Becoming a Scott

Chapter 6

"Oh relax, you can just find the corner of the liqueur room and take a nap there." Riley huffed as she turned her head back to the window.

"I have a headache that rivals the fireworks we set off for your birthday last year! A nap won't help me at all!" Michael yelled gruffly and tucked his chin to his chest.

"Stop blaming me, I didn't shove the whiskey down your throat last night!"

"If you stopped following Ander like the stalker that you are I would be in my room in peace!"

Christina held her gaze firm on the road ahead from where she sat in between her cousins. The three of them were piled into the back of the SUV. At first she had felt sorry for the driver but now she knew it was her who was in the worst position. Both of their yelling seemed to cause ringing in her ears.

"You do realize there's no use in any attempt to charm him!" Michael let out.

"I hate you!" Riley countered, raising her voice even louder.

The driver put the car in park and Michael didn't wait to kick his door open and jump out. Riley let out a gasp as his door shut with a slam, "Can you believe him!" She didn't wait for Christina to answer before opening the door and running after her brother.

Christina exchanged glances with the driver, "I'm jealous of you, you get to drive away."

"But I always gotta come back." The driver commented with a remorseful smile.

The country club was a luxurious building made of wood and brick that played light jazz and had waiters carrying trays of lemonade at every turn. Christina looked over the portraits of all the members as she walked into the lobby. All of them smiled at the camera in their ironed suits and dresses as if they knew of something that she didn't

"Your members card?" Someone asked from beside her. She glanced over to look at the woman standing at the concierge. 

"My cousins... they have the cards." Christina answered just as she realized her cousins had essentially abandoned her.

The woman hummed, not convinced. "Only members are allowed on the premises, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

"You can look them up in the system... or something." Christina looked over towards the double doors where an elderly couple had just come in. She offered them a smile and then watched as they swept past the lobby and into the building without a problem. "What about them?"

The woman ignored her, "And what are their names?"

Christina frowned, but decided not to push her luck.,"Riley and Michael Scott."

"The Scott's?"

Christina caught the attitude in the woman's voice, "Yes, the Scott's."

She raised her chin and crossed her arms, "What happens to be your name? The Scott family hasn't added any new family to their account."

"Christina Scott Ruiz," she answered clearly. "I guess for the time being I'm here as their guest."

"Guests need to be checked in-"

"Consider me checking in."

"-by the member." The woman said with a smile of satisfaction. "Excuse me, I think it's time I call security."

Christina clenched her jaw and stood back, knowing better than to start getting angry at someone who was just trying to do their job.

"Consider her my guest then," a familiar voice spoke from over Christina's shoulder causing her to let out a curse under her breath. "That's not how you say thank you," Ander added after hearing her choice of words.

"Mr. Vivaldi, your clubs are waiting for you in the locker room." The woman replaced her attitude with genuine happiness.

"Cancel it, I think I best keep my new guest company and show her around. Thank you, nonetheless, Rosalie." Ander started walking on, past the concierge and deeper into the building. "Well, don't be scared Christina, no one else is going to chastise you from here on out."

"Ha! What a joke." Christina let out, fully knowing that Ander was going to make her wish she was still dealing with Rosalie.

"If I was trying to say a joke I'm surprised you got it. People say I have a dry sense of humor." He circled around her and placed his hands on her shoulder. "Now, come on,"

"You know, Riley is probably looking for you. Maybe you should spend your time with someone who actually is happy to talk to you."

Ander opened the glass doors out into the massive terrace that overlooked the property. "I already told Rosalie that I was going to give you a tour of the place, I can't go lying to her now or she might treat me the same way she treated you."

Christina shook her head, "She was just trying to do her job, she could've been a little nicer about it but-"

"But the point is that a Scott should be shown more respect than that."

She glared at him, "Only because I'm a Scott?"

"Alright fine," he exaggerated a grin. "A beautiful woman should be given more respect than that." When Ander caught the way Christina cringed her let out a laugh, "You make it too easy."

"You're such an ass," Christina sighed as she walked past him and down the cascading stairs.

"You don't even know where you're going." He called from behind her.

Christina looked over the land in front of her. "As if it's that hard. There's a golf course over there, some tennis courts, a lap pool, and on and on and on. Go do something worth while and find Riley."

"How about we make a deal?" He stepped down, looking down at her. "You help me find Riley and I will stay with her for the remainder of the day."

A small smile crept on Christina's lips and Ander grinned in response. "Deal."

Ander raised his arm and gestured towards something in the distance. "Let us start with Riley's favorite spot, the basketball court."

Christina's frown came back just as quickly as it had vanished. "Somehow, I don't believe you."

"Too bad," he shrugged, "Onward we go."