Chapter 21

"We are back", Alicia yelled on entering the house

"Welcome pumpkin, did you have fun?", Sarah asked excitedly while Alicia slumped on the sofa tired.

"Leave her, Sarah I bet she is very tired" Julie said and went to the kitchen to fetch herself a glass of water.

"Go fetch the bags in the car Helen" she said to the maid on entering the kitchen

"Why is she so tired", Susan asked looking away from the TV at her aunt

"Stop asking, its not like you don't know your aunt, she is a shopaholic",

"I can't even feel my legs anymore", Alicia answered rubbing her legs.

"Here are the bags in the car, ma'am, should I take them to your room",

"No they are Alicia's take them to her room" Julie said

"Why are there so many bags, Alicia" Susan exclaimed

"Your aunt almost bought the entire mall. Shoes, bags, clothes, nightwears of different brands, colors and design".

"We shopped for eight whole hours with only lunch break in between. She wouldn't stop until she had visited all the shops", Alicia complained

"If Grandma Collins hadn't complained she probably wouldn't have stopped",

"I am so tired", Alicia said

"Go upstairs and shower, then come for dinner, you should rest early tonight" Julie said to Alicia

"Alright mom, I will be right down", Alicia said and went upstairs to her bedroom.

"I will also go shower, I am tired", Julie said to Susan and Sarah and went to her room

Alicia showered and came down an hour later for dinner

"How was shopping Alicia", her father asked

"It was tiresome dad. I never want to shop for that long in my life ever again", Alicia said sitting down

"How are you pumpkin", Julius asked with a smile

"I am fine", Alicia replied looking at her brother he was unusually quiet tonight, she turned to look at Justin and even he had a quiet expression.

"Come on everyone let's eat", Julie said and Alicia made a note to talk to them after dinner.

After they finished eating, Julius and Justin excused themselves saying they were tired and Alicia followed them.

"Come with me you both", she said pulling them by the arm unto the balcony.

"What is it pumpkin", Julius asked looking at her

"I wanted to ask you both exactly the same thing, what is it", "the both of you have been acting unusually quiet since this morning",

"and you better not tell me its nothing" she threatened

"Alicia, we are really worried the last thing we expected you to do was accept this alliance, mom and dad are happy about your acceptance but are you happy", Justin asked holding her hands

"I won't lie to you brother, I am anxious, excited and curious about what been Nathan Collins wife would mean. I don't know what the outcome of this relationship will be but I can assure you I won't regret it", " so just let me do this, I won't be able to without your full support".

"I met Nathan's mother, grandmother and sisters today and believe me when I say they are awesome people brother. They are sweet and caring so I can assure you marrying into that family can't be so bad".

"We just want you to be certain about this Alicia, if you think you will be happy then we are with you completely", Julius said and Justin nodded.

"Yay, my brothers are the best", Alicia said hugging them both together.

"Only your brothers, your sisters are awesome too", Sarah and Susan said from the door.

"Right, even my sisters are so sweet", Alicia said and they all laughed

"And now we are your cousins and cousins in law too, don't you think we deserve double the love now"

"Of course you do, dear in laws please take care of our little sister" Justin said and they all laughed again then group hugged.

"See Andrew, doesn't look like our Alicia is at all sad about the marriage"

"I just hope my little girl will be happy", Julie said choking on her tears while looking at the kids.

"You always say Alicia is emotional, but she got it from you, why are you crying now uh un, don't worry our girl will definitely be fine", "she is just as strong as you remember" Andrew said and Julie nodded

"Come let's go inside, its late already", Andrew added and they both left.

FOUNTAINBLEAU VILLA

"Rinnngg", Nathan looked at the caller ID and picked up the call.

"Yes Ryan, tell me", he said after picking it up

"I have sent the details you asked for to your email sir"

Ryan said

"Okay Ryan, I will check it now"

"Okay sir, goodnight", Ryan said and hung up the call.

Nathan dropped the phone and opened the email on his laptop.

"Name: Alicia James

Age: Nineteen years

Family members: Four in number

Siblings: Julius James, CEO of James constructions

Justin James: Director of Software Design Davis Technologies.

Relationship: Both elder brothers

Mother: Julie Matt James, Chief of Neurosurgery California city hospital

Father: Andrew James Chairman of James Constructions And Companies.

Best Friends: Zia Zaren, Jack Jones and Jay Jackson.

Occupation: Student

School: California School of Art and Design

Faculty: Jewelry and Fashion Design

Marital status: Single

Hobbies: Designing, Reading, Dancing and Singing"

Personality: Decisive and bold.

"So this is Alicia James biography, cool", he said after reading this email.

"Wait Zack Jones isn't that Jack's younger brother Ezekiel, he is Alicia's best friend", Nathan said and picked up his phone, the person picked up on the second ring

"Jack where is your brother", he asked immediately the call was picked.

"Zack is in his bedroom, Nathan. Why are you asking about him", Jack asked not understanding why is friend would suddenly care about it brother

"Give him the phone", Nathan said

"Why Nathan, you are confusing me", Jack asked again

"Just give him the phone Jack", Nathan said getting impatient

"Okay fine, I will give it to him hold on a minute" Jack said and called one of their maids

"Go call Zack down, there is a call for him" A few seconds later Zack came running down

"What is it brother, who wants to talk to me", he asked his elder brother

"Here", Jack said passing him the phone,

"Its Nathan"

"Brother Nathan", Zack said to the phone

"Zack do you know Alicia James", Nathan asked getting straight to the point.

"Yes brother, she is my best friend" Zack replied

"For how long have you known her", Nathan asked again

"Since middle school, its been almost twelve years now", Zack replied again confused

"According to you what kind of a girl is she", Nathan asked again

Zack turned to look at his,brother before answering

"Alicia is a great girl. She is kind hearted, jovial, caring, sweet and down to earth,She is a good person and a great friend too. If I may ask why are you asking about Alicia Brother Nathan".

"If he is asking me why I am asking, it means he doesn't know about my marriage to Alicia in two days. But Why didn't she tell her friends, all the girls in California would be excited to tell the world they are getting married to Nathan Collins but she didn't say anything", Nathan thought

"Brother Nathan, are you still there", he heard Zack asked from the other end.

"Its Nothing Zack, I just wanted to know. Can you not tell her I asked you about her at least not until Monday", Nathan said.

"Alright Brother", Zack replied

"Thank you. Goodnight", Nathan said and hung up the call.

"What did he say", Jack asked his younger brother immediately the call was disconnected.

"He was asking about my best friend Alicia, brother" Zack answered his brother.

"That's weird, why would Nathan suddenly develop interest in knowing about your friend. A woman to be precise, something is fishy", Jack said looking at his brother.

"You go back to your room, I know what to do", Jack said to his brother

"Okay brother Goodnight" Zack said and ran up to his room leaving his brother deep in thoughts

"Alicia James. You are seeming more interesting to me", Nathan said removing his gold rimmed glasses. He closed up his laptop and left the study for his room.