Lesson 18: Family Dinners

As usual, I was staring out of the car window counting trees as Zack drove down the busy streets. 87. His hand was on my thigh and the slight squeeze he gave it as we turned a sharp corner brought the faintest flush to my cheeks.

Noah groaned from behind us. The poor kid looked as pale as a ghost when we'd picked him up and I didn't think a fast-moving car was helping with the sickness.

"Noah, do you want some water?" I asked, already reaching for the water bottle in the passenger door.

"No thanks. I'll just throw it up."

"What happened to you, little man?" Zack asked with a worried frown, glancing at his brother's awfully pale complexion through the rearview mirror.

Noah waved him off, resting his head against the window. "There's just been this bug going 'round. Nothing I can't handle." His voice was weak and unfocused but I had to admire his nonchalance.

"Anything we can do to help?"

"Don't say that. He'll just take advantage of us," Zack tried to warn me but it was too late. Noah's blue eyes were glowing with mischief.

"We could go get dessert."

Zack narrowed his eyes, flipping his indicator. "I thought your stomach was hurting."

Noah shrugged, trying unsuccessfully to appear less nauseous. "There's always space for cake."

I couldn't help my laugh, he reminded me a lot of my little cousins back home. "How about we order something so you can still have a lie down first."

"I'm beginning to like you, Cassie," Noah grinned and I matched his smile, shooting Zack a wink in the process when he looked at me with a defeated sigh.

~*~*~

"I can't believe you agreed to let him order cake," Zack groaned after we were back at his family home and Noah had gone to have a nap.

The house — or rather, mansion — was gorgeous and well decorated. It had a modern feeling and was sleek with a mostly black and white colour pallet. Someone would easily get lost on their first few attempts at looking for rooms without directions.

We were in their games room just lounging about on one of the sofas and I gave Zack an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry if I overstepped. I didn't mean to. The poor guy just looked like he could really do with a pick-me-up."

He sighed, relaxing his posture as he slouched back on the sofa. "It's fine, honestly. If you hadn't succumbed to his charming act I would've eventually. I can never say no to that kid. I think he's the hardest to say no to out of the triplets — or anyone in general for that matter — but Harper would say it's Carter and Wyatt would say it's Brooke."

I laughed at that, leaning back on the sofa so I was lying on his lap. "So they're all pretty good at getting what they want?"

"Yep. They're little devils the lot of them."

They sounded like my kind of people. "I can't wait to meet them."

Zack was twirling my hair between his fingers, his touch so soft and gentle. "You won't have to wait long. They'll be home before dinner. Speaking of, I'd like it if you stayed so I can make it up to you for that awful lunch."

I hesitated. Meeting his family sounded like a commitment I definitely wasn't ready for. But you're only pretending to like him so what does that matter? "I don't know, Zack..."

"Please. I promise you won't have to have any more of my bad cooking. Anna doesn't let anyone near the kitchen."

"I- I." His eyes were wide and pleading and the way he was staring stopped me from looking away. "Your whole family isn't here are they?"

He shook his head with a teasing grin. "No don't worry, you won't have to meet them all yet." Yet. "Good thing too, they're more terrifying as a unit."

"If you're trying to calm my nerves you're really not doing a good job."

His smirk was so irritating that I wanted to smack it off his face. "It's just going to be you, me, Anna, the triplets and Dan. Nathan's away, Harper is in New York, Wyatt is travelling with his girlfriend, the twins are on a school trip and mum is off galavanting who knows where."

"What about your dad?"

He rolled his eyes, still playing with my hair. "He's in his study and Anna usually takes the food to him. He rarely eats with us because he's 'too busy' so you don't have to worry. No parents today."

No parents. Good. Nothing to worry about. "Okay, fine."

He leaned down to kiss the tip of my nose, letting his lips linger much longer than necessary. "Great."

The way he was staring at me made me squirm and my stomach flip. I hated it. I sat back up, leaning on the other side of the sofa. If Zack was off-put by my shifting of positions he didn't show it, instead handing me a controller. "You ready to lose?"

The challenge in his voice was impossible to ignore. "You're on."

~*~*~

Being an assassin had prepared me for a lot of things growing up. I understood the harsh reality of the world and how insignificant most of us actually were; I understood pain and loss and death; I'd even been taught how to do taxes — more specifically how to avoid doing them but that was beside the point — and I knew how to snipe someone from over a hundred metres away with perfect aim.

However, I'd not been prepared for how to come across perfectly normal to my fake 'boyfriend' of sorts — I wouldn't exactly call him anything close to my boyfriend even for the mission's sake but I was struggling to come up with a better synonym — father as he sat at the head of the table, shooting me an intense stare.

I knew how to be charming and likeable and come across as the perfect 'girlfriend' or whatever Zack decided to call me but this was Alastair King, world-renown business tycoon and I had a feeling he'd see right through my lies. In his field, he must've been so used to hearing people spew utter bullshit and become rather good at detecting falsehoods so I couldn't let myself slip. There was also a small part of me that wanted him to like me for who I was and was interested in genuinely impressing him with no thought of deception but I pushed that small voice to the back of my mind. I must've been going crazy.

"I thought you said no parents?" I hissed to Zack when his dad was locked in conversation with Anna.

Zack sent me a sheepish smile as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I didn't think he'd be here. He never eats with us."

Alastair hadn't said anything to either Zack or me as we'd sat down in the dining room. The only recognition we'd received was a hard look to Zack and a sceptical stare directed at me. I'd tried not to focus on him, instead gripping Zack's hand tightly under the table as I took in shallow breaths.

It was the thundering footsteps of the triplets that had brought me out of my haze as they came rushing into the room, all greeting their father before sitting down at their respective seats.

Noah was sat opposite me, flashing me a goofy grin. "I'm glad you're still here, Cassie. I thought Zack would've driven you away by now."

I laughed with him and Zack scowled. "Rude."

"Truth hurts," Noah shrugged. "Anyways, this is my brother Carter and sister Brooklyn."

"Nice to meet you both," I smiled.

Looking at the triplets all sitting together was fascinating. Whilst they all shared the exact same shade of cobalt blue eyes, the three of them couldn't have been more different. 

Brooke was a very petite girl with gorgeous ringlets of honey blonde hair that framed her face beautifully. She reminded so much of a porcelain doll with her wide doe-like features and pale yet flawless complexion. Her cheeks were rosy and she had a look about her which screamed trouble but in a subtle and somehow innocent way.

Carter, on the other hand, was a redhead and had a calm sort of aura to him. Where Brooke appeared wild and unpredictable, Carter seemed subdued and quiet. He was the same height as Noah but had freckles dotted across his nose and cheeks which only added to his tranquil appearance.

Then there was Noah. Thankfully, he looked less pale than before and his shaggy brunette hair was no longer sprawled messily across his forehead. I could already guess that he was the one in charge and so probably the oldest. His expression was cocky and knowing as he glanced between Zack and me. I could understand why Zack found him the hardest to say no to. There was a swagger and confidence to this nine-year-old that belonged to someone double or even triple his age. It was a type of charm that was impossible to ignore.

"So, Cassie is it?" Alastair's deep commanding voice asked from the head of the table.

"Yes, sir. Lovely to meet you."

"And what are your intentions with regards to my son?"

My cheeks flushed but before I could fumble my way to an answer, Zack stepped in for me. "Relax, dad. We're just friends, nothing more."

Alastair raised an unconvinced eyebrow as he glanced at me. "Is that your understanding of the matter too, Cassie? I know my boy has never been the type to be clear with his intentions. He's not leading you on is he?"

Even his father was admitting to that now and in front of Zack? Maybe I should be more careful with him. I smiled, my confidence building as his tone became more friendly. "No, sir, not at all. We're genuinely just friends."

He glanced between us, trying to pick up if either of us were lying but the confidence with which I spoke must have convinced him because his reserved face broke out into a grin and I could easily see where Zack had gotten his charming smiles from. "In that case, call me Alastair and it's lovely to meet you too, Cassie."

I sighed in relief before matching his smile. Zack squeezed my hand encouragingly under the table, his face looking more relaxed than before.

"It's not often Zack brings friends around. In fact, he's not home a lot at all. I feel like the only time I see him is at work and in meetings so I'm glad to know he actually has a social life."

Zack groaned from next to me as everyone else laughed at his expense. "Dad."

Alastair raised his hands in surrender but there was a mischievous glint in his eyes as he had some of his soup that was identical to the look I'd seen in Zack's eyes so many times before.

"You've met Axel and Damien... oh, and Naeem too."

He shot his son a flat look. "You've been friends with those boys for years and I can count all the times I've seen them on one hand. Not to mention, I only met Damien because of Harper, not you."

The teasing smile on his face brightened as he mentioned his eldest daughter and I could already confirm the theory Zack had previously mentioned of her being his favourite.

"Whatever, Dad, can you stop? Please."

"Just come and visit more and I'll stop embarrassing you."

Zack had gone red but the sound of fireworks outside spared him from any further embarrassment. It must have gotten quite late since I'd been here.

"Why on earth are the neighbours firing fireworks this time?" Alastair asked Anna with vague interest on his face but she simply shrugged.

"You know how eccentric the Donnelley family are. Probably their second cousin twice removed's acquaintance's cat's birthday or something like that."

I snorted to myself as Brooke squealed, clapping her hands together in excitement. "Oh, dad, that reminds me. How long until bonfire night? The camp director was telling us all about how her husband proposed to her on bonfire night a few years ago. I can't wait for all the fireworks and sparklers this year!"

"It's on November fifth, Brooke," Carter told her softly before going back to eating his food and disconnecting himself from the conversation.

"Yeah. Remember the song Mrs Shapiro taught us a few years ago?" Noah piped up. "Remember, remember, the fifth of November. Gunpowder, treason and plot. I see no reason why gunpowder treason should ever be forgot."

"Of course I remember that."

"But you just said you forgot the date."

"No, I said-"

I tuned out their bickering, choosing to focus on Zack as he conversed with his dad about their business instead. None of it was particularly interesting. They talked about investment holders and future plans but the intellectual manner with which Zack spoke was a little surprising.

I'd only ever really considered him to be a rich pretty boy who had never had to work for anything in his life. I'd always assumed that everything had been handed to him on a silver platter but hearing him talk proved just how wrong I was and I was never one to admit that I was wrong so I definitely wasn't going to share this information with Kole.

"Oh, Anna? Dad?" Zack said a few minutes later and both Anna and his father hummed in response. "Can you not mention Cassie to mum? You know what she's like. She'll think there's something going on between us when there's not. I don't want Cassie to get dragged into anything."

Both of them eyed us sceptically but gave him hesitant nods. "Sure, son, you're right. Camilla does tend to take things a bit out of hand."

I knew Zack had asked for my benefit but the words still stung. Did I mean so little to him that he didn't want his mother to know about me?

The way he had lied so smoothly should have been a massive red flag especially if even his father had believed him. Unless he wasn't lying and I truly meant nothing to him. It doesn't matter, Jaia, I reminded myself. You're only using him for a mission.

The conversations around me flowed effortlessly despite my lack of participation. Zack gently squeezed my thigh without anyone's notice and gave me a concerned glance but I shook off his worry with a smile. 'I'm fine,' I mouthed and he nodded despite that fact he looked completely unconvinced. Was I turning into a terrible liar?

To prove to him I was fine, I threw myself into the conversation, bantering back and forth with his entire family much to his father's surprise and delight. However, my tone seemed slightly off, so subtle that no one would normally notice but Zack did. Thankfully, he wasn't sure why I was suddenly acting odd.

After dinner, Zack drove me home. I hadn't noticed the crescent shapes indented into my palms until he'd pointed them out when we were outside my door.

He inspected my hands with a frown. "Cassie, what's wrong."

"Nothing, Zack."

"Please don't lie to me."

I sighed, refusing to meet his eyes as I scoured my purse for my keys. "I don't know... I guess I was just nervous. I wasn't expecting to meet your dad." Technically all true.

"Are you sure it's nothing else?"

I laughed softly, squeezing his palms. "Yes." Lie.

"Alright..." he stepped closer, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "I don't think I got the chance to tell you that you looked absolutely beautiful today. Red is definitely your colour."

I smiled despite myself, staring into his deep steel eyes. "You clean up pretty nicely too I guess."

"I guess?" His tone was teasing as he tilted his head down slightly but I didn't get the chance to say anything before his lips were on mine. The kiss was soft and sweet but nowhere as near as long as I wanted. "I'll see you soon, Cassie," he breathed quietly as he pulled away.

"We'll see."

He smirked knowingly, hands still wrapped around my waist. "Like you could keep me away."

~*~*~

Okay it's been FOREVER but hi guys! I've finally had a bit of motivation fir this story so enjoy the chapter xx