The room fell silent, it was as though a grim reaper just passed by.
Dominic's eyes said all it could say; he was confused, and surprised at what the hell was happening before him.
On the other hand, Mia and Josh seemed to be completely lost. It was as though they weren't part of the unfolding drama.
The little girl still seated on top Annabelle furrowed her brows when she heard Annabelle's words, she turned back to stare at her brother who just stood a feet away watching calmly.
"What does that mean?" She asked innocently, finally breaking the silence
Annabelle winced while Dominic sprang up and rushed to carry the girl from Annabelle who still laid on the floor dejectedly.
She can't believe she just said the F word in front of a kid.
"Are you okay Miss?" The boy asked as he stretched his hands to her.
Annabelle squeezed her face and got up on her own, she dusted herself and brushed her hair back.
"Andrew, what are you and Andrea doing here?" Dominic questioned the boy who shrugged indifferently
"Little Drea wanted to see you since it slipped your mind to check up on us." Andrew replied calmly but Annabelle knew it was far from that.
There was something of a taunt, like a continued fight.
Dominic's brows creased and his expression faltered for a moment, he looked like he was about say something back at Andrew but was distracted by Andrea who pecked his cheek.
"I missed you daddy, Ma'am Glenda said you arrived a few hours ago. How was your trip?" Andrea asked, her tiny voice sounding ever melodious.
Andrew and Andrea were both identical twins and their father was none other than Dominic. He's relationship with them wasn't as tight as it should be because of his work nature and how busy he always was, he barely had time to even eat breakfast with them.
Andrea didn't see anything wrong with this, she loved Dominic to the core, so even if he was away for long, as far as he returned home to them, she was contended. Andrew on his part saw things differently, he believed Dominic had chosen his work over them and this caused a bridge between father and son.
Both twins were 9 years old and identical in all ways. Andrew had thick brown hair, intelligent brown eyes and a mole just below his left eye, he acted matured for his age. Andrea's was the same, only that her mole was on the right and she was more petite looking and soft natured.
"I'm sorry Angel, daddy had to...."
"Take care of other matters, yeah, like sitting in your study and signing endless documents over and over again with a mug of caramel coffee beside you. Yeah, that sounds more like you." Andrew concluded
"Andrew!" Dominic snapped
"It's great to see you dad, have fun with your co workers." Andrew muttered softly and without saying anything else walked out of the annex building leaving everyone including Annabelle stunned, though she didn't show it.
Dominic sighed while Andrea wound her arms around his neck, kissing his forehead again.
"Don't be mad at Andy, he really did miss you a lot just like I did." She said softly and Dominic pulled her closer, kissing her hair affectionately.
Annabelle was short of words; here was the beast who had threatened to break her to the lowest piece of atom, the same beast who threatened her. Where did all that dark mode and coldness go?!
True enough, Mia and Josh were definitely not part of the drama going on. They just stood at the far end of the living room.... forgotten.
Annabelle cleared her throat and Dominic averted her gaze to her.
"So....um....it was great and all, this shi.... I mean (clears throat) this whole thing was really sentimental and all so I'm just gonna take my leave now. Hope we never cross paths again." She said coldly and eventually walked out.
"Sir..."
"I know, she'll be back. Give her a day." Dominic said, his tone carrying heavy certainty
Andrea pouted as she stared out the door. "She didn't even recognize me." She mumbled softly
Dominic heard but didn't say anything, there was something his kids were hiding from him. Something that led to why they chose that dummy gangster.
Andrea suddenly brightened up and she faced Dominic.
"Guess what daddy, I got an A in Maths test today." She announced proudly
Dominic smiled slightly, a rare smile which were only for his angels.
"That's daddy's princess, you're rocking your class." Dominic ruffled her hair making her giggle as he carried her out of the room.
Mia and Josh were the only ones left.
"I swear, did I just see right?" Josh mumbled in disbelief
"Which of them exactly?" Mia asked back
"Mr. Dominic's expression with his kid. He almost looked ..... nicer." Josh said as he faced Mia as though demanding an explanation
Mia ignored him and walked out leaving him no choice but to follow suit.
Annabelle had already gotten few feets close to the gate when a voice stopped her. She stopped and turned back to see Andrew standing there with a calm look on his face, carrying a backpack.
" So, you're declining the offer?" He asked
Annabelle faced him fully and they both stood there staring at each other, the wind rustling their hair as it blew.
"Yes...." Annabelle replied after a while, "why do I feel like you're more disappointed than your father?"
"Because she wanted you ..... my sister and to be frank I wanted it to be you too." Andrew replied
Annabelle's heart skipped a beat and she stepped back unconsciously.
"Why did you decline? Was the offer not to your satisfaction?" Andrew asked, his head tilting to the side slightly
Annabelle shook her head, "I just prefer not to get involved with anything or anyone for that matter. I don't like stress." She said and Andrew chuckled softly making her brows dip
"What's so funny?" She demanded
"Nothing, it's just that I find it amusing that the same person who claims to not want any stress or get involved with anyone is actually the same person helping others." Andrew's voice dropped to a whisper
Annabelle's eyes widened, " What are you talking about?"
Andrew unzipped his bag and brought out a blue padded iPad, he operated on it for a while then passed it to Annabelle who hesitated for a while before accepting it.
"Call me a freak at nine but I tend to be very observant of the people I like, you see..... I've been watching you..."
"You mean stalking." Annabelle raised a brow and Andrew smiled sheepishly
"Whatever it is you adults call it, but don't you think you've lied to yourself enough? You're actually searching..... For the right place to fit in. Everyday at exactly 02:40pm you always leave your apartment I'm I correct?"
Annabelle's blue eyes dilated and she snapped her gaze back to Andrew who just stood before, so small yet mysterious at the same time.
She returned her gaze back to the iPad and began scrolling through the pictures, they weren't just random pictures. They were pictures of her.
Pictures of her helping people out in any way she could. Though she had masked her face, her blue eyes stood out prettily
The first slide showed how she had helped a grandma offload the boxes in the vehicle and also helped her arrange them neatly in her store.
The second slide showed her crossing a group of third grade kids and helping them on their school bus.
The third showed her serving customers in a little restaurant which seemed to had gotten lucky that day cause it was filled to the brim
The fourth showed her dancing with people on the night festival the town hall held that day.
On and on the slides went and Annabelle didn't stop scrolling until it got to the last, her once blank eyes now shone with emotions that one couldn't decipher.
"H...how did you get all this?" She demanded
Andrew shrugged innocently, "Simple, I followed you"
"Alone?!" Annabelle's eyes widened and Andrew immediately raised his hands in mock surrender.
"I wasn't alone, my driver was with me. Cross my heart and hope to die." He said cheerfully
"That's not something a kid should say." Annabelle sighed and passed the iPad back to him, she squatted to his level and patted his hair gently.
"Look here kid, you got the wrong person..... I'm gonna tell you the same thing I told your dad. I'm not the one you want." She said softly
"I'm not my father and he's not me. My sister and I are the ones who want you not him." Again Andrew replied calmly
"Why?" Annabelle raised a brow, an inquisitive look on her face.
"Once you make up your mind, I'll tell you and I'm sure you'll make the right decision. Besides, my twin and I come with a full package." Andrew smirked giving him a cocky look
Annabelle almost smiled at how cute he looked, "And what package might that be?"
Andrew straightened up, standing to his full height as he placed both hands on his waist.
"I'll make a deal with you Annabelle Wallis. Become our nanny for a year and I guarantee you full happiness and pleasure, maybe..... You'll find what you really want along the way, besides, I plan to break that icy expression on your pretty face and get you to smile so bright that it'll reach your eyes." Andrew finished his speech with a big emotional bravado leaving Annabelle speechless.
Thump
Thump thump thump thump
That was Annabelle's heart beating fastly to Andrew's words. They had such a big effect on her that she didn't know when her lips stretched into a smile.
"Kids." She shook her head while Andrew continued grinning.