Alice had woken up to aching muscles but she didn't bother to dwell on it. She hurriedly dressed up trying to look professional yet not overdressed.
She paired a white skirt over a striped white and black shirt and like always tied her hair in a ponytail, on her ear was a simple star shaped small earring and on her hand was a slim belt wrist watch. Picking up the bag she had used yesterday, a black Louis Vuitton, she didn't see any reason why she had to change it.
As she came out of her room, she headed to her mother's room, even if she might not want to see her, it was still bad manners to skip greeting her.
She knocked quietly, hoping peter was nowhere in sight. As she stood waiting for an answer, she saw miss Sarah walk out of one of the corridors. Her first instinct was to greet her until she remembered she was never a fan of Alice. Infact, she would undisputedly claim the award of Alice's bane of existence.
She watched the woman walk past her only stopping to snicker at her. Alice was furious, she needed to put an end to the woman's tantrums before it grew out of hand.
Maybe she was transferring aggression but she became even furious at herself for waiting for a mother that didn't regard her as her daughter.
As she made to leave, she heard the door clock open.
'Good for me, now I have to take in another dose of heartbreak.'
But to her surprise, standing Infront of the door was her father in his pyjamas.
"Father?" She asked surprised by his presence.
"Alice." He answered a small smile on his face. He was happy to see her here. It means she and Emilia were beginning to get along.
"Father." She called again throwing herself in his arms.
David was shocked, he could feel a warm sensation in his heart and he had to admit, he liked it. Not giving another thought, he hugged her back much to Emma's displeasure. She hadn't expected it to be Alice behind door when she had told her husband to get it. When she heard Alice's voice, she hadn't bothered to come see her. Ofcourse she knew what she was there for but she still wasn't able to tame her dislike for her and she couldn't risk showing it carelessly most especially with David around.
When she didn't hear anything from them, she peeped to check what was happening and witnessed Alice throwing herself into David's unsuspecting arms. She had consoled herself with the fact that David is a stiff person, he wasn't a man to show affection nor does he know how to accept it. But right Infront of her eyes, David had returned the hug and was patting her back, the happiness on Alice's face felt like acid on her heart.
'Is this it?'
'No, I will never allow it.' She thought.
"Dad, When did you return?"
"I thought you would be back today, well, later today." She blabbered.
David smiled a bit before he replied.
"I came back last night, I was done with the project and didn't like the hotel I was staying at." He joked.
Alice chuckled before she said.
"It's good to see you Dad."
"It's good to see you too dear."
"You are all dressed up, where are you off to?" He asked.
He knew very well where she was off to. His secretary had updated him on their affairs, hers and Bethany's and he couldn't be more proud, most especially of Alice.
He knew the criterias to get a job at JoDa. Everybody in the industry knew how much of a critic Adam was. The man was almost a perfectionist.
When he had heard of her ambition, he had wanted to talk to Josh but that particular day, Josh wasn't picking his phone. He had tried more than five times yet there was no answer. He had even thought of calling Adam himself but the boy could be a bit stubborn and he in return is too proud to contend with him so he thought he would just wait till he returned. That was the reason he had sped up his meetings and didn't wait for today to board a flight. He only found out she had gotten the job when his secretary had come to pick him at the airport. The pride blanketed his heart, he had only felt something of that equivalence when Bethany's skirt design that year became the talk of the town.
No, it was even more than that. Bethany had attended the best of schools and she had experienced helping hands willing to assist her all the time. But Alice, he and Emma had abandoned her, had left her to pick up herself from the scratch, yet she was able to impress one of the movers of the fashion world, something he doubts even Bethany would have been able to accomplish.
"Father, you wouldn't believe it." She started happily.
"Okay," He replied smiling at her. He would not allow her to know that he already knows, that would spoil the fun. He would allow her to experience surprising her father and making him proud.
"I landed a job at JoDa." She screamed and he tried, really tried to act surprised but being the bad actor he was, she could clearly see through him.
"Dad, did you already know?" She asked, squinting her eyes as if scrutinizing him.
David gave up and laughed nervously,
"Well I have my Intel." He chuckled a bit.
"Oh come on, I wanted to break the news to you." She whined childishly.
"I know, that is why I tried to fake it but you just couldn't see past it." He replied shrugging playfully.
"Honey, you are keeping her. She's going to be late." Emma called from inside.
She was almost going crazy from their mushy- gushy father and daughter love and she couldn't allow Bethany or Peter to witness the scene, they'd lose control and she didn't want that.
"Right, honey." He replied, a proud smile on his face.
"Dad, let me greet Mum." Alice said.
"Sure." He replied walking into the room.
Alice followed him and found Emma lying on her bed.
"Good morning Mum." She greeted timidly.
"Good morning Alice." She replied cheerfully.
"Hurry so you wouldn't be late. Don't let him keep you." She said referring to her husband.
Alice was slightly taken aback by her nice attitude but didn't bother dwelling on it. She was right. She would soon start running late.
Before she could reply, Bethany walked into the room.
"Dad, you are back." She said looking at David who seemed to be looking for something in his drawer.
"Yes Bethany. I arrived in the night." He replied, a small smile on his face
"Welcome then." She greeted, the same smile on her face.
"Dad, I'm sure you know I got the job right?" She announced looking at Alice whom she expected to be surprised. Alice just stared at the wall blankly. To her that was no news for she knew she would get the job.
"Yes, I know Bethany and I am proud of both of you. " He replied, patting them on their backs.
Bethany moved out of his hand range and walked to her seething mother.
"Mum, I'm off." she said as she bent and planted a small peck on her cheek.
"Have fun, my love and don't overwork yourself." Emma replied, lovingly hugging Bethany.
"I told Sarah to pack you breakfast." She told her after she had straightened up.
"I will just get one at the office." She replied as she walked to her father and repeated the gesture.
"Bye mum, Bye Dad." She said as she walked out of the room ignoring Alice.
David looked from Emma to Bethany then to Alice. He thought the had crossed over this stage but why could he sense tension in the air?
"Bye Mum."
"Bye Dad." Alice called too flashing both of them a bright smile as she walked out of the room. Yes, she got herself heartbroken yet again.
' She really needed to get used to this.' She thought.