ODDS OF LOVE : SEASON ELEVEN

Episode 32

Alfred's surprise at seeing his fiancé , former fiancé , at the regular Sunday dinner by the constant side of the very good looking oldest son of Nicholas , Alexi , who was frankly eating up the rapt attention Scott was paying him. That was when Scott was not sneaking little smug smiles at Alfred himself. He was not going to make a big deal out of the unexpected guest though and ruin yet another dinner. In spite of his mother and step father's own overprotectiveness and questioning about whether he wanted to return back home. He had assured them that he did not wish to go home and if Scott wanted to bore everyone with his warzone stories that was on him.

So the annual Sunday dinner tradition continued on that night in the large elaborately elegant dining room of Nicholas and Jenessa with the uniformed maid taking little Miracle upstairs to the nursery they had arranged just for her visits. As the baby girl slept peacefully in an antique crib in a room fit for a princess everyone else ( Spencer , DuBuis and their three kids , Richard , Nigel and their kids , Angel and Lyle , Glory and her family , Faith and Joy , Jenessa and Nicholas and Alexi with his guest Scott ) all gathered around the large dining room table along with another new face : the Jenessa invited Jeremiah Duncan because she wished to check out this lawyer representing her daughter. The table almost groaned with what Nicholas laughingly declared to be a traditional Russian feast in honor of his newly discovered son Nigel. The cook had outdone herself with a first course of an varied assortment of pickled and smoked fishs and meats , black bread and rye bread, expensive caviar and three traditional salads. The second course was kulebiaka which was a Russian fish pie with salmon and a filling of rice layers, sauteed mushrooms and hard cooked eggs. And of course there was plenty of chilled Russian vodka to go around for the drinkers among the guests. For the nondrinkers there was coffee , tea , imported water and milk.

Everyone greatly enjoyed the feast as it were and there was much entertaining conversation with a few snide comments from Alexi directed Nigel's way which the latter ignored. It was during dessert ( an orange hazelnut buttercream torte ) served with a Russian styled tea and more vodka that Nicholas stood up from his antique dinette chair across from Jenessa on the other side and made an announcement.

" I am very honored to have you all here in my home , " he declared with a gentle smile. " I am especially grateful to have my newly discovered son Nigel here to meet my oldest son Alexi. "

Nigel blushed greatly from where he sat beside Richard.

Alexi smirked from beside Scott who rested his hand casually upon Alexi's shoulder and smiled knowingly at Alfred who ignored him in favor of concentrating on dessert.

Lyle was celebrating the possible departure of his evil minded stalker with more than a little vodka which had his head on fire but also very relaxed as Angel , Andrew and Faith watched him out of concern.

Angel whispered to him , " Should you be drinking so much , babe ? You're not used to too much alcohol. "

Lyle poked him gently in the side and giggled loudly. " Don't be silly , poo poo bear. I'm barely even tipsy ! " Then he belched which made him giggle even more.

" Family is , " Nicholas continued on , " very important to me. I take great pleasure in my lovely wife Jenessa , my three sons although Maxim could not be with us today unfortunately , my stepchildren DuBuis and Faith and their lovely families and all our wonderful friends. Family is so important that I wish to establish a relationship with my new son Nigel and help him build one with his brother Alexi. Which is why I must announce that I have as chairman of my company's board proposed moving the company headquarters here to America. To Maryland in fact. Effective immediately with my son Alexi and his cousin Roman , who is also a vice president at the company , reestablishing it here. My son Maxim will remain at the helm of the London headquarters until further notice. And if he wishes to accept the position I would like to offer a position of vice president to my youngest born son Nigel. To new changes ! "

" Here , here ! , " Lyle shouted merrily as he refilled his empty glass with vodka.

Everyone at the table was stunned but nobody more so than Nigel who was speechless and Alexi who was enraged. Alexi stood up and pointed his finger shakingly at his father , saying , " What ! This is final ! How can it be , Father ? I am the president of the company. Why was I not informed of this , consulted , of this travesty ? He is not qualified to be in charge of ..... a food cart on the street. And moving to America ! Impossible ! "

Nicholas shook his head at his son. " No. It is very possible. And I did not consult you because it is my company and my decision. I am CEO and chairman of the board. And I have the utmost confidence in Nigel's ability especially with you and Roman to teach him the ins and outs of the business. "

Nigel shook his head and adjusted his eyepatch nervously. " I don't know if I want the responsibility , Nicholas. My health and the restaurant and my family are enough for me right now, I do thank you though. "

" Good , " Alexi shouted , " because you are not wanted at my company ! "

Richard sat up straighter in his chair. " Don't yell at my husband. "

Alexi yelled back at him , " I will yell at whomever I please ! Including you ! "

Nicholas said sternly , " No , Alexi , you shall not. Kindly behave yourself or leave the room. "

Then suddenly the dining room door opened and in walked a tall lean plain faced man who was oddly familiar to one particular person in the room.

Lyle gasped when he saw the man and stood up unsteadily , pointing his finger at him. " Call the police ! It's the man from the store. Angel , it's my stalker ! "

The man just smiled faintly at them all but especially at Alfred as he replied , " Sir , I don't know what you are talking about. I have never seen you in my life. I think you may be a tad tipsy. My name is Roman Popov. I am Nicholas' nephew by his dear departed sister. Sorry I am late , Uncle Nicholas , Aunt Jenessa , Cousin Alexi....... Cousin Nigel. My plane flight was delayed. "

Lyle shook his head rapidly and grabbed his husband's arm. " No ! It's him. It's the man from the store that knew my name ! I'm not drunk. " He swayed by the table clinging to it. " I'm not drunk. I'm not crazy. That man is stalking me. "

Roman kept smiling faintly. " I really don't think so. I've never met you in my life. You have mistaken me for someone else. Uncle , I believe this poor man needs coffee. "

Then he began to whistle an odd little tune as he sat down at the table in the empty seat beside Alfred as Lyle clung to the table in horror and Angel and Scott watched him with suspicion.