The Return Of His Ex Wife
Chapter 13: Invitation

Chapter 13: Invitation

Arlo’s POV

"I just don’t get it! How does any of this concerns me, Sofia? How!" I gulped down the last gin and waved to a slender lady for more.

Sofia was my adorable younger sister who hated my guts, but she was adorable. She eyed the lady with disgust as she poured the gin, flashing a seductive smile before turning to leave.

"What is it?" I asked, "and what’s this green thing on your hair?" Sofia was younger by a year, but she acted like she was the oldest of the three of us. She had green stripes fixed in her long black hair, and bright eyes were intent on me like I was a criminal about to escape.

"What? You think you’re the only one who’s allowed to have green eyes like mom, and I can’t have green hair?" She snapped. She always looked angry, just like that. "And with the old man, just meet with the fucking lawyer. How hard can it be? He’s trusting you to--"

"--to fuck up! That man doesn’t care about us. He treated us like we’re a fucking big three, the famous Greek gods? Ronald is Zeus, he gets the school and also 40% of the stock interest from the company. He’s the boss. Guess who I am? Yes, Poseidon. I get the family’s international hotel, while you’re--"

"Hades? I get to manage the family hospital and save life or kill them. You say this all the time! Grow up." She rolled her eyes.

"And tell these your lovely ladies not to ever bother me again. They disgust me, rubbing their boobies on you and sitting on your laps and what not."

"Boobies?"

"You know what I mean." Her frown hardened. "Anyway, since you decide to frustrate the old man, he wants you to settle the case for the old hag and close down the Marisol firm. With all your powerful wings with these rich businessmen in your hotel, he knows you’re capable."

I heaved out a frustrated sigh. "Why do I have to clean up her damn mess? I mean, close down an innocent company just like that?"

"You could call the damn CEO and settle things amicably. They’re partnered with this huge firm, A&A Enterprise. Speak with the CEO, one Tamara or Tara, I don’t even give a fuck. And settle this once and for all. The old hag just wants compensation for the terrible job they did last year when her daughter was wrongly accused of pickpocketing."

"Was she wrongly accused though? You know the mall had proof, right?" Her daughter actually stole from the mall. And damn it, it’s none of my business! That’s fucking my point."

"Are you ready to get married? Just tell him that and he’ll let you off the hook."

"Does that even sound fair to you?" I spat out angrily.

Nothing made sense in my family, I knew that much. But this? My dad was too obsessed with me getting married, and since I keep defying his orders, he just kept giving me useless tasks! Now I had to help my step mother earn a negotiation for something her daughter did last year, or sue the company if they didn’t give her the compensation she wanted.

"Look, I tried my best. Just answer dad and give the old hag what she wants!" She frowned, "wow, it sounds creepy calling him dad."

"He is your dad."

"Our dad." She corrected. "By the way, are you still obsessed about that strange woman you met...wait, you met her at that exact same spot where you’re sitting in? No wonder that’s your favorite spot here. That’s so pathetic."

"Well, she hates me now. I mean, she is disgusted by me. Can you believe that?"

"Brother, it’s normal for someone, just only one girl, to hate you. I mean, just one thinks like me and realizes how annoying and so full of yourself you are. That’s not creepy at all."

I rolled my eyes, then got up to flaunt myself. "What about me is unlikable? Huh? Tell me."

Sofia snorted. "Whatever. You and your foolish pride. I blame all these idiots girls who treat you like you’re more than this!" She made her voice softer, or close to that anyway. "You’re going to have to walk up to her and tell her how you feel, about your obsessed crush on her for two years now. Or ignore her and never see her again."

Taking my seat back after winking at a pretty lady waving towards me, I confessed to Sofia. "I might have had a chance, but I told her son about hookers." I blinked, hoping I’d got rid of some of my shame.

"About hookers!? Dude, that kid was in kindergarten, right?"

"I didn’t give him the full details. I just said ladies out there are hookers. And he asked him mom publicly what a hooker was."

Sofia looked me up and down and sighed loudly. "Where did we go wrong with you?"

"Says the kid who’s a year younger."

"Call me a kid one more time, and I’ll --"

Her threats was cut off by the sound of my ringtone. "Goddammit! He won’t stop calling, Sofia. That man, uh, Derek something something. I’m tired."

"Get married and be free from his impossible tasks like these." Sofia reached out her hands to pat mine gently.

I shook my head slowly, disappointed at myself for ending up like that. The wealthy son of Diego Hernandez, stripped down to a personal assistant he could just give dirty low jobs to take care of.

Then I picked up the call. Before I could speak, a woman’s voice sounded.

"Hello? This is Tara Aniston. Is that Arlo Hernandez?"

Tara Aniston? Richard’s mother!

I cleared my throat, fear gripping my insides. Why was I panicking like that?? I was Arlo Hernandez, every lady’s dream man!

Underneath her voice, I heard some muffling voices. "Invite him already. What are you waiting for, mommy?"

"Quiet, Richard."

"Is he single? Richard, I’m gonna marry him."

Tara’s voice sounded again. "You guys, be responsible!." Then a little more loudly now, "Arlo Hernandez?"

"Mister. Say mister!"

"Shut up, Ella!"

"Yes, this is Arlo." I quickly said in a hurry to hush down those voices. Who was Ella?

"Oh, okay. Well, Arlo--uh, or um, Mr. Arlo? Richard was wondering if you would be chanced to come visit this weekend. Probably tomorrow? Please let me know what you think--"

Think? There was nothing to think of! Of course I was available!

"Yes! I mean, yes I can...I’m available. Tomorrow sounds fine."