Colin’s POV

Alexia’s face was still fresh in his mind. Her flawless figure in the royal blue dress was still clear, her curves still vivid and untamed, and the smell of her cologne never leaving his mind. This was what Alexia was doing to him. She was driving him nuts and he was afraid he would lose his mind one of these days.

Alexia was special. Alexia was different. Alexia was unlike the other women he had chased. Alexia _Alexia _Alexia; she was all he thought about. Her intoxicating cologne, her soft hair, her alluring eyes and her beautiful lips, were stuck on his mind. All he wanted to do was see her, but he had been busy these past few days. The work in the office was piling every day and he had to finish them before he could go out and have fun.

It was strange how he desperately wanted to see her. He had not seen her since he left her at the balcony at the opening ceremony. That night, he had kept an eye out for her, but she had disappeared among the crowd. Even after the party ended, he did not see her, but saw her ex-boyfriend instead.

Elijah Martin, he was told was his name. The man who broke Alexia’s heart. The man he was in competition with. Anyway, Colin was not worried about him, because he knew this would be an easy win. Alexia did not want anything to do with that brute. Yes, he had heard what she told him that night by accident. However, he was glad his ears caught it.

“Ah Alexia,” Colin sighed her name and reclined in his chair, staring at the ceiling. Her beautiful face flashed through his mind and he smiled.

There was a knock on his door and he corked his head to see Alison, his secretary poking her head through the door. “Sir, Mrs Kelvin is on the phone.” She said.

Colin sat up straight in his chair and then said. “Thank you.” After Alison closed the door behind her, he took the telephone and pressed it to his ear. “Hello mother.”

“How is my son doing?” His mother’s lovely voice asked and he could not help the smile that broke on his face. His mother was a wonderful person who he held very dear to his heart.

“He is doing great. However, has a lot of work.”

“Well, he will have to get that work finished by the end of the day and prepare to come home.”

“No, I can’t mother, I’m sorry. There are just too many things to do.” Colin rushed his fingers through his blonde hair and relaxed on his chair, stretching his legs beneath the table.

“Colin Marcellus Knight, I won’t take a no this time. You are coming and that’s that.”

“Mother, I was with you three days ago at the opening ceremony of the new headquarters of DALIA, remember?” Colin refreshed her memory and she sighed.

“Yes, I remember.” There was a smile in her voice as she continued. “I think I also remember seeing you unable to get your hands off the beautiful Miss Brooke.”

Colin smiled and remembered that moment. It was his mother who had interrupted them when he was about to kiss Alexia.

“Yes, that time was enough.”

“I was the only one there. Rees and Sofia were not with me. They miss you very much, especially Sofia. That girl has been nagging me to make you come home and all those times you cancelled, she has been crushed.”

“Sofia, I miss that little bundle of joy so much.” Colin smiled. “However…”

“You still won’t come home?” She interjected. “Fine then, I guess, you will not be seeing Alexia Brooke. “Oh I almost forget to tell you Colin,” His mum drawled and he could imagine the smirk on her face. “I hired Miss Brooke to come decorate the house and she’ll be arriving tonight.” With that, she hung up.

Alexia’s POV

The white Mercedes Benz whizzed pass the signboard, which said, 3 km to Spring Bird. Alexia was relieved when she saw it and stepped on the gas pedal for the car to move faster. She has been driving for hours and still has not reached her destination. It was around 9 am when she left her condominium and started her drive to Yeji. She got a job offer at the opening ceremony, three days ago, from the woman who had interrupted her and Colin at the balcony. Remembering that moment still left her feeling totally embarrassed.

She was almost at her destination, maybe. The tires of her Mercedes rubbed against the gravel as she climbed a hill. Lord, she prayed the house was very close because she did not know whether her tires would be able to hold on much longer. Her baby had never gone on a long, rough journey like this one. She probably would need repairs when they arrive at Spring Bird.

As she climbed the hill, a mansion, enclosed by a wall of black metal, slowly rose in the horizon. When she reached the top, she also reached the entrance of Spring Bird. The security guard let her in as soon as she told him her name and he confirmed it with someone in his walkie-talkie.

Her Mercedes rolled into a path made of black pavement blocks. On either side of the road were beds of different kinds of flowers blossoming. Lamps lit up the road, leading to a water fountain and then the house. This house was not like the others she saw in town, it was different and one could tell their owners were rich too. In a small town where round houses and self-contained were the latest style, they just modernized it.

The two-storey mansion was a magnificent piece of art. It stood a few meters away from the small fountain and a well-kept Greenfield surrounded it, stretching for acres and acres. The pavement blocks continued to a mahogany door, standing between two pillars, which rose to the second floor and held a balcony. There were other pillars around with extending balconies. Each balcony had its own white cushioned chair and little table. Silky curtains danced along with the cool breeze through the open windows of a few rooms.

As her eyes studied every detail of the white mansion, she thought a saw someone looking at her through a window. When she returned her gaze there, it was only a curtain waving at her. Holding firm the handle of her travelling bag, she pushed the button and heard the doorbell resonate through the house.

Alexia took a deep breath and quickly rushed her fingers through her messy hair to make it look at least a little presentable. The winds have ruined the nice ponytail she had on this morning. She saw it through the rear-view mirror when she parked and tried to fix it, all to no avail.

There were sounds of hurried feet, before the door swung open and there stood a little girl. This girl was probably six or seven. She stared at Alexia with wide blue eyes_ for some reason those eyes reminded her of Colin’s. Her face was round. She got a cute little nose and small pink lips. Her hair was golden-brown, and fell on her shoulders. “Hello,” Alexia smiled and the little girl blinked.

Her eyes were wide and her lips slightly parted. “Whoa!” She gasped. The little girl had never seen someone as pretty as the woman standing in their doorway. She thought her fairy godmother had finally granted one of her many wishes. Ana was standing in her doorway _and where was Elsa. She thought, scratching her head.

Alexia was about to ask where her mother was when Samantha arrived. “Miss Brooke, it’s you.” She said and looked down at the little girl. “Why did you leave the guest standing outside?” Her gaze met Alexia’s again and she ushered her in. “Welcome to my home.”

“It’s Ana, mum.” She declared and tugged at her mother’s apron.

“Ana?” Samantha asked and glanced back at Alexia. She did not think Alexia’s red hair qualified her as Ana, but she did not want to crush her little girl’s heart by saying otherwise.

“Yes, but just a little bit.” She measured it with her hands and the little girl shook her head. She shared a different opinion with her mother and believed this woman was Ana, sent to her by her fairy godmother.

Alexia was unaware of the little argument the mother and daughter was engaged in since she was busy appreciating the hall. The walls were a light shade of brown, a few black cushioned chairs sat on one part of the room, close to a window, which looked out to the water fountain. There were three doors, one on the left, the other on the right and the last one was beneath a balcony on the next floor and between two massive staircases, which led up to it.

“It’s so good to have you here, Miss Brooke.” Samantha spoke after ending the discussion with her daughter.

“Please call me Alexia, and I’m honoured to be here. Your house is beautiful.”

“If it’s coming from you, then it must be.” Samantha said and looked down at her little girl who had been pulling the hem of her dress for some time now. “This is Sofia, my daughter.”

“Hi, Sofia, I am Alexia.” She knelt down and shook the little girl’s hand. Sofia smiled shyly and then quickly ran in the opposite direction, leaving the house through the door on the left. “Did I say something wrong?” Alexia was back on her feet.

“No, she’s shy.” Samantha replied with a chuckle. “Okay first things first. Please leave your bag here and let us head to the dining table. You must be starving.”

Alexia did not object to that. She was indeed starving. Taking a cup of coffee and two doughnuts before a long trip had been a bad idea. There were no fast food joints along the road and she had been hungry for long.

They were walking towards the door on the left. “Thank you for making the journey.” Samantha could not express how happy she was that Alexia was able to make it.

“I had to come. After all, that’s my job.” Alexia said whilst Samantha pushed open a door and different aromas filled her nostrils. They just entered the kitchen. All the equipment’s were stainless steel, and the cabinet, counter, floor and kitchen island were brown. Three saucepans were on the stove, simmering something Alexia guessed would be for dinner.

Samantha opened a glass door for her and she appeared in a dining room. It was an extension from the main house, so its walls were made of frosted glass doors. A few of them were open and cool air entered. A large table stood in the middle of the room with chairs surrounding it.

“Please take a seat, while I check on the food. Would you like to have anything?”

“A glass of water would be great, thank you.” Alexia said and then Samantha walked back through the door. She relaxed in her chair, crossed her hands on the table and looked out at the beautiful green land before her.

The door, which Samantha had just left in, opened and footsteps rushed in. “There she is, Ana.” Sofia was back.

Alexia smiled and then another set of footsteps walked in. She pushed back her chair and rose from it, turning around to correct the little one. However, she froze in shock when she saw him. He was not in a suit, but only in a white T-shirt and khaki slacks, which fit him snugly. His muscular arms, wide chest and flat stomach outlined in them and so did his long legs and -even though she tried not to, but failed at looking at it- his crotch.

“See, Colin? It’s her!” Sofia smiled and pulled his hand.

“It is her.” He smiled.

Samantha walked in with the glass of water and Alexia glanced at her. Someone had to start explaining fast, or else, she would jump to her own conclusions. “Alright, let’s introduce ourselves to the guest.” Alexia’s heart pounded as she prepared for the worst, and the worst would be hearing that Colin was married to Samantha and has a kid called Sofia.

Samantha handed her the glass of water and she gulped it down at once. “My daughter Sofia,” Alexia’s heart raced, “Colin…” She was waiting for this moment. “My son,” This was even worse than she thought.