Chapter 98 A prank call

Chapter 98 A prank call

\[Charlotte's POV\]
Amara passed the salt to Johnny with a wink. 'There you go, little Casanova.'
Johnny smiles. 'Hey, I've got a title already.'
Everyone laughs.
'Hey, Char. Where's your grandma? I thought you said she'd be here.' Sophie took a sip of water from the glass.
I looked between mum and dad expecting an answer but mum pursed her lips. Great.
'She left.' I said.
'Left? What about the summer solstice party? Ed Sheeran's coming. That's why I flew across the ocean to be here.' Sophia gasped.
'You flew across which ocean.' Levi rolled his eyes.
I felt heart broken. 'Soph, I thought you came here to see me.'
'Yeah. You and Ed Sheeran.' She lifts her glass in midair as though giving a salute.
'Can we all just have dinner? My mother will visit again. Soon.' Dad smiled.
'And the party?' Ada asked excitedly.
Everyone stared at her.
'What? It's not everyday you get to see a celebrity. I mean Ed is my hero.' Ada patted her chest.
Sophie laughed. 'I know, right? Perfect is one legendary song I'll never forget. It might even be the first word my future child says.'
Johnny scoffed at Sophie. 'And here, I thought our future child will speak Japanese first.'
Amara gives a fake gasp. 'No. Johnny, I thought you and I were getting married first. Who is she?'
We all snickered quietly.
Johnny shook his head. 'I'm sorry, babe, but I love you both.'
'Womanizer.' I threw my towel at him.
He caught it just in time. 'I'm not a womanizer. Women love me.'
'Here! Here!' Dad gives him a high-five.
Mom hit dad on the chest. 'Josh, what are you teaching your son?'
'Facts.' Dad said and winked at Johnny.
Ada speaks up. 'Well, if you think I'll let you marry my sister and someone else then you're mistaken.'
Johnny slurped his wine. 'I mean, I've got 2 women and that's a problem? What about the biblical Solomon who married 700 wives and 300 concubines? No one told him he's a womanizer.'
David points his fork at him. 'That's because he was a king.'
'You ever think his wives argue alot?' Layla asked.
Cindy cleared her throat. 'Can we quit this talk about women?'
She looked at Layla and Johnny. 'Both of you should be at a separate table.'
Johnny frowned and looked at mom.
Mom looked away.
Johnny pouts his lips. 'Traitor.'


.\[Anna's POV\]
I ate dinner in my room tonight. I couldn't stand eating in the same room with dad or whoever he is. The truth Uncle Baur told me was too difficult to digest — That Selena is after Charlotte and I've got siblings from another family. If I want to get to the bottom of this myself, I'd have to know who my half-siblings are. Hamish must know. I tried calling him with my phone but dad probably tapped it. I tried ringing the bell and he came rushing in without knocking.
'Anything matters?' He asked. When he saw me sitting quietly on my bed, he rolled his eyes. 'The bell is for emergencies only and you made me run. I wasted good calories for nothing.'
'It is an emergency. Lock the door.' I told him.
'I can't sleep with you in your father's house.' Hamish looked away.
'Dude, I just want to ask some questions. Who wants to sleep with you?' I wrinkled my nose.
Hamish shut the door.
I willed him over and he sat next to me on the bed.
'I need you to be honest with me.' I told him.
'Okay.' Hamish smiled. I saw a tint of pink on his cheeks. I hope this dude doesn't think I want to ask him out.
'Tell me about my other siblings.' I looked into his eyes.
Hamish stood to his feet, shoving his hands in his pockets.
I joined him up. 'Hamish, please. I have to know who they are.'
'I can't.' He said, still not looking at me.
'Please, Hamish. I need to know who they are. The last Hide and Seek will happen soon and I need to know if they're students of Alan.' I fist the back of his jacket.
'Anna, you're pulling my leg.' He turned to face me.
'There are no cameras in here if that's what you're worried about. I took them out a while ago.' I assured him with a smile but he didn't return it.
Hamish cupped my cheeks with both his hands. 'You're gonna hate your father forever if I tell you.'
'I already hate my father so go ahead and tell me.' I place my hands over his.
Hamish shut his eyelids. The words were too heavy for him to utter. Whatever truth did dad tell him to hide? Was it this hard to tell?
'Nothing will happen to your family. I swear.' I whisper.
'Something will happen!' Hamish moved away from me. 'You lost your sister! Your father made it happen!'
'It wasn't my father!' I screamed. 'I - - it was all Uncle Baur and Principal Selena !'
Hamish frowned. 'Mr Baur? How?'
'Just tell me about the other siblings of mine.' I clasped my hands together.
Hamish held me in his arms in a tight lock, probably knowing I'll be screaming when he tells me the truth.
'Go ahead. Tell me.' I look up to his face.
He began softly. 'Your father has a family in Israel. Your mom is aware of it. They're from your father's first marriage.'
I tried to wriggle free but his hold was tight. 'Mom didn't tell me!'
'Your father just told her. She doesn't know who they are.' Hamish says loudly.
'Fine. Who are they and you better not lie to me !' I yell at him.
'They're - They're - ' Hamish patted my hair softly.
'Talk ! ' I yell.
Hamish let go of me. 'I can't tell you. I'm sorry.'
'You better talk! Come on. Do I have to die before you realize I should know the truth?' Tears run down my cheek and I take off my glasses to wipe them away.
'I'm sorry.' Hamish walks to the door to open it.
'Walk out that door and you'll regret it.' I told him and he knows he will.
Hamish unlocked the door and I gave up.
'They're here in America. These are siblings of yours.' Hamish said.
I looked up. 'How did you know?'
'I picked them up from the airport myself. It's just the girls. Their brother will join them soon.' Hamish walked out the door.
If they're here in America, does that mean they will play Hide and Seek too? God, no.

\[Mike's POV\]
I'm vibing with Adira, Rose and Stacy in Rose's house when someone interrupts the fun.
I answer the call. 'What's up, party pooper?'
It's Dominic calling.
'You busy?' He asked.
'It's past 9pm on Sunday. What do you expect me to be doing? Sleeping in church?' I rolled my eyes.
'I need you to come to this location.' He said.
I hear a beep and look at my phone. He texted me an address. It's at a bowling alley.
'I'll be there in 10.' I told him.
'Make it 5 minutes, man.' He sounds pretty desperate.
'Fine.' I scoff.
'Come alone.' He added it at the last minute.
'You've gotta be kidding me, man.' I disconnected the call.
'Going anywhere, Mikey?' Rose climbs out of the pool, water dripping from her bikini. I swear to God, Mediterranean women are hot.
'I've gotta run. Errands.' It took me a lot of courage not to look at her chest. She's really gifted down there.
'Mikey, come join us.' Both Adira and Stacy called from the swimming pool.
'Sorry. Next time, ladies.' I wave at them and run off.
'Aww.' They splashed around in the pool. God damn Dominic that I'll miss this.
'I gotta run.' I tell Rose.
'Sure. Run along.' She winks at me.
I turn around and walk inside to get changed. If Dominic wastes my time, I swear to God I'll punch him in the face.

Driving to the bowling alley didn't take much. Well, apart from the fact that I almost got lost and they were actually 3 bowling alleys with the same name.
'Yo, I'm here.' I dial Dominic's number.
'Are you inside?' He asked.
'This sounds all scooby doo to me. What's your game here? I just missed getting laid in a swimming pool, man. Make it quick.' I click my tongue in annoyance.
'Fine. I'll come to you. Where are you at?' He asked.
'I'm outside.' I look around. This place is pretty crowded. Same with the other two. It's really popular.
I pocket my phone, leaning against the hood of my car when I see a dude dressed in denim pants, a black tee, coming out of the building. That wasn't Dominic. Where is he?
I waited for what seemed like 10 minutes and he didn't show up.
'Great. That asshole!" I turn to walk to my car when someone yells my name.
That's Dominic alright.
He approached me with a laugh. 'Dude, what are you doing here?'
'What do you mean? You called me here!' I scoff and pocket my hands.
'I called you?' He lifted his phone for me to see. In the call logs, my number wasn't there.
'Stop kidding. I didn't call you, pal. I'm with my team.' He looked at the building.
Gemini and two other gentlemen come out.
'Dude, let's go. Watcha doing?' Gemini yelled.
'See? If I were to call you, it'd be to get me and the guys a drink. Why on earth will I call you?' He curled an eyebrow.
I rake my hand through my hair. 'What?! Is this some kind of joke? The voice was yours, man.' I lift my phone for him to see. 'You called. See?'
Dominic took my phone. 'Dude, that's not my number.'
'Then how did it miraculously end up on my phone?' I asked.
'It's a prank call, man. Call it.' He told me.
'Fine.' I dial the number and it's ringing but Dominic's phone isn't ringing.
'Wait. What?' I'm confused.
Dominic snatched the phone and looked at the number. 'Lemme see that.'
His brows furrowed. He knows something.
'You mind telling me what this is all about?' I lift my arms in midair.
'Dude, just go home,' He put my phone on my chest. 'I blocked the number and if any asshole calls you saying it's me, they're fake. I would never call you. You're not that important.'
'First of all, ouch and second, I agree. This is too damn early for a prank.' I turn around to drive home.
Whoever played this prank just messed with the wrong person. My gut feeling tells me it's Gemini and the others that did this prank call but one thing I don't understand is how the number got saved in my phone.
I climb into the driver's seat, remembering I still have swimming to do at Rose's.