The House of Allen

Seven

“Levi!” Levi heard someone call his name, but he was still too pissed off to see who was it that ran after him after he made the scene at the pub.

“Hey, wait up!” The voice was closer this time, and now he can hear that whoever it was is a woman.  Still, he felt kind of embarrassed for blowing up like that when all his co-workers were trying to do was to make him feel more at ease around them.

“Gosh, why do you have to walk so fast?” A hand gently grabbed at his shoulder and Levi turned around to see Alex bent over and out of breath from trying to catch up to him.

“Why did you come after me?  Should you not go back there drinking with everyone?” Levi scoffed.  If she was going to tell him off, she would have to wait until Monday to do so.

“I can’t stay there after what you did. “ Alex panted.  Here it is, Levi thought.  He’s going to get scolded by the woman who is technically his boss at work.  “Are you alright?” the woman before him asked and Levi had to stop in his tracks to process what Alex had just said.

“What are you saying?  Shouldn’t you be asking them that instead?  They’re the ones who got shouted at, not me.” Levi asked incredulously.

“They knew they were wrong and are sorry for being all up in your face back there.  But, it’s not about them.  I came to check up on you.  You would not have an outburst like that without a reason, I believe.” Alex said.  Both have now stopped walking and have stopped in front of a bar.

“You’re right.  I’m sorry I had to make a scene like that.” Levi lowered his head, still embarrassed about what he did a few minutes ago.

“Would you like to talk about it?  This bar is very private, we can go inside and no one from the estate will see us.  They don’t go there.  They say the place is too small for them.” Alex said, motioning to the  bar to their left.  Levi nodded and the woman led the way inside.  Maybe she was right, maybe he needed someone to talk to about things.

After finding a seat at the corner and ordering themselves some drinks and platters, Alex apologized once again for the worker’s behavior and promised to give them a scolding come Monday.  Levi however, told her not to do it since the incident was partially his fault.  Levi then decided to open up more once their platters of cheese and sausage arrived accompanied by a bottle of wine.

“I’m sorry I’m just not good with people.  I think without my cousin I would never have made it through university in England, you know.  I didn’t really get to interact much with the workers when I was young either.” Levi explained as he took a slice of cheese from the platter.  These are better than those from Pub Boris, but now is not the time to be making food reviews.

“I understand.  I was once just like that too, but you know how things went for me so I had to force myself to learn how to live like an ordinary person quickly.” Alex shrugged as she poured both of them some wine.

“I don’t think you understand, Alex.  You have not been pressured by your family to take over your business since you were young.” Levi insisted, but covered his mouth abruptly thinking that he came off as rude.

“Your fiancé, Bea, mentioned a bit about me during your welcome party.  I’m surprised you did not pick up on that.  Did Erwin not tell you anything about me, either?” Alex chuckled.

“No.  Can you explain?  I thought Bea was just making things up.” Levi frowned, not understanding anything that Alex was saying.

“She was right.  We went to school together and I was the class salutatorian.  Erwin was also in my year, which is why we knew each other for so long.” The woman explained.

“But that school is exclusive only for the elite.  If you made it there and you actually became a salutatorian, then are you on scholarship or something?” Levi asked as he continued to sample the food in front of him.

“No, my family could afford my tuition back then.  I am sure you have heard of them.  We’re the Cliffords, former owners of the Yellow Brick Estate.” Alex winced at the mention of her former clan.

“W-what?” Levi almost spat his food.  He has not heard of that family name in a long time since he went and stayed with Jaxon’s family to study in the city after high school.

“I was once their only heir.  Like you, I was expected to inherit the family business even if it was not normal for a female to be taking over the business without getting married.  My father trusted me and I treated it as an honor which is why I worked really hard so that I may be worthy to take over the business.  However, like anyone born into that life, I was sheltered and only ever interacted with people of the same status as my family.  Sure, I made friends with people under scholarships at school, but it was different than actually being around ordinary people all the time.  

Since my father was sent to prison on grounds of selling illegal substances about eight years ago, my mother and I lost everything and we were forced to actually take up employment for the first time in our lives.  Your father was kind enough to take me in as a part-time worker while he pays for my education at the community college and after I graduated, he took me in as the manager of the estate of which I am very thankful for and here I am now!  I’m just plain ‘ol Alex drinking cheap wine after a long week at work with her colleague.” Alex smiled as she took a sip of wine. 

Levi studied her face as he processed what she had told him.  He does not recall meeting the heir of the Clifford family which is why she does not look familiar to him.  All he ever heard about was how that sole heir was a woman who is good in her studies and aspired to get into a good university before taking over her family business.  He admired that person even though the stories he heard about them and wanted to be the same kind of heir they were, but he never met them in person before the whole clan came tumbling down after the huge scandal.  

He was staying in the city when it happened and was advised by his family to wait until things settled again in town before returning.  He never did, though, and went straight to England for post grad.  He would have never thought that the heir that he had so admired as a young man is sitting in front of him and – in her own words – drinking cheap wine with her colleague.  No wonder even with the plain clothing and simple leftovers that she brings for lunch, she still had an air of class about her that he could not point his finger on.  

He has never met anybody born into an ordinary family as poised and well-mannered as her, even as she bonded with the workers from the estate and now, he has his answer.  It was in her blood all along.  She may have become an ordinary person after everything that happened in her family but the years of extra classes for etiquette and how to act like a woman of society have stayed with her.

“What I am saying is that it is hard to live this life in the beginning and I am not forcing you to do so.  God, your father will kill me if he sees you acting like Fred or something.  I think one of the reasons why your father wanted you to work here is to appreciate how much your workers contribute to the success of your business.  They may be a group of rowdy men regularly, but they are hard workers.  

Just imagine your business without most of the people out in the field or in the factory doing the hard labor for you.  It would be nothing without them, and that is what your father wanted you to learn before taking over the business.  It is not you who runs this thing.  It is them.  There is a reason why your father puts a lot of value in his workers no matter what the Gibsons tell him, you know.” Alex explained when Levi failed to respond.

“I-I understand.  I promise I will try to be more understanding of the workers next time.” Levi stuttered out, slowly making sense of what Alex had said.

“Don’t promise me.  Promise it to yourself.  The world is always a little better if people are more positive.” Alex winked at Levi, making his heart skip a beat but he chose to ignore it and decided to spend the rest of the night enjoying the food and drinks with his colleague.