Chapter 5 A caught

The next morning...

"We're having a family dinner by 6pm," Sophia announced over the phone. Brooklyn was arranging a few things in the wardrobe while having a conversation with her mother.

"I don't think I'll be able to come," She uttered, picking up a feathered pink dress she had bought a few months ago, "I've got lots of things to attend to,"

"Then you can bring my granddaughter and attend to whatever you have," Brooklyn rolled her eyes, wondering about the sudden connection her mother had with Hazel, "Look, I know you still hold a grudge against us, Brooklyn. But, believe me when I say I'm trying my best to make up for everything,"

Brooklyn didn't say anything.

And the fact remained that she wasn't ready to forgive or forget everything they made her go through.

"Just get Hazel ready," Sophia pleaded, knowing how stubborn and defiant Brooklyn could get, "I don't want both of you to be completely absent here tonight,"

Brooklyn heaved a sigh, picking up another dress as she pondered on her mother's request. Sophia might not be a good mother to her, but she was definitely going to make a good grandmother.

"I guess I'll have to get her ready," she said, finally giving in, "I'll bring her before 5pm,"

"Actually..." hearing her mother sound like that made Brooklyn get the hint that she had done something she wasn't supposed to, and she was right.

"I begged Alexander to pick you both from the hotel, and he left long ago. He can just bring Hazel back for dinner,"

Alexander? Again? What was her mother thinking?

"Alexander? Why did you have to tell him that? I could have taken a taxi,"

How was she going to face him after what had transpired between them last night?

He had completely ignored her after dropping Hazel in the room.

And she was sure he didn't want to see her again... but had no choice but to obey her mum just to please her.

"I just wanted to make sure you were both safe. And also, -I want you and Xander to start getting along, considering the fact that you're going to be siblings soon,"

The news she hated.

She wanted none of what her mother was saying.

She and Xander already shared a connection – a bond – a baby...

"I really don't–"

A knock on the door interrupted her from completing what she had to say. Brooklyn threw the dress she was holding on the bed, her legs walking towards the door to see who it was.

"Who's there?"

No response.

Brooklyn's heart skipped a beat in fear when she heard nothing. With her heart in her mouth, she slowly turned the knob open.

He stood right in front of her, tall and menacing, with eyes staring right back at her.

"Can– can I call you back, Mum?"

She hung up before her mother could reply, her attention diverting right back to him, "Hi,"

That face...

Her eyes,- he could drown in them.

He didn't want to come here, because he knew he wouldn't be able to control himself around her, but he had no choice...

'Ignore her,' he reminded himself, 'just act unbothered,'

"I came to pick you both up," he said with a cold voice and eyes that were void of any emotions, ignoring her greeting. It was almost as if he was a different person from the other day.

His actions hurt her, but Brooklyn forced herself to remain unbothered and composed. She wasn't going to let his actions get to her and ruin her feelings.

"You'll be picking only Hazel. I won't be going,"

A look of disappointment flashed through his eyes, but he was quick to replace it. "Is she ready yet? Or do I need to wait at the reception till she's done?"

Brooklyn swallowed. He was acting too formal and unbothered and she wasn't happy about it. Ignoring her was the last thing she could put up with, and if he knew he was going to do so, then she would have preferred if he didn't make her feelings resurface in the first place.

Xander forced himself not to grab her and keep her in his arms. The sleeveless dress she was putting on showed her cleavage and hugged her whole body tightly. And although her hair was wrapped in a bun that was already looking messy, she still fucking looked attractive.

Looking back into the room, Brooklyn realized that it was a mess, with clothes scattered all over the place, but she couldn't keep him waiting outside the door or at the reception.

"You can come in," she offered, stepping aside to usher him in, "It's a bit messy, but I'm sure you can manage,"

Xander walked in without saying a word, his eyes taking in the sight and condition of the room.

"I'll get Hazel ready," Brooklyn said to him as he took his seat on the bed, "It won't be long,"

.

A few minutes later, Hazel walked through the other room, fully dressed in a lilac dress and piggy tails adorned with ribbons. She halted in front of Xander, her eyes staring at him skeptically.

"Are you a stranger? Mummy said I shouldn't be talking to strangers,"

Xander smiled at the little girl, getting up on his feet as he walked over to squat in front of her. He held her tender shoulders carefully, beaming a warm smile at her.

"No, I'm not a stranger. And yes, your mummy was right. You shouldn't be talking to strangers,"

Hazel blinked her eyelids at him, obviously confused about the identity of the man squatting and holding her.

"If you're not a stranger, then who are you?" She didn't move her eyes away from his face, her countenance serious and innocent, "Are you my daddy?"

"Hazel..." Brooklyn called out before Xander could say anything, "What did I say about asking such questions?"

Hazel's eyes fell, her head bowed slightly to the floor, "I'm sorry, mummy,"

"You need to apologize to Uncle right now,"

"No, it's fine," Xander chipped in, his eyes darting to Brooklyn who had a stern expression on, "She was just being a kid,"

Brooklyn pulled Hazel away from his hold, her eyes not moving away from his face as she rearranged her dress. "I'm sorry about her questions, she's always being curious,"

He nodded, not really knowing what to say. But, he wanted to confirm if her dad was fully involved in their lives.

"Is her dad in the picture?"

Brooklyn shot him a look, knowing exactly what he meant by that question.

"I like to keep my personal issues 'private',"

With the emphasis she laid on the last word, he knew he had to retreat. He tried to move away from the duo, his eyes still watching Brooklyn as she hovered over her daughter, bending slightly. Her dress moved up a bit with the position, and he could see her smooth, clear thighs staring back at him.

"She's all done," Brooklyn spoke up after a few minutes of making sure her daughter was fully ready, "You can take her to my mother's house, but I want you to bring her back to me safely,"

Xander watched her as she threw in items Hazel needed into a bag. And he couldn't help but stare and admire how caring and careful she was.

"The dinner isn't at your mother's place," she raised her head up with her eyebrows arched in confusion, "It's holding at my place,"

*

"Xander, can I-?''

"-Come on, Hazel," Xander reached for her hands, ignoring Brooklyn like he hadn't heard her try to start a conversation with him, "Let's get you to your grandmother,"

Brooklyn bit down her lips in frustration as she watched Hazel jump into his arms while he walked away without looking back in her direction.

He was driving her crazy! And she didn't know how long she was going to be able to handle his actions.

"Look who's here..."

It was the last person she wanted to see, -Kimberly.

She was wearing a red dinner gown that had a slit all the way up to her thighs, leaving Brooklyn wondering if she had any underwear on. Her makeup was perfectly done, - as always, even though she hated to admit it. And she had matching heels with the Chanel bag she had clutched tightly.

"I thought you didn't want to be a part of this family anymore," Kimberly walked over to her, sarcasm written all over her face with traces in her voice.

"I really don't have the strength for your drama right now, Kim," Brooklyn shoved her away with her hands, tucking her hair behind her ears, "I'm only here because of my daughter,"

Kimberly scoffed, and just when she thought she had more than enough on her plate, another nonentity walked into the picture.

"Hey babe,"

The other face she hated to see coming was Zayne, who was approaching Kimberly to place a kiss on her lips.

Babe? So they were finally a thing? It took long enough, though, especially after sneaking around for years.

"Baby..." Kimberly reciprocated the kiss, giving Brooklyn a side-eye.

Brooklyn scoffed. She was really trying to rub it in her face, was she? Too bad, it only fueled her hunger for revenge.

"Some of us actually have better things to do,," she said to them, giving a dramatic hair move right in their faces, "I'll catch you losers inside,"

Brooklyn knew she had them watching, and that was exactly what she wanted, - for them to watch her foolishly as she played the ball of the game right back in their faces.

*

"I thought you didn't want to attend," Sophia said to her daughter, her slender figure hovering over the stove as she prepared dinner. That was the first time in so many years that Brooklyn had actually seen her mother cooking.

"I changed my mind," Brooklyn wasn't helping her out although she was with her in the kitchen. She sat on a chair next to the kitchen table eating some grapes.

"I'm glad you're spending time with us," Sophia turned around to face her daughter, her eyes glistening with happiness, "You don't know how much this means to me,"

Brooklyn sighed, knowing she had a lot in mind and plans to execute. She was only here because of one person, - Xander.

"I need to use the bathroom," she announced suddenly, rushing up to her feet, "I'll be right back,"

"You didn't even ask me where to find it,"

Brooklyn turned, a smile spreading across her lips faintly, "I need directions,"

"Upstairs, the fourth door after the library. It's more private there,"

Nodding her head, Brooklyn grew her smile while squinting her eyes a bit, "Thanks mum, I love you,"

She might have said that casually, but it meant a lot to her mother and hearing it from the daughter, she had offended the most.

*

Brooklyn stood in front of the mirror, staring right back at her reflection. She felt suffocated, and even though she was surrounded by her family members, it felt like she was trying so hard to fit in.

Her hands turned on the tap before going into the sink. She didn't know why she kept feeling that way, but she wasn't comfortable at all.

And Xander?

He occupied 90% of her thoughts. And the fact that he wasn't even speaking to her made the whole thing worse.

"Anybody in there?"

Brooklyn swerved around at the question. She wasn't really doing anything in there, but she felt compelled to remain inside.

"Yes. I'm here,"

She moved back to face the mirror, her hands still going in the water. It felt refreshing just leaving them there, and she wanted to keep doing so for as long as she could.

Brooklyn felt a presence behind her and slowly, she raised her head up to stare at the mirror only to see his face looking right back at her.

What was he doing there? She hadn't definitely given him permission to come in, nor had she heard the door open.

She didn't even know he was the one asking the question!

"Xander?"

The shock and surprise were evident in her tone and were etched all over her face.

"You're not supposed to be in here," she forced her tone to be serious and stern, and not give away the relief she felt that he had come to get after yearning for so long, "This is the ladies restroom. And besides, the whole family is downstairs, I don't want them to get suspicious and start talking,"

"I don't care what they think," he moved forward and closer to her, his hands outstretched as he held her from behind, "You look fucking hot in this dress,"

Brooklyn swallowed hard. He had resumed with all the seductive words and moves and was putting her in a difficult spot again.

"You can't be here," she forced herself to say, knowing fully well she wanted him holding her that way, "If they find us like this, then -''

"- I want to touch you, Brooklyn," he broke her off her fears and words, "Allow me touch you,"

She shuddered slightly, feeling his hands going all the way down to her thighs. The dress she had on was short and flared, and it gave him less stress and more access to do whatever he wanted to her body.

Xander moved his hands over her body smoothly, carefully taking his time to feel her skin. His touch sent waves of shock through her and she kept shaking with her breath turning unstable.

"Do you like this?" He asked in the most seductive way, knowing fully well she did. She wanted more, - more of his touch on her whole body.

But...

The moment was about to be ruined because the door flung open while they were exploring their desires, and it was the last person they had expected it to be... Kimberly...