章 3: chapter 3. when beneath every attitude

They head to the lobby when Esther gets a call. Miraki was chattering to Orion. "Mimi, take Jacky for a second" she hands over her heavy son to her as esty swiped green in heist.

Miraki's face was sour. Her arms were aching while Orion giggled at the sight.

"Does aunt Mimi not love me?" Jackson stared at her.

Her sour face immediately turned bright red. "Of course I love you, my little baby"

Orion was enjoying his small conversations with Mimi when Esther came in a hurry " Miraki, can you please look after the children? I will be back in an hour or so; or my brother will come to pick them up."

"Ok, be careful on the way alright?"

With that said, Miraki now withdrew her steps to the hotel and rather they exited through the back of the garden. Orion keenly gazed at the surroundings, an attempt to remember the pathway.

(on the other side)

Luke was busy going through all the documents submitted by his workers. He was the CEO of the mercury corporations which ran several other companies and hotel chains such as Hotel Mercury.

His cell phone rang. He sighted and took a look at the caller's name. 'not those pestering women thankfully' he breathed out and answered

"Hey sis-"

"Luke, meet me at zen cafe, now" with that said the call ended. It was a call done by his beloved sister who liked to annoy him to his bits.

Luke could tell something was not right. His sister often loved to tease him before even pestering him to join gatherings.

"Liam, check the documents and send me the results" he took his blazer and the keys and drove to the cafe. Zen cafe was an outlet run by his father who loved to live his secluded life except torturing him to marry of-course.

It was a tiny two story building. AS he entered the staff greeted him.

"Good morning sir, you have been asked to visit Mr.Alexis office."

He nodded and with his long legs stridden his way to his fathers office. He knocked once and after hearing "enter" he unlocked the door.

It was a simple room painted with white walls and a few paintings hung on the wall and some origami aquariums on the wall near adjoining the master work table.

His sister sat near the tea table and his father was adjacent to her.

He took a seat near his sister when he heard " When's the engagement?"

His face deadpanned. His eyes were subtly glaring at his father.

"What he meant was how long until you officially tie the knot in engagement with your unknown fiance?" Esther asked in a passive aggressive manner.

"I neither have a fiance nor am I having an engagement" he stated nonchalantly.

His fathers hopeful face flushed off. He was excited for his son's marriage and yet, maybe he wont ever tie the knot.

" You idiot then why is everyone gossiping about your engagement? Don't lie to me!" he flabbergasted.

Esther pursued her lips. It was gonna rage havoc on her father. Just the thing she wanted to avoid yet also confront. "Father please calm down, let's think of it thoroughly" she said as she poured water for him from his favourite brass kettle.

"How can I? All my friends are asking me about the date of the engagement! Oh my reputation" Marcus Alexis raged dramatically. He was a man who loved his prestige.

"Let's first find out the source shall we? We can delay the engagement and stuff father. Just lie, like you've always done" she pestered him.

Marcus had always been soft on his daughter, thus he only rolled his eyes. Luke could surely giggle but he maintained his poker face, to save himself from a calamity of lecture.

"When did I like it? You're being more naughty as you get older!' he denied the accusations. The two siblings looked at each other and immediately knew what went on.

"ahem, well. I can delay it but this time it has been spread so much that we can't deny it. Find out the source and by hook or crook… also, find someone to get engaged to. I can't always clean up your mess. '' he remarked.

Esther stood up and walked to the drawers to get a few tea leaves which were rolled in shell shapes. She quickly made an aromatic tea and poured it to her father and brother.

"oh heavens I wish you were Esther, Luke. See she has two lovely kids and look at you, an unmarried man!"

Esther held a bitter face as she heard her father speak.

It was because of all these innumerable remarks that he didn't like to meet his father.Both him and his father knew that his sister never wished to get married yet here he was ranting about it.

"Father, I shall take my leave now. I have a meeting to attend." Luke took a look at his wrist watch and stood up. Esther stood with him.

They wished their father a goodbye and exited the lobby. "Luke, can you pick up my children from my friend's home? I will text the address. I need to attend this meeting immediately and it might take a few hours."

He pursued his lips. Well, it was late anyway so I agreed to it.

Esther held a grin as she went back to her office for the meeting.

(back at Miraki's home)

"Aunt, you live in a new place now!" Orion remarked. Miraki used her tiny hands with cuts and bruises to pull his cheeks slightly.Jackson smiled like a sunshine, showing off his gummy smile as he enjoyed his arrogant brother getting teased.

It was her first apartment since leaving the company dorms. It was not expensive or glamorous but it was fine, and some where her heart felt warm and cosy.

She let Jackson down and unlocked the room with her keys. It revealed a cosy living room surrounded by lots of decorative items and colourful furniture.

In an instant Jackson ran and started to touch everything he saw. Orion took his brother by his head and squeezed him next to himself on a couch to prevent from breaking any valuable things.

"broth-"Jackson was about to protest until he heard Orion's stern voice "No means no Jacky"

The gifts given to them by Miraki were on the table. Jackson reached out his hands to get them. Orion glared at his brother distastefully. Yet, he picked the gift bag and handed it to Jackson.

His pout was replaced by a delightful smile. Orion took his own gift as well. They both had received a furin.

" aunt! This furin is so cute!" Jackson ran to Miraki to show his gratitude to her.

Miraki looked at it in sanguine sadness.

"Thank you," Orion said. Miraki held a soft smile, she walked to the drawer and took out two video games. She handed them to the kids.

"Play these for a while and I shall be right back!"

She microwaved the cupcakes she had baked. It was kept as a gift for Esther but Miraki decided to give them to the kids.

"Are you boys up for some cupcakes?"Miraki excitedly entered the living room. The boys were silently playing video games.

Jackson being the glutton he was, immediately ran to her leaving his game on the couch " I want many!"

Orion looked up and his face turned bright red, since a few years back he was like that too.

"Alright! My Jackson shall get the one with the biggest swirl"

Her motherly instincts took over as she playfully fed the little boy.

The cupcakes were in the favour of banana, chocolate, vanilla, and carrot.

An hour had passed and yet there were no signs of Esther returning. The boys were both asleep after a while of having the snacks. Maybe the car ride had made them tired.

From what she knew, Esther was an extremely hardworking and independent rich business woman. Often, during her son's vacation days they would drive from the capital to the lake hoping to enjoy the vacation.

The capital was an expensive place, not many could afford living there.

Whenever Esther would leave her sons with her, her brother's secretary would come to pick them up. Liam winters.

'I should pack some of these for Liam, he must be hungry from all those work'

She packed the cupcakes in a cute little clear wrap with a small ribbon and a note saying "Work hard!"