Married to Mr. Arrogant
Subtitle: Getting to know him
Written by : Marvy Hyacinth
"Sure. I'll be expecting you before 10pm, then." Kylie replied, a big smile plastered on her face as Justin reciprocated and smiled back at her before leaving, shutting the door behind him.
"I love you, Justin."
She muttered under her breath, her eyes still transfixed to the door.
Slowly, Kylie walked back into her room.
"Aish! I can't believe I'm missing him already. What the hell is wrong with me?" She cussed loudly and let her ass sink on the bed.
……………
? Julian ?
I huffed loudly and steered my car past the gates of my grandfather's hotel like house. Parking the car in a really cool space, I alighted and headed towards the main building.
The mansion my grandfather lives in was apparently our family's hereditary home, and it got passed down to the next generation since about a fifteen centuries ago, and my grandfather was the third person to inherit it.
Per family tradition, my father was supposed to inherit and live in it, but because of some reasons unknown to me, my father chose to acquire and live in another mansion, after putting it under our family's name.
The Hardey's Family Mansion was built very structurally in such a way that there was some sort of woods behind the main mansion, and in those woods, another structure was erected.
In the hidden away structure was some sort of hideout where our operations are planned and carried out. No, it's not a cult, it's something that proudly made me what I am today.
The guard outside the giant iron door of my grandfather's house opened it up for me, and as I walked inside, I looked at the walls and one by one, glanced at the portraits that hung on the opposite sides.
I stopped in my tracks when I got to the second to the last portrait on the wall and smiled as I admired the life the portrait gave off. It was the portrait of my grandfather, with more dark hair and fewer grey hair than he had currently.
I took a few more steps and got to the last portrait on the wall, like you rightly guessed by now, it was the picture of my Dad on it. I sunk my palms into my pockets as I stared hard at the picture, thinking of all the cool achievements he must have made in the past.
"You want your portrait on these walls?" I heard a familiar voice boom, and I needed no one to tell me it was my grandfather asking.
I raised my head slightly and saw him looking down at me from the second floor, his hands fastened tightly to the rails. As I continued staring at his hands, I began to realize how aged my grandfather was.
The veins in his hands were already so visible, added to the fact that his skin was all wrinkly now. Thinking about how wrinkled his skin was, and how his once black hair had been replaced with grey ones, I could only see his death near.
"Yes, Grandfather. Of course, it'd be an honor to have my portrait on this wall, and I want nothing more than it." I replied promptly, realizing that I may have stalled for quite a while.
"If you work as hard as I and your father did, then, maybe you'll get to have your picture on these walls too." He spoke, and I heard clinking sounds on the stairs.
I looked and saw him climbing down the stairs with a walking stick in his hand. It wasn't an ordinary walking stick, because from experience, I had gotten to know that it could also be used as a weapon as well.
'I really can't believe how old he is now. Truly, nothing lasts forever, only that I hope he won't die until another forty to fifty years to come.' I said in my head, unconsciously.
Suddenly, he stopped midday, looked up at me and stared. "Why's there no reply coming from you? You don't want to work as hard as I and your father did?" He asked, his face showing hints of displeasure on it.
"No. Of course you know that's not it."
He sighed and continued his careful steps down the staircase. "Then what?" He questioned, and I saw the walking stick shake in his hand.
I gasped inwardly and inched, intending on going and helping him out, but at once I stopped myself, reminding myself that my grandfather hated people seeing him in his worst states.
I decided to keep myself rooted to the spot and not make my grandfather lose confidence in himself. Even if I saw how trembly he was and how shaky his body was, the best thing I could probably do for him was pretend like I didn't see him.
It'd save his face, and so that's what I did... I pretended. How hard could it be?? It was hardly difficult but I had to constantly work myself to not go run to my grandfather's side.
"I was just thinking of the day I'd get my picture hanged on these walls and how joyful I'd be that way."
"Well, that's how it is." He stated, now on the final stair, his walking stick on the ground floor already.
"How was it for you, grandfather?" I asked, trying to find out more from his youthful days.
"It was just how you're imagining yours right now." He replied, a light smile on his face.
"How I'm imagining mine? How do you know what is going on in my mind??" I asked, slightly taken aback.
He placed a hand on my shoulder, already very close to me. "Don't forget you're me, you're my embodiment, my only grandson."
" Only grandson? You have Justin as a grandson as well, grandfather."
" Oh please!" He exclaimed, removing his hand from my shoulder immediately, obviously put off by my words.
"I... I'm sorry, grandfather." I apologized, knowing he was put off by me.
"It's okay. One thing though, try to keep Justin away from our chats, I consider only you as my grandson, no one else. Justin is nothing but a stranger who was borrowed the Hardey name as his surname." My grandfather said and I couldn't help but look at him.
Even at this old age, he was very cruel with words, just like he had been cruel with his guns back in the day. Not that I had any problem with it though, it only made me admire him more. I loved his consistency.
"You amaze me with your eloquent speech all the time, grandfather. I sincerely await the day I'll be tagged as qualified to get my portrait made and hung up here. You're the person I'd love to share my joy with when that time comes." I spoke, not knowing why my sincerity was at its peak today.
Actually, I think I've always been like this - Comfortable and sincere with no one but my grandfather alone. I don't show the type of love I show towards my grandfather towards even my parents, so it's no wonder why I'm attached to my grandfather.
He placed his hand on my shoulder again and I dared look him in the eye. "I understand how you feel, my son, and all I can say is I feel the same way as well. I would like to share in your happiness at all stages of your life."
"I know, right?" I asked, smiling and beaming with joy.
"Only thing is... Anything you have and want to achieve, you have to achieve now while I'm still alive. I think I have lesser time here on earth than we both think and hope for."
" Why would you say that and jinx the prayer I said in my mind a few minutes ago??"
" What prayer?" He asked, his eyes bigger than usual, showing both his confusion and shock.
" You're not leaving me here alone until another forty to fifty years is up, grandfather." I said firmly, stating my point clearly and leaving no room for arguments.
I expected him to say something filled with wisdom to teach and prepare me ahead, in case his words indeed jinxed my prayers, but he smiled instead.
"Why are you smiling at me?"
"You're just like me in so many ways." He commented and I couldn't be more proud of myself.
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"Of course, it is. Let's go sit and discuss extensively on different things." He offered, and my face turned sour immediately.
It wasn't that I didn't want to listen to him, but I came here for an entirely different reason.
"I'm sorry, grandfather, I came here to resume my responsibilities after such a long time, and I got carried away while chatting with you. It'll have to be another time." I apologized and stated, hoping he wouldn't be offended.
" I understand, Julian. The responsibilities you bear now as Mafia should always come first no matter what. That's what I taught you, and I'm glad you follow subjectively."
" I better get going now, I'm sure the boys are waiting for me to plan the next operation." I said, a little up on my toes about coming off as rude, but my grandfather wasn't of the same opine as me I discovered.
" I give you my full permission." He said, sending warm smiles my way and I had no other choice but to smile back at him, just as warmly as he had.
Wait a moment...
Maybe not just as warm, but not as icily as I do give Louisiana at least.
That girl is up in my ass and trying to reach my throat all the way from down there and I have to do something about that soon and make her realize I won't deceive her anymore by allowing her think I'm wrapped around her finger.
I sighed and closed the door behind me as I walked out of the huge but empty house and towards the secret hideout behind this huge one instead.