Chapter 22 Twenty-two
"Are you okay?" Alexandra's bright face was quickly replaced by a scowl as the man looked at her.
"I'm sorry." He seemed to recover himself quickly as he passed her a white hanky from his pocket.
"I really had no idea you were coming this way," He said, holding up his phone, "I was too engrossed in this."
"Then I hope you stop pressing your phone when you are walking anymore." She retorted.
"Are you annoyed?" He asked calmly and she sighed.
"You apologized already, so it's fine." She replied in the same manner and he passed her a flashy smile.
"Anger shouldn't be on that pretty face of yours. I'm so captivated." He said and Alexandra bit her lips.
"Thanks for the compliment." She said.
"My name is Ryder...Ryder Welland." He stretched his hand out for a shake and Alexa hesitated for a bit, before stretching out her hand to accept it.
"I'm Alexa." She replied and he nodded slowly, not letting go of her hand until she dragged it away from his hold.
"Alexa." He repeated, unfazed by the way she had reacted, "I hope we meet again, Alexa."
He gave her another flashy smile before he walked out of the restaurant and Alexa followed him with her eyes, till he left.
"I'm so shocked....so flabbergasted..." Cassidy said and Alexa nodded immediately.
"I mean, what the heck was-"
"He's so cute and manly. Gosh, you need to see the way he looked at you like a jewel. He was like....wow." Cassidy made an impressed face and Alexandra pinched her brows. What did she expect, that the crazy Cassidy would think the way she did? That was totally impossible.
"Whatever you say." She shook her head as she was about to leave.
"What?" She mouthed.
"Tell them to package it, you can't have lunch in such a sophisticated restaurant looking like you came out from the rain." Cassidy said.
"All thanks to the manly stranger." Alexa replied sarcastically before she went for the food.
"Ryder Welland." Cassidy called again for the uptenth time as Alexandra walked into the house, "Don't forget the name, Alexandra. Ryder Welland." She said again.
"Fine,.I won't forget. Ryden Welland!" Alexandra shot and Cassidy hit her head.
"Ryder...not Ryden." She said, rolling her eyes.
"Ryder Welland." Alexa repeated to herself.
"Mummy.." Jade rushed downstairs with a castle in her hand, "I fixed the princess castle with grandma." She said excitedly as she placed it on the glass table and Alexa looked at Louisa who gave her a shrug.
She sighed, knowing her mother had purposely done that since it was a gift from Liam.
"It's beautiful." Alexa commented as she smiled at Jade. Her daughter shouldn't be part of the beef between her and her mother...and Liam.
"Can I show it to daddy tomorrow? Since tomorrow is school. Tell daddy to come and pick us up at school." Jade said and Alexa sighed.
"Jade-"
"Please, please." Jade interrupted.
"Awwn, she's so cute. Just agree to her request." Cassidy said.
"Cassidy!" Alexa shot, wondering how Cassidy could just change in matter of minutes. She was the one who said Liam shouldn't have anything to do with the kids few minutes ago and now she was saying to agree to Jade's request. Wouldn't that make her closer to Liam? As expected, Cassidy was not to be trusted with life issues.
"What can I do? She's so cute. You can't deny her." Cassidy shrugged, pursing her lips, knowing what she had just done.
"Fine!" Alexa agreed grumpily and Jade jumped,
"Yay!"
"Jace?" Alexa called as she saw him sitting on the chair quietly.
"Why did you play with your superman games? Do you want me to get you another one?" She asked sand Jace shook his head.
"Don't waste money like that. I'll just play with the ones daddy bought." He said and she smiled,
"So what do you want if you pass your exams?" She asked instead and Jace went mute for a long time before speaking.
"I will ask when the time comes. If I get a first among all the pupils, you promise to grant me my request." He said and Alexa nodded.
"What about me, mommy?" Jade asked, pouting her lips.
"You already said you wanted to go to Disney land, Jade." Alexa groaned tiredly.
"Well, I want a different wish now. I want all of us to go and live with daddy." She said.
"Jade!" Alexa called sternly.
"You were the one who said to make a wish if we pass with a first. And so I'm making mine. Don't be a promise breaker." Jade said cunningly as she squinted her eyes towards her mother and Alexa sighed, taking in a deep breath.
"Fine." She agreed calmly. Jade wasn't really serious with her education like Jace was and she had never really taken a first. She was either third or fourth, so Alexandra didn't put much thought to it. If it was Jace who was either a first or second, she would never agree to that request.
"You promise." Jade said as she rushed upstairs to her room and Jace ran up after her, leaving the three ladies alone.
"What if Jade gets first? Does that mean you'll get married to Liam again." Louisa asked and Alexa sighed.
"Mom, not this." She ended the conversation with that.
~~~
"Call Mr Jordans and ask him to pick up the kids today at school." Alexandra said as she took her seat in the office. It was almost time for them to close for the day.
"Mr Jordans?" Doreen asked, "Are you sure ma'am?"
"I'm sure you heard me right, Doreen. And I also know you know that he is their father." Alexa replied curtly and Doreen pursed her lips,. leaving the office to make the call.
A few minutes later, she walked back into the office.
"I've made the call, ma'am, and also, the president of Helix and Co. is here on an unexpected meeting. He's asking to see you." Doreen said and Alexa sighed.
"Doreen, no one knows my face yet. Why would you think I'll want to meet with the other CEO'S?" She asked.
"He came unexpectedly ma. And also, Helix and Co is one of the top ten model industry. In short, they are on par with Glamour Holdings. I'm sure if we give them a try, we won't lose." Doreen said and Alexa nodded slowly.
"Fine. Let him in." She said and Doreen want back outside, inviting him in.
"Ma? He's here."
Alexa stood up from her seat as she walked towards the door and suprise filled her face. The CEO of Helix and Co was,
"Ryder Welland?"