was closed."Merci pour votre soutien" I said taking his extended hand and giving it a firm shake, "et je suis sûr que vous travaillerez pour l'améliration de nous deux sociétés""sûr" he said sounding business like.my work schedule was quiet packed, I had to make up for the week I had missed due to my new zealand trip. so I couldn't stay any longer with Mr. travis and his colleagues , there was no point in me staying either, the deal is closed and my secretary will look into the further formalities. I bid a quick goodbye and walked out with my assistant tagging along."what next stella?" I asked her as we headed towards the car." meeting with Mrs. white, she had set an appointment last week to discuss about the gala preparations with you." I nodded before sliding into the back seat of the car and stella sat next to me, leaving a respectable distance between us. "After that you will have dinner at your parents place. ". I just hummed.The rest of the day went pretty slow and it was around 7:10 pm when I left the office and headed home or rather my parents home. It's thursday, and we usually have family dinners on thursdays. A rule mom has come up with to make me spend time with them. she feels that I get too busy at work and don't spend much time with the family like before, and this was the only idea that popped into her head to make me, dad and Iris to interact and spend time with each other.I reached home in twenty minutes, I entered inside exactly at half past seven.Iris was sitting on a swing chair in the living room playing with her mobile phone, she didn't notice me yet. I quietly sneaked up to her from behind and suddenly shouted " BOO..!!" near her ears, startled she screamed and her phone fell of her hands. I started laughing , it is soo much fun irritating her. When we were kids I used to do this a lot and get scolded by mom."ZACH!" she shouted, " don't scare me like that, ever again.. you know, I totally hate it when you do that!"." I know" I said ruffling her hair. "heyy!" she glared at me moving a step backwards. Iris hates it more when somebody touches her ever so precious hair, especially me."Zachary, stop troubling your little sister" I heard mom say sternly.I turned toward iris and asked , " am I troubling you little sis?" in a teasing tone, before snatching her phone from her hands." hey, give it back!" she yelled and tried to take it from my hands, but nah! won't be that easy." you want it, then take it " I said bringing the phone near her only to reflexively hold it up in the air when she tried to take it from my hands. She tried jumping, but I'm much taller than her proving it difficult.Mom sighed and said " ZACH!" in a warning tone "give it back to her". I ignored herwhen iris couldn't get hold of her phone after a few futile attempts she gave up and turned towards mom. " MOM.. Tell him to give it back" and then turned towards me and said "give it back", when I still didn't budge, she tried a softer approach "please" she added giving me a puppy dog expression and even blinked her eyes for a good measure." ZACH... IRIS ..that's enough" Mom said in a no- nonsense tone and I returned back the phone. "Iris, go call your dad for dinner" to which she nodded and then ran up the stairs grumbling something under her breath which sounded something like 'stupid big brother'.I put my hands in my trouser pocket, preparing myself to get scolded. Mom is the only person who is allowed to scold me, any other person ever dares to raise their voice at me I will make them feel sorry for the rest of their lives. "Zach, how many times have I told you not to irritate Iris. you two aren't little kids anymore..." she started."I know Mom !" I said " sorry!" lifting both my hand near my ears, before she could say anything, Dad walked in with Iris right behind him shooting me daggers with her eyes."hey Pop!" I greeted dad and he just waved back.All the four of us seated ourselves on the dining table and the food was served and Mom had specially prepared my favorite wild alaskan salmon fry and out of the corner eye I could notice one of the maid who was serving the food was trying to grab my attention, flaunting her hips, now and then shooting me a seductive smile, playing coy. Bloody gold diggers! . I mentally made a note to tell Mom to fire her."did you close that macherey deal today?" asked dadI sipped the champagne and said " yes" and I Started giving him the updates but Mom cut in." How many times do I have to tell you two, not to talk about business during dinner?" she asked disapprovingly and both dad and I gave her an apologetic look.Then everyone started talking casually about everything and anything except business.Then the conversation turned about my grand mom's seventieth birthday celebration next month and mom is planning a huge party for her and we are spending a weekend in Los Angeles with the entire family you know like with cousins, uncles and aunts."Heard that the Turner's family is invited" Iris said, looking at me. I groaned inwardly. "And the Wilson's too" She added a while later. Damn!I don't mind them attending, but I have a problem there, my aunts and grandma will start matchmaking, if they get to know that I am still single... I pretty much hate that, can't have spoilt rich and senseless girls chasing me, trying to make me like them. Not that I'm am a decent kind of a guy, I have had my share of experiences...but I am not ready for serious relationships yet."Bro, they will hook you up with some bimbo for sure! " Iris said,once we were out of the dining room. Knowing exactly what's going on in my mind. "Unless you find one yourself before they do".I put my arms around her shoulders and said "I know.. But I don't have time for girls yet""How about hiring someone to fake as your girlfriend for the weekend? " She asked eagerly.I must say, that idea did pop into my head but I don't think it is a good one. "Nah.. I don't want to lie and complicate things". I said "And besides that idea works only in movies and stuff, not good in reality "Iris didn't respond anything, she seemed to be thinking deeply. "Don't worry, lil sis.. I will not get hooked to anyone there.. I'll find a way out , I promise"." You better do.. I don't want some unfriendly show offy types woman as my sister in law" She said in a serious tone.I laughed at her... Sometimes it's weird talking to my lil sister like I do with grown ups. She is nineteen now, yet I picture her as a little kid whom I enjoy irritating and playing pranks withI have this little matchmaking problem to take care of ...and thinking about girls I remind myself of another task I have to do.. I have to hunt down that girl who threw coffee at me last week. I will talk to my P. I. first thing tomorrow and tell him to track her down. Nobody humiliates me and gets away that easily, I will find her wherever she is and make her pay for what she has done. Oh! it Will be soo much fun torturing her.