Devil’s Dinner

The face behind the mask

Ashley coughed out and exchanged glances with Xander who gave her a soft chuckle.

Xander picked his phone and started typing again but Mrs.Grimes asked him to eat first.

“He must be texting her again” Ashley thought to herself.

Xander stopped the phone and continued his breakfast.

I’m few minutes,they were done and Mrs.Grimes carried Mr.Grimes briefcase along with him to the car,same with Ashley.

ASHLEY

The weirdest family I have ever seen in my life,I have so many questions and curiosity to be confirmed. I wonder if this old woman is just being kind as a good wife or this is also her following her rules.

Everything in this house is with rules same with me being in a contractual marriage with the son.

I walked carefully behind Mrs.Grimes and I watch her hand over the briefcase with a straight look but I must not do that I guess, we need to show her it is a happy marriage.

With smile on my face, I hand over the briefcase to him and he plant a kiss on my forehead. I was caught off guard that I could not move away from my position,it was good if only it was a sincere affection.

“I’m happy you both are getting along well,it shows you are ready”Mr.Grimes said with a chuckle.

I came back from my thought and watch him leave without uttering a word.

I just can’t get his thoughts, no matter how hard I try... he seems invisible and hard to penetrate into.

Just as planned, I waved to him till he was out of sight.

Mrs.Grimes turned away from the gate and I decided to use this chance to tell her about my afternoon plan.

“Mother can I go pick Kalyan up from school this afternoon please?” I manage to voice out of my sore throat clasped with nervousness.

She gave me this murderous look for a while before she finally talked.

“Okay make sure not to come back late,I know you might want to spend some time outside so take my credit card with you” she said and entered without allowing me to say anything further.

These people will not drive me crazy, I guess this is where Xander got his illness from,the split personality of a thing.

Anyway I’m happy.

I quickly ran to my room to start sorting out dress to wear,my closet is no more like before so my look from now on is going to change I guess.

I was going through my closet when a message came on my phone and so I dropped the evening gown with me to check my messages. I wonder who it is from.

Behold,the message came from Xander and I’m seeing 10 messages,two things got me tended up already. First is how he got my number when he didn’t even ask for it and why 10 unread messages just today.

I was hesitant to click on it at first but then I did and the last part is not really food with me.

“Michael came by yesterday,did you sign the contract already?”

I frowned at it and angrily replied it with “I did already,happy?”

I clicked on send button and dropped my phone before i fell on the bed beside my phone.

Hold on,is that what all the ten messages is about?

With a second thought,I picked my phone again and scrolled up to see more.

“Is that your way of saying thanks? I just saved you from Mother”

Oh my God,he was texting me during breakfast and not that lover of his.

“Say thanks now already”

“You won’t?”

“You should escort me to the car”

“Trust me it’s part of the rules”

“And nothing more”

“Oh I guess you didn’t come with your phone”

“Have a nice day surviving the house”

“Avoid Mother”

“Michael came around yesterday right,did you sign the papers?”

I dropped my phone and resumed to checking out my closet.

DREAMWAY

Kayla is seen with her two friends in the cafeteria but she’s eating quietly which is unusual.

Rachel decided to cheer her up by gaining her attention.

“Wow see this actress,she is so pretty to be 19 Jeremy check this out” she said waving her phone to Jeremy and eyeing Kalyan at the same time but she is not responding.

“Hey Kay, what’s wrong with you ?” She said.

Kalyan gulp down her drink before replying Rachel “What do you mean Rachel? I’m eating”

“That is not eating Kay,we know something is troubling you” Jeremy added.

They both had this serious look on and observed her carefully which made Kalyan give up and speak out.

“Fine fine... I’m not that okay,not physically though it is just that I have been emotionally unstable since the wedding” she explained with a gloomy look.

Rachel went to her side and sat with her.

“We know that already,you have to be strong and watch out for the worst okay?” Rachel said.

“Somehow I feel the worse has already happened...” she said trailing off her words.

“The wedding?” Jeremy inquired.

“No, not that...I think there is something more to the old woman of Grimes and my past, I just can’t point out what it is yet” she said.

“Really? How is that? How did you come up with that?” Rachel asked putting her phone on the table.

“Do you guys know any doctor that can help me? I need a therapist... I feel like my past is missing somehow, some of my memories are missing” she said.

Jeremy sighed and touched her neck.

“What did you do that for?” Kalyan exclaimed.

“Just checking if you are okay, how old are you that you’re being so messed up like this?” Jeremy said teasingly.

“I’m not joking guys, let me know in case you find one” she said.

She resumed back to eating and her eyes caught a news on Rachel’s phone.

It is concerning the talented lawyer of the Grimes.

Kalyan recognized him to be Michael and she clicked on it.

“Oh Michael Grimes?” Rachel said.

“You guys saw him at the wedding right?” Kalyan inquired.

“Yes we did,I wonder what the news is about” she said and started reading it together with Rachel.

THE ROYAL PALACE

Mr.Grimes arrived at the palace with Xander and they were welcomed by the cabinets and Lady Vivian too joined the meeting.

Mr.Grimes brought up his suggestion and since he is in control of the cabinet,they did not try to oppose him and that rendered the princess helpless.

She didn’t expect this to come so fast,immediately after the wedding at that.

She smiled and postponed the votes to the next meeting.

“I will take my leave now” she said and stood up to leave.

“Yes your highness,we understand it is an issue that will set things straight in the court” one of the baron said.

“I’m glad you know that” Princess Vivian said and left.

Mr.Grimes introduced Xander properly and he said his greetings to everyone.

He continued his discussion and asked Xander to meet with Lady Vivian.

“You both should talk,it’s been a while you talked if I’m right” he said.

“Yes father “ Xander said and left the meeting room.

Xander went to the princess villa and the maids announced his arrival.

She grants his access and she welcomed him with a smile.

“How have you been?” Princess Vivian questioned with a smile on her face.

“I’m good my lady,trust you’ve been good too” he said.

Princess Vivian heaved a heavy sigh and then covered it up with a smile.

“It is just funny how we grew apart from being close friends to close enemies” she said.

“Things happens Sis... just like what happened when we lost contacts for years” he expressed his mind.

“I miss hearing that title from you Xander, I’m so sorry if I was could not convince you enough to trust me back then and now...” she said.

“It is all useless now” Xander said and sniffles in to hide his emotion.

Princess Vivian approached him with the sisterly love she has for him but he took two steps back...

“I appreciate you for watching out for me and telling me the bitter truth... but I’m sorry I can’t help you, father is determined already” he explained.

“Just a hint, a hint that you want my help, I promise to turn up and there is something you should know too” she said.

“I should leave now” he said.

“I found her for you” Princess Vivian voiced our and Xander halt his steps.

He was hesitant for a while and would like to ask further but he stopped himself.

“Years have passed,I don’t want to meet her when I have become so dangerous to be called a man” Xander said and exit the princess room.

May entered immediately Xander left and she checked if her lady was okay.

“What else are they trying to do after drafting out plans to snatch the throne?” She questioned.

“Xander is not like that, I know him... his family killed the good in him” she said as she wiped the tears forming in her eyes.

GRIMES MANSION

A car arrived at the Grimes mansion and Mrs.Grimes ordered the maids to move the package to Ashley’s room while she also kept some with her.

Ashley wonders what the package contains and she start unwrapping them one after the other.

“Wow, my things from New York “ she exclaimed happily.

She started arranging her things,starting from her favorite strawberry perfume which was made specially for her by her mother. She stopped using it when her mom passed away because she was not there to replace it with a new one every time she exhaust it.

The little in the glass with her,she kept it for remembrance.

She smiled as she place it on the mirror table.

Then she received a message from Kalyan,she was surprised and when she clicked on it,it was a news about Michael.

“I wonder why she sent this to me” she muttered as she started scrolling down.

“A young man who caught the heart of the Grimes!! The kid who got lucky!!

Michael was adopted by the Grimes on their visit to Hope Orphanage because he held on to the kind man and since then he was given their first name, was given education and good life.

Today he has become a successful man and working hard to become useful for the family by being the family lawyer,having their back and protecting the family name.

Reading his story further,Ashley felt pity for him as she understand how lonely it is to be an orphan.

She felt bad for thinking bad of him and according to the rumors that he always covers the Grimes family crimes.

“Is he going to do the same with me? Come to think of it... how did the brides end up dying?” She thought to herself.

“Xander doesn’t look like a murderous type though I feel his head is dark sometimes and Michael also... although I find this family strange but how dangers can they be? And for what?”

She continued talking to herself till she was almost confused.

DREAMWAY

It is the last class for the day and Kalyan was about to text her sister when the principal came inside for an announcement.

“All students should report to the big hall,there will be a short class for words of encouragement from one of the successful people in our society today “

The students eager voice turned to that of murmurs and seems they just want to go home.

Kalyan typed her message and clicked on send.

“Our guest for today is Mr.Michael Grimes,I’m sure you’ve all heard of him”

The students started cheering immediately especially the girls prolly because of his good look while some maintained their face of indifference.

“Wow,we just read about him today” Rachel said to Kalyan.

GRIMES MANSION

Ashley is fully dressed and she made her move on seeing Kalyan’s message.