Deep ink black hair with a few red strands here and there. Rare Amber eyes, thin lips that couldn't hide the slightly pointy canine teeth when he smiled, chiseled jaw and a finely carved face. The young man was handsome everyone could see this but that wasn't all. They could only think the same name when they saw him. If Gisele was hear she would have the same thought too.
Renowned Actor Gael was the Montero Family illegitimate son?!
Wow! Prodigiousity really runs in the family.
Casually the young man walked to a vacant sit. To make things less awkward he didn't greet anyone not even Grandpa Hugo but everyone thought he was being arrogant. Especially Devon.
"Can't greet? Where are you manners?" The Old man reprimanded coldly.
Alan smiled a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "They probably hate me at the moment so I'll keep my greetings" He helped himself with his dinner and began eating even with the dozen of eyes on his body.
"Manners? I've never known him to have one" Devon chirped himself into the conversation and as if not wanting to be left behind, he began eating, more than he had done at the initial start.
Alan chuckled amusedly "like you for one would know me better. Little brother"
The title brought a frown to not only Devon but even Eugene couldn't help but frown. Claudia's face grew paler than it already was and her hand dropped the spoon it had attempted to pick.
"Alan" Eugene warned sternly. Alan spared him a look then swallowed every other word he was going to say.
The table stayed silent for a few more seconds then Alan broke it again.
"Oh yeah. I almost forgot. Happy married life brother" He rose the wine glass in his hand and said with a taunting smile. "Where is your wife? I would love to wish her but I don't see her around here"
Devon frowned "it's none of your business. I don't remember asking for your wishes"
"Tsk tsk always being rude" Alan clicked his tongue "I only wanted to wish her and see what damsel ended up...um tied to you. She must be made of gold. What did you do to have her? I should probably try to get one just like her?" He emphasized on the getting one just like her. His meaning fully evident for Devon to understand, even Grandpa Hugo had caught on on where this conversation was heading to. His eyes lightened up intrigued and he stared at Devon waiting to see his reaction.
"Keep you hand off things that aren't yours" Devon paused and continued "I won't repeat myself"
He might not be positive about his marriage but the thought of giving what was already his to this brother of his was more revolting than announcing to the whole world that he was married to Gisele. He would never allow it!
Alan chuckled evilly "Don't be so stingy. Don't worry I won't force her away from you" He didn't mean he won't snatch her but he meant if she willingly follow him, he won't say no. Devon frowned at his hidden meaning.
While he was frowning, Grandfather Hugo bent his head to hide the smile on his face. That butler Ben was right after all. When he received that call he had not really put the man's words to heart but seeing the two boys banter amongst themselves he couldn't help but get the same idea.
Alan continued his speech "anyways, I wish you both what you wish me" he said with a smile and downed the wine in his glass.
"If you don't know how to talk then shut up and stuff your mouth with food" Grandfather Hugo was the one to scold. Who didn't know that Devon wished for him to break into a million pieces. Wishing their marriage the same thing meant he wished they broke apart. He for one hated that ideas. Gisele was a girl he wanted to remain his daughter-in-law for a very very long time.
The dinner continued and eventually came to a end. Everyone scurried off like the tables were caught on fire. The only person who ended up being held back by the old man was Alan.
Half dragged to the study with a reluctant face. He could only sit to hear what the old man wanted to say to him.
"Grandpa what do you want? I'm in bit of a hurry" He was indeed in a hurry. A hurry to go to the cinema before it closes and get the details of that girl he had come across. He had crammed her seat number already, all that he needed to do was to check the information of the person that booked it.
"Does Old man Alexander know you're here?" Hugo asked.
The nonchalance on Alan face for once disappeared and was replaced with a subtle look. He shook his head and said Nothing.
"What about Gisele? Do you keep in touch with her?"
At the mention of the little girl, a face came into his mind. Memories from fifteen years ago came rushing like a winds from the east.
Like everyother summer. The sun was at it's peak. Burning the earth in it's maddened frenzy. The trees had more dried leaves than green ones. They were yet to fall so it could still be used as shade from the sun.
A teenage young man especially crouched under an oak tree. His arms wrapped around his tiny legs and his head rested on his knees. He looked as dried up as the leaves on the tree above him.
"Alan!" A shout came from behind him. He turned. A furious gaze appeared on his face when he saw who it was. His little feet pushed him off from the floor and he grabbed the bag he hard been sitting on.
Taking fast strides, he began walking away in the opposite direction the man was calling him from. The man was left with no option than to chase after the boy.
"What are you doing?" He asked when he caught the boy. Holding him by his shoulders he prevented him from walking away again.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" The little boy retorted.
"The chairman was worried looking for you. Why did you leave the house you were asked to stay?"
The boy frowned and slapped the arms placed on his shoulder away "I don't want anything from them. I can survive on my own. My mother might have been...been illicit but if there is anything she had taught me. It is to be contented with the little nothing I have. I am not a money grubber" He said in one breath. The words he had heard just the previous day still resonating in his ear. Those people shouted and cursed at him, especially that little boy that looked his age. They all said he was a money grubber like his mother. But he wasn't, it was all his mother's fault. If she didn't suddenly have to die then he would never have had to reach out to them.
The boy wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes and put back on the straight face.
The man sighed. "The chairman thought you would say so. He has arranged a new place for. You could live with his friend till you're old enough to live on your own. He says if you refuse, then he would make you live with your family"
"they are not my family!"
"Living with his friend it is then".
Getting to the house, he was welcomed by the strangers far more better than his so called family did.
An Old man that sounded tough but would give you blankets at the slightest sign of shivers and a little girl that kept clinging to him like a koala teddy bear.
"Brother Alan do you want to play?"
"Brother Alan can I stay with you?"
"Brother Alan come eat with us" There was no need to her pestering. At first he found her noisy but then he got used to hearing her voice in his ears. She was the little sister he had to protect everywhere he went. Also the one he could bare to part with but still ended up leaving with nothing but a written letter and a hairpin.
Alan sighed regretfully then shook his head "I haven't spoken to her since I left. How is she doing?" After leaving the Johnson's house he made it clear no one was to find him till he made a name for himself, it took quite the years but he finally did and when he did he returned there was no one there.
"She's married" Grandpa Hugo started with the half truth. He was setting the ground before he dropped the real news.
A wide smile appeared on Alan's face. He was more than surprised to hear his little El was married. He was regretful he didn't get to see her walk down the aisle. It must have been a lovely sight. No doubt he felt jealous too, his beautiful El now belonged to another.
"That's love_"
"To Devon" every word Alan was going to say flew out his head.