FAMILY DINNER

“Oh my God, that man is something!” Hailey slammed her back on the backrest. Troye casted a glance at her through the rearview mirror, which prompted her to say more about the man she’s pertaining to.

“To make the story short—with all the hours we spent inside the damn office—nothing was signed. That freaking man was just out there taking turns and turns of the conversation and wasted my goddamn time.” Hailey intently closed her eyes, and gently slapped her temple.

That man was deemed to be the potential investor as he introduced himself, but he just technically blabbering gibberish.

“My goodness, and I literally did accommodate his nonsensical first rather than attending the important conference? Damn it! What a waste!” she’s throwing more rants, while Troye took them all through his ears.

“Not only do I have to be careful with people who brings danger to me, huh? But also, those useless humans who waste my time for freaking unworldly fucking reasons. My God! I rest my case here.” Hailey shook her head with her hands on her temple. She’s having enough.

In fact, she had been meaning to give that potential investor a blunt remark, but she had hopes that he would raise the contract matter. But he didn’t.

Meanwhile, Troye couldn’t help but to curve his lips upon hearing all of those rants.

“Well done, pal.” He murmured and smirked. Troye is meaning to inform her about the guy she had hours of talking about nonsense, when his phone suddenly rang, which caught the attention of the enraged Hailey.

“Yes, ma’am.” He greeted the other line as he looked at Hailey through the rearview mirror where their gazes locked.

“Kindly inform my child to attend the gathering later at 6PM. I will forward the location later.” Mrs. Theresa remarked, and instantly ended the call. Troye furrowed his brows for a brief moment.

She could’ve told me to pass her the phone just like before.

With curious gazes of Hailey darting at him, Troye then broke the news to her.

“Here they go again with the late-announced event. Certainly, the spotlight would be once again mine.” Hailey retorted, and flashed a faint smile. She let out a sigh and diverted her attention to the scenery outside where cars blurrily pass through her gazes.

Silence covered the atmosphere, and Troye dared not to talk upon the sight of Hailey being seemingly melancholy all of the sudden.

“Uhm, should we head to the mall for you to buy the clothes you want to wear tonight?” politely with gentleness, Troye asked, careful not to break the glass of her emotions, perhaps the things that goes in her mind at the moment.

Hailey gave him a death glare. “Did you seriously think that I don’t have enough clothes?” she replied annoyingly.

Melancholic turned into something unexpected. Troye just took a gulp.

The moment they got into the condominium; Hailey then instantly threw herself to the couch. Meanwhile, Troye just stood there, looking at her with his languid eyes.

“Today sure was a long day.” He murmured and headed toward the kitchen. Hailey flinched as she heard it. And the next thing she heard was sounds from the kitchen, which for some reason, made her sleepy.

She couldn’t dissuade him no more. In addition, she’s becoming used to him cooking too.

To be frank, it was not Troye’s plan to make something at this hour. But he was pushed unconsciously to make something, which would be a dessert. Hailey is seemingly downhearted as he noticed, and some sweet foods might render it, he thought.

It didn’t take him long to make it, since he chose a simple one. But he ended up left confused when he didn’t see Hailey on the same couch anymore.

Troye gazed at the floor above him. “She probably went to her room.” Then, averted his gazes to the dessert he made. “Well, it’s not like this gets spoiled easily.” He murmured and put back the well-prepared dessert in the refrigerator and then decided to go to his room.

He still has an hour to take a rest before the gathering.

An hour sure was not enough to sleep, but he had no choice but to get up and get himself prepared. Without wasting a second, Troye rushed on having everything done ‘til he opened the door to get himself out of the room.

Only to be greeted by the expressionless look of Hailey whose hands are crossed on her chest. Troye couldn’t fathom if it’s out of anger or something. Thus, he could only be taken aback and took a huge gulp.

“You took your time… again, Mr. Gomez.” Her cold voice swirled around his body. “Well, I’ll let it slide this time, after all, I didn’t really want to go.” Hailey relaxed her shoulder, and Troye secretly let out a sigh in relief.

The gathering is taken place at the humble abode of Dixon family, which isn’t that far from their destination. Despite all the rush, they still—somehow—managed to get there on time.

Hailey stared at the mansion in front of them, together with Troye who’s mesmerized by the enormous structure before his eyes. Troye thought it was just a simple stare from Hailey to their mansion, but as he looked at her eyes that seemingly filled with indescribable and prisoned emotions, Troye withdraw the thought.

Hailey heaved a sigh. Memories from the past that she spent years to lock up, eventually rushed and escape from her mind. This mansion may be huge, but the atmosphere and vibe it emits didn’t hold the same amount of welcomeness.

“Hailey!” a middle-aged woman wearing a dress, climbed down the stairs on the entrance. As though a mother that haven’t met her child for years, Mrs. Theresa ran towards Hailey with warm smile upon the embrace.

On the other hand, Troye couldn’t believe what he witnessed. Mrs. Theresa just showed affection like a mother does to Hailey, which for him, is very unlikely to what he used to see.

“Your grandfather has been waiting for you.” Jovially, Mrs. Theresa gently held Hailey’s back to lead her inside the mansion. “You didn’t have to come with us, Mr. Gomez.” In her usual voice, she told to her bodyguard.

But the next statement uttered, left Troye in surprise.

“No, he’s going with me. He needed to be by my side at all times, right?”