Chapter Sixteen
Nathan
“Dad.” I heard someone whisper.
I groaned in response, not really wanting to get up. The person poked my cheek obviously not getting the message.
“Go away.” I grumbled, pulling whatever I was holding closer.
Turned out that I was holding Alyssa and Oliver was the one trying to wake me up.
“Come on, Dad, wake up.” He poked me again.
I sighed, prying my eyes open to see Alyssa sleeping soundly with her head resting on my arm. She looked so peaceful and relaxed and finally not worried about anything.
Last night, after I told her about my parents, we talked about simple things like highschool and stories of our childhoods. Well, I did most of the talking while she laughed each time I made a joke. I was in the middle of telling her about a holiday Oliver and I had when she dozed off. I just placed a blanket over her and laid down beside her.
Maybe we should take a holiday. Just Alyssa and I.
“Morning, Dad.” Oliver said, cheerily but quiet enough to not wake Alyssa.
“Morning.”
“I'm hungry.” He stated.
“Have you brushed your teeth?” I asked already knowing the answer.
“Let's brush together.”
I knew he wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer so I agreed. “Let's take Alyssa up to her room first.”
“Okay, I'll help carry her.”
I rolled my eyes, getting up to carry her bridal style just like I did yesterday after we got married. I still can't believe that less than a month ago, I was single and fucking any girl I wanted. Now, I'm a married man.
Oliver came and held her feet higher as if it made any difference. Alyssa was really light, probably not even weighing a hundred pounds. You wouldn't guess that from her body stature.
Alyssa was curvy to say the least. She had a body that women would die for with full breasts, a small waist and a nice arse. She could be a model. I'd love to see her model some lingerie for me.
We reached her room and Oliver opened the door for me. Her room looked just as I wanted it to. Eggshell white walls, dark wood dresser with a mirror, small bookshelves and a cozy reading area for her close to a window.
I placed her on the king sized bed and drew the light brown duvet over her body. She stirred, letting out a breath as she relaxed and went back to sleep. I couldn't help laying a light kiss on her cheek before I moved to start by the door while Oliver copied my actions.
I closed the door gently then went to my own room to get my toothbrush before meeting Oliver in his bathroom. He was already waiting for me in front of the mirror with his Supa Strikas toothbrush in hand. He had to stand on a stool so he could see himself in the mirror.
“Dad, rinse your teethbrush properly.” Oliver told me.
“It's ‘toothbrush’, not ‘teethbrush’, Oliver.” I said exasperatedly.
“Do not start that argument again.” He warned with narrowed eyes. “You will lose.”
I blew out a breath, putting my toothbrush under the running water again.
“So what do you want for breakfast?” I questioned as we entered the state-of-the-art kitchen.
He tapped his finger on his chin, looking up, thinking. He did that for a while five minutes before he answered. “I dunno.” He shrugged. “What does Ally like to eat?”
“She likes spaghetti.” I offered, remembering that little detail from last night.
He thought again. “Pasgettti is lunch food.”
“It's spaghetti.” I corrected.
“How are you so sure?” He challenged.
“That's how it is in the dictionary.”
“Did the dictionary invent the food?”
“No.”
“Then the dictionary can't be sure.”
“Wow, okay.” I give up.
“What about pancakes?” He proposed. “With lots of syrup.”
I shrugged, getting the things I needed from the cupboards. Oliver brought a seat and stood on it so he could reach the counter. We started pouring the ingredients one by one into the large bowl, Oliver being very messy.
“So have you found a new school for me?” He enquired suddenly. I shook my head. “Why not?”
“I want to look for the best school for you, I don't want what happened last time to happen again.” I answered.
His mood visibly dampened when I said that. I know it was hard for Oliver, getting bullied is no laughing matter which was why immediately he told me, I withdrew him from the school.
“Don't look so sad, Olly. It's going to be okay.” I reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know. But I want to go to school.” He whined.
“In a few years you'll hate school and use every excuse to not go.” I pointed out.
“Well, let me enjoy it while I can. School is fun.” That made me laugh as I returned to the pancake mix. “I'm serious, only an hour of our day is for learning. The rest is either for sleeping or playing.”
“Okay, I'll find a new school for you soon.”
It was quiet but after a while he whined again. “Aren't you done yet?”
“Almost, Oliver.”
“You're so slow!”
I started mixing the batter. “Oliver.” I warned.
“Fine, I'm probably going to starve before you're done.” He said dramatically.
“Here you can lick the spoon.” I handed it to him and he took it happily.
“So are we going anywhere today?”
I shrugged. I didn't have anything planned for us to do but going out wouldn't be so bad. Maybe we could go get Alyssa more clothes. She doesn't have enough clothes since I picked her up quite abruptly. I'll ask her if she wants to go.
Agreeing with myself, I placed the we'll made pancakes of a plate for Oliver and passed it to him him a fork and a bottle of maple syrup.
“Thanks, Dad.” He lathered them with syrup and dug his fork in.
I poured a little syrup on mine and placed Alyssa's in the microwave. It wasn't long after we started eating that we heard footsteps coming into the kitchen.
“Morning, Ally.” Oliver cheered.
“Morning, Olly.” She replied with a beautiful smile.
She always looks beautiful but there was something about her when she smiled. It was obvious that Alyssa was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, a weight she could share, with me.
When she smiled, it was like she was completely free of her troubles. I want her to be like that forever. I want to make her happy and keep her like that. I would, if she'd let me.
Alyssa and I obviously have this connection, an attraction. But she's holding back. She's keeping a lot from me, things that she should be able to say. I don't want to rush her, after all, we just met a few weeks ago, it going to be a while before she trusts me completely.
“Good morning, Nathan.” I was brought out of my thoughts by Alyssa's soft voice.
“Morning, Love.” I couldn't help but crane my neck to peck her lips. “How did you sleep?”
“Great, thanks.” Her cheeks visibly coloured as she looked down, using her fiery red hair as a curtain to cover her face.
“Why don't we go out today?” I proposed, getting her food out of the microwave.
“Okay.” Was all she said before bitting into her pancakes. “Where would we...”
She was cut off by my phone ringing from my pocket. I closed my eyes and let out a frustrated breath. Why does this happen everytime we have a moment to talk?
“I'll be right back.” I told them as I moved away. Looking at the caller ID, I saw that it was my head of security, Samuel. “Hello? Samuel?”
There was so much noise in the background and he was supposed to be in the monitoring room or by the gate. I had surveillance cameras around the house and in the bedrooms but those ones were only for emergencies. They do not show live footage to the monitoring room.
“Mr Graham, we have a problem.” He yelled over the noise.
“Where the hell are you? I can barely hear you!” I raised my voice a bit but I was careful not to alarm Alyssa or Oliver.
“I suggest you cancel any plans of leaving your home today, sir.” He said breathlessly.
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, my temper quickly rising.
“The paparazzi have covered every gate, there is no way through. My men and I are trying our best to send them away but nothing's work.” He explained.
“What do they want now?” I grumbled, pinching the bridge of my nose.
“They got word of your wedding, sir and they want a story.”
“How did they even...” I began. “It was supposed to be a private event, only family and trusted business partners, we paid the hotel off. How did they find out?”
“I don't know, sir, they must've been tipped off.”
I blew out a breath. Well, that just ruined my plans.
“Is everything okay?” I heard a familiar voice behind me.
“Yes, of course.” I didn't want to worry her.
“There's a problem, tell me.” She demanded.
I sighed. “The press got wind of our marriage, they've blocked all the gates, we can't leave the house.”
I saw her shoulders drop but she perked up. “But we don't have to give up on today's plans. What'd you have in mind?”
The way she sounded, so innocent, with a tiny smile made my heart flutter, something that hasn't happened in a while.
“I just wanted to take you out, maybe we'd get you some clothes, have lunch, go to a park, whatever you want.” I informed, a bit disappointed that we might not be able to do any of that today because of the stupid paparazzi.
She smiled kindly. “That's so sweet Nathan. But I'm fine staying here and having lunch here. A movie and snacks are enough for me.”
“But we will go out soon, we need to take you shopping.”
“There's something called internet shopping, you'd think a guy that owns a tech company would know that.” She joked. I chuckled, shaking my head at her.
“Plus,” She added. “It's still morning, the people out there will get tired eventually, we can go out then.”
She was right, not even the press can stay out there all day, especially with the cold November air. Let's just make the most of the morning indoors.
Oliver and I had to shower first then we got the blankets we used last night, draped them over ourselves, put on the TV and got my laptop. I set my phone to silent so there wouldn't be any more interruptions and the TV was making noise in the background while the three of us, including Oliver, browed through a collection of clothes for Alyssa.
After a few hours, we were all hungry and tired, Oliver was even asleep. We had gotten her enough clothes to fill only half of her closet and it was time to pay. The only problem with that was Alyssa didn't want me to pay and I wasn't going to let her.
“Nathan, no. It's my clothes and I want to pay.” She argued.
“Yes, but I'm paying!” I insisted. Her voice disturbed Oliver and he stirred in his sleep.
“No, you're not!” Our voices disturbed Oliver and he stirred in his sleep.
“I'm gonna put Oliver in his room. I'll pay when I get back.” She told me, carrying Oliver gently in her arms, letting his head rest on her shoulder.
I nodded as she left with a smirk. Leaving me alone with my laptop was a mistake on her part. I quickly paid for the clothes, shoes and other accessories we got and put in a special order, a necklace that's going to be perfect for her as a wedding gift.
I got started on lunch before she got back in order to take her mind away from the clothes. It worked. She started helping me with the food and a while later we had enough grilled cheese sandwiches for the three of us.
“Where did you learn how to cook?” I heard her ask.
“My mum.”
“Oh.”
There was a comfortable silence and I took the opportunity to check my phone. As expected, I had a few missed calls. Six from my father, two from Samuel, probably to update me on the situation and a few from - oh no.
I immediately called the person back hoping that she won't be too angry.
“NATHAN GRAHAM!!!”