LOVE BEYOND REALMS

THE UNEXPECTED INVITATION

CHAPTER 8

Knock, knock!! there was knock at the door again which was unexpected and jarring, coming barely a few minutes after Alexa had devoured the snacks Emma, one of the mansion's maids, had delivered. The savory aroma of the snacks still lingered in the air, making her stomach feel slightly heavy. What was going on? Alexa wondered.

Usually, no one bothered her when she was in her room unless her stepmom, Emily, and her daughter, Mirabel, wanted to cause trouble for her. But they never knocked calmly; they knocked aggressively and barged in the moment she opened the door.This knock was different though, it was neither soft not aggressive.

Alexa's curiosity got the better of her as she walked to the door. Opening it, she found another maid standing before her, a hint of mockery dancing in her eyes.

"Master Brooks is back, and he demands your presence downstairs in 30 minutes for dinner with the family," the maid said, her voice devoid of emotion. Without waiting for a response, the maid turned and left, leaving Alexa to ponder the unusual summons. Alexa watched her retreating figure until she vanished completely from sight.

As she retreated back into her room, Alexa felt a mix of confusion and apprehension. Her father, Brooks Anderson, was finally back from his one-week business trip, and he wanted her to join him and the rest of the family for dinner? It wasn't like him to show such interest in her well-being. Usually, his return was only announced so she could pay her respects to him as the master of the mansion.

Alexa's mind wandered as she stared at the ceiling, trying to think of reasons why her father would invite her down for dinner. But none seemed plausible. She thought about her father's cold demeanor, his strict expectations, and the distance between them. "Damn it, why do I have to think about this so hard? I will know the reason I've been invited downstairs for dinner in 30 minutes time anyway" she muttered, "Wait! 30 minutes? Isn't it way past 30 minutes since I was informed?" Panic set in as she jumped down from the bed and fumbled with the duvet, searching for her phone to check the time. "Found it," she said to herself as her hands brushed against the phone beneath the duvet.

She quickly grabbed her phone and checked the time – 6:28 pm. Relief washed over her as she saw she had two more minutes to get ready for dinner.

Breathing a sigh of relief, she walked into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and placed her palms under the running water, the gentle running water soothed her frazzled nerves. She watched the water flow for a few seconds before scooping some and gently splashing it on her face, feeling a bit more relaxed. She repeated the process twice before stopping the water. Grabbing a towel, she dabbed at her face, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

As she exited the bathroom, Alexa headed downstairs, the grand staircase curved downward like a sweeping ribbon. The sound of her footsteps echoed through the hallway. As she descended, she heard Emily and Mirabel's laughter and conversation, their voices growing louder with each step. A pang of longing stirred within her. She wished her mother was still alive, that she could share in the laughter and warmth of the moment. But then, her mind wandered to the mysterious man from her dream, and her heartbeats quickened. "b***h, what the hell are you doing standing there like a ghost?" Mirabel shouted upon noticing Alexa's presence. Alexa snapped back to reality, looking a bit flustered.

As she moved towards the table, her eyes met Emily's cold gaze. "You b***h, didn't you hear what my daughter said to you just now?" Emily hissed. "What were you doing standing there like a ghost? Mirabel and I have been seated here for a while now. My husband would be coming down soon to join us. Do you want to get to the table at the same time he does? That would be the highest form of disrespect, and I won't allow that to happen in my presence."

Clomp, clomp, clomp, Alexa suddenly heard the sound of approaching footsteps. Alexa's eyes drifted towards the stairs she had just descended, she caught sight of her father, Brooks Anderson, descending in an expensive-looking suit. His aura was oppressive, his expressionless face turned to check the time on his luxurious wristwatch. The sound of the watch's ticking seemed to grow louder as he approached.

Alexa quickly hurried to her seat, pulling out the dining chair and sitting down, her heart racing like it wanted to escape her chest. "Hmph, stupid girl," Emily huffed in disgust.

"Hi, Auntie, hi Mirabel," Alexa managed to say, but neither her stepmom nor Mirabel responded, their attention fixed on Brooks Anderson, who had just arrived at the table. They greeted Brooks warmly, and he nodded in response, his gaze shifting to Alexa. "Hi, Father, welcome back from your trip," Alexa said, trying to maintain a composed tone despite her nervousness.

The dinner table was set with fine china and crystal glasses, the silverware glinting in the dim light. The aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, making Alexa's stomach growl with hunger.

As Brooks took his seat, the room fell silent. Emily and Mirabel watched him with expectant eyes, waiting for him to begin the meal. Alexa, on the other hand, kept her gaze fixed on her plate, her heart racing with anticipation. What did her father want from her? Why had he summoned her to dinner? She thought back to their strained relationship, the distance between them, and the unspoken tension that always seemed to linger. As the silence stretched on, Alexa felt her anxiety grow. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change, that her father's return marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life.