An awkward silence engulfed the room, Ben was just busy on his phone and Jennie thought of all she could say and do to get him to look at her, to get him to pay attention to her with keen unswerving dedication just like he was staring at the screen of his mobile.If she didn't make any move whatsoever there was never going to be any form of progress between them, and she knew that. Jennie recalled her father's words to her, more than just what he had said about his ambitions and advantages that would come from associating with Ben, she wanted him for herself, badly.Noticing the heat of her eyes on him he turned to her."What were you saying about having something you need my help with?""Oh, actually now that I think of it, it's nothing major or severely important, we can always get to that or maybe I could just do that when Karl comes back. I'd rather trouble him since it isn't that serious."Ben stared at her, a hint of suspicion in his eyes but then he returned his gaze to what he
Aliyah tried to make sense of the whole thing but she was having a stroke of awful luck with that. She was confronted with the great dilemma of how to interpret Ben's words. Jennie suddenly took her bag and dashed out of the house in anger after the altercation. Aliyah remained where she was because she knew that if Jennie had spotted her she would transfer all her annoyance and displeasure onto her. She didn't see why anything concerning her would escalate such an argument between them. At least she knew that she was not going to be seeing Jennie's face for a while, with the way she left in anger. She went back to her room and got changed before going back to the kitchen. "I thought you said you were going out somewhere?" Viola asked"Well apparently not anymore," she walked up to the island at the center of the kitchen and rested her stretched arms upon them. "Guess that's good then, you didn't seem pleased about it in the first place," Viola stated. "Yeah." Aliyah smiled faint
It was a few days before the event that Aliyah's head had been wrapped around for a few weeks now.Her friend Clarice, whom she happened to meet by chance at the party, had informed her about it and she had promised without any such assurance that she would make it to the hangout. Since she had cleared up the cooking problem she was free to finally figure out a way to solve this problem. Dwelling on the reunion with her friends, Aliyah had been unable to bring it up for several reasons which included Ben's altercation with Jennie. He had been going around the house like she was invisible and he wanted nothing to do with her, which was odd since he was normally up to something. While she was usually happy about that. It gave her no relief thinking about what the man had in mind. But all of a sudden today he informed her that he was going to drop her off at his Grandfather's place, perhaps the elderly man had called for her, he didn't say. Now she was getting to the point where she'
Despite Cecile's naughty behavior and rude responses, Ben didn't seem to mind at all. Perhaps he had on a thick skin today or he just didn't care, which was even more unbelievable what Cecile just said to him. Aliyah was beyond surprised, blankly staring at the duo, and also knowing fully well that if it had been her, Ben would have lunged at her in fury by now. Like a predator pouncing on its prey. He just stared at Cecile, his eyes spoke of his displeasure like he was fed up with her childish and silly behavior, after a while Cecile breathed out and moved her gaze from him, suddenly avoiding eye contact in guilt. Maybe she realized that she had pushed it a bit far, and in a bid to steer the conversation away from her misbehavior she added: "He went back in his study and said he would be here in five minutes," she shrugged before taking a seat across from Ben. Ben flicked his eyes around the room, as if checking to see if the old mam would suddenly appear, then he stood up, "I do
Aliyah seemed shocked for a while before she quickly regained composure before her expression was noticed.That was one revelation she didn't think she'd be hearing today. Cecile looked away like she'd rather stare at something else than look him in the eye and, then her eyes suddenly turned to Aliyah, like she didn't want her to be here all of a sudden, hearing her getting scolded. Aliyah blinked. On hearing her grandfather's scolding, Cecile quickly got up and waltzed off in annoyance before the old man could get on with a long-ass lecture in front of a stranger. Mr Vawn's eyes held a grim expression of worry in them. He sighed. "Kids these days, What exactly is their problem?" He raised both his hands briefly before dropping them down to his side in obvious frustration. Aliyah stared in the direction Cecile had walked off before her gaze darted back to Mr Vawn as her mind wandered off. What the hell is going on? She is Ben's sister? That revelation hit her like a ton of brick
The question came as a surprise to Aliyah, maybe he was still trying to make sure what he was seeing between them wasn't just some fabrication or deliberate act to deceive him. That came out of nowhere and she was battling in her mind to think of the right answer she could give. There was no right answer she could think of cause since she had come to know Ben this past few weeks, he was many things, many vile things, but she obviously couldn't say that. That wasn't what the old man was waiting to hear, and saying such would destroy everything they had shown him, even the dumbest person would know that. Aliyah searched in the world of her mind for one redeeming quality that he had that she could narrow upon. 'His unswerving dedication and determination to achieve his goals reached me, I guess' That was the first thing she thought to say about him but she scrapped up the answer and threw it in the bin of her mind. Aliyah was going to have to think of a much more solid and convin
Did he figure it out? That this was all a lie. All she said about her affection for Ben. Were her words not convincing enough? Had her face given her act away? The heat of the situation and the blazing flurry of questions engulfed her mind and body. "Now tell me," he continued, Aliyah swallowed the gulp that formed in her throat as she waited on edge to hear the old man's next words. "What's weighing so heavily in your mind? I'm sure it must have to do with Ben, what has he done?" he asked her, displaying pure concern about her. Aliyah's brows quirked in realization. The relief that swept through her was calmly huge, pleased that the words that came forth from his mouth weren't what she had thought he was insinuating. As much as she tried to conceal the issue that had been bugging her mind it seemed like the old man had managed to sniff it out. Since the old man was showing genuine concern, she had to at least say something, there was no better way to build a connection with a
"What!?" Cecile blurted out in a rising tone, her discontent with that decision was plain as daylight on her face. ”But we could just hire a professional chef to take me lessons does it have to be her?""I thought you've been wanting to prepare a decent enough meal yourself? I've hired five different connoisseurs in cooking and you just run to me saying they are bad teachers and that I should get you a new teacher. Unless you are no longer interested this is the condition I have." It was not up for debate, her eyes darkened, as she glared at Aliyah. Like she wanted to drag her by the hair and throw her out. Cecile was silent, contemplating the whole idea, Mr. Vawn, her Grandfather made sure to stamp his foot on it and as much as she was a tough nut to crack, he was one person she didn't like to offend, wanting to learn cooking to make something for him made clear how much she held him in high regard. Aliyah glanced at Cecile with soft eyes. Hearing that she had turned away five pro