Chapter 7 Don't Sneak up on Me

Leaning against the balustrade glass in my balcony, with a glass of tequila in my hand. The morning breeze was cool and soothing to the body. I looked down at my house keeper who was busy trimming the overgrown flowers in the garden with extreme care. I heard the door of my room opening and closing and I turned around to see my personal maid, Claire, standing some feet away from me with her head lowered a bit.

Claire became my personal maid two years ago, after her parents were killed by my father's rivalry. Her dad was my father's driver before he died. My father offered a job to work for me while she was still in campus. She graduated three months ago. She's too quiet, shy and timid for my liking but I guess that's her nature.

"What is it, Claire?", I sighed taking a sip from my drink and relinquishing the taste as the liquid scurried down my throat.

"Your suit just arrived, Master Alex. It's on your bed", she uttered with her head still lowered to the floor. I raised an eyebrow at her, wondering why she always avoided looking at me in the face, not that I care anyway.

I tisked, knowing fully that it was my father that sent it.

"I didn't order for any suit, Claire", I said.

"It was sent by your father, he said it was for the meeting", she looked up at me like she wanted to say more, but clasped her mouth shut and lowered her gaze to the floor again.

"You can go". I turned around to stare at the garden once again, captivated by its beauty. There's an indescribable sense of tranquility that washes over me when I fix my gaze on its vibrant colors and delicate flowers. It engulfs me to such an extent that I can effortlessly lose track of time, willingly devoting an entire hour without interruption to simply absorb the serenity it provides. Although it may seem peculiar to others, I am unable to resist the enchantment it holds over me.

I felt a presence behind me as I gulped down the rest of my tequila drink. Could it be that Claire was still standing behind me? I thought I told her to leave, why is she still standing there?

"I thought I asked you to go, Claire", I took in a sharp breath and turned around only to see my dad standing there with a frown on his face. When did he get here?

"Why aren't you dressed yet, Xander?", he questioned taking an intimidating step towards me. As a mafia king he, had this intimidating stance and aura that could make anyone succumb to him and I possess that too, at least to the best of my knowledge.

"I was serious when I told you I wasn't going to any meeting with you", I turned back again to lean against the balustrade glass.

"Very well then, I guess I'll have to call your mum", I immediately spun around to see that his phone was already in his hand and he seems to be dialing a number which I guess is my mum's.

"You don't have to get mum involved, dad". I didn't want him calling my mum because if he does, definitely I will attend the meeting with my father and also she'll force me go to other meetings and social gatherings or worst still pressure me on getting married or she could arrange one for me. She is currently in London taking care of her mother who was sick. She'll come back to New York when her mother gets better.

"Then go dress up", he said with the phone still in his hand.

"Fine, I'll go and get dressed, just don't call mum", I eyed the phone in his hand again. He nodded in amusement and gently slid the phone back into his suit pocket.

"I'll be in your sitting room, don't keep me waiting", he looked down at his wrist watch. "The meeting is by eleven O' clock, you have just twenty minutes to get dressed", he said and left. I turned around to look down at the garden for the umpteenth time, the flowers has already been perfectly trimmed.

"And who does he think he is to tell me what to do?" I muttered to myself.

"He's your father and of course the mafia king, you'll do whatever he tells you to do", I looked back to see Clark grinning widely at me.

"What's it with you all and sneaking up on me?", he came to stand beside me and put his hand on my shoulder, cautiously avoiding my bare neck.

"Your dad gave you twenty-minutes, Alex". He patted my shoulder, squeezing it lightly.

"I don't care". I handed him the empty glass of tequila and headed into my room.

"I would care if I were you", he said keeping the empty glass on the table and sat down on the arm-chair with his legs crossed.

I looked down at the suit that was laid on my bed, it was an emerald coloured suit. And when did I start wearing emerald? It's my worst colour.

"I knew you would never wear that, so I single-handedly picked another outfit for you". He got up from the chair, walked into my closet and came out with a black suit and a pair of black shoes. He handed them to me and went back to sit down.

"That's better, right?", he asked and I nodded giving him a thumbs up. I walked into the closet to get dressed.

I came out few minutes later to see Clark standing outside the closet door with two pairs of gloves in his hands. He raised them up for me to see.

"Choose one". He stated and dropped them on the bed. I picked the black pair and wore it.

"Now you look like a perfect mafia prince or maybe we should put a crown on your head", he said, squinting his eyes, his fore and thumb fingers on his jaw like he was giving it a thought.

"I don't know what to do with you Clark", I said shaking my head. Claire came in to inform me that my dad was already in the car waiting for me. I adjusted my collar and left the room with Clark.