A GOLDEN EMPIRE

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

THIS YEARS BRUNCH IS SAID TO BE 'grander than before.' Scarlett once again has it set in her mind that she will be 'best dressed'. No, really. She's saying this to Aaron, who's nodding his head, and Kingsley who could give less of a shit what his mother does. He's not even listening to her. In his mind, he's laughing at her because he knows she's about to walk into the Hollingsworth Villa (yeah, the Hollingsworths are THAT wealthy) and once again be outshined by Juliette, Fallon, and Andrea. I mean come on. Hasn't she learned anything from the end of summer brunch a few weeks ago?

She is just not that girl!

Kingsley tunes them both out as he goes outside to answer his ringing phone. It's his favorite girl calling him on FaceTime. "Good morning beautiful."

Avalon giggles softly on the other end. "Good morning handsome. I have something I wanna run by you really quick." This man makes her feel good. Hell, more than good.

"You don't want to ride with Eric and Regina so you wanna know if I can pick you up." Someone's been learning the art of intuitivity from Aurora.

Avalon nods and then pouts. "Yes. Please? My dad has been yelling loudly for the last hour. I'm getting a headache. Pick me up?"

"Of course. I got you. You know that."

She sighs happily, the most pleasant sound that Kingsley has ever heard (aside from when he's making her moan but we won't talk about that.). "Okay, good. That's settled. I need to go get ready. Wear something pretty for my favorite boy."

"I'm your favorite boy, huh?"

"Always. Am I your favorite girl?"

This has Kingsley grinning. Avalon Harrison is most definitely his favorite girl. In the past two days, he's had girls in his DMs on Twitter and Instagram trying to flirt with him, but their annoying messages have gone unanswered in favor of paying more attention to Avalon. Him not hooking with other girls? WE LOVE IT.

"Always. I need to finish getting ready. I will see you soon, pretty girl." He smiles at the sight of her blowing kisses at the camera. "My one and only. Bye love."

"Bye, handsome."

And with that, he's walking back into the house to change clothes. Scarlett glances at him and before he can even pretend that she's not there, she's calling him into the living room. He rolls his eyes. What the hell does she want know?

"Jesus Christ. Yes mother? What is it now?"

"What's going on with you and Avalon Harrison? Are the two of you dating?"

Kingsley stares at her blankly. He doesn't pry into her business so why in the hell is she in his? The damn nerve of this woman. Aaron comes back downstairs and the Hawthorne heir takes that as his cue to leave. "Mother, that is none of your business so stay in your lane." And he's gone. He really should've stayed at the penthouse.

Aaron looks at his son's departing form to his wife who looks extremely stunned right now. Scarlett, keep your mouth shut sometimes and he won't have to check you.

"Babe, what you'd do to him?"

"I just wanted to know about him and Avalon. If they were dating or not?"

Aaron chuckles. "Scarlett, he is not going to tell you or me anything of the sort. I've been noticing even more lately just how private he is. Just leave it alone honey." Okay, and how about you leave that woman you've been having an affair with for the past two months alone? Huh Aaron? Do that.

"I most certainly will not. I will find out."

"Okay, keep on. That boy will hate you even more than he already does."