Understanding Women

They were all shocked to see Alexa, especially Mrs. Adams and Josh. Josh stood up and was about to approach her when Hance wheeled himself towards her.

"Come,” he said, but her brain was in a state of turmoil.

Her gaze was stuck with that of Josh; she didn't want to be in the same space as him.

She clenched her fist nervously and stared at Mr. Williams. “Does he know?” she wondered.

"Alexa,” he said, pulling her out of her trance.

She nodded and smiled vaguely. “Good evening.”

"Come,” he repeated, wheeling himself to the couch, and she followed him.

“Good evening,” she bowed slightly, greeting Senior Mr. Williams and the others.

“Father, this is Alexa,” Hance said, and his dad smiled.

“I know you from the ship,” his dad chuckled, and Hance glared at him. Then he cleared his throat. “I am happy you joined us for dinner, but I invited...”

"Me,” Missy said as she stood at the entrance. Alexa knew things just got heated.

She sat next to Hance as her palms became sweaty. She could feel Josh’s gaze on her, and she tried so hard to ignore it.

“Good evening, everyone,” Missy said with a smile, and Mrs. Adams walked towards her with a smile.

“Hance, it’s Missy.” She didn't want Alexa for Hance, so she could only promote his relationship with Missy.

“Hello” Missy smiled at Mrs. Adams, and her gaze met that of Alexa.

“Hello Alexa”

Alexa nodded while digging her fingers into her palms; her knuckles became white, and Hance placed his hand on hers.

“Are you okay?” he questioned.

Josh clenched his fist angrily. “That is my woman,” he thought angrily. His uncle couldn't be interested in her, not her.

Alexa nodded even though she wasn't. “Dinner will be served in ten minutes; we could chat before then,” Hance’s dad said as they all sat down.

“Uhm, I will make a phone call." Alexa gathered the courage and still maintained her smile before she walked out of the house.

She stood on the patio and breathed heavily; it was like all the blood on her body instantly dried out.

Using her hand, she tried to fan herself. “Why did he bring me here without my approval?” she asked angrily.

If she ate at one table with Josh and the others, then she would have indigestion, when she was deep in thought. Her phone chimed with a new message. She retracted her phone and found there were two messages.

One from Josh: [What the fuck are you doing with my uncle?]

The other was from Josh. [Are you okay?]

She chuckled, “Messed up," and she couldn't believe the turn of events.

This made her wonder if Hance knew about her past relationship. “If he knew, then he wouldn't have placed me in such an uncomfortable situation,” she thought.

Now she had stayed outside for more than 5 minutes, so she had to go back in. Then she walked in and sat next to Hance.

“Is she that uncomfortable?” he thought, then sent a message to his driver.

“Father, something came up. Alexa and I have to leave,” he explained. Without waiting for his dad response, he signaled for Alexa, and she happily stood up to follow him.

“Good night," she said as she followed Hance outside, and the driver was waiting for them.

As soon as they got into the car, she sighed heavily, "Gosh.” Now she could breathe.

“Are you that uncomfortable in front of your ex-husband?” Hance questioned, and her eyes widened in shock.

“You…you know?”

“Of course,” he replied.

She was embarrassed, hurt, and felt betrayed.

So she pushed the car door and got down. “Have a nice evening, Mr. Williams," she said, then hurried out of the mansion.

Hance was left puzzled. “Follow her,” he ordered the driver who drove after her.

But she quickened her pace, stopped a cab, and got in. “What?” Hance was shocked; was she angry because he knew the truth?

He was frustrated. Why was it so hard to understand women?

*

After a long ride, Alexa walked down the cab and opened the door with her key.

She found Annie on the couch, engrossed in a movie. “Alexa, why are you back this early?”

Alexa shot her purse on the couch before she burst into tears. "Alexa,” Lydia called, but she hurried to her bedroom and locked the door.

“What happened? Did he hurt you?” Lydia banged at the door. 

“Open the door,” Lydia kept saying worriedly.

Alexa discovered she was being childish, so she opened the door and sat on her bed. “What happened?” Lydia walked in.

“Why will he do such a thing to me?” She has been questioning herself countless times.

“What was his aim?”

“Hey, calm down, okay?” Lydia sat next to her and said, “Explain what happened.”

“Do you know where he took me for dinner?” She scoffed in disbelief.

“Where?”

“At the Williams mansion.”

Lydia wasn't getting her point. “And?”

“Josh and his entire family were present.”

Then Lydia stood up and imagined herself in such a condition: “I am sure he still didn't know about your relationship with Josh; did Josh tell him, and he said mean words to you?”

“No, he knew already.”

“He did?” She asked in disbelief, and Alexa nodded before she unzipped her gown.

“I want to sleep," she said as she slipped out of the gown and wore her nightwear.

Lydia sighed “Don't cry yourself to sleep, okay? We will talk tomorrow.” After wishing her goodnight, she left.

Alexa lay on the bed with her back; her phone rang. It was a call from Mr. Williams.

“I am done with their family,” she scoffed and ended the call before she blocked his contact and palmed her face. “So embarrassing.”

That was one of the most humiliating moments of her life.

**

The next morning, she got freshened up for work, and Lydia had made breakfast. “Good morning.” 

Alexa smiled at her. “Are you going to work?”

Lydia shook her head in denial. “My dad owns a house; I no longer need to pay rent, so why will I work?” She joked, and Alexa rolled her eyes.

“I will be on the night shift this week,” Lydia added, and she nodded in understanding.

While they were having dinner, the doorbell rang, and Alexa pulled the door open. She almost choked when she saw Caleb.

“You”

“Good morning,” Caleb said, smiling at her shocked look.

“What are you doing here?” The right question was, how did he know she was here?

Caleb pointed at the car, and from where she was standing, she could see the silhouette of a man inside; it was Mr. Williams.