Outcasts

Too early, too soon

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

 

ALMA

"Alma? I really need to get my iPad,"

Great, Adrian is never home and now that I don't want him to, he comes randomly and needs to be in the same room I am at, kissing my….crush.

"Coming!" she bellowed, hurrying to the door and rearranging her skirt.

Will was all ashen faced and pale lipped, frozen in place.

"He is going to kill me, I'm dead. There'll be no bones to burry."

Alma rolled her eyes in exasperation and smoothed down his hair in an attempt to calm him down, when he closed his eyes and pressed their foreheads together she realized it had worked.

"He's not going to kill you. Adrian usually is so self-absorbed he probably won't even notice you here. Just sit down, bury your face behind a book, go, grab that thick encyclopedia. It has half of the world's history written in it."

Will cleared his throat, reading chapter thirty three, English in the golden age.

She took one second to examine her appearance.

Alma's cheeks were flushed, her lips swollen for the passionate kisses they'd shared. She almost felt giddy.

She could still feel his touch, everywhere. A tingling sensation crawling along the length of her skin.

A big smile plastered across her face, she tried to fight it but it was futile for it was inevitable.

Taking a deep breath, she unlocked the door and opened it.

Adrian breezed in like a storm.

His black sharkskin suit somewhat matched his dark brown hair.

It was as if the time had slowed.

Every step he took, a beat of her heart faltered.

She was unable to breathe, to move.

Adrian was scrolling down some emails on his iPhone.

"How's Lola? Did she take her pills? Has Elia cooked dinner? If not, I gave Ramona my credit card. I'm going to be late, so don't wait for me."

Adrian stood right next to Will, whose face was no longer concealed.

Adrian brow furrowed when reading bad news regarding the company.

"Fucking idiot," Adrian spat angrily.

Alma thought for a second it was an insult meant for Will, but when he said he was going to fire him as soon as he arrived to the company, both her and Will, sighed in relief.

"Hello, you must be Professor Roberts."

Adrian offered his hand to a trembling Will.

Not knowing what else to do, he decided to accept his outstretched hand. ''Yes, sir. Indeed. I'll be tutoring your niece, Mr. Matthews.''

Adrian face-palmed himself.

"How rude. I'm Adrian, Adrian Matthews. Paternal uncle and legal tutor of Alma, Lola and Ramona.

I do hope Alma passes her classes. She can't afford to fail another year. I trust you'll guide her to the right path."

Will closed the book and lay  it on the wooden table in front of him.

"I will do everything in my power for it to happen, sir. I want Alma to succeed in every task she dares herself to achieve."

For a second, Adrian's gaze lifted to Will's, failing to relate the face he barely saw last night with the well-mannered individual before him. Then, with no more preamble whatsoever, he said farewell and retreated, closing the door behind him.