Chapter 8: Cold war

Greyson's pov:

"I'm here for dinner."

Ana looked at me as if I just declared that I would go hula hooping on the moon with a narwhal.

Her mouth hung open, her eyes wide like saucers.

Seeing as she was a little short for words, I stepped into her apartment and looked around the tiny little foyer. I recognized my son's faux leather coat hanging on the coat hanger.

The smell of food, delicious and savoury, filled the entire apartment and assaulted my nostrils.

So this was why the little rascal decided to leave with her. He wanted home cooked food.

Speaking of the devil, he strolled into the foyer, a slightly annoyed expression clear on his face. He looked at me calmly, his eyes conveying a message; "what are you doing here?"

I gave him a look of my own; "same thing you're doing here."

I turned and took off my coat, hanging it neatly on the coat hanger before it dawned on Ana that I wasn't joking when I said that I'd stay for dinner.

"B... But– I'm supposed to start my job tomorrow, not today." She protested.

"Today is considered extra hours and you will be paid three times the hourly rate," I told her, pulling off my gloves.

"But... I didn’t know you were coming. I don't have enough ingredients to prepare a larger meal."

I looked at her dryly and nodded towards the door where John was carrying two large bags filled with things purchased from the supermarket.

"These should be enough to make a decent meal," I said, pushing past her and entering her apartment.

Her home was tiny but neat, quaint really. There was a little playpen in the living room and a lot of pictures decorated the walls.

I took my seat at the dining table next to a little girl who looked at me with wide brown eyes.

"Hi," she greeted me curiously, her voice sweet and polite. "I'm Sophia."

"Hello," I nodded, looking at the food she was eating. Well cooked steak with deep-fried potatoes and stir fried baby carrots, mushrooms and spinach. There were chicken drumsticks in a different plate and savoury gravy on the side.

She noticed me look at her food and immediately grabbed a spare plate from the stack in front of us. She dipped her stubby little hand into her food, grabbed some drumsticks and vegetables and placed them on the plate before offering it to me.

I frowned in distaste, wondering where her hand had been but she kept looking at me with the biggest brown eyes I have ever seen.

Going with it, I sighed and grabbed my cutlery, slicing off a piece of chicken and placing it in my mouth. Almost immediately, I tasted a blend of homemade flavours that exploded on my taste buds.

"Delicious," I commented to the little girl who had been looking at me expectantly.

She brightened up at that and I felt something squeeze in my chest.

"My mummy is the best cook in the world!" She declared, digging into her own food.

"It's nice to see you acquainting with my father," Lucas deadpanned, slipping into the seat on her other side.

"Ac- ack- akway-" She tried to repeat the word. Suddenly her eyes widened, "he's your father?!"

Lucas nodded.

The little girl looked at him quizzically. "What about your mummy?"

"He doesn't have a mother," I responded.

"Everyone has a mummy."

My hands fisted around the fork. "Not my son. An unknown woman stole my son and ran away. I sent someone to bring Lucas back. That woman can not be my wife, but Lucas is the heir of my empire."

She kept quiet after this, almost like she wanted to argue but didn't know how.

"What about your father?" Lucas asked, breaking the silence.

She brightened up. "I have Tylor daddy."

Tylor... That must be Ana's husband. I committed the name to memory, uneasiness knotting my guts.

"What's your name?" She asked finally.

"Greyson."

"You are handsome and I like you. Then you can be my Greyson daddy."

I frowned. Wasn't Tylor Ana's husband? Didn't that make him her father?... Or maybe he's just Ana's boyfriend

Ana's Pov:

By the time i came back with the cake Lucas had wanted and more food for my ever growing guests, everyone was talking happily amongst themselves.

Everyone seemed like they enjoyed the food and even Greyson and Lucas fought over the last piece of steak in their own icy condescending manner.

I had just served Lucas a piece of chocolate cake when a knock came on the door.

Tylor was standing at the other side with a giant 'CONGRATULATIONS' balloon when I opened the door.

He grinned at me wide and brandished the box of chocolate and bottle of champagne he had brought with him.

He followed me excitedly into my apartment. "I hope you're ready for a long night," he winked at me. "Now tell me everything," he said, letting the balloon float away as he took off his jacket. "Start from the beginning. The weird interview, your new job and that prick of an employer you're working for–"

"Tylor!" I chided but he had already stopped short at the crowd in my dining room.

He looked at me, a 'who the heck are they?' question in his eyes.

I sighed. "This is my boss, Mr Greyson Williams. His son, Lucas and his butler, John." Behave, I told Tylor with my eyes as he immediately began sizing up Mr Greyson with a judgemental gaze.

"I'm Tylor. Tylor Smith," he said, his voice dripping with condescension as Greyson turned to look at him.

"Daddy!" Sophia cried, leaping up from her seat and jumping into his arms.

"Peanut!" Tylor grinned, lifting her up in the air and whirling around with her.

Greyson ground his teeth and looked at him with enough iciness to freeze over the Sahara.

Lucas wrinkled his nose. "Peanut?"

"Funny story," I looked at the little guy. "Sofia has a peanut allergy and Tylor forgets all the time and gives her peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. He swears that calling her 'peanut' helps him remember."

Tylor frowned playfully as he took a seat at the dining table across from Greyson. "Enough with the embarrassing memories. How about that time we went to the Eiffel tower during new years and she saw fireworks for the first time?"

"Yes! Yes!" Sophia squealed. She turned to Lucas. "Have you seen fireworks before?" She asked with wide eyes.

Lucas didn't look too impressed. "Yes. My father arranges a firework display every year on my birthday and other festivities."

She looked at Greyson with wide eyes. "Really?" She whispered.

Greyson only nodded.

Lucas continued. "It's nothing. You're welcome to come along if you want to see another one next new years."

"I'd love to!"

"But is it safe?" Tylor asked grudgingly.

Greyson's eyes sliced to his. "The display is carried out by the most recommended professionals I can find. I will never do anything to endanger my son."

"Yes, but isn't that overboard."

"Understand, Mr Smith, that I will do anything for my son. No matter how outlandish or extraordinary it is, doing what it takes to help him live his life to the fullest is not overboard."

"Wow! You're so cool, daddy Greyson," Sophia clamoured.

What? I looked at her, Tylor sharing the same look of shock I had on my face. Since when did Greyson become daddy to her?!

Tylor glowered for a few seconds and glared at Greyson, the fork nearly snapping in two in his tight grasp.

I laughed nervously, trying to break the ice. "Oh, um. That's fine. Sophia, do you want to tell them about the time you saw horses for the first time?"

Tylor lighted up immediately, taking the bait. "Yes! That horserace I took you and mummy to. You had a great time, didn't you?"

Sophia pouted. "But I didn't get to touch the horsey. I really wanted to touch horsey!"

"We have domesticated horses at my place," Lucas said. "You can even ride on one with the help of one of my guides."

Sophia's eyes bulged out of her sockets. "I get to ride a horsey?!" She exclaimed.

"Of course. I can teach you–"

"You're just five." Tylor spoke up, incredulity in his voice.

Greyson said, pride coating his words. "My son is a highly skilled equestrian and croquet champion."

"Ek... eek- Crow- Kro..." Sophia struggled with the words.

"It means horse rider, sweetie." I came to her rescue. "Lucas is very good at horse riding."

Sophia looked at Lucas like he hung the moon in the sky. "Will you teach me to ride a horsey just like you?"

"You can't ride like me but you can learn the basics." Lucas answered.

Sophia turned her pleading eyes to Greyson. "I want to learn the basics! Please Greyson daddy! Can I? Pretty pretty please?"

"Of course."

Tylor snapped. "I don't think we should leave her safety in your hands, no offense, Mr Williams."

Greyson sipped his wine before responding. "What I find offensive is you thinking Sophia is not safe in my care, Mr Smith."

"Forgive me but you're just a stranger."

"I am her mother's employer, certainly not a stranger. And don't worry. I won't feed her food she is obviously allergic to and I don't need a constant reminder to remember to keep her safe."

Tylor's nostrils flared. "I think you should let her mother decide instead." He said, looking at me intently.

Mr Greyson turned his icy cold eyes on me too. So did Lucas and Sophia, with her pouting face and puppy dog eyes.

I looked to John for help but he gladly avoided me and focused on cutting up an already minuscule piece of steak, ignoring my SOS hint.

I looked to the ceiling for grace.

This was going to be a long long dinner.