ODDS OF LOVE - SEASON 14

Episode 45

Alexi closed the business related file he was looking at on his laptop and sat back at his desk in his Volkouv Enterprises corner office. He couldn't concentrate. Not after what he had heard that morning from his father at the breakfast hour. He pursed his lips in a pout that Scott laughingly always called playful and endearing on him. He idly picked up his cell phone and dialed up a number that was becoming rather familiar to him for some reason. One that he very much enjoyed calling although he would be quite loathe to admit it unless he was being tortured with the possibility of bamboo sticks under his fingers and the loss of his designer perfectly tailored wardrobe.

It rang several times and was finally picked up by the man in question. His half brother by his father's ill advised liaison with that woman Matilda Swan years ago. The half brother he had been determined to dislike greatly even though Max said to give him a chance to prove himself worthy of the Volkouv family name. The half brother that had proved not only invaluable when he began working at the company as a vice president but also something of dare he say a ..... friend. Of which Alexi did not have a long list. He had more business associates and enemies than friends. Truthfully he was becoming closer to Nigel Norland than even Maxim who he had grown up with. Of course he would never tell the man that.

As he had been emailing the manager of his restaurant Richard and Nigel's about setting aside the party room for not only a reception/ dining spot for Alice Rose and Bernard tomorrow but the actual wedding space since to him the courthouse seemed too cold as well emailing with Alice Rose herself Nigel hit send on the messages and said into the phone," Hello, Alexi. How are you? "

Alexi sighed too long and too dramatically spoke ," Oh my goodness and garters , Nigel , that father of ours has lost his mind ! This morning at breakfast he announced in front of everyone, everyone from myself to Ariel Kendall's boys to that mother of yours to Max and his sickly looking wife who I hope isn't pregnant yet again to Dom Gaines and Rebel who he invited for breakfast as a thank you for saving that woman last night, he announced that he was engaged to that woman ! "

Nigel was not really paying that much attention to his brother's babbling because he was leaning back on the sofa  listening to Richard saying that they were going to visit Lewis that afternoon to see how he was settling into the center. " Engaged ? What now? Come again? Not my mother? Or perhaps..... my aunt ? "

Alexi clicked his teeth with irritation. " No. Although I could tell your mother was not pleased by this turn of events. Not pleased at all. I do believe she already sees herself as the lady of the manor here with no ring on her finger but a bun in the oven. "

Nigel rolled his eye and smiled slightly. " Alexi , you're thirty three not sixty. Bun in the oven , mate ? So not my mother then ? " He didn't know if that information pleased him or not.

" No , dear man. Not your aunt either although she has another of his unsuitable pregnancies inside her. Although he seems to be specializing in quite unsuitable lately. I thought he was still in mourning for Jenessa. "

" Who is it then ? "

" It's that Ariel woman ! Of all things ! I don't know where she will put an engagement or wedding ring since that brute cut off her ring finger. " Alexi shivered slightly at the thought. " Nobody was really pleased especially not your mother and the Kendall boys. Jeff and Alan don't understand how she could be marrying again so soon after losing their father to that dreadful Dodie and her incredibly bad driving. Understandable really. Max seemed to have the worst reaction really. Curious. What do you think ? "

Nigel said," I think it's his own life and his own affairs. Our father is a grown man of fifty seven after all. He doesn't require our approval to live his life. Neither does the widow Kendall. I know Dad has been distracted by her kidnapping but was he able to look into what I discussed with him? "

Alexi began to read through his day's emails on the laptop as he replied," You mean that very messy custody dispute between your husband and his second ex wife? No but he had me handling certain aspects of it. I assume Richard is still on family leave from the courthouse until this sordid business is finished. Must be nice in a way since you too are neglecting work until , what is it January , when you return on a part time mostly remote basis here ? That's what you discussed with Father and your husband and doctor? "

" That's one of the options. The other is just not working at all and being a stay at home father. Back to the supposedly messy dispute. "

" Nigel, you'll be bored senseless at home but I and Father and Max will understand if you choose that route. Might not like it but.... your health and well being comes first. You are becoming an important aspect of this family you know. In fact Father wants you and your family over for dinner on Sunday. I think he is wanting to revive those domestic family dinners although I don't think putting Glory Norland and Ariel Kendall in the same room is a good idea frankly. Not after the accident. I know for one Dodie will not be on the invite list. "

Nigel shook his head at Richard who sat smiling at the phone conversation now coming from the speaker of his phone. "Get on with it , Alexi. I'm twenty nine and aging every second of this conversation. "

" Tsk , tsk , that's not restful, brother. You said your husband's lawyer has petitioned that Beverly, his first ex wife, remove herself from the case as a judge? Well , my own connections say she has but I don't think you'll be able to attain Judge L.L.  Handel as a judge. Apparently his caseload is too full at the moment. The judge you pulled is ..... well ....the word used to describe her is .... the rather unquaint one of hard ass.   She's newly appointed by the governor to replace a dead judge so perhaps Richard knows her. Only been on the bench for six months. Name is A.R. Van Owen. She's married to a lawyer for that rather annoying lobby group Maryland Values Alliance. Now that I think about it.... I believe Father and I actually met her and her husband Buckley Van Owen at one of the little cocktail parties you refused to attend. Bucky is tolerable but her..... yes , she's a little hard ass , yes. Good luck, brother. "