Seated outside under the stars adorned sky, Mr. Johnson watched Tommy play with the toys he got from the playroom. His lips curving up in delight, he nodded to himself. Without a doubt Tommy was his grate grandson. The little boy was fond of toy cars just like Mark was when he was his age. And when the time comes, he will take over from his dad.
"Careful my boy." Mr Johnson smiled cautioning Tommy when he got up abruptly as Spark ran to him.
The dog was fond of Mark, always staying by his feet but with Tommy around it went to him, surprising the old man.
It ran around with Tommy and brought him a ball to play catch until they got tired and went to his mother. As Melissa carried Tommy on her lap to rest his eye's, the dog rested at her feet. Comfortably closing its eyes.
Seeing how intimate Spark was with the mother and son, surprised the old man more. The dog had warmed up to her, yet he only went to the people familiar to him.
"Is he asleep? Let me help you." Standing protectively before Melissa, Spark growled and barked at Sasha when she tried to touch Tommy. Keeping her away from the mother and child.
"Its okay, I can carry him." Melissa responded surprised by how the dog growled at Sasha then noticed the crescent moon shaped mark on the dog's neck. Looking at it she remembered the dog with the same mark that occasionally brought her a rose flower in the park back on campus. She was impressed by how obedient the dog. Always finding him there every time she went to relax. She played with the dog every time but not once did she see the owner.
Looking at Mark seated across from her, she didn't think he could go out with the dog. Leave alone using it to impress a girl. So she thought it was just a coincidence the dog had the same mark and breed.
Needing to know her well, Mr. Johnson asked Melissa about her parents. Where she grew up, and what her parents did for a living. But dropped the subject when she informed him that her parents were deceased changing to general talk about business and politics.
Melissa sat there listening to their conversations noting how close Sasha was with Mark and his grandfather. When Mark's parents made a video call, he introduced her and Tommy to them. Happy to see their grandson, they made him promise to take them to visit soon, since they were not coming for the hotel opening ceremony. As they said goodbye to Melissa, Sasha took over. Starting an intimate conversation with Mark's mother.
"It's getting late. Let me take you upstairs grandfather." Mark helped Mr Johnson up letting Sasha talk to his mother.
Left in Sasha's company after Mark took his grandfather upstairs to take his medicine and rest, made Melissa uncomfortable. She felt like calling her out on what she was doing but she restrained herself. She didn't have any intimate relationship with Mark, for her question Sasha. Theirs was another arranged marriage for him. The only difference was he chose a bride himself.
"If you think grandfather Johnson will accept what you and Mark are trying to do, you must be mistaken." Sasha sneered giving Melissa a cold look.
Melissa bit her inner lip and kept herself busy checking emails and messages on her phone ignoring her remarks. But what Sasha said next caught her attention.
"Don't think Mark will fall in love with you just because you gave birth to his son. He had a girl he loved on campus. Though his friends tried to make him forget her, for years introducing different women to him, he has never gotten over her. So don't think you will succeed. But well, me I have his parents and the old man's approval." She spoke then back to the house feeling accomplished. Leaving Melissa deep in thoughts wondering if what Sasha said was true.
"Was Mark was in love with another woman? why ask her to marry him?" Her gaze on the stars, she wondered.
She agreed to the marriage in exchange for his help and support but she didn't understand what his interest was since he has never said he loved her out loud.
"Let's go." Joining her, Mark bent down to take Tommy who was fast asleep.
"Is your grandfather okay?"
"Yes he's resting, his health has not been good lately." After saying their goodbyes, they walked out to find Sasha leaning on his car waiting for them.
"Can you give me a ride?" Sasha requested Mark to drop her off to her place since she was not able to contact her driver who had dropped her off earlier.
"Fine, get in."
With Mark agreeing to Sasha, Melissa got in the back seat and held Tommy so he could sleep comfortably leaving them to take the front sit.
"I have missed being here." Sasha smiled at Mark as drove from the mansion. "This was our happy place every time you came for vacation."
Melissa turned her gaze outside the window but she couldn't block out their conversations.
On the way home she had to put up with Sasha occasionally touching Mark's hand while bragging about being his date for the opening ceremony and how close they were growing up. It infuriated her more when he didn't stop her or question her. From their conversion and how close they were, Melissa realized they had an intimate relationship growing up. Working together gave them more to talk about they had a connection she and Mark didn't have.
"I'll carry him, you should take your guest home." Melissa protested when Mark tried to take Tommy from her as they got from the car. He had to take them home first since it was closer to the mansion then took Sasha to her villa.
"Is she the one you were always hangup about?" Sasha asked watching Melissa walk into the house as they drove off.
She had never met the girl he was in love with but seeing how he cared for Melissa, she suspected it was her.
"What I do in my private life is non of your business." Mark warned removing her hand from his knee. "Stay away from my family and don't you ever try what you have been doing the whole night again." He didn't like the idea of driving Sasha home but his grandfather had asked him to. If he lets his driver take her home he won't hear the end of it. With his bad health he didn't want to anger him.
"I'm still your fiancee Mark. Until your grandfather says otherwise, I'm the one you will marry." She insisted as her lips curved up triumphantly.