Margaret and the uneasy feeling

Chapter - 12

As Alex was leaving the building, he thought it would be nice to bid farewell to his only friend here, Susan. But when he made his way to the reception, he found her nowhere, and someone else was seated there in place of her. A bit disappointed, he decided to leave.

It was already three in the afternoon by the time Alex left the building, and since none of his parents would be at home, he was in no hurry to rush back. He walked around the streets, ate snacks, did some shopping, bought things for his parents and even purchased the grocery.

After getting discharged from the hospital after the accident, when Alex was adopted by the Rutherford couple, he didn't want to be a burden and extra baggage for them to carry. So whenever he got the chance, he would try to help out with chores in the house. Alex would help clean the dishes, do the dusting and even cook meals. In no time, he was so proficient in cooking that he was made responsible for at least one meal a day and sometimes all. Because of this, Mrs Flores, their housekeeper, has been complaining about him a rather lot these days.

Alex spent the next few hours wandering around the streets, the malls and other random places. It was only when the clock struck six did he decide to hitch a taxi back home.

Just as Alex got off the taxi with all the bags in his hand, another car drove by him and stopped in front of Margaret's house. Curious as to who would visit her, instead of walking into his house, Alex stood there to see.

A man got off the car from one side. Alex remembered seeing this guy hanging around Margaret's house quite often. Unlike other suitors of Margaret, who are not seen after a couple of times of rejection. This guy was the most persistent one. And for some reason, even Margaret never pushed him away.

The man dressed in a black tuxedo was way more stylish and mannered than Alex. He walked to the other side of the car to open the door. He reached out his hand, and a slender hand emerged from inside the car and held his hand. With the help from the man, Margaret, dressed in a black backless dress, got off the car. The way the two of them were dressed made it look like the two of them had just come from a party, as couples.

Irked by how the two of them stood there, chatting like a couple, Alex decided to head inside. But before he could disappear from there, Margaret saw him.

"Alex!" Margaret called out from behind, waving towards him.

Now that she has seen him, he can't just walk away like this. 'Well, a simple hello should be enough '.

Alex turned around, and without moving an inch in her direction, he yelled from the same place, "Good evening, Miss Cole."

'Again, Miss Cole?' Margaret was clearly dissatisfied with the way he addressed her but keeping that aside for a while, she started walking towards him, "How was your interview? Knowing you, I am sure you must have nailed it," Margaret said.

Just as she was a few steps away from him, Alex said, "It was okay. Now, if you will please excuse me. I have some matters to attend to," Alex said this, being as formal as possible for him and without giving her a second look, walked inside his house.

"Weird, what happened to him? Did he bomb his interview? It's hard to believe he did," surprised by Alex's unfriendly behaviour, Margaret muttered to himself. While she was muttering, the man walked beside her and listened to her.

"Should I look into it?" The man asked respectfully.

"No need, I am sure he will be fine by tomorrow. Now you can leave, and don't forget to get that matter sorted by tomorrow," Margaret ordered the man.

"I will," the man said and nodding at her, he soon drove away from there.

Margaret gave one last look to Alex's house before sighing and walking inside her house.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Just as Alex entered the house, he was greeted by Mrs Flores, their housekeeper. Mrs Flores was a lady in her sixties or seventies with a face that dripped with kindness. But contrary to her looks, she was the scariest woman out there, and except for Alex, she would not give in to anyone.

"You are back! How was the interview," Mrs Flores, when saw Alex, made her way towards the kitchen while asking.

"It was fine, I suppose," Alex crashed on the couch to give his body the rest from all the walking around.

"Well, no need to fret over it. I am sure you will do just fine," handing him a glass of water, Mrs Flores said. Then she looked at all the bags kept beside him, "Looks like I will be having an early day today. You are going to cook?" Mrs Flores asked.

Alex nodded, "I was thinking about it. Why don't you join us?" he suggested.

"Your cooking is delicious, I will give that to you. But since I can leave early, I would rather spend time with my grandson," Mrs Flores said.

"You and your love for your grandson," Alex shook his head. Then he grabbed one of the bags and began shuffling through it.

"Here it is," taking out a packet he gave it to Mrs Flores, "He loves these chocolates. Tell him that Uncle Alex bought it for him," Alex said.

"Now I know why despite all the love I shower him with, he likes you more than me," Mrs Flores said, complaining, but there was no menace in it.

"It's the generation gap, Mrs Flores, the generation gap," Alex said, teasing her.

"Whatever," Mrs Flores made faces hearing this and left.

After Mrs Flores left, Alex placed the groceries in the kitchen, went back to his room upstairs and crashed on his bed. Though he was laughing and making fun of Mrs Flores, all this time, he could not help but think about Margaret. He was thinking about her, and the uncomfortable feeling he had since he saw that man beside Margaret kept on building up.

"Ahhh!" letting out some frustration, Alex yelled, 'I better divert my mind to something useful,' Alex thought.

Since it was already close to seven, he knew the perfect way to divert his mind and cool his head. Alex brushed away his thoughts, went to freshen up before he headed downstairs to prepare dinner.

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