Chapter 7

Adam dialed another number, now quite annoyed.

"Hello dear," Mrs. Mann said from the other line.

"Mrs. Mann, some strange kids are seated in my apartment as I speak to you," Adam informed her, trying hard to keep his cool.

"Oh yes! The precious ones, bless their souls!" Mrs. Mann exclaimed softly at the other end. "Is anything the matter?" she inquired, concern in her voice. She was oblivious to what was happening at Adam's end.

"Didn't it seem a little strange letting in some random kids into my house?" Adam wondered out aloud. Sometimes he didn't understand Mrs. Mann.

"Now Adam, You did give them your endorsed card, didn't you?" Mrs. Mann reminded him. "And you told them they could live with you. I don't mind that arrangement. Besides, that sweet darling girl, Lucy, she can cook just fine and keep the house as well, so you won't need to find a replacement for me anymore," Mrs. Mann told him.

Adam kept a hand on his hip.

"Mrs. Mann you know how I feel about kids! They can't stay here," Adam protested in a calm tone. "And if Vanessa finds out that--"

"Adam!" Mrs. Mann interrupted him in a sharp tone.

"Those little dears have nowhere else to go! Maybe the good Lord is giving you a sign. Now you act sensibly young man, I have to go to Church now. I ought to see the pastor."

"Okay, bye," Adam said as he weaved his hand through his dark hair.

Mrs. Mann hung up.

He groaned aloud and kicked the air, feeling frustrated. He held his head, gripping his hair a bit too tightly before emitting a sigh and turning back to the children, his hand still on his hip.

Matt put away his book and Caleb sat up.

"Shake her up," Adam instructed Lucy stiffly as he pointed to Scarlett.

Scarlett's bright green eyes shot open. She gave Adam a child-like, innocent smile.

Adam looked away.

"Why are you all here?" he asked, turning to them with an annoyed expression on his face.

"You told me that--" Matt started hurriedly.

"Old dude, I clearly recall--" Reece was saying.

"Actually sir you said--" Caleb started telling Adam.

"Mr. Adam, you--"Lucy piped in.

"You said Mr. Tyson should--" Scarlett blabbered on.

They were all talking at the same time, causing a confusion of sorts, making Adam madder.

"Alright! Quiet all of you!" Adam snapped at them as they all tried to get his attention at once. He kept a hand on his forehead.

"I don't remember what I told you all but it was a mistake on my part. I didn't actually mean that you could live here; I just wanted to give you all some cash to compensate you for your losses and I wanted to interrogate you and find out where you live so that I could arrange for you to be taken back there," Adam explained in a frustrated tone and he gesticulated to Scarlett as he said the last part.

Lucy stood up and looked at him.

"What are you saying, Mr. Adam?" she asked in a tensed voice.

"You can't stay here," Adam repeated firmly. "I'm kicking you all out! Now, too!"

He snapped his fingers and pointed to the door.

They all stood up except Scarlett who fondled with a cushion anxiously.

"No way man! That's uncool!" Reece protested.

"Watch your tone, young man; this is my house afterall, and you have no say, whatsoever, in my decision!" Adam snapped at him.

"Get out or I'm calling security!" Adam added harshly as he seized the children up.

Reece stormed upstairs angrily, muttering how he should never have trusted a big shot.

"Hey!" Adam called after him. "The door's the other way!"

Matt gasped.

"But we're just kids!" Matt wailed.

"You're the one who said we could stay here earlier on!" Caleb told him in a panicked tone.

"Well I don't care! Out!" Adam wagged a finger furiously at him.

"But we're just kids and it's night too!" Matt repeated in a shrill voice.

Reece re-emerged with a small bag pack. He had kept his stuffs in the games room. Reece frowned at Adam as he passed by him.

"You really want us to leave?!" Caleb questioned Adam, as he held Reece back.

"Let go man," Reece said and tried to shake off Caleb's grip.

"Yes, I want you out of my house, and right now too!" Adam stated sternly.

"But...but...we're j..j...just kids!" Matt stammered and sniffed.

"Fine then! I'm calling the Rizwa Child Agency! They'll put you all in good orphanages!" Adam said and started to dial a number furiously.

"Should've thought of this a long while ago," he muttered to himself.

Matt stepped back fearfully when he heard the word, 'orphange'.

Caleb gasped in shock. Reece pushed past Caleb and headed towards the door.

"STOP!" Lucy yelled and they all looked up at her. She adjusted her almost faded gown and stepped closer to Adam.

Reece paused and looked back. Scarlett stood up and looked on with wide eyes.

Lucy stopped walking when she was directly in front of Adam.

She glanced at his phone which he gripped a bit too tightly. The number was still dialing.

"Please stop," She closed her eyes and whispered softly.

Caleb and Reece exchanged puzzled looks.

Matt adjusted his glasses.

Adam raised an eyebrow at Lucy.

"We'll all leave Mr. Adam, I promise. But please don't call any agency," Lucy said then she opened her eyes.

Her warm brown eyes met his black ones.

"But sir, it's too late. Please let's spend the night here. I promise that before you return from work tomorrow, we'll all be gone," she murmured and looked away.

Adam hesitated.

"Rizwa Child Agency, how may I help you?" A female voice said from the other end.

"Deal," Adam nodded and disconnected the call.

Lucy looked at him and nodded.

Caleb let out a sigh of relief.

"You can all stay, for one night and that's it," Adam told them.

"Sure thing sir," Caleb nodded.

"By tomorrow you all should be gone before I come back or else I'll call security," Adam told them firmly.

"There won't be any need for that," Lucy said in an assuring tone.

"Good." Adam nodded as he surveyed each of them sternly.

"Pfft," Reece crossed his arms and looked away.

Adam looked around and nodded again. "Fine then," he said.

Lucy turned and headed into the kitchen to start dishing the meal. Caleb went to set the table and Matt followed him to help out.

Scarlett tugged at Reece's shirt and pointed at the TV.

She wanted to watch some cartoons.

"Alright little dudette, let's set this TV on." Reece ruffled her hair and made his way to the TV.

Adam rolled his eyes and made his way to his room. He loosened his tie as he looked at his reflection in the mirror.

By tomorrow evening, everything will be back to normal. He thought to himself.

He started dialing a number.

"Ben's Pizza Palace, please place your order!" The voice at the other end said.

Since they were leaving the next day Adam didn't want to get used to Lucy's cooking.

"Um, I'd like....," he started placing his order.

After a little while Adam glanced at the clock that stood in his room. He heard the doorbell ring.

His eyes lit up.

Took them long enough. He thought and rushed out quickly.

As he made his way downstairs, he heard the door being opened and he hurried down quickly.

When he got to the living room he headed to the door.

The delivery guy stood, waiting to be paid.

Adam dipped his hand into his pocket, he brought out money and looked at the youth inquiringly.

"Where's the pizza?" he finally asked when the guy kept on wearing a confused look.

"Oh!" The guy laughed. "Your kid collected it." He informed Adam, wearing a smile.

"What?!" Adam growled. "Do I look like I'm married?!"

The guy stepped back fearfully, "Uh...no sir. I'm sorry sir...I thought he was your--" he tried to apologize but Adam waved him off.

"I don't have a child! They are not my kids!" Adam snapped, cutting in angrily.

The delivery guy nodded fearfully.

Adam thrust the money into the delivery guy's hand.

"There!" Adam scoffed and slammed the door close, making the guy jump with a start.

Adam made his way to where Reece and Scarlett sat watch a cartoon, 'The Prince of Egypt'.

"Then we'll watch 'Bible man' next, okay?" Reece was saying when Adam stood in their front, towering over them.

Reece grabbed the last slice of pizza and started munching it. "What's up?" he asked as he looked up at Adam.

Adam's eye twitched when he spotted the empty pizza box.

"How dare you eat that?!" he demanded furiously.

"Whoa! I ain't the only one that ate it. Caleb and Matt came for some too," Reece protested.

"That was my dinner! Mine!" Adam snapped. "I'll make sure you tramps pay back for that."

Reece stood up and frowned.

"Ain't you taking it too far, mister?! It's just a pizza, old dude. You know we can't afford stuffs like that!" Reece said defensively. "We barely have enough to eat in the streets!" he finished as he gave Adam a smirk.

Adam scoffed and folded his hands on his chest. "Am I supposed to feel sorry for you?" he asked sarcastically as he eyed Reece. "Besides, Lucy just gave you dinner, didn't she? What's then the need of eating my pizza as well?" Adam demanded.

Reece looked away, red faced.

"We just thought we could have a snack after our meal. Don't tell Lucy please, she'll get mad at us," he mumbled.

Adam scoffed and walked away. He was heading back upstairs when Lucy came out from the kitchen and called him.

"Mr. Adam?"

He looked back. "What?" he asked her impatiently.

Lucy looked towards the dining room. "If you don't mind, I've prepared a meal for you as well. The rest have eaten," she told him quietly.

Adam looked away. He had the mind to refuse her but his growling tummy wouldn't hear of it.

"Fine," he replied curtly in a snappish way.

She beamed a smile at him. "Okay!"

He groaned inwardly as he made his way to the dining room. He settled at the head of the table where he normally sat.

Lucy brought out a nicely styled ceramic plate and set it in front of Adam.

"Thank you," he told her once she had set the food before him on the table.

He flapped out his napkin and tucked it neatly underneath his chin.

Reece and Scarlett were facing him with amused looks, forgetting the movie they were previously watching. Matt looked up from the book he was reading and also faced the dinning room side. Caleb, who was polishing the kitchen surface, paused in his duty to stare at Adam as well.

Lucy tried hard not to make it seem like she was looking at Adam as he stuffed his napkin under his chin in a proper manner.

"You ain't a baby, why do you gotta wear a bib?" Reece asked from where he sat.

Adam turned to glare at him.

"It's not a bib," he replied curtly.

"Sure looks like one," Reece commented dryly.

"Quiet, Reece," Caleb scowled at him. Maybe Reece was forgetting that they were in Adam's house, at his mercy, and he very well could throw them out when he pleased.

Reece just returned to watching the cartoon with Scarlett.

Adam's gaze returned to the table and his mouth watered inwardly as his eyes took in all the delicacies which Lucy had prepared.

A well prepared plate of steak and well made omelete sat on the table, the main dish was spaghetti and meatballs. A fat bowl of tossed salad was beside the steak. There was also a cheese cake laid out for him.

Adam was only too eager to grab his dinner fork and knife to start dicing the steak into bits.

He shoved a piece into his mouth and couldn't help but let out a small, satisfied sound and went on eating.

It wasn't until Lucy chuckled that he remembered she hadn't left yet. Along with the other four.

They all looked at him again.

He cleared his throat and sat straighter.

He hadn't tasted any steak as good as his mother's own before Lucy. Even Mrs. Mann came nowhere near steaks when it came to his mother's cooking. But somehow, Lucy had managed to surpass both women.

It was really heavenly but he wasn't about to let her know that.

"It's good," Adam said nonchalantly as he nodded his head and then casually took another bite of the steak.

"Thank you sir," Lucy said, beaming.

After he had finished his meal he did the dishes and swatted away Lucy's hands when she offered to help.

He reckoned that since she wasn't going to be in his life for long it was only sensible that he got used to doing things by himself.

Adam then returned to the sitting room and saw only Matt and Scarlett.

He frowned slightly.

"Where are the other two boys?" he questioned the duo.

Scarlett tilted her head a bit to the side. The action made her hair fall a bit over face, making her look cuter.

Adam couldn't tear his eyes away from her.

What a child. He thought before shaking his head. No. She would be gone by tomorrow as well.

He looked at Lucy instead. The more mature one that won't try to mess up his head with her cuteness.

"REECE! CALEB!!" Lucy yelled loudly.

Adam winced at the noise. Yep. This is one of the reasons I can't have kids around me. So noisy. He frowned.

He seemed to be doing more of that recently.