"Milady, what a coincidence." He smirked.
"What in the actual fuck are you doing here?" I hid my shock and faced him nonchalantly.
"I am here for a business." He smiled.
"Yeah? And what business is that exactly?" Does he know my Grandpa?
"Oh, and that, Milady, is none of your business." He coolly raised both of his eyebrows and smiled widely.
Is he trying to mock me? Well, he'll see.
I turned my back to face the twins. Both of them are surprised, the same way as me.
"Isn't he the guy at the bar?" Alexandre asked while still staring at my back.
"Yeah."
"What is he doing here? And, how did he get in?" He looked at me questioningly.
I just shrugged my shoulders and gave them an I-don't-know look.
"I thought we aren't going to see, Granpa?" Alexandra whispered.
I shrugged my shoulders. "I changed my mind. Something's not right here." I whispered back at her, avoiding for the guy to hear our conversation.
I saw this Zeke guy already entering the Manor.
I cleared my throat before fixing my poise. "Both of you, go wait in the car. I'll be back shortly." I ordered. They nodded.
I entered the Manor seconds after he entered. The Manor is still quiet like its usual gloomy atmosphere. There are no people around.
I walked my strides into this Manor's second floor where the Master's office is located.
I wasn't shocked to see Zeke in front of my Pop's office. I mean, who will he be talking to if not my Grandpa in this Manor?
I was confused, he was just standing there like a goddamn statue. Why won't he knock?
I stood beside him and twisted the door's doorknob without any second thoughts.
Pops' quite surprised after seeing me entering his office.
"Damn it, Azalea! You were taught how to knock!" He was clutching his chest while glaring at me.
"Stop overreacting, Pops. You knew we're here." He was frowning but I just sat comfortably on his sofa.
For sure the guards gave him a notice about my car.
"'We're'? Who's with you?" He asked.
"The twins," I answered.
"Then, why didn't you brought them here to my office?"
"Nah, I won't be staying long either so I didn't bother."
We both looked at the door after we heard a knock.
"Mr. Hemlock." The Zeke guy bowed his head as a sign of respect.
"Oh! Mr. Vinnor!" Pops stood up from his seat just to welcome the guy.
"Have a seat." He motioned his hands to a single sitter sofa to guide Zeke.
"Thank you," Zeke replied before taking a seat just beside my sofa.
"Goodness gracious, Mr. Vinnor. You should've said you're coming today so I could've prepared something and have a maid wait for you at the entrance." Pops shook his head and apologetically stared at Zeke.
"It's okay Mr. Hemlock. Just by being offered a business collaboration with you is an enough honor." He smiled.
I was just staring at them, listening to what they are talking about.
Pops pressed the button of his intercom device. "Bring me food for three."
He sat on his swivel chair and puts both of his elbows on his table. He clasps both of his hands together before speaking.
"So did you read the contract?" He was asking Zeke.
I just noticed that Zeke was holding a brown envelope. "Yes. And I already signed it." He handed the envelope to Pops.
Pops opened the sealed envelope and brings out the contract. He was reading some of the papers while I subtly peeked on the remaining papers.
When Zeke noticed what I was doing, I averted my eyes and pretended to examine the paintings around the room.
There's a knock on the door.
"Come in." Pops gave the person his permission to enter the room. A maid entered the room with a tray on her hand. It was the maid who stopped me this afternoon.
She saw me so she immediately lowered her gaze and puts the food in front of us. She placed a food on Pops' table also.
She bowed her head before leaving. I just ignored her and started eating the food in front of me.
"Azalea." Pops called my name.
"Yeah?" I answered while chewing my food.
"You stayin' for good?" He asked while still reading the papers.
"Nope." I swallowed my food. " You know that I won't, right? Why?"
"I need you to do me a favor."
"Uh-huh? Say it." I grabbed a cookie and ate it.
"Stay. Manage this business with Mr. Vinnor."
I raised my eyebrow. "What?"
"This contract was supposed to be between him and Flavio. But unfortunately, Flavio sent me a message a while ago." He looked at me.
"And?" I grabbed my juice and drank it.
"He said, he won't be back for five months." He sigh. "So, I want you to take over this business together with Mr. Vinnor just for five months." He explained.
I nearly choked myself on the juice. I coughed for a second before facing Pops.
"What?! You want me to take over a business for five months in his place?! Are you nuts?!" I said in disbelief.
"Yeah. Obviously." He was unbothered by my reaction.
I breathe deeply. I need to relax. "Pops, you do know that I need to return in France after a month, right?"
"I do." He said nonchalantly.
"And you do know that I will be having my photography exhibit, right? You know how important that is to me, right?"
"Yeah, I do."
"So you do know that I won't be able to accept this favor, right?"
"Yeah, but you need to. This is a big project." He shrugged.
I blinked twice before laughing a little. "Pops. You know you can't do this to me. My photography exhibit is important to me." I rested my back on the sofa's backrest.
Zeke was just silently watching us.
"But this is more important, Azalea." He argued. He placed both of his hands under his table.
I sneered. I can't believe this. I hope I didn't come here at all.
"Why me? Why not choose another person to handle this?" I asked him. My face, blank.
"Because the only person who can handle this is you and Flavio. And as you can see, Flavio's not here. So, I have no choice but to let you handle this one." He smiled.
"Stop spitting nonsense, Pops." I glared at him. "Everyone in the Hemlock clan is capable of handling things. Now, stop bothering me and find another person to do you a favor."
I stood up from my seat and walked out of the room.
I was wearing my grumpy face until I entered my car. The twins sensed my bad mood so they just chose to be silent.
I can't believe him. I can't believe what he just did. Pops just tried to trick me to prevent me from opening my photography exhibit.
I came here to celebrate the twin's birthday and he knew that he could take this opportunity to make me change my mind about my dreamed career. He wants me to inherit all of his big businesses.
I saw him texting under his table. He was trying to conspire with Flavio. He knew I would call Flavio right at the bat so he was preparing early. But unfortunately for him, that was the dumbest attempt I've ever seen.
I heaved a sigh before stepping on the gas. I need to send the twins to the villa as soon as possible. We will be preparing for their birthday tomorrow.
I can already see the boom barrier beside the Hemlock Villa's guardhouse. I pressed the car's horn to alert them. They instantly raised the boom barrier after seeing my car.
I parked my car in front of the villa. The twins opened the door immediately and came running towards the villa's door.
"Finally!" They screamed.
I shook my head and smiled before walking inside too.
The maids welcomed us inside.
"Milady, we've already fixed your things. Come, we've prepared a meal for the three of you." Nanny Elsa welcomed us with her warm smile.
She ordered the other maids to prepare our lunch.
"So, how's your day?" She asked us while gently guiding us towards the dining room.
"Oh my gosh, Nanny! You won't believe this!" Alexandra tells her nonstop stories to Nanny Elsa, and Nanny Elsa gladly hears them out. No one can handle Alexandra's unstoppable mouth except her twin and Nanny Elsa.
Even I, their closest cousin, can't take any more of their bullshits in a span of half an hour.
"Hey, Azalea." Alexandre caught my attention. We are being left behind by Nanny Elsa and Alexandra.
"Yeah?"
"What happened inside the bar? You haven't answered us yet." He looked at me as if expecting for an accurate answer.
"Boy, that's none of your business," I smirked, trying to tease him.
He frowned. "Hey, I'm asking you here seriously." He seemed pissed.
I laughed. "Oh common! Stop frowning, you're uglier."
His frown is still there. He's glaring like he's killing me inside his head. If looks could kill, I might be on the floor right now, bleeding like hell.
"Funny." He rolled his eyes at me.
Instead of being offended, I found it cute seeing him do such gestures. "Okay, fine. I'll tell you." I gave in.
"Really?" His face brightens.
"Yeah. That guy you've seen outside the bar and the guy who entered the Manor, he's a friend of Flavio. Flavio gave him the authority to handle the bar while he's out." I answered.
Alexandre stopped walking. "Oh, really? Then why is he at the Manor?"
I stopped on my strides also to look at him. "Pops offered him a contract." I shook my head after remembering the scene a while ago.
He seemed surprised. "Wow, then he must be a big shot!"
"Yeah, right." I rolled my eyes.
He may be a friggin' big shot for having a connection with our businesses. Pops rarely offers a partnership when it comes to business and Flavio never really lets anyone handle his business aside from his family and valuable employees. But that doesn't remove the fact of him, being an unprofessional businessman who's doing scandalous things inside their working place's premises.
We resumed walking towards the dining area. We've seen Nanny Elsa and Alexandra still talking to each other.
We both took our seats next to the two. The plates are already prepared. Few maids are still putting trays of food in front of us.
We started eating quietly.
"Milady-" I cut off Nanny Elsa's sentence.
"Just Azalea, Nanny." I smiled.
She poured a water into my glass. "Azalea, sweetheart. How's your life in France?" She asked with a smile on her face.
I finished chewing my food before answering.
"Nanny, I'm here every Christmas and New year. Well, except for theast five years though. But I always tell you stories, aren't you tired of hearing my stories? Besides, it's not like something exciting always happens to me in France." I continued eating.
"Dear, every moment in our life is significant. That's why I always want to hear your stories. Your moments are also significant to me." Her kind smile never fails to warm my heart. Her wrinkly eyes are full of love.
Nanny Elsa was the one who took care of me when I was a kid. She's not just a nanny to me, she's a mom to me. We may not be related by blood, but we are related by our hearts.
I can't help but smile. "Nanny, it hasn't been a month since the new year celebration. There's nothing I could tell you." I playfully shook my head.
She chuckled.
"By the way, sweetie. Tomorrow's January 23. It's the twin's birthday, are you the one who arranged the event? I heard it's already done days ago."
I nodded. I grabbed my water and drank it. "I assigned an event manager to help me fix things."
The twins looked excited while listening to us. "Oh my glob, Azalea! Make sure to put pinks and unicorns around!" Alexandra squeal.
"What? No! Make it galaxy-themed, Azalea." Alexandre glared at his sister.
"Iw! You really have no taste, Xandre!"
They started arguing in front of me.
I faked a cough. "We're in front of the food, young ones. Where are your manners?" I stared at them seriously. "And besides, it's already done." I shook my head.
They stopped quarreling. "Sorry." They both said in unison. They ate quietly but they're still throwing sharp gazes at each other.
"But don't worry, I know you guys will like the theme. What do you take me for? I know yo better than anyone." I winked at them.
We finished eating and the maids immediately cleaned the dining table.
"You two. Go sleep early. A big event is waiting for the both of you tomorrow." I ordered them.
They both nodded before saluting to me. "Roger that, Ma'am!" And they hastily ran on the stairs.
I shook my head before walking towards my room. I plopped into my bed. I felt exhausted so suddenly.
Must be jet lag. I just arrived today but I immediately did a lot of things.
I heave a sigh. I stared at the ceiling. My mind is blank. I didn't realize that I was already dozing off.
———
I was awakened by the continuous vibrating sound coming from my side table.
Eyes closed, I reached for that thing that has been disturbing my sleep for a few minutes now.
I seized my phone and forcefully opened my one eye to check who's calling me at this hour.
Giovanni calling...
I pressed the answer button. "Hello?"
"Hey, did I disturbed you, girl?" His french accent is really strong.
I was irritated by his question. "Yeah, Gio fucking Vanni. I was sleeping like a goddamn princess until you, a fucking witch, waked me up like a goddamn witch that you are." I can't help but curse.
I rested my arm above my eyes to cover it. The light is blinding my newly waked-up eyes.
"Oh well, sorry to disturb your beauty rest lil princess but we have an emergency." I can tell that he was reading some papers. I can hear him turning some pages of papers in the background.
"Yeah? What is it?" I idly asked.
"The exhibition room that we've rent days ago was rented by another person."
My eyes suddenly opened. "What?!"
"Yeah. You heard me right sis. It was rented by another person. Our money was returned by the studio owner."
"What the?! We have a contract! We've rented it first!" I sat on my bed. This is getting in to me.
"Calm down, Az. I'm currently finding another good venue for your exhibit. After that, we're going to email our invited guests to inform them about the changes."
I slapped my forehead. "When did the owner contacted you?"
"Just a minute ago."
"Have you found any good place yet?" I asked. I stood up from my seat and walked back and forth.
"Not yet, hon. But I'll make sure to find one as soon as possible."
"You better be, Van. Gosh, this is stressin' me out. It hasn't been a day since I left but there's a huge problem already?" I said in disbelief.
"Hey, calm down okay?" He chuckled. "It'll be alright, girl. You don't need to worry, I'll fix this as soon as I can."
"My gosh, I'm glad you're in there." I breathe deeply.
"Oh, you better be, pretty. Or else, you won't be able to fix things on your own." He laughed.
I chuckled, "Yeah, yeah. I know. Thank you."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll get back to you for updates. Bye, gotta hang up now." He cut his line off.
I flopped myself on my bed. I just woke up but I felt exhausted already.
Things aren't going my way again.
There's a knock on my door.
"Azalea?" Another knock. "Still up?"
It's Alexandra. "Yeah. Come in."
She opened the door. She was wearing a full set of her pajama. Her bunny slippers are cute. She's full of pinky kinds of stuff.
"Can I sleep here?" She was carrying her pillow with her.
"Why?" I turned to my side to talk to her.
"I can't sleep. I'm so excited for tomorrow." She honestly confessed.
I chuckled. "Sure. Sleep with me here." I tapped my bed.
She smiled widely and hopped on my bed. "Uwah! So comfortable!" She started snuggling my pillows.
She closed her eyes but then, she noticed I wasn't postured for sleeping.
"Aren't you going to sleep?" She asked.
"I just woke up," I answered.
"Ohh." She just ignored me and closed her eyes again.
Minutes later. Alexandra's already dozing off.
I just smiled while looking at her. I was distracted by another set of knocks.
I faced the door.
"Azalea? Are you still awake?"
I frowned. "Yeah, come in."
Alexandre opened the door. He's wearing a simple t-shirt and a pants. "Hey, what's up?" I asked him.
"I just want to ask if I could share the bed with you guys." He asked. He saw his twin on my side.
"I went to her room, but she wasn't there so I concluded that she's here. And guess what? I'm not wrong." He shrugs.
"Why?"
"Well, I can't sleep."
"Excited for tomorrow also?" I teased him.
"Yeah."
They really are a twin.
He walked towards my bed. Even in his adolescence, Alexandre isn't like any other teenage boy who's afraid of being affectionate and transparent because of the social construct of toxic masculinity that guys should not be too expressive. He said, guys can be affectionate too, and that doesn't make them less of a person nor a man.
He laid on my other side.
"Gah! This is unfair!" He suddenly blurts out.
"Why?" I furrowed my brows.
"Why does your bed feels more comfortable?" He said after snuggling into my pillows.
I was in awe for a second. Woah. Twins are scary. Are their brains in sync?
I just let them sleep on both sides.
I smiled after seeing their peaceful faces while sleeping. I hope they can be this peaceful when they're awake. I just hope.
I brushed their hairs.
I looked at the digital clock in my room. It's already 11:05 in the evening.
I can't believe these goofballs are turning into their legal age tomorrow.
I shook my head. They're not kids anymore.
I just wasted my time staring into blank space until I felt the sudden urge to sleep.
I slept in the middle of the twins not knowing what's waiting for me tomorrow.
—