Chapter 4

"Robert, darling!" Greeted a tall blonde girl with red as blood lipstick and a beret on her head. Her clothes look too revealing that her big round breasts almost popped out from her crop top.

Alex raised an eyebrow as the woman kissed Robbie on the cheek. She looked more like a model especially with her tight jeans and pink stilletos.

Alex felt envious watching the woman as she wiped Robbie's cheek that was smeared by her lipstick.

Ruby red with a glittery glow. Perfect for flirts like her, she thought as she stared at her lipstick. As expected, this woman was probably wearing Robbie's line to patronize him and make him notice her.

Why the hell is she thinking this way?

He's gay,  she reminded herself. If he's really into her, then shouldn't he be hitting on her by now? Just look at her? Her perfect little ass could make any man drool.

She swallowed hard as insecurity creeped into her. Ever since she gave birth to Sasha, she had never been as confident as before. Her body was not the same and she kept on looking at it in the mirror, pointing out the flaws.

Her thighs got bigger. Her body was not the perfect pear-shaped as before. She got a little bulge on her belly. Even down there was not the same, too, although she never checked how it looked like but she's sure as hell it's ugly.

Robbie squeezed her hand.

"Alex, are you okay?" he asked her.

"W-What?" she didn't know her mind drifted off a bit. "Yes, of course. Why did you ask?"

"You looked bothered."

"No, of course not." She lied.

"So, who's this lovely creature, Robbie? I didn't know you have a new model," Frances commented eyeing her.

Alex chuckled. "Me a model? I think you're mistaken."

"She has the perfect face, don't you think, Robbie?"

"Always," his eyes gazed at her admiringly, which surprised Alex.

That was unexpected, she thought.

But suddenly his face changed and now she was confused if he really meant what he said.

"Frances, this is Alex. Alex, this is Frances."

"It's actually Allison. Alex is just a nickname I used with my friends."

"Allison. How lovely! Frances," and she gave her hand to her. Alex shook it in return.

Even her nails was fiery red. What is it with this woman and her obsession with red?' Alex observed. 'It's probably his line, too.

Something is eating her up and she didn't like it.

Was it jealousy? No way! She couldn't be jealous of her. Frances might just be a nice woman after all and it would be terrible for her to feel this way especially if she and Robbie were not together.

"Mom!" called Sasha coming out of the kitchen.

"Where have you been?" Alex demanded to Sasha. She was so preoccupied of Frances that she didn't notice that Sasha was gone until now.

"Sasha!" called a little boy who looks the same age as Sasha. "Hi, Tito Robbie."1

"Hey, Rico!" and he let go of Alex's hand. He gave him a high-five.

Alex couldn't help but smile at the exchange. Robbie had always been a kid-magnet ever since and she was not surprised Rico got close to him.

But who's child is this?'  she wondered.

He didn't look like him but he was somehow familiar which is strange. She didn't try to probe on it more in her mind and just shove the thought away.

"So where's your mom?"

"Working... as usual."

"I see.."

"I hope you don't mind me taking my nephew today, Robbie," Frances apologized.

"Oh no, of course not. Rico is always welcome here. I'm glad you finally met Sasha, Rico."

"Yes. Finally I have someone to play with when I'm here. The maids are so boring. All they want to do is gossip about you," and he held his hand over his mouth. His eyes were wide as if he was not supposed to tell that secret.

Robbie knew the maids had been gossipping about him but he didn't care before. As long as they served him right, he was fine with it. But if it involved the kids, it's a different story. If not only for Alex whom he promised to let her deal with it, he could have thrown them out of his house right now. He's not as diplomatic as her when it comes to having an offense especially to his kid.

"So, is this your lovely daughter?" asked Frances. "She looks exactly like you."

Alex smiled. Somehow it made her heart filled with pride. Sasha was really the best thing that happened to her.

"Sasha told me you're his dad. Is it true, Tito Robbie?" Rico asked.

"Rico! It's supposed to be a secret," Sasha told Rico, her eyes widening.

"What? I thought it's okay to ask him."

"Yes. But not in front of everybody."

"Is it true, Robbie? Is she your daughter?" Frances inquired. Her eyes wide in astonishment. "So that means..."

Robbie placed an arm around Alex's waist, pulling her to him.

"Yes, Frances. Alex and I are Sasha's parents, and we're getting married."

Frances was shocked at his announcement. But the one who was most surprised was Alex, who was now staring at Robbie with knitted eyebrows and pursed lips.

"Wow, Robbie! That was surprising," Frances commented. "I always thought you're...."

"Gay?" he supplied and Frances smiled faintly to him. "That's what everybody thought."

He could feel Alex's death stare on him but he didn't care. He would still get his way no matter what, whether she liked it or not.

I can kill you, right now, Robbie, she said in her mind. If her eyes were daggers, it had killed him instantly.

"Very well then. Moving on," Frances clasped her hands together. "So, tell me about the project, Robbie."

"It's for my daughter, Sasha. She wanted her own room designed."

"Good," Frances said. "Sasha, do you want to lead me where your room is?"

"Sure. It's upstairs. Rico, you need to come, too," Sasha replied.

"Wait! I think I know what room it is. Is it the ghost room?" Rico asked.

"Ghost room?" Alex inquired and looked at Robbie, who was chuckling.

He called her room, "The Ghost Room?"

What does he mean by that?

"Why is it called the ghost room?" Sasha inquired.

"Well, Tito Robbie said that the person who used to occupy it just disappeared like a ghost. So he called it The Ghost Room, eversince."

Alex couldn't believe it. Is he implying she ghosted him? God! How can that be when they didn't even have a relationship to begin with, aside from being friends.

Unless...

No, Alex. You have to stop having these stupid thoughts. There is nothing between you and him. Nothing! Zilch!  she scolded herself.

Except Sasha.

She narrowed her eyes on Robbie as he raised an eyebrow at her. She tried to pull away from his grip in her waist but he held her tighter.

So she leaned in his ear and said, "You better explain this later if you don't want me punching your gut."

Robbie faced her, a grin formed in his face.

"Is that a challenge?"

"What do you think?"

"Then, I'll take it."

"Why you-" and she fisted her hands. She started to lift it up but Robbie quickly took her arm with his free hand. One small movement and their lips are going to touch. She swallowed hard as Robbie's eyes focused on her lips.

She couldn't stop her heart from racing rapidly. Her cheeks all flushed and she suddenly hated herself for it.

"Kissing, ewww!!!" the kids yelled as Frances laughed.

Robbie let go of Alex. He too felt a sudden burst of heat throughout his body. His throat suddenly felt dry and he cleared his throat.

He smiled faintly as Frances motioned the kids to go upstairs. She gave him a knowing smile and he just creased his eyebrows at her.

She tapped his shoulder as she started to mount the steps.

"C'mon, kiddos. Let's go," she called.

The kids happily followed her while Alex and Robbie took a few seconds before finally following them up the stairs.