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Xander watched in satisfaction as every hand, including Alicia’s and Gertrude’s, went up. He smiled.
“Well, then. I guess you have a go-ahead. You’re doing a great job,” Gertrude said and Xander nodded.
“Thank you all,” Xander said with his palms clasped together.
Gertrude turned to the rest. “Thank you all for being in this meeting. This meeting is now adjourned. You may all return to work. Do not forget that you all have a deadline of this weekend to submit your weekly progress report. I want them all on my table before midnight, Saturday. Have a great day,” he said and they all got up from their seats. As they milled out of the office; Alicia, the beautiful blonde haired woman that she was, walked up to Xander and hugged him. He had gotten his dirty blonde hair and blue eyes from her. It was one of the things that reminded him that they were still family even when he wanted to stay mad at her for remarrying.
“I’m so proud of you, son. I’m speechless. You really are a prodigy,” she said in his ears. He knew she was close to tears. That was the voice she used when she tried to hold back tears.
And she had called him a prodigy. That was what his father used to call him before. It was Thomas who introduced him to computers. His father had never ceased to praise his abilities, even when he’d had none.
Alicia pulled away.
“So, I need to get back to work now. You heard Gertrude’s instructions. He can be quite a bossy head at times,” she said, knowing Gertrude could hear her. “Take care of your sister, please. And remind her of my weekend promise to her. It’s going to be a ‘girls at the beach’ one,” she said before leaving the hall.
Xander managed to mumble a ‘yes, mum’. By then all the people who had been in the meeting had left. Xander looked up to see Gertrude still leaning casually against the wall.
“You did a great job back there, son. I’m so proud of you,” Gertrude said, peering at Alexander with his deep grey eyes. Unlike Xander, Gertrude had dark brown hair that was greying at the temples.
Xander sighed, wishing Gertrude hadn’t called him son.
“While I’m grateful for this opportunity you’ve given me to work for you, you’re not my father. Stop calling me son,” he said. He needed to keep the boundary lines clear so that no one crossed it.
Gertrude seemed hurt for a second but his look changed to a pleading one.
“Come on, Xander. We’re a family here. I’m not trying to take the place of your father but you’re the closest person I’ve ever had to a son. I just find myself wishing you’d let me in. I’d do anything, Xander.”
“My name is Alexander. And I’ve really got to go. Grayson is waiting for me. Thanks for the job. I promise not to disappoint you,” he said as he turned to leave.
“I know you won’t,” Gertrude said. “Would you need anything? I could have some money sent to you for Grayson’s celebration. I’m sorry we couldn’t make it today but we are planning something for the weekend.”
“Don’t worry, Gertrude. I’ve got it all covered,” he said without stopping.
By the time he got to his car, it was twenty five minutes past eleven. He had to take a deep breath to ease out the tension. He knew Gertrude was trying. He saw it every time Gertrude spoke to him or made a gesture. However, he couldn’t bring himself to accept Gertrude. Maybe it was because he still missed his father a lot. It had only been five years, after all. He sighed. Deciding to push the thoughts away, he started his engine and drove into the car lane from the garage. He needed to be happy for Grayson. He couldn’t allow anything mess his mood up. He looked forward to seeing Nia again. Nia had been their neighbor while they had lived at West Town. Her husband had left
her when Prim had just been born. Xander still didn’t understand why. He remembered his conversation with Nia in the morning when Nia had come to pick Grayson up. As usual, her dark hair was pulled back into a neat bun. Her dark skin was still clear and wrinkle free despite her being in her late thirties. Warm, brown eyes were always present on her face and she had worn light make up to bring out her youthful features.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the girls more enthusiastic,” she had said.
Xander had grinned.
“You’re probably right. Thank you, again for agreeing to take the girls out now. I didn’t know how to fix it all into my schedule for this morning,” he had said.
“Oh, I have no issues with that. As long as Prim is in your hands for the rest of the day, I’m happy. And I should be thanking you. I must warn you, though: twelve noon is her most active hour. She’d get so energetic, you’d be tempted to whoop her,” she had said. Her words had made Xander laugh as he shook his head. For as long as he’d known her, Nia had always been this way. She’d always been warm, gentle, and funny.
“Besides, I don’t think there’re many people that I'd trust more than you with my daughter,” she had said finally.
“Really?” he’d asked.
“I don’t know what you think about yourself but I think you’re very responsible. It isn’t hard to tell just how much you love your sister and how much you’d be willing to do for her,” Nia had said as she looked towards the girls who were talking about what they planned to do once they got to the park. She’d let out a deep breath then.
“We just need to be careful these days, you know. You’ve heard the rumors, haven’t you?”
The reality of their situation had made Xander nod his head.
“Yes.”
There had been words spread around of a potential attack on the States although there hadn’t been much proof to back them up. It was the fears of others that made him more worried than he wanted to be.
