LIA POV
“I'm okay this way, Celine. I don't want us to have anything steamy. We're just going to talk,” I said, moving away from her.
“Holy cow! It's fine! I can't understand why you're meeting this guy at this time without having anything steamy,” she said, sitting back on the couch.
“Don't mind us. We're old school. I'll be back soon. Don't wait for me. I've got an extra key,” I said and exited the house.
After some minutes, I arrived at the Richardson house. The place was in an uproar with the maids moving to and fro. Someone was even saying that Mrs. Richardson would be back in a few days. I guess Fred was trying to seize the opportunity of a hustling and bustling environment to get laid. The maids greeted me when I walked in though I paid little attention to them. I was deep in thoughts about what would happen next. I walked into the main living room to find the men standing and talking and there was one other unfamiliar face standing with them.
“Oh! You're here. I wasn't expecting you,” Pat said with his sharp eyes, threatening to make me pay for what I did the last time we were together. He had tried several ways to get to me and avenged himself but none proved successful. I'm sure he was pretty irked to see me but he had to contain his emotions because there were too many eyes and ears.
“Fred called me,” I deliberately replied, which made Fred look my way. His face already passed the message before he spoke. I wondered how he could lust after me without feeling remorseful about it. Just like his damn father, he was obsessed.
“Is she — is she my adopted sister whom I’ve heard a lot about for the past 7 years?!” the other man exclaimed. I looked his way, gazing intently at his face. It was too familiar.
“I know you. The lady, from the airport?” he asked them added, ”hmm… Lia, right?” he asked.
“You’re that man? What was your name again?” I asked, trying to recall. He had a totally different aura from the monsters in the house. He was cheerful and a bit brighter. He wore a smile that was never fading unlike his relatives. While we threw both Pat and Fred into temporary confusion, we chatted, introducing ourselves as if we were the only ones in the room.
“I can't believe I'm finally meeting you after seven years. Mum said a lot about you. She'd always say something about Nate receiving treatment and getting better. It's so good to meet you,” I said, trying to appear jovial. I rolled my eyes oftentimes to watch both father and son reactions. Surprisingly, I could not read Fred while Pat was so good at faking an outstanding personality.
“I'll like to spend more time with my baby sis if you don't mind,” he said to them while Pat nodded in approval.
“Shall we?” he asked, gesturing to me to lead the way out of the room. He was probably a gentleman because he spent most of his time away from Pat. We moved away from the house to the garden. He let out a bit of a laughter then watched me while I was unaware of what was going on.
“I can't believe I got attracted to my sister at first sight when I saw you at the airport,” he said.
I watched him as he said those words. I had started cooking up my own plans to hit him with my shoe if he tried anything funny. I felt like someone cursed to be abused by the Richardson family.
“Oh, I don't mean it that way. I actually felt the way you might be thinking but it's all good now since I'm aware that I only got a pretty sister,” he said and heaved a sigh of relief.
“So an artist right? I'm also an art enthusiast,” he said, sitting on a molded bench.
“Really? How did you know I'm an artist? And how did you not recognize me? At least, I didn't get to see pictures of you apart from the day I moved into this house. What about you?” I asked, curious about his ignorance. His reaction would tell if he was faking it.
“I actually got a few pictures of you when you got adopted and got into college as well. But as you might have heard, I wasn't too well so I can't really recall a lot,” he said then paused. Before I could utter what I had in mind, he said, “but I'm all better now and that's why I’m here,” as if he read my mind.
“Oh! So that's why. Since you spent a lot of your time in Europe, you must have visited the famous art gallery,” I said, trying to make small talks because he was so easy to talk to. I wouldn't have believed he was a Richardson if I had not met him in the house. He was totally different. We chatted for a long time as if we were trying to catch up on all the years we missed. While we moved around the garden while chatting, he'd shield me from the air with his coat and hand me his things like an elder brother protecting his little one. I wasn't about to let my guard down for another Richardson who could be dangerous but to be honest, he was worthy of a benefit of the doubt. Thanks to Nate, I went back home unscathed. Fred ensured that I promised to meet him the next day. As if I had a choice. He had my nudes and sex tapes that could ruin my life and that of my unborn generation forever.
“When did you get in last night?” Celine asked, making breakfast while I yawned and stretched.
“Around midnight,” I replied.
“You've got to be careful about late nights. And you're sure nothing steamy happened last night?” she asked without looking my way.
“You're so assuming,” I replied, giggling as I went out of the kitchen to pick my phone which was ringing on the shelf. It was Nate, my new older brother.
“Hi Nate,” I said
“Good morning, kid sis. Feels good to say that,” he teased, laughing out loud. I chuckled at his childish and carefree attitude.
“I hope you slept well?” I asked.
“Of course, I did. Just wanted to check on you. Mum's going to be back soon and I need a guide to move around the city. You up for it? Don't worry about your expenses. I'll cover it. Deal?” he said.
“Hmm… Deal!” I responded, delighted at how he made me laugh. I seemed to laugh so easily these days. I wouldn't deny that it was all thanks to Greg. I was starting to miss him but I had so much pride than to allow him treat me as he pleased. I wanted to be sure about what I felt and what he felt about me. What if it was pity and not love? I could not risk hanging myself in a hurtful relationship even if I loved him so much.
After cutting the call, I went about preparing for work. My saving grace had always been that i was talented. I would have been fired.
“Oh my! Who do we have here?” Lia, you've got a guest,” Celine shouted, her voice echoing to my room. I walked out elegantly, hoping to tease her for yelling.
“Gosh! I finally found you,” the man at the entrance said.
“How did you find me, Greg?” I asked, watching his sad face lit up.