The doorbell rang louder than Callie expected. Being the only housekeeper working on Saturday meant that she had more responsibilities to take care of. Reneé's son, Nando did help sometimes but Callie didn't find it fair to put that much pressure on a kid.

Entering the hallway, Callie was caught off guard when a fancy dressed middle aged woman and a younger man in a tailored noir suit had already made their way inside.

"Sorry to barge in, but I rang the door bell twice. No one answered." The woman's eyebrow arched up. Her chilly tone made Callie's cheeks flame. Who the hell was this woman? "From your frumpy outfit, I'm guessing you're the maid. Aren't you a little too young to be one?"

Her eyes moved between the two people standing in front of her. "Sorry, who are you?"

Larkin's bass voice drew closer, until his wiry figure became visible for everyone to see. A smirk slithered its way to his lips, pressing the thick line of his long scar that travelled all the way to the side of his chin. He was  strangely acting too confident but Callie could see through his facade. "Aunt Zoe. Ira. You finally made it."

Callie's eyes bulged. That was Aunt Zoe? Wow, Callie couldn't even spot any hint of resemblance between the woman and the picture of Larkin's mom hung around the house. To Callie's surprise, she didn't have the blonde hair that Larkin and his parents seemed to share. She had a slight auburn tint to her shoulder length dark brown bob that swept to the sides of her face and highlighted her stunning green eyes.

She said her words lazily. "It wasn't like you gave us a choice. My son and I are very busy people. You can't keep requesting for us whenever you feel like it."

A grim look settled on Larkin's face. "It's funny how I asked to only see you but Ira keeps popping up all the time."

Ira seemed oddly composed, despite how wide his mother's eyes had gotten. He was a good looking man with a poorly done blond dye job, that only covered parts of his hair and left his thin beard strips into its natural brown tint. "Are you intimidated by my presence, little cousin?"

"What's there to be intimidated of?" An icy look had fixed in his eyes. Larkin twisted the knob of his walking stick and shifted in his weight. Callie noticed him wincing. It was clear to her how much his legs ached but his damn family seemed too oblivious to his pain.

Ira's crooked smile didn't seem to appease Larkin's irritation. "Relax. I was kidding. I'm here for moral support."

"And I trust Ira more than anyone in the world." Aunt Zoe added, with a smirk. Callie felt a knot in her gut. There was something offputting about that woman, no matter how glamorous she looked.

"It's okay, then. Ira's family and he's always welcome here." Larkin didn't feel the need to drag the conversation on. Aunt Zoe's long awaited visit had finally come and it was apparent he didn't want to mess it up. He gestured to the hallway. "Come in. We have a lot to discuss."

Aunt Zoe speared into the hallway, glancing at each corner intensely. She seemed to be soaking in every part of the grand house.

Callie quietly followed them. The last thing she needed was to be scrutinized by any of them, but her plan foiled when she tried to make it to the kitchen and Aunt Zoe called out. "I need a glass of wine, pronto."

Callie whirled around, heading back to the living room. Three pairs of eyes stared at her and she offered a tight smile. "How can I help you, ma'am?"

"I need wine or something stronger. You have tequila or brandy?" Aunt Zoë said. Ira shot his mother an annoyed look that made her roll her eyes. "Fine. I'll have coffee instead. Black."

Callie almost scoffed. Of course, she'd like black coffee. It matched well with her cold heart.

"What sort of maid doesn't have a uniform? So unprofessional." A tightness formed in her stomach, when Aunt Zoë questioned.

Larkin's frigid tone that he specially reserved for his aunt had surfaced. "She's not my maid. She's a housekeeper and my friend."

"I see." Aunt Zoe grazed her eyes lightly over Callie's face. Callie squared her shoulders at its cold intensity. "Does this housekeeper have a name?"

Callie's mouth parted but Larkin blurted in, before any response could spill out. "We're not here for that. We have an important meeting to get to, instead of invading in her private life."

"I agree." Aunt Zoë drew out her words. "But before you go, don't forget my coffee."

Ira quipped, fiddling with his phone without giving Callie a glance. "I'll take a glass of water. Sparkling. Nothing less."

Sparkling water? Black coffee? God, these people were so ugh. Overbearing couldn't even cover how controlling they were. With a tight smile, Callie let herself out and left Larkin to face the imperious pair alone.

★★★

Slouching on the sofa with a glass of water in his hand, Ira cocked his head. "So why are we here for this meeting?"

The stern tone in Larkin's voice rose again. "That's a lot of 'we' for a conversation that's meant for one person."

"I thought we were over this, Larkin."

Larkin kneaded his temples slowly. He didn't call them over to pour out his frustrations on them. He brought them to make a truce and he was going to stick to that. Larkin instantly put on his 'game face' and looped on a smirk. "You're right. I'm just happy to see you here. It's been a long time."

Aunt Zoe patted the tips of her royal blue dress where drops of coffee splashed on it. Her outfit trumpeted wealth and Larkin was surprised she didn't pull a fit over the lump of wet stain. A graceful look of poise sunk on her face, when she spoke. "We're not here for sentiments. If we were, we'd be talking about something much different. So let's get straight to it. That way we won't dawdle over pointless things."

"If you insist, then no problem." Larkin commented softly. "I think it's about time to let down the hounds."

Ira had inherited their family's glimmering green eyes, though his eyes looked more like a teal blue-green color that remained impassive to everything around him. This time, those blue-green orbs narrowed. "Let down the hounds?"

"Yes. We need to cease this fighting. To call a truce. It's for the sake of the company and for our personal wellbeing."

She strayed a glance to her well composed son seated by her side and shared a knowing look with him, before speaking back to her nephew. "I'll settle whatever you want when I finally see that you deserve to run the company."

"Excuse me? That's my father's company." Larkin corrected. Aunt Zoe seemed to forget that whenever she went on her never-ending crusade. This was his father's legacy. Neither Aunt Zoë nor Ira were going to take it from him.

Her eyes flashed. "The only reason that the company's a success is because of the merger with my own father's company and over 20 years of my sweat and blood when I was slaving myself for Hammell Corp."

"I am not denying the fact that you've worked so hard. You've been loyal and I understand where you're coming from. But you're not the only one who's passionate about this. So am I."

"If you really care about the company, you should resign. Heck, you'll still remain as a board member after that. That's something I can't take from you. But that CEO position can't be yours." Her words provoked an angry side in Larkin. Nothing he did was enough for her. All she wanted was revenge and she was desperate to get it.

Larkin scowled at her. "Then who should it be? You? Just because my maternal grandfather had a very small percentage in the shares? You think that's what makes it automatically yours?"

Ira was unusually quiet while his mom spoke. Even now, he watched her outbursts with keen eyes and let her say what she wanted to say right now. "I deserve it because at least I still stayed in the company and did my job. What's a nineteen year old gonna do for the company? I love my work and I will not allow anyone belittle my position."

"Your position?" Larkin scoffed. "The same one you got because my parents felt guilty about your heartbreak? That same one?"

Ira's voice turned low. Larkin almost rolled his eyes. So now, he decides to chip in? "Let's not talk about that cause you're already walking on thin ice."

Larkin was exasperated. "I really don't know what I can ever do to please you. I can't just sign over my rights just to pacify you. I was willing to bury the hatchet but I don't think I can anymore. Not while you're willing to turn me into the bad guy to fit your own narrative."

"If you're not willing to comply then I guess we have nothing else to say."

"I guess we don't." Larkin said firmly. There was no use anymore. They made their choice. And now, he just made his.

★★★
Now we finally got to meet the infamous Aunt Zoe. Don't worry, this won't be the last we'd see of her.😈😈😈😈
Also, a new character was added to the mix. Ira, Aunt Zoe's adult son.
Let's see how Larkin's going to take back what is his.
Xoxo
Jasmine.