A FAMILY AFFAIR

CHAPTER 4: ENGAGED

AVARYL’S POV

“Fiancé?”

I was melting in my seat as Allen drove us back from the restaurant.

“Why would you tell him that?” He queried.

Although he didn’t sound harsh, I was filled with diffidence and wouldn’t dare to look at his face.

“I’m so sorry,” I repeated, the only thing I had on my lips for the last ten minutes.

“I panicked and had to confirm his assumptions,” I said, my words terribly shaking.

“Mr. Brown assumed you were my fiancée?” he asked.

Actually, I lied about that.

In the short while of Allen’s absence, Audrey had called Alvin, and I was quite triggered by how lovey-dovey they both sounded, even after all these years.

“So, I see your father found another person for you to leech on,” Alvin fired at me.

I stared at him and couldn’t take his insults. I wasn’t going to take that from him, after humiliating me and leaving me with a child for years.

“Unlike you, Allen is a man of himself and makes his own decisions, not trembling at the words of his old grandfather,

He is the loveliest person I ever met, and we are getting married.

You can go ahead and choke on your pain and jealousy,”

I ranted a response, just before Allen returned.

All through the meeting, I kept on hoping and praying that Alvin would not bring it and I was almost rejoicing by the end of the meeting, when Alvin shook Allen’s hands and said,

“Congratulations on your engagement,” leaving Allen in shock, and me, embarrassed.

Allen took an unusual turn and I had to ask,

“Where are you going?”

“Aren’t you going to visit your Fiancé’s apartment?” He said, teasingly.

I bowed my head and ended the protest, even though I was uncomfortable about the setting sun and the dark sky taking over.

We parked in front of a two-floor apartment and Allen ushered me in.

“Quite a decent place,” I commented, taking in the interior design.

I was intrigued by art and, clearly, Allen was also an art enthusiast.

“So, why are we here?” I queried,

“I figured since we are now engaged, you might want to move in with me,” Allen said,

My heart sank at his words and my shock could not be concealed.

Allen erupted into hearty laughter.

I knew I wasn’t going to hear the last of it, and all I wanted now was to quit the contract and return to the hidden life of the coffee shop.

“Relax,” he said,

“I will play your little game,” Allen took a few steps towards me.

“But, I’d be taking something in return.”

I was terrified by his odd closeness and I wanted to call it off there and then, but found myself unable to articulate any words.

“What do you want?” I was shivering, and my voice was barely above a whisper.

Allen stared deep into my eyes, his face barely a breath away from mine and our lips almost touching, as his hand went beside my hands to the counter behind me.

“Here,” he said, pulling a ring box from behind me.

“What? I can’t accept that,” I protested.

I was a heart shaped diamond ring, and it was obviously very expensive.

“If you’re going to act it, then you have to look the part,” he said, insisting I take the ring from him.

“Buckle up, you’re going to be seeing your ex-husband more often over the next couple of days,”

It felt like I was sitting on a bed of nails, hearing Allen announce that.

I took the ring from Allen and stared at him, still wondering what was in it for him.

The next official meeting was scheduled for the next day, and I had on my best clothes, now ready to act the part.

“What do you have on?” Allen questioned, as I walked towards his packed car, in front of the coffee shop.

Aiden, my daughter and I lived in the coffee shop, unbeknownst to anyone.

Allen, of course, had to embarrass me. I took a second look at myself, in the most decent corporate outfit I had.

Allen erupted into laughter, and I was slowly beginning to find his sense of humor annoying.

“You’re not the managing director, Ava,” he said, “We do not submit files to you.”

His words were choking in his hearty laughter.

“Common, let’s fix that,” Allen pulled open the car door- a subtle gesture I found really sweet.

Our first stop for the day was the boutique, where I got a full makeover.

Allen had selected my outfit- a short, flay, white gown, sleeveless with rope hands, and we paired that with black four-inch heels.

My hair was packed in a bun and my makeup was done. All accompanied by a black shinny purse.

“Now, you’re ready,” Allen said, as I walked out of the makeover, meeting up with him at the reception.

I looked at the smile on Allen’s face and could not believe he had waited an hour and thirty minutes, and paid heavily for my glamour.

All through the drive, I was sweating bullets, as I tried to cover my exposed thighs.

I wasn’t adapted to outfits like this, but I was willing to do anything to get back at Alvin, now that the opportunity was there.

Alvin was standing in front of the office, where the meeting was being held, when we drove in, and I couldn’t get over the stun on his face when Allen turned around to get the door for me.

Alvin had his jaw on the floor, and he was frozen in disbelief as we took the short walk from the car to the entrance stairs, where he stood.

Seeing that my plan was perfectly falling in place, I leaned in and placed a kiss on Allen’s cheek, an action that left all three of us stunned.