12 Chapter 12- Family

Family. 

As Kelvin drove through the gate, I saw Charity running out the door. 

"Welcome home ma'am" Charity said, as I got down from my car. 

"You don't have to come outside to welcome me Charity, we talked about this"

"I am sorry ma'am, I just wanted to inform you before you go in" she replied, looking back at the house. 

"What is wrong?" I asked

"We have visitors-" before she could finish her statement I asked, 

"I thought I made myself clear when I gave the instruction that nobody is allowed into the house if I am not there? So why did you open my doors?" she was fidgeting and kept on turning her head to look back at the house. 

"I know ma'am but they had the code to the gate and walked in without me. I couldn't stop them" 

"What?" I haven't shared the code to the main gate with anyone, even the guards, except Kelvin who got to know few minutes ago when I told him and I made it very clear he could only share with guards he could trust with his life. 

Although the gate can be opened from inside without a code but you need a code from outside. 

"Who are they?"

"Sir and Madam, Your parents." she finally said. Hearing this I giggled slightly, 

"Why didn't you just tell me that from the start?" I asked smiling 

"Huh?" she muttered

"You can go ahead and park the car Kelvin" I said to the man standing beside me, after opening the car door he as being here since also listening to Charity's explanation. 

"Of course ma'am" with that he left. 

"Come with me Charity, I should have explained to you that my parents are exceptions to any of the rules" 

"Oh! Alright ma'am" 

"How long have they been here?" 

"About fifteen minutes" 

"Did you get them something to drink at least" 

"Madam went in the kitchen herself to get them refreshments. She didn't need me"

"Of course she didn't" that sounds so much like my mom so I am not even surprised at all. 

"You can go into your room and relax, I am sure they gave you quite a scare. I will call you if I need you" I said, patting her a little as we entered the house. She immediately turned to the corridor that holds her room, leaving me to go into the sitting room alone. 

"I see you made yourselves at home already" I said with a smile as I looked at my parents chatting away in my living room. 

"How was the event?" Mom asked, going straight to the point as always. 

"Everything is falling into place" I hung my coat and walked further into the sitting room going straight into my Dad's opened arms on the couch. 

"Good" I heard Mom's voice but didn't bother to lift my head from Dad's . "How are you Nene?. Your Mom told me everything, I am so sorry baby" Dad whispered to me, still hugging me tightly. 

"I am fine Dad. I have learned and now I will do better" 

"I should really punch that shit head, no one hurts my daughter" The thought of my Dad punching James had me giggling, I have never seen my Dad violent in my entire life. 

"I think we should leave the punching to Mom" Dad and I laughed after saying that.

"Brat" Mom said as she got up to sit beside me on the couch. 

The three of us are now seated on a couch with me in between, "Here, this is the first project you would be working on" Mom dropped a file on my legs. 

"Really Pam? Give her a break." Dad said frowning at Mom. 

"You baby her too much. She is an heiress, it's time for her to learn" she said looking indifferent. "Nene baby, you don't have to start working now if you are not ready. I can still run the company for years to come till you are finally prepared" Dad looked worried has he brushed my hair to side.

"I am ready Dad, I can't keep letting you take on my responsibilities. I need to learn so I can take over completely and finally let you and Mom retire" 

"Fine. If you need help with anything just give me a call and I will be right there. No more nonsense about believing what people tell you about your own family" he said with a stern look on his face, like he was scolding me for believing Vanessa. 

"Of course" 

"Would you two stop already. Look at the file Nene" Mom said with a long sigh. I reluctantly left the comfort of Dad's arms to take a look at the file. As I scanned through the file I could not understand why we want to invest in this project besides, it is a partnership and Mom isn't very welcoming to partnerships. 

"Another Hotel?" I asked looking sideways at the both of them. We had enough hotels in Mount Corp. 

"Yes, but this is different" Dad replied

"How?" 

"This hotel won't just be accommodating anyone, we have a targeted market and it goes beyond just housing people for a couple of days. We are going for a home away from home kind of setting" 

"When you go through the details you would understand better" Mom concluded.

"I just feel like there are more lucrative business ideas to dive into, and why is it a partnership? Can't we shoulder it alone?"

"Like your Mom said everything is in there just take your time to read it" 

"Alright then, when do we start?" 

"There would be a briefing Monday morning, you will be attending on our behalf"

"Your office is ready as well, next to Adrian's. I would have your secretary call you before Monday." Mom said sounding excited

"Who is Adrian? One of the directors?"

"No. He is the partner you are working with" I saw Dad give her the stink eye has she said that. He probably doesn't like the partnering idea as well. We were still discussing about the project when we heard revving of a car before it came to an abrupt stop, 

"I guess the scarecrow is back," Mom said with a sneer. 

"Mom please behave we don't want him getting suspicious already" 

"Who cares if he is suspicious? He doesn't have the balls to divorce you even if he knows" 

"That is not what I want, I want them to get married" 

"What!?" 

"What!?" They both shouted getting up from the couch, looking at me like I have grown an extra head. 

"She doesn't love him, he loves her. They both need to experience what I did" after the little explanation, Mom seemed to understand but Dad still looked confused.

"Why are you all staring at me? One of you should come park this car" we heard James voice yelling at the guards. He would have to be shouting at the top of his lungs to be heard this clear from inside the mansion. 

"He is still as arrogant and entitled as ever," Dad said, looking disgusted. 

"You are all a bunch of nuisance, I would have your ass fired. You watch me. Penelope!!!" 

"Just let me handle him Mom, please?" I said looking at my Mom who is fuming right now. We heard the front door slam shut.

"Penelope! You damn woman, I want them all fired. Those damn idiots you call body-" he stopped when he got closer seeing both my parents are here. 

"It is never a pleasure seeing your face. Have you looked in the mirror lately? " Mom said with a crunched up face. 

"Mom!" I turned slightly to face her. They were still standing when he came in. 

"Why are they in my house?" James asked, looking at me, he was still boiling from the bodyguard issue. 

"Your house? That is rich coming from someone who survives daily on my daughter's crumbs" 

"Mom please" although I was enjoying James' expression, I don't want her ruining my plans. 

"Crumbs? Who do you think I am?" James looks really furious. 

"Someone who needs my daughters inheritance to start his own dreams. Basically a beggar" she said unapologetically.

"Oh God" I muttered things would soon get out of control if they continued like this, why can Mom just ignore him like Dad is doing? 

"How dare you call me a beggar in my own house? I want them out, right now Penelope or I swear I would-" I left the couch area and moved closer to him

"You would what? They are my parents and you would give them the respect they deserve" 

"Oh no need. The atmosphere has been polluted by his stench already, it is no longer conducive for me. Let's go hon." She said, taking Dad's hand. 

"What? We aren't done yet" 

"We will see you later Nene" they were almost at the door when Dad turned back,

"James?"

It happened so fast, I didn't see it coming at all. All I heard after James turned around was a thud and just like that he was on the floor. My father just punched James!. He moved forward and held him by his tie, "If you ever disrespect my wife and daughter ever again, you would lose everything you have ever worked for, including your life." 

"Do I make myself clear?" James was clearly afraid and I was stunned, he has never spoken a word to James and now this? 

"Yes Sir" he said in a choking voice with a busted lip.