Next morning, Wayne insisted on going to see her father with Alexa. 'I want to give you a little moral support!' he said with a smile.
'You have done a lot for me as it is', Alexa said, looking very uncomfortable especially as she recalled all he had said to her, the previous night in his drunken state. 'I do not want to bother you more. Moreover I have to do this myself. Your presence will complicate issues!'
'I'm sorry, I didn't know I was now a complication in your life!' he said, looking wounded.
'I didn't mean it that way but Dad may not be forthcoming in your presence. He will be ake you as an outsider', she said, trying to make him understand. She didn't want to hurt him. 'He doesn't know you as well as I do, you see'.
'Do you think you really know me?' he asked, the timbre of his voice changing as he looked at her intensely.
No, not again, Alexa thought in desperation. She did not want that particular complication now and another reason she didn't want him going with her. She did not want her parents to get the wrong idea nor to know of the existence of her children. Not yet anyways. But before she could say anything, he laughed. She was shocked and looked at him wondering what was so amusing.
'Look at your face', he laughed. 'Taking everything so seriously. Lighten up. Stop being so uptight. Everything is going to be alright. I never intended going with you', he said as he saw Alexa's facial muscles relax. 'I just wanted to drive you there, to save you the stress of taking a cab but it might amount to the same thing of they see you coming out of my car. But please take care of yourself and ensure you are back early!'
She smiled her thanks and hugged each of her children.
'Mum, when are we going to see grandpa and grand ma?' Leigh asked, pouting.
'She is right, I want to see them too!' Landon echoed.
'I shall take you to see them but like I said earlier, there are things I need to settle with your grandparents first and then I'll take you to meet them', Alexa said, dumpling her son's hair and nipping her daughter's cheek affectionately. Then she bent down and gave each a peck on the cheek.
'Mummy loves you!' she whispered to each.
'I love you too!' each replied.
'I love you more!' Alexa said, then looking at Wayne, 'Please keep them safe. That is something you can do for me!'
She straightened up to find a pair of eyes staring at her with so much animosity.
Her surprise expression must have alerted Wayne for he followed her eye towards the door where he say a young lady standing with her luggage beside her.
'Valerie?' he whispered. Didn't his butler say she was coming during the weekend, it was still some two days away. 'We were not expecting you till the weekend.
'I decided to surprise you', she said laughing merrily. 'Are you not happy to see me?'
So this was the Valerie, Alexa thought. She was really very pretty. She and Wayne made a striking pair.
'You are welcome and you know that', Wayne said and Valerie left her luggage and flew into his arms.
'Bruce, take Miss Valerie's things to her room!' Wayne ordered.
The Butler then carried her luggage into the room that had been prepared for Valerie.
'And who is this.. er - are these?' she asked in a condescending tone, including Alexa's pups in her stare and careless wave of hand.
'I am Alexa. Alexa Palmer', Alexa said, offering her hand. 'Pleased to meet you, Valerie'.
It took Valerie a while to lift her own hand to meet with Alexa's. Alexa was starting to think she was never going to acknowledge her greeting.
'Same here!' Valerie murmured, but Alexa had the uneasy feeling that Valerie was not pleased to meet her, not in the least.
'Valerie, Alexa is a great friend of mine', he said smiling at Alexa and Valerie knew that she had not misread the situation. She had seen from the door as soon as she walked in that Alexa was special to Wayne. The way he looked at her... she bristled. 'And these are her lovely children', Wayne continued, smiling fondly at the brats.
'You are welcome Miss!' both children chorused. Valerie smiled down at both of them but the smile was almost like a grimace.
'Alexa, Valerie is close to me. We grew up together!' he added.
'Grew up together?', Valerie asked coyly. 'Is that the only way I am related to you? Anyways, that should suffice for now', she said as she wriggled her waist as she bristled past them after the Butler. She was going to remedy that situation and Alexa would know she had no place in Wayne's life. Nobody was going to take him from her, not now that she was back! Valerie vowed silently.
'Grew up together, huh?' Alexa asked amusement lacing her voice as soon as Valerie was out of earshot. 'Or is she more than that to you?'
Something flashed through Wayne's eyes but was gone immediately. 'Oh, you will get to know Valerie. She is overly dramatic', he said smiling wistfully. 'She is a drama queen!'
'I have to be ony way. It is past lunch time and I want to be able to come home early', she said kissing her children once more.
She stepped out of the house, into the cab that was already waiting for her, Bruce had called her a cab at Wayne's orders.
Valerie stared down at her from her room window upstairs. The bitch was beautiful. She could understand why Wayne would want her but was he so desperate he would take on a woman who already had children? Alexa doesn't stand a chance with her children where she, Valerie who was still intact, with no child deforming her body was concerned or does she?
Who exactly is Alexa and why had she come into Wayne's life, now?
She brought out her phone and typed in a number.
'Investigate a girl called Alexa Palmer', she spike into the phone. 'I want you to get me any dirt you can dig up about her!'