4

Alison flashed him a cautious stare that indicated he needed to change subjects, and fast. 

"Hey baby, let's go." The man said, trying to divert the little girl's attention. 

"Dad, have you met my new friend? She's so nice and lovely. I want her at your party!" Little Maggie said excitedly. 

Alison and the man exchanged surprised glares, then the man instantly said. "You know, adults are always busy with some stuff. She's probably busy, right?"

Alison nodded. "That's true. I'm so very busy, but I'll let your dad know if I'll be chanced, you know?" 

Maggie nodded. "Okay, now let's see my gift dad? Where's the dog?"

The man stared at Alison and she looked away so fast. "Okay, your dog? I um, you know what, just get in with Mason. Go to the car outside. I'll join you soon." 

Seeing that Maggie had left, Alison immediately offered whatever little explanation she had. "She was asking too many questions. I'm not so great with kids, you know?"

The stranger's laughter seemed more calm, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "You know what, I won't even say anything on that. Kari is just like that." 

"You look all better, smiling brightly like that." Alison complimented.

"Thanks to you. Actually, I'm Richard. What about you?"

"Alison." 

"Great. You know uh," Richard's gaze was fixed on her so deeply that it seemed to make her stomach churn. Those handsome green eyes looking directly at her... "It could be fun to have you around at the party. It's this weekend, here." He reached for his pockets and brought out a fancy card. 

"Ooh, VIP?" Alison teased. 

"For the charming lady." Richard said with smile, making Alison suddenly wonder when she had became a 'charming lady' just when he had attached her minutes ago! 

Men and their ways of flirting...good thing she wouldn't be swayed by this man's charms. She had seen a ton of bolder men since her three years of freedom from Brad. 

"You know, Maggie doesn't make friends easily but it seems very obvious she likes you. Don't break her heart and just...come around." Richard added, thinking he needed to convince her somehow. 

"I'll think about it then." She held the card dearly.

"Awesome then. We'll be expecting you." Richard smiled. 

"I should leave now." Alison quickly pointed out. She had decided the moments spent with him and Maggie had been enough for her to clear her head and go back to her shoots. 

"Alright." Richard watched her turn and leave. He felt so stupid that he wished he could slap himself for that cringing moment, "for the charming lady? Who the hell says that!" He rolled his eyes and his long legs made wide strides towards the entrance to go meet his daughter. But something caught him off guard. He froze, turning back quickly to take another look at Alison, only to find out she had disappeared.

"Why does she looks so damn familiar?" He was cracking his head so hard until the moment of realization hit him. "Damn it! That was  Ally F. Rose! I should have taken a picture with her or an autograph!" He read romance novels and wasn't ashamed to admit that Alison's works were not amazing. 

Brad was busy complaining to his mother as soon as he and Ashley had left the mansion. "Can you believe it! She completely embarrassed me. How could she? I hate her. After all we had done for her pathetic ass?"

Maria sipped her wine and took a puff from her cigar. "You just calm your ass down, do you want Lily getting all worried? I'm so glad you were smart enough to hand her your card to go shopping like she was some little dog you threw stick to and asked to go fetch. But once she comes back, she'll really be worried if you tell her you felt threatened by that idiot."

Brad sat down, fuming with rage. "I'm calm, okay?" 

"No you're not, my son. Listen, how are you even so sure that was her voice? Did you even see her?" Maria shot him a furrowed brow. 

"I mean, I did look her up on her social media page and I saw nothing but some old dumb pictures." Brad said.

"Then that means that if truly, it was her on the phone, then she must be sleeping with some rich dude. How else did you expect her to make a living when she's just an ordinary orphan." Maria heaved out clouds of smoke, then took a gulp of her wine, emptying the content and immediately refilling it. 

"And it doesn't matter. Your father is spreading his wings, trying to connect with the Harrison household, one of the strongest families here in Maeville town. That's why we all left Brooklyn and are settling here."

"To start afresh, I get it mom. But I just hope we put her right in her place. Can you believe she stays here? Maeville is a very expensive place to live in, how do you think she's doing it?"

Maria huffed in air in an attempt to show she was angry, "will you stop whining like a baby? I didn't raise my son to be a moron."

"What about Ella? Why isn't she here yet?" 

"She should be here before the party. I didn't want to spoil the show before, but now, well here we go. Okay, the oldest son of the Harrison household and your sister both went to college together, so she likes to consider herself friends with him. She wants to marry him!"

Brad blinked. "You don't just say I'll marry this man and it happens like magic, do you?"

"She has games, my son. She's pretty, and she can easily seduce this man. He's a single dad and stinking rich! Can you imagine what will happen if both families come together as one with this marriages?"

"I dunno, don't get yourself all hyped for no reason." Brad insisted since he knew how his mother can be. 

"Whatever. But what happens when she succeeds? Anyway, you just rest up and keep your mind off this ex wife of yours. I'm sure she'll be nothing to worry about once your father lands this deal with the Harrison family," 

Somehow, her voice seemed to calm him down a bit. But he still needed to find out more. Once alone in a room upstairs, he dialed a number and a deep voice responsed. "Hey, Peter. I want you to resume your search on Alison Ford, my ex wife. She's here in Maeville, I want every details you can find on her. Fail, and you'll regret it."

The voice sounded shaky. "Y-yes sir. Consider it done."

"That's right, Alison. Now you'll pay for the disrespect you've cost me." Brad sweared.