CHICKEN DINNER

Hailey was taken aback. The sight of her relatives lined up beside by the long dinning table, makes her feet glued to the marble floor. All of them, synchronously turned their heads to the newly-arrived people.

And at this moment, Hailey just wanted to get out of here. She couldn’t bear those eyes seemingly examining her through the soul. Those doubtful, hateful, and disappointing gazes are consuming her.

But the palm of her mother on her back is seemingly forcing and pushing her to blend with them.

“Main characters do always come late.” A male cousin of her muttered a joke, making everyone to lighten up the atmosphere. Although, one could tell that those are fake. His name is George Balley.

Mrs. Theresa also let out a fake chuckle, then she led Hailey to the vacant seat beside to an old man. The eyes from the people here followed them, and it made Mrs. Dixon felt superior. After all, among the five cousins, it’s her daughter who were chosen to manage the Dixon Company, formerly headed by the old man in here.

“Grandpa…” Hailey muttered, and the old man beamed at her.

“And who could be this young fella here?” the grandfather retorted upon seeing an unfamiliar presence of a man with them. “Is he going to be the father of the next successor of the company? Hohoho…” the grandpa laughed, which was followed by the rest.

“If I’m not mistaken, he was the man I saw in the company together with auntie. Well, judging by the looks of him that time… bet he is her bodyguard.” A woman with a braided hair answered. Her name is Ashley Riley.

“Bodyguard? Hmm…” the old man scanned Troye, which had him flustered for a moment.

“Yes, dad. Haven’t you heard that Hailey has been receiving threats? Which rooted from her nasty attitude, by the way.” The eldest daughter of the Dixon’s first generation countered. Auntie Morgan Riley, Ashley’s mother.

“Oh, right. I have also heard that Ms. Hailey almost got hit by a flower vase from the upper floor in the building.” The youngest among the five cousins joined in. She got the name of Vanessa Balley, George’s younger sister.

“What?!” the grandfather got shocked that he had to cup his chest.

“Dad!” the daughters screamed.

“Water! Give him a water!” Hailey was overtaken by panic. Good thing, Troye immediately responded to her plea and gave the old man a glass of water.

“Vanessa!” another feminine voice emerged to call her out to give her a lesson. She’s the youngest daughter, and Vanessa’s mother, Luna Balley. “As usual, you only cause trouble.” She coldly remarked, leaving the daughter confused.

“How are you now, my precious?” the grandpa worriedly asked Hailey without even considering himself. Hailey halted, while some of the relatives scoffed upon hearing what the grandfather called her.

“I-I’m good now, grandpa, thanks to him.” Hailey glanced at Troye, which the grandfather followed. He gave him a smile of relief as his way to say his thanks.

“Dad, isn’t everyone here your precious?” Morgan smiled and said in her sweet voice. The grandpa laughed, making her confused and wonder at the same time with the same smile.

“But, father…” Luna muttered and brought down the spoon and fork on the plate. “I don’t want things to go anymore further, after all, we all came here for the same reason as how we desire the same thing.” She continued which had her chilling voice arose.

Everyone became silent.

“Should you really keep entrusting the company in the hands of the widow’s daughter? Her reputation is as notorious as an on-the-loose criminal.”

“Take back what you said.” With restraining anger, Theresa said.

“Mother is right, grandpa. If we keep this up, the company would face obstacles.” George remarked.

“They’re correct, dad. The eldest of the Dixon must be the one to success the company. We could do better and provide the best reputation of the company.” Morgan followed with clear desperation.

“You’re giving it to the wrong successor, grandpa.” Ashley didn’t hold back as well.

To their surprise, with all the mutters and such that they have uttered, the old man just responded them with a boisterous laugh to the point that he had to be given with another glass of water—which became Troye’s job, by the way.

Meanwhile, Hailey just chuckled at them and didn’t say a thing.

“Look, father! Hailey seems intentionally doing it!” pertaining to her notorious reputation, Morgan exclaimed.

“Silence.” The placid grandpa muttered, leaving everyone in literally silence. “You have no rights to go against my decisions.” The old man took a pause.

“Hailey is more capable than anyone here. I said what I said. I decide what I decide.” The grandpa remarked. The opposing side shook their heads out of disappointment.

“But—” Morgan was about to say more, but the old man ignored her.

“Can you prepare a bedroom for me, Theresa? I would like to stay my night here.” The grandfather asked instead.

“Certainly, dad.” Theresa smiled widely and left the dining with the smile of victory. She gave them a mocking side eye and then headed toward the stairs.

“What about you, Hailey? Are you staying here tonight?” the grandfather asked, which Hailey just shook her head with a smile across her face.

“My condominium isn’t that far from here, grandpa, so I don’t have the need to stay overnight.”

“Hmm… alright.”

“So, we will head out now, grandpa. Somehow, it was good to be present here.” Hailey sarcastically remarked and gave the rest a gaze.

“Come to the province and visit me often, Hailey. Your childhood friend missed you already.” The old man said which halted Hailey for a moment. But then, she eventually smiled and gave him an assuring response.

And that ends their family dinner.

“Hey!” taking a few steps on the staircase, a hand grabbed the arm of Troye. He looked behind and saw Ashley who was seemingly running all the way to catch up.

“Yes?” he replied.

“Please, tell Hailey to meet me tomorrow, Ashley is the name. Let her decide the time.” She said, still holding onto his arms. Troye quite didn’t feel good with it; thus, he gently and swiftly took it off upon taking another step.

“Rest assured that it will reach her.” He remarked and went off. Not from afar, he saw his boss leaning on the bumper of the car with her arms cross on her chest. Seeing her posture prompted him to walk fast toward her direction.

“Is she telling you to beware of me?”