Part 5 : An Unexpected Afternoon

In the afternoon of Calvenhart's spring weekend, Thea carried her backpack behind her back with her right hand carrying a cell phone, her gray eyes glaring at each signboard attached to the front gates of the houses in Calvenhart's elegant housing estate. Her small feet then stopped in front of a luxurious multi-storey house with the name Grayson written on the fence. The building had a minimalist architecture, full of glass, pure white concrete.

Thea pressed the bell on the front of the fence, the door opened automatically revealing a brightly smiling Selene. She was wearing a crop top showing off her slim stomach, jogger pants and her hair in a ponytail.

"I saw you on the CCTV earlier." Selene smiled and took Thea by the hand into her house. Thea could see Selene's beautiful garden with a koi pond adorned with mermaid-shaped sculptures.

The interior of Selene's house is modern, dominated by white and gray colors. Natural lighting is provided by the glass windows in the house. One side of the living room features a variety of artworks displayed on glass shelves. Large jars are to the right and left of the glass shelves. In the corner of the room was a Greek torso statue.

"It's quiet, the maid only comes in the morning to clean my house. Julius and Papa are out."

Thea nodded Selene had mentioned that she had a younger brother in high school, Julius Grayson. But Selene never mentioned her mother at all, Thea didn't dare to ask and she assumed it was possible that Selene was not close to her mother.

They sat at the bar table facing the balcony after Selene placed some snacks there. A sketchpad was spread out on the table, showing the costume Thea was going to wear.

"Wow...did you sketch out Persephone's crown? It's really nice." Selene marveled at the sketch of the crown Thea had made. It was a foliage-shaped crown with sharp thorns adorning it.

"Of course, since you asked me for a favor I won't do it halfway."

"Typical Thea." Selene chuckled.

Their conversation was light, discussing the upcoming festival as well as the campus, Thea felt at home spending time with Selene was always fun.

Until the door to Selene's house opened.

"Selene, are you home?"

Thea froze at the sound of the voice-she recognized this voice. Heavy footsteps echoed into the room. "Ah Papa, you just got back from golfing?"

'Papa'

Thea turned her head, her gray eyes widening to see Alaric Liu Grayson. He walked in towering tall, wearing a dark blue golf polo shirt that fit perfectly against his broad chest, khaki pants that were stained with dirt and grass. His face was tired and slightly sweaty. A large golf bag was slung over his left shoulder and a golf cap was clutched in his right hand.

Alaric stopped his steps when he noticed Thea's figure with her daughter, her golden brown eyes narrowed. And Thea just froze.

"So...this is your best friend you keep telling me about?" Alaric's heavy voice broke the silence.

"Yup, she's cute and pretty, isn't she Papa? She would be perfect as Persephone at the festival." Selene chattered on oblivious to the tension between Thea and Alaric. Selene nudged Thea's shoulder, gesturing for them to get acquainted-this girl had no idea that they knew each other.

Alaric smiled. "Sure, she's a good fit." Alaric casually extended his hand towards Thea. "Alaric Liu Grayson, nice to meet you, little girl."

Thea's gray eyes blinked softly, but she hurriedly welcomed Alaric's hand, grasping it gently. If Alaric took the attitude that they just knew each other then Thea would follow his charade. "Theavine Elwood."

Thea felt Alaric squeeze her hand tightly, as if not wanting to let go. "Nice to meet you Miss Elwood. I finally get to meet you officially, Selene often tells me about her college life and her best friend."

Selene often told him about Thea, especially when she sometimes sent pictures of her and Thea together. She swallowed, since the incident at the bar Alaric obviously knew that Thea was his favorite daughter's best friend, but Alaric never mentioned it. This man acted...as if he just knew Thea, as if he wanted to separate the life of Thea his daughter's best friend from Thea the woman he helped. Thea's stomach suddenly felt uncomfortable.

Thea saw Alaric chuckle in response to Selene's banter. Why was he being so casual?

"Then if you'll excuse me, I don't want to interrupt the girls' gossip."

"We're not gossiping, Papa." Selene pouted and Alaric responded with a light chuckle as he pinched his daughter's cheek. The golden brown eyes looked at Thea briefly, deep and dark then he stepped away from the place.

"Selene..."

"Hmm?" Selene didn't catch the worry on Thea's face at all, she opened one of the snack packs.

"I forgot, what's your middle name?"

"Liu," Selene replied casually. "You forgot, didn't you? My long name is Selene Liu Grayson. It's bad that you forgot your best friend's long name."

Thea gulped, ignoring Selene's advances. Her best friend was right, how could she forget? Since Alaric had helped her that night and mentioned her full name, Thea should have realized this detail right away. Thea groaned inwardly. How stupid she was. Moreover, lately she likes to take the time to come to the museum that Alaric manages, they often chat. And Thea unknowingly became close to her own best friend's father.

"Sorry...I'm going to the restroom first."

Selene nodded, not noticing the tension in Thea as her best friend was pretty good at hiding her heart.

Once inside the bathroom Thea washed her face with the sink water, hoping the cold water would calm her down. She looked at herself in the mirror, water dripping down her chin. She took a slow bite, this situation was completely unexpected.

No, it wasn't. She was the stupid one. Why hadn't she realized from the start that Alaric was Selene's father? Thea kept beating herself up.

And yet, she had been attracted to Alaric,

even if it was a little.

Thea gasped, shaking her head. No, this couldn't be happening. Her attraction to Alaric was just admiration. She had to get rid of that feeling, prune it away before it grew too thick.

'He's Selene's father, act like one,' Thea stared intently at her reflection in the mirror. 'Yes, you can do it'

After taking a few deep breaths, Thea walked out of the bathroom. Just as she came out she bumped into a boy who had just taken a cola from the refrigerator. The boy's brown eyes widened at the sight of Thea.

"Oh you must be that chatty fellow."

"Julius, if you talk carelessly again I'll take your snack away." Selene appeared to give the boy a sharp look. "Sorry Thea, he's my cheeky little brother called Julius."

Thea smiled at the little argument between Selene and Julius. But she felt a little surprised, Julius had blond hair unlike Selene and Alaric.

'Maybe it's their mother's genes,' Thea thought.

"Wow...you guys look so close." Alaric came down the stairs smiling at the small argument between Selene and Julius, and Thea came between them.

Thea turned her head, trying to smile in a friendly way to greet Alaric. Even though his heart was beating unbidden, Alaric looked refreshed in a relaxed, homey long-sleeved white T-shirt after a shower.

"Papa, Julius stole my ice cream."

"Hey...it's your own fault that the ice cream languished for a month."

"Enough, don't fight like that. Today we have a guest, Selene's best friend. Be nice." Alaric walked past them, allowing Thea to smell his perfume. "I'm going to prepare dinner, Julius help your father."

"Huh...? Why not Selene, Papa?"

"Your sister is busy with her studies."

Julius pouted but relented and followed his father into the kitchen. Before entering the kitchen Alaric turned his body around and cast a friendly glance at Thea.

"I plan to cook a lot, I hope you don't mind joining our little family for dinner, Thea."

Before Thea could utter a word of refusal, Selene quickly chimed in. "My father's cooking is so good, it's restaurant-grade. You won't regret having dinner with us."

Thea looked at Selene with an indecisive expression. "I don't want to inconvenience you."

"No trouble at all," Alaric cut in quickly.

"If you don't eat here, I'll take your portion."

"Shut up Julius! No one asked for your opinion." Selene glared fiercely at Julius who poked his head over Alaric's shoulder. Julius just stuck out his tongue and went back into the kitchen.

Thea let out a resigned sigh. There was no longer any reason to refuse, especially since Alaric had returned to cooking as if to avoid the words that Thea might say again.

'After eating, I'll go straight home.' Thea resolved in her heart.