Bonds Beyond Time

40

🌻 AVALINE 🌻

I dozed off for around two hours. When I woke up, Neil was in the same room but on the sofa, working on his laptop.

"Neil what are you working on? "

"Parker's file but I can't find their last year's report. "

"Old man, you gave that file to me. I have already sorted everything on it. I'll give it to you on Monday. " I taunted him.

"Ava you really made my life easy and lessened my workload so much. Thank you for being such a competent assistant. "

"I just do my job, Neil and I love doing it. By the way, I am sceptical about Tom Hick's proposal. I don't think we should proceed."

"Let's deal with it on Monday. If mom heard us talking about business, she would be super pissed. Come, let's go downstairs." He took my hand and we both went to the living room through the elevator.

Mom and dad were sitting there talking to each other.

"Oh you guys are up, come sit with us." Mom said and we both sat with them and had some random talks.

Some time later Summer came, she told her parents that her friend will be joining us in the evening and spent the night here.

After that she asked Neil to play carrom with her but Neil declined. I thought it might be a good time to talk with her and maybe we could bond over carrom.

"Neil, let's go na, I loved to play carrom with Ed when we were kids. I always won back then. " I said excitedly.

"More like he always let you win, because otherwise Miss Ava would throw a tantrum and cry her eyes out." Neil said with smirk.

"No way he told you that, he can't let me even boast in peace. And you, stop gossiping with my brother, specially about me." I told him sternly.

"Hey, we don't gossip." He defended but we all know, boys love gossip more than girls.

"Weren't you guys going to play carrom." Mom interrupted her useless banter.

"I don't want to play anymore." Summer said loudly and left from there. I think I somehow even worsened the bond that we haven't even built yet. I frowned thinking about this, when Neil held my hand and gave me an apologetic smile.

"Don't mind her words, she will come along and when she does, she will not leave you for even a second. She will hoard all of your time and attention." He said.

"Though Summer don't want to join, we all can play." Dad suggested making me smile again.

We all went to a room dedicated to play indoor games. We were playing in teams, with dad in my team, with Neil and mom against us.

Atkins are too competitive, the carrom match soon turned very intense. Like a world war. My skills were a bit rusty because the last time I played was 13 years ago and I was just 8 back then.

The match was mostly played between Neil and Dad. Scores were almost equal and they were both aiming for queen now.

"Don't worry son, the queen is my mine. "

"Your queen is on my team dad." Neil said while kissing Mom's cheeck from across the board.
Dad pushed him back and secretly winked at me. I understood what he was implying.

Neil had a clear shot for the queen but cover could be tricky. But dad didn't wanted to take any chances.

"Dad, please win this match for me, I haven't lost any carrom match in my life. Please get the queen for me. " I said with a sad pout and fake tears in my eyes.

Bang on.

Neil intentionally missed the shot and in the next turn, dad got the queen with cover and our team won.

I gave dad a hug and we danced to celebrate our victory. My husband wasn't a sour loser, he smiled and congratulated us. Mom said she would make winner's favorite for dinner.

So we will be having pizza and Mac n cheese with apple tart for dinner. Mom said it would be too greasy and unhealthy for dinner but dad and I reminded her that losers can't be choosers.

Dad promised to take us for ice cream after lunch to celebrate. Mom denied but I happily agreed and jumped around. When I realized, I was behaving like a five year old, I stilled and hid my red face behind Neil. Everyone laughed at my expense making me more embarrassed.

Mom pulled me from my hiding and lovingly pecked my forehead. Then she left for the kitchen to see if the lunch was ready or not while dad also left as he got a call.

"Next time you should be on my team."

"My aiming skills are not that good. You will lose even badly. "

"But your acting skills are." He said calling out on me.

"Hw, Neil, don't be sour loser. You lost because you didn't aim well for that queen."

"Who even wants that red piece when my queen turns red for me at a mere touch. " He whispered in my ear, kissing my earlobe at the end.

Is it my fault, this man is a walking butterflies. My knees go jelly at his actions. And when is this close to me, it feels like my heart will short-circuit due to high beating.

Then he turned me around, pecked on my nose and pulled me out the room. We went back to the living room and dad joined us there. I excused myself and went to the kitchen to help mom.

Lunch went peacefully but/because Summer and grandfather didn't joined us. After lunch, grandfather asked all of us to come to his room. I was a little worried, because till now he hasn't said anything about this marriage. Neither good, nor bad.

"I asked only for family, but this girl can stay as well because apparently it is because of her." He said when we got to his room, Summer was already there.

We all got setlled of the Sofas surrounding the coffee table.

"I did a background check, turns out you are not as polished as you look. You came closer to Neil through your brother King but what about your mother, whom you grew up with. Alcoholic, drug addict, gambler, rings a bell.
Or your father, bankrupt, illegal business practices, selling you off to Brad. But you are more talented, found a bigger fish for yourself.
Apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Some digging and your brother will be no different. "

"Grandfather, you are the elder one, and I mean no disrespect. Say whatever you want to about me or my parents but not a word against my brother, please." I said wiping the tears from my eyes.

"Grandfather, what do you mean by all this. Misdeeds of Ava's parents don't imply anything on her, she is as pure as the driven snow." Neil said, holding my hand.

"Maybe or maybe not. I don't care. Girl with such a background can't be the queen of Atkins Empire. I won't accept it, whatever you may say Neil." He said in no nonsense tone.

"Fine, if it's all about your empire, I quit as the acting CEO and renounce my rights as the heir of the Atkins group. This solves the problem you have with Ava."

"You are nothing if you are not Atkins, Neil."

"Me and my wife are capable enough to start fresh. Grandma always said living without love is living like dead. I understand her now. I would rather live in a small motel than living without her. I'll hand in both of our's resignations on Monday."

"Neil go to your room with Ava. I'll talk with dad try not acting rash for once. Ava take care of him and I'll sort everything here. Okay. " Dad told me and patted my head. I left with Neil to his room.

I never imagined thing will turn out like this, I don't want Neil to quit everything for me. He has worked hard to reach where he is today. I can't let him to part ways from his family, they love him a lot. Even I do. But I can't be selfish, I can't say this out loud. Never got a chance and maybe never will.

But

Neil, I love you.

❤