chapter 9

When Alexa entered the living room, Alice smiled and hugged her asking, "Baby, where is James, is he not joining us for breakfast"Alexa replied, "No, Mom he got some business to do"Alice replied, "It's ok, come and have breakfast with us"Alexa nodded and went to have breakfast with her parents.Alex noticed Alexa lost in her thoughts and hardly eating anything, he asked "Al, is something bothering you sweety? Why are you not eating?"Alexa nodded saying, "No, dad it's nothing like that, I am good"After breakfast, Alexa left for her bedroom.On the other side when James came out of his room after completing his call, he didn't find Alexa anywhere in the house.He was pissed, thinking why she did not wait for him? Does she hate him so much?Alexa's and James's wedding was about to happen in a month, but Alexa was not happy about it, although she agreed to marry a stranger, she was sure that she will love her husband and want her husband to love her. But things turned upside down.It's been two weeks, and in the next two weeks they are going to get married, but James never bothered to call her or explain to her about that morning.It was clear that he doesn't love her and this marriage is just a forced marriage for him so he is not bothered to even give a call to his would-be wife. He loved Olivia or maybe some other girl, but not her.Now she was suffocating thinking about all these.There are only a few days for the wedding, so Alex started working from home in the name of helping Alice for the marriage preparations, the fact is Alex just looks for excuses to work from home so that he can spend more time with his wife.Today Lucas came home to discuss business with his Dad, when they were in the study room someone knocked the door and after Alex said "come in" a girl walked inside with some files and said in a business tone, "Sir, here is the file, you asked for"Alex smiled and said, "Oh! Thanks Carol" she smiled politely and said, "If there is nothing, then I will take my leave"Alex stopped her saying, "No, Carol hold on, I have a business to discuss, please have a seat"Carol sat on the chair next to Lucas, then Alex said, "First meet my son, Lucas"She looked in direction of Lucas and said smiling, "Hello Mr. Williams"Lucas was a little lost in Carol's smile when he heard her voice and she came back to his senses and nodded.Alex continued, "Carol, I am planning to take early retirement and go on a long vacation with my wife, so I need you to help in work handover to Lucas"Carol said, "Sure Mr. Williams, I will do my best"Alex smiled and replied; "I trust you" after that Carol got up from her seat nodded to Alex and Lucas and left the study room.Alex was looking at the closed door after Carol left. He sighed thinking something, then looked at Lucas and said, "If in future you need the secretary, I would recommend Carol. She is a very good child, and very good at her work"As Carol walked out of the study room and walked towards the exit crossing the living room, Alice called her in excitement, "Carol, when did you come?"Carol replied politely, "Mam, I had to deliver some file to President"Alice pouted and said, "Carol, I have told you many times to call me aunty" Carol just smiled, Alice held her hands and dragged her to the sofa and said, "Well, that's good you came, I want you to help me also apart from your President, please help me to select the best wedding gown for Alexa."As Alice and Carol settled down, Alexa also came downstairs, she smiled and hugged Carol and said happily, "Oh! Carol, you are getting beautiful every day"Carol hugged her back and said, "But, not more than you"Carol and Alexa are very much like friends, Alexa doesn't have too many friends, but she likes Carol very much and she is very close to her.All the three ladies sat on the sofa, chit- chatting happily.Lucas, who had come out of the study room, a few minutes back was looking at the scene from the time Carol went down. It was always his wish that his wife Catherine should also share the same bond with his family but Catherine was not interested to come to meet his parents.Carol spent the entire day with Alice and Alexa choosing Alexa's wedding gown, all had lunch together. Lucas noticed that Carol was very close to his family.Soon it was sunset and Carol was ready to leave when she was about to walk to the door. Alice said, "Lucas, if you don't mind can you please drop Carol, her home is on the way to your house, it's quite late and she might not get any cab in this vicinity"Carol immediately replied, "No Mam, it's fine I will manage, no need to bother Mr. William"Alice said, "No, I told you many times to call me aunty, but you never listen to me, now this is your punishment, Lucas please send Carol"Lucas nodded and walked out of the living room, Carol followed him as she knew: now there is no way to deny.Lucas went straight to the driver's seat; Carol sat on the passenger seat and tied the seat belt.Drive was silent, Carol kept on looking out of the window, but Lucas was looking at Carol from the corner of his eyes, he himself doesn't know why he was unable to stop himself.He told himself that he loves Catherine, but his body ditched him and kept looking at Carol.After a drive of half an hour Carol said, "Mr. William, you can park at the side, my home is here."