Proving Her Wrong

Chapter 7

"Alina? Can I ask you a question?" Victor asked as he sat his phone down on the counter as he and North came into the kitchen while she was making homemade playdough.

"Sure," she nodded as she continued to knead the dough. "What would you like to know, Sir?"

"You said your family traveled a lot?" He asked and she nodded.

"Yes Sir," she said, "they travel for work."

"So, when was the last time you saw them?" North asked and she froze while she thought.

"A year or two now, maybe?" She shrugged. "It's been a while for sure between them traveling and me working for different families, we just never seem to have the time but it's okay," she smiled softly, "we talk on the phone when we can. It works for us, we really aren't that close, Sir."

"Just how old are you?" North asked, "if you don't mind me asking, that is?"

"I don't mind," she shook her head, "I'm twenty-five, Sir." She put the playdough in a container and wrote the flavor on the label then chuckled when she saw the confused looks. "It's homemade Kool-Aid playdough so it's safe if she eats it, plus it smells really good too."

"Daddy!" Melisma called out as she woke.

Alina chuckled and handed the six containers to the men. "Enjoy, Sirs," she said as she headed back to her room on the tour bus.

The following day North left to go back to the family and he let them know what had happened.

"Interesting," Owen said as he adjusted his tie. "Very interesting. Excuse me, I need to make an important phone call."

(A Month Later)

"Miss Medina," Alina looked up at the man standing next to her. "We will need to leave soon. Mr. Morgan will be done and heading back to the hotel soon."

"Okay, thank you," Alina nodded as she watched Melisma giggle in happiness. "We can't stay much longer, okay?" Alina asked as Melisma played at the water table.

"Okay, little wronger peas?" Melisma asked and Alina nodded.

"Only just a tiny bit longer," Alina smiled softly. "We still need to walk all the way back to the other side of the museum and it's gotten way busier than when we first arrived. Your daddy will be done soon and I know how much you want to see him before it's dinner and bedtime."

"Okay," Melisma nodded as she dried her hands. "We see bubbles again peas?"

"Okay," Alina nodded as she took her hands and started walking her through the children's science museum. As they were leaving, they were given suckers and Alina allowed her to have them in the car to try and help her stay awake since she was starting to get tired.

They arrived at the hotel and Alina giggled when she noticed that Melisma was on her second burst of energy now. "Hold on, let me get the card to unlock the door," Alina chuckled as she pulled it out of her purse. "Did you have fun?" She asked as she turned the knob and pushed it open.

"Dat so fun, Ali!" Victor looked up and smiled as the door opened and Melisma rushed into the room. "Daddy back yet?"

"I have no idea," Alina's voice filtered through. "We can look in just a minute, first let's wash our hands. They got sticky from the suckers."

"Okay," Melisma giggled. "AAAHH!"

"Melisma!" Alina shouted as she rushed to her voice and quickly shoved the little girl behind her.

"Who those wif Daddies, Ali?" She asked and Alina turned around shocked as Melisma went into Victor's open arms.

"What?" She gasped as she took in the fourteen men sitting casually in the living room with smirks on their faces. "What in the-? How in the-?"

"Hello Beautiful," Marc smiled as he took in her shocked face.

"Hey Kitten," Raven chuckled.

"Hello Doll," Axel smiled as he watched her carefully.

"Long time no see," Corey and Brandon said at the same time.

"Do not call me those names," she said as she straightened her back and glared at them. "It is not appropriate. Now what are you doing here?"

"Now, imagine my surprise when I got a phone call from a friend I hadn't heard from in a while," Marc said as he sat up from leaning back casually on the couch and rested his elbows on his knees. "He told me he heard something interesting."

Alina turned to Victor, "May I inquire on how you know my brother, Sir?"

"Step," Marc corrected. "And ex. Our parents divorced years ago."

"Doesn't matter," she retorted. "You said family is forever, or am I wrong?"