Chapter 75: Contract*
Eli's round blue eyes lit up seeing a black Bentley parked in the car park.
" Daddy is back!."
" It seems so." Ava parked her car and Eli jumped out excitedly running into the house.
" Eli you left your backpack." Ava sighs grabbing the backpack and the rest of her things.
" Daddy!."
" I'm here my little princess."
Alec got on one knee with wide open arms for his little girl...he lifts her up In the air with a spin. Eli giggles with her little arms wrapped around his neck as she continues to giggle excitedly.
" I missed you my little mucking."
" I missed you lots Daddy, I'm so happy you're back."
Eli smiled looking forward, not noticing the woman standing behind her Dad.
" Who's that papa?."
Ava was also wondering the same thing. Seeing Alec suddenly quiet and not answering his daughters question made her think the worst.
" Sweetheart go upstairs and change your uniform. Claudia assist Eli." Ava spoke still locked on Alec. Claudia and Eli went upstairs while Ava walked over to Alec, she stopped just a few inches from him.
" I won't question you cause I know that's what Emma would want for you, but I don't want anybody to take her place in her daughters life. Nobody." She glanced back at Winter before proceeding upstairs. Winter lowered her head, at one glance she knew that's Alec's sister in-law.... Also Emma's elder sister, Ava Rose Anderson. She's such a high class intimidating woman full of grace, she can tell the woman is very proud in every way. So far she's only met Alec's daughter and sister in-law in this mansion... apart from the workers of course, ' I wonder who else lives here?' Winter thought.
Alec gestured for two servants to escort her to the guest room which will be her room from that day onward, she quietly follows as the two servants led the way.
While he proceeded upstairs to his daughter's room.
" Princess." He knocked slightly going inside. Claudia bowed slightly walking out of the room.
" Daddy would like to have a meaningful and serious conversation with you."
" Is it concerning the woman downstairs? Aunt Ava mentioned you'd want to talk to me about that."
" She's quick as always I see."
" Daddy... I'm 6, I'm a big girl so you have to be honest with me okay, I can handle the situation like a grown young lady....So... Will she be replacing my mommy?."
" Of course not my angel, no one will ever replace mommy, no one will ever take her place in your life...nor daddy's life."
" Why is she here then?."
" Look here my little mucking, Daddy needs a companion to keep him busy, nothing more than that."
" A companion? Like a sex partner?." Eli innocently blinked her little eyes.
" My goodness Eli, where did you learn that word?."
" I heard the older kids at my school speak those words in the school hallway, their conversations were quite detailed."
Alec pinched the bridge of his nose with a helpless sigh, of course she would know those words from the other kids, the school reaches up to 12th grade but it's divided in sections dividing the younger kids and senior kids.
" Will you be marrying her?."
" With terms of her signing a contract."
" A contract?."
" She'll follow certain terms and conditions, also a period of time we'll be in a marriage together... will sleep in separate rooms and the only people present at the wedding is family."
He explained all this to her, Eli was a smart girl thus understood everything quickly. With the insurance that her mother wasn't being replaced by a total stranger made her more at ease, plus she wants her father to have company coming from other than her.
" I love you daddy, whatever makes you happy makes me happy."
" I love too princess, more than anything in this world."
Through the guest room window out looking the courtyard, Winter saw two men walking to the front porch, she recognized them for they're influential people... and most importantly Alec's best friends. From today onward she'll be meeting important people in his life and the thought made her a bit anxious. Shortly after, a servant knocked on her door asking her to approach the dining hall, she did as asked and Alec introduced her to the rest... including the woman she didn't seem to be familiar with, by her stare Winter could tell she wasn't so happy with her.
" Trixie, help me get the drinks."
Ava took her aside. " You can at least show a little smile towards her."
" What's to smile about? She's taking my best friends place."
" She's just someone who's here to satisfy a man's urge, she can never take Emma's place."
" But do they really need to get married for that?."
" Trixie, Alec knows what he's doing okay... let's not meddle. By the way I see Lucas' been staring at you since you arrived."
" Let's not go there."
" I'm just saying maybe you two can work things out-
" We broke up Ava... and he married the perfect girl he's parents chose for him, clearly he's happy."
Trixie took the bottle of wine returning to the dining table. Ava sighs following behind.
" We'll be returning to England in three days time." Zain spoke.
" So soon?." Alec said.
" We're actually planning on moving into our new house here in Manhattan, but it will take approximately a week to be ready, we still have some things to settle back in England."
Ava sipped on her wine, their new home still needs a few renovation and decorations... otherwise it's a big beautiful house with a pool and training sector. It has a warmth feeling and she honestly can't wait to move in, this way she'll be closer to her family here and work.
" And will you be going back to Florida?." Alec asked Lucas.
" Heather's mother suddenly got sick and she went ahead, I'll probably fly to her In a few days."
" Or you can just leave tomorrow right, that's what you're good for after all... Leaving."
" Hey, you left me remember?."
" Your parents didn't leave me another choice."
" It was me and you princess, only we had a say to our relationship yet you gave up on us...on me."
" I wanted you to fight for us a little longer instead you gave in so easily when I told you to listen to your parents."
" I did fight for us."
" Well not hard enough Lucas! You gave up on us...on me."
Trixie left the table angry. Winter felt uncomfortable and embarrassed, this was family matters and being there listening to everything felt like she was intruding... like she was an outsider, 'she is an outsider isn't she?'
Lucas sighs as Ava went after Trixie.
" Sorry you had to hear all that." Lucas apologized to Winter with a warm smile.
" No, no... please don't apologize to me, I feel so embarrassed."
Ava approached Trixie on the balcony, she stood next to her in silence as the two of them stared down at the garden in the courtyard.
" I guess I got too emotional back in there huh?."
" You acted like any other woman would react for someone they truly love."
" I don't love him... not anymore."
" And yet your actions speak otherwise." Trixie scoffs softly.
" Do you think he loves her? He talks about her so casually."
" I don't know about love, but he does respect their marriage." Ava spoke truthfully. " But if you're asking me about who he's truly in love with... I think you already know that answer dear friend."
The two of them stayed on the balcony till sun down, as it got dark Trixie set out to leave.
" Why don't you spend a night here?."
" I'm on night duty remember? I'll see you tomorrow." She then takes off in her car.
Winter returned to her room, she changed into the pajamas one servant provided her with...a brown jumper with bears on it, it was adorable and warm to the touch... Quite cozy. There was a knock on the door and she went ahead and answered.
" May I come in?."
" Yes."
She steps aside for him to enter. " Here, you can read through and sign... My lawyer will pick it tomorrow morning."
He hands her a brown envelope. Winter took it knowing what it was, they're the rules and conditions that she must follow if this contract between them was ever going to work out. With him having done just that he left her room while she was left staring at the envelope in her hands.