At Grand Hotel Excelsior,
The elite managers of the hotel were at the beck and call of VVIP guests of the hotel who arrived early in the morning. They were on their toes, preparing everything beforehand for the guests.
Secretary Harrison stepped out of the presidential suite and asked a manager who reached him hurriedly, "Chairman Matthews and Madam Matthews are going for lunch at Parallel 37."
"We have reserved the best table in the restaurant for Chairman Matthews and Madam Matthews." The manager quickly responded in a professional tone.
Led by a manager, the secretary and PA, followed Casper and Gianna to the elevator which was prepared for their arrival.
'Ding' The elevator door opened on the 5th floor.
Casper was about to step out, and a young lad who was standing in front of the elevator caught his eyes. For a second, he recalled young Alvin before the image disappeared looking into fearless gray eyes.
The manager of the hotel was about to ask the boy to move, "Li-..." Nonetheless, the young lad stepped aside like an adult and stood aloof.
Casper's lips unawarely arced at the composure of the boy who was too confident for his age. Stepping out, he rubbed the boy's head without halting his steps.
Gianna and the young lad: "..."
The boy disliked the stranger for touching him without permission and Gianna was displeased to her bones. Casper hadn't carried their granddaughter even once and he liked an unknown young boy.
It fuelled her hatred with an assumption as Casper favors grandson over granddaughter. In her view, the grandson was the bastard's son and the granddaughter was Liam's daughter.
Gianna shot a look of daggers at the young boy before stepping forward and following Casper like a good wife.
"Zane…" A cold voice had a hint of relief when it filled the hallway of the floor.
Zane turned to the door of the restaurant where Alvin stood narrowing his eyes. Zane slyly smiled for successfully tricking Alvin.
Alvin was ordering food for them when Zane lied as he was going to use the restroom. He also stopped Alvin and Rob from following him by saying, 'I'm a big boy.'
When Zane noticed Rob still following him at distance, Zane snuck under the tables, behind tablecloths, and managed to reach the hallway to escort his mother.
In the four members who were facing the Parallel 37 restaurant, the three paused, seemingly guessing the voice of the man.
PA and the manager of the hotel paused with them, "Sir!?" The manager wrongly guessed that the guests might have changed their minds or wanted to try Italian cuisine.
"Would you like to try in La Profumeria? We have one of the best Italian chefs." He treated them respectfully as he pointed to the opposite side of the Parallel 37 in the hallway.
The hallway was large with a high-class vast sitting area. So Alvin didn't bother to look at anybody where other guests were also around, most of the people were in business suits.
When Rob reported to him Zane didn't go to the washroom, Alvin easily guessed the little brat must have gone to fetch his mother. So he went out and found him standing in front of the open elevator.
Although Alvin wasn't panicked, he felt the need to teach the little brat to be around them if they go outside. He wouldn't mind the silly troubles and pranks on him but the safety comes first.
He stretched his long legs and went towards Zane who didn't fear him even a bit. Zane looked at him as if challenging him to scold or hit.
Secretary Harrison was feeling his heartbeat in sync with the footsteps of a man when he was turning around. Gianna had a deep scowl recalling Zane was the name of Bastard's son. She turned around feeling her day couldn't be any worse.
Casper couldn't quite define his feelings but he was surprised his second son finally appeared in front of him after five years.
The three looked at Alvin walk up to the boy. He held the boy in his arms and lifted him off the floor. Moving aside to the couch, he made the boy stand on the headrest of the couch. The little boy balanced himself and stared at Alvin at eye level.
Unmoving, they watched the show unfold without awareness.
Alvin glared at the little brat, "Zane Owen, what do you think your mommy will do if she gets to know you escaped out of my sight?"
Zane had no idea people could hurt him. So he smugly responded, "Mommy will know you are easy to fool."
Alvin pondered if Anya knew this side of Little Brat. Or is the brat behaving like this only with him?
Growing up being scolded or looked down upon for doing nothing and everything, Alvin just knew he shouldn't be like his father or stepmother.
So he found the patience he never knew he had and tried to explain in a simple way that Zane could understand without getting scared.
"Your mommy punishes the bad guys. The bad guys hate your mommy but they can't do anything to your mommy. If they want to catch her, they will take you away. Won't your mommy come to find you?" Alvin found his own words lame.
Zane's smile wavered. What Alvin said made sense. His mother will definitely save him but the bad guys could hurt her.
Alvin saw the little brat behave immediately without retorting with nonsense. He was about to carry him, and they heard the elevator stop on the floor.
'Ding.'
Stepping out of the elevator on the fifth floor, Anya's eyes went left towards an Italian restaurant. Her gaze fell on two and a smile bloomed on her face.
The hallway immediately filled with an adorable voice, "Mommy…"
Alvin: "…"
He couldn't believe the little brat turned into a sweet ball at the sight of his mother.
The four in front of Parallel 37 turned to the elevator and saw a stunning lady stepping out on the white pumps (heels). She was wearing a white V-neck, puffed, full sleeves top, in-shirted in slim fit beige trousers.
Her eyes smiled with her pink curled lips as she gracefully walked out holding a black sleek wallet in her hand. The dimples were clear evidence of her delightedness watching the two.
Although they hadn't seen Anya Owen's recent appearance, Casper and his secretary had seen blur pictures. So they guessed her as Anya Owen easily.
Hence they couldn't help but compare her to her past version. She was neither skinny nor chubby as in the past. Nevertheless, her uninteresting style and personality had definitely taken a sharp U-turn. She was radiating, catching every eye on her, yet being confident in her actions.
Zane lifted his hands, calling her closer while balancing on the narrow space of the couch's backrest.
Although Alvin's entire focus was being drawn to his Little Donut, he couldn't help splitting his attention to Zane, in case he loses his balance.
Looking at the two standing close to each other, without bantering, Anya mused, "Looks like my two Chipmunks are having fun without me."
Zane wrapped his arms around her neck, "Momma…" He had missed her right after waking up without seeing her face. "Momma, where is your jacket? Aren't you feeling cold?"
He pulled away, letting Anya hold him for balance. He rubbed his little palms against each other and cupped her face.
Anya enjoyed her son's little warm hands. Her jacket was in the car, since there will be a centralized temperature controller in the hotel, she didn't bother to wear it again.
Alvin glanced at the little man who was too attentive to Anya and had many tricks up his sleeves. Anyway, he hissed, "There are two Chipmunks." And her attention and love were only at one.
Anya and Zane looked at Alvin. Then they looked at each other and chuckled. Zane was getting used to the childish side of the man.
Anya used her left hand that was holding her bag and patted Alvin's back, "Mr. Matthews has so much free time."
Looking at her hand that was patting his back, Alvin greatly controlled himself from smacking his forehead. He was a fool to think she was a fast turtle, she was slower than a turtle.
He smoothly carried Zane in one arm and held her hand in another, then walked towards the Italian restaurant.
Alvin noticed Rob's dark face and realized Casper was in the same hotel. Meanwhile, Anya's smile wavered briefly when the corner of her eyes caught the couple.
Her quick analysis discerned they hadn't arrived in the city now. If Casper is already in the city, why hasn't he reported to the police agency yet?
She quickly brushed off her work things and ignored the couple to focus on the two. Likewise, Alvin spared no eye to the couple and went inside.
Casper had a deep scowl while Gianna's face was dark. They couldn't accept the fact that the two ignored them blatantly.
Casper's legs were itching to go inside the Italian restaurant and chide his son for his manners but a slender hand wrapped around his arm, "Let's go." She sounded so caring and gentle that Secretary Harrison had goosebumps and the PA looked at her in shock.
They have to put on the face of a good husband and wife. So Casper turned around and went inside Parallel 37 controlling his urge to shrug her hands off.
He was well aware of his wife who was going to wash her hands because he was nothing but filth from the day she got to know that he had slept with another woman.
Gianna gritted her teeth, the second she noticed Casper lift his heel behind Alvin, she took the chance and diverted them away. Considering Casper's reaction to Bastard's son, she wouldn't let them meet.
'What if that bastard reveals it to Casper?'
She felt the need to do something quickly, without knowing Alvin was clueless about his son and Anya had no such plans.
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