Chapter 93 Guests, Already?

Chapter 93 Guests, Already?
Alezandra's P.O.V

Andrea was still in the shower when I heard the doorbell all the way from upstairs. It echoed through the hallways, sounding as if there were speakers hidden inside the walls.
It was quarter past nine, and Liam was a few doors down in his new bedroom. He was still asleep, snoring the last time I'd gone to check on him.

My pink silk robe hung open as I rubbed oil onto my skin. I had been hoping to surprise Andrea when he got out of the shower.
The bell rang again.

I quickly tied the robe and stood from our bed.
Then it clicked.

All of the house staff left at exactly eight o'clock. Except for the head of security, who I had yet to meet. I was told he never came anywhere near the villa and only did his rounds around the perimeter of the estate.
Maybe one of the house staff had forgotten something.

By the time I made it downstairs and reached the front door, someone started banging on it before I could even grab the handle.

"For fuck's sake..." I muttered under my breath before opening it.

"I told you, they're probably sleeping-"

A man stood on the doorstep looking down at his watch. He wore loafers, knee-length khaki shorts, and a V-neck T-shirt from one of Andrea's favorite brands.

A woman stood beside him with a baking pan cradled in her hands. The aroma drifting from it hinted that it was lasagna.

Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back in curls, and her skin-tight pink dress barely covered her tiny ass. Her toenails were painted white, and the only thing I found remotely cute about her were her sandals.
For some reason, I could already tell I wasn't going to like her.

Whoever she was.

They continued muttering amongst themselves a short distance from the door, and for a second I wondered if they'd hear it close if I simply pretended not to see them and went back inside.

"Can I help you?" I finally asked.

"Oh, hi there!"

Thin lips stretched into a smile as large blue eyes found my face.
I immediately recognized a fake when I saw one.

Given my past experience working in male-dominated spaces, I'd gotten pretty good at reading women. I could usually tell exactly what type of person someone was before getting to know them.

"Hi... and you are?"

My eyes flicked toward the man just in time to catch his gaze lingering on my chest.
I immediately remembered I was wearing a thin silk robe with absolutely nothing underneath.

Given the cool night air, the lit driveway, and the lighting pouring out from the foyer behind me, my nipples were probably noticeable.
It didn't help that I'd just been upstairs with Andrea.

"I'm Becky, and this is my husband, Daniel. We're your neighbours—the next house down from yours."

Surprisingly, she spoke with an American accent.

I frowned.

"Oh, um-"

The presence of Andrea coming up behind me rewired my brain entirely and left my throat dry.

He smelled amazing... It was his body wash.

"I totally forgot that I was supposed to introduce you guys this evening," Andrea said, stepping around me to greet our guests.

"I didn't expect us to leave the hotel so late. Since we arrived later than planned, we missed your lunch invitation."

The fact that I'd finished moisturizing and dragged my feet getting downstairs had given him ample time to get dressed.

He wore grey sweats, a white T-shirt, socks and MY bed slippers.

"That's totally understandable," Daniel replied.

"Did you guys eat? Becky thought it would be nice to bring dinner over since you couldn't make it earlier."

Andrea shook Daniel's hand before pulling him into the most brotherly, familiar hug.

Then I had to stand there and watch Becky practically press herself against Andrea as if I wasn't right beside him.

I'm sure she knew exactly who I was.

"That's very thoughtful," Andrea said. "Please, come in. Eat with us."

Andrea invited his guests into our home.
If he had been paying attention, he would've noticed I wasn't exactly in the mood.

"See?" Becky said brightly. "I told you. When he's busy, he forgets to eat."

And how exactly would she know that?
Becky's mouth practically never stopped moving once she entered the house.

With a roll of my eyes, I slammed the front door a little harder than necessary.

As we made our way toward the dining room, passing the kitchen on our left, she couldn't stop commenting on the house.

How much nicer it was than theirs and how she'd wished she'd bought this villa instead. She kept going in about how the natural lighting was perfect and I've lost count of the times she spoke about the marble countertops and how they were to die for.

Fuck.

Andrea chuckled politely through it all, though Daniel seemed more than a little embarrassed by his wife's enthusiasm.

"Alex, I don't think you've officially met the Maxwells," Andrea said clearly in an attempt to get Becky to shut the hell up.

"This is Becky, the wife, and Daniel Maxwell. A good friend of mine."

"How did you guys meet?" It probably sounded rude, but I genuinely wanted to know.

"Well, Maxwell and I go way back," Andrea started.

"College days." This made Daniel grin.

"He was a pain in the ass back then too."

Andrea ignored his friend.

"However, I met Becky at my office. She'd been working for me for three years before I realized she was married to Daniel. I'd invited her to a company dinner party and was surprised when she showed up with my old friend and introduced him as her husband."

"Ah," I said slowly.

"I see." I smiled politely. I didn't particularly care if they saw through the facade.

The smell of the lasagna alone was already making me nauseous, and they hadn't even uncovered it yet.

We settled around the dining table while Andrea retrieved plates and silverware from the kitchen.

"Sorry, guys," he called.

"If I'm moving a little sloppy, my house staff already left for the night."

"You have house staff?" Becky piped up, her eyebrows narrowing before she could hide the envy in her expression.

I almost shook my head in disgust.

Who asks that?!

"Yes," Andrea answered casually as if it were the most normal thing in the world.

"It helps keep things running smoothly."

"Wow." Becky's eyes travelled around the dining room again.

"It must be nice." I caught the way Daniel subtly nudged her beneath the table.

"Bec," he warned.

"What?" she answered almost innocently.

"I'm just saying..."

I rested my chin against my palm and watched the exchange unfold.

There was definitely more to this couple than meets the eye... And judging by the way the 'wife' couldn't seem to stop staring at Andrea every time he spoke, I had a feeling she was going to be the reason why this will be their first and last visit here.