Feigning Affection

Chapter One

Namika Acyrille's Point of View



"I'll handle her for you." I confusedly looked at the man.

I don't think I've ever seen him before.

Who is he and why is he meddling with my life?

"You think you can handle him, Cavelli?" Ryu challenged him, and the man just shrugged his shoulders.

"One month is too long. Once we left, there was no turning back, bro. You need to deal with her all the time we are away. " Shaun said, trying to confirm if the man was hell damn serious.

But wait a minute... a month away??

Are they leaving?

"Where are you guys going?" I asked, so confused. My brothers look at me as well as my dad.

"Yeah, you're so busy partying and going out that you missed the news that all of our businesses are in trouble right now." Ryu said, making me feel guilty.

"We need to go there by ourselves to fix things." Shaun added.

I think this is serious. Shaun rarely assists our father and Ryu with running the business. It only happens when daddy has already requested assistance.

"I volunteer to babysit her." The man butted into the conversation again.

What the hell?

Babysit?

What am I? Baby?

Is he going to be my babysitter? For Real?

Is he nuts or just a dumb man who did not have anything to do with his life that he chose to meddle with mine?

My brothers laughed at him because the man was looking very serious. Is this a joke or something? My dad smiled and his face was so calm, like he already had plans for me.

"Princess, me and your brothers need to take our separate flights to handle our business in Saudi, Rome, and America. Your mom is planning to go with me, and I am planning to take you with me as well. Ryu and Shaun suggested that you stay here and learn your lesson. Mr. Cavelli here volunteered to help you find a job, and when you are earning your own money, that's the right time for you to spend it in the ways that you wanted. I will not meddle with your decisions. " My dad said, and my eyes widened.

Job? Me? No way.

"Daddy! No way! Why do I need to work? " I started to throw tantrums, firmly shaking my head at his ideas.

I never imagine myself being an employee of anyone. No one's going to tell me what to do. I should be the boss, not the other way around.

"You asked for this. You are acting like a brat lately, and I think it's time for you to realize everything. You don't want us in your life, right? Then your wish becomes our command. " Shaun said, and my world felt like it was crushed under my feet.

I thought they loved me.

I thought they would do everything for me.

Why are they doing this? Why are they pushing me away?

"I'll give you an initial allowance for the first month. It's for the payment of rental and groceries. You need a job to sustain yourself. I'm sorry Princess, but you need this. I want you to learn" my dad said with finality.

"Fine." I walked out feeling annoyed at them.

I marched to my bedroom with a heavy heart.

Actually, the thought of living alone without my dad's cards and my luxurious way of life is making me cry. I started packing my things. I take my luggage out of my walk-in closet and try to throw away anything I think is necessary.

"Try to find work, huh? I'll prove them wrong. I can do this. " I said, convincing myself that I could.

I just need to find a job and olla! I will have money and I can buy whatever I want. I can party and drink without anyone going against me.

That's easy peasy.

After taking all my things, I asked one of the maids to help me bring my luggage down. If I need to move out, I'll do it today.

There's no need to postpone it to tomorrow, and there's no reason to stay here anyway.

"You are too excited to live on your own." Shaun said as soon as they went down and saw that I was already packed and ready to go. I think their meeting has already ended.

Standing in front of me are the four boys who are all looking at me weirdly. Shaun is smirking. Maybe he is thinking that I can't do this. As for Ryu, I can't read him. He is blankly staring at my luggage. My dad looks sad, and the annoying man is looking cool with his hands in his pockets.

"You can stay here till we leave, princess. There's no need to rush. " My dad tried to stop me, but no. There's no point in prolonging this.

"I'm going to leave anyway, so why not do it today?" I said, brushing my hair using my fingers.

"I'll ask Joe to drive you to the apartment that I chose for you then." My dad said.

"I can take her there. I am going to pass on the same street anyway, so I better drop her off ", the man suggested again.

I took a look at him. He doesn't look nice though. I mean, he is freaking handsome, but he looks unapproachable and cold. He has this bossy aura, which is why he looks so intimidating. I think he sometimes poses in magazines or walks in runaways because he looks like a model. His chiseled jawline, perfect pointed nose, plump and full-looking lips, green emerald eyes, and his messy hair can make all women fall for him.

I'm glad I'm not into boys. I like girls who are like me.

Pretty with a to-die-for body.

"Do you need me to accompany you?" Ryu asked me, and he looked worried all of a sudden.

I never tried living without maids to help me from day to day. I'm spoiled, I admit, and what I am doing right now is new to me.

"No, I'm fine. I can do this. " I said, trying to hide how frightened I was about living alone in a new place.

They wanted this, didn't they? So, they don't have the right to care. Ryu and Shaun helped me with my luggage.

"I think this is not a good idea," Ryu said as he looked at Primo's car. I agree with him, though. My big luggage is definitely not a good idea for his car.

"You take her and I'll follow her bags afterwards." Shaun volunteered.

"OK, then, let's go." I was about to enter his car when the gate opened, revealing my mom's car.

She parked right beside Dad's car. It's so nice that we actually have a big garage for my dad and brother’s car collections. They share the same interest in cars. I never collect cars because I just need one. My mom approaches me first and gives me a kiss on the cheeks the moment she steps out of the car. She is still in her Judo Gi, or martial arts outfit.

She looks confusedly at my luggage. "Hey sweetie, what's with the luggage?"

"I am leaving. I'm going to live on my own because I'm being a brat, "I said, rolling my eyes at my brothers.

I am confident they will be yelled at for this.

"A brat? Who told you that? " My mom said, sounding annoyed at whoever said I was a brat.

"Shaun and Ryu and dad too." I pointed at them one by one.

My brothers quickly looked in different directions to avoid coming into contact with my mom’s death glare. My dad is whistling, looking at the ceiling, pretending not to know anything. They fear her.

"What's this, Benjamin?" She walks to my dad and firmly holds his arm. My dad's face turned into a grimace of pain. I can say that mom's holding hurts. Well, my mom is not a typical mom. She is a martial artist and a car racer. Though she has already quit car racing because of her dad, she keeps her passion for martial arts.

She owns a martial arts school and she's an instructor there. Teaching little kids with her passion

"Mom, it's fine." I assured her, but it didn't stop her from walking to my brothers, pulling their ears. I laughed at how their faces became distorted because of pain.

"Ouch, mom." Shaun moves away from Mom. "She's a brat. You should stop spoiling her more. " He added while holding his now-reddish ear.

My mom hit him hard in his arms. Double kill. I think he needs to stop talking back if he values his life. He never wins against her. No one does. Not even my dad.

"How dare you tell that to your only sister?" My mom is taking this seriously.

"Mom, stop tolerating her." Ryu said, and here we are again.

"Let them tell me whatever they want. I'm still going anyway. " I walked to where my mom was and pulled her away from my brothers before she did anything bad to them.

"But where will you go?" she asked me, and her eyes looked so worried.

"To the apartment where dad wants me to stay. No worries, I'll survive without your money. I'll find a job. "I smiled at her for assurance.

She smiled back, but afterwards glared at my dad. I think this will cause a war between them. True to my words, my mom started yelling at him. She's telling him that he should be considerate of me and a lot more words I don't want to hear.

"Let's go?" I asked my brother's friend, who is weirdly watching us. I bet he finds my family a bunch of lunatics and weirdos.

He opened his car and I entered swiftly, not bothering to wave and say goodbye to my family. Primo ran to the other side of the car to finally get in.

I close my eyes and massage my temples.

"Ready?" he asked, and I simply nodded, not opening my eyes throughout the whole ride.

Damn life.