Chapter 12: Chapter 12

"Hey dad. Can I have your realtor's number?"

"Why? Are you planning to buy a house?"

"Apartment actually. I think it's time I moved out"

"Move out?" JR snapped his head up so hard that the glasses resting on his nose fell crookedly to the side. "Why?"

Alexis rolled her eyes. This was going to take all day "Because I'm old enough to have my own place."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am. Please don't be difficult about this. I really think it's time I live on my own like every twenty three year old out there"

"Those twenty three year olds out there aren't my daughters. You are and I'm not changing my mind. You'll move out when you're ready"

"And when will that be?"

"When I decide so."

"So you expect me to live here with you guys forever?"

"Yes."

Yeesh. Change tactics "Okay. How about my car then?"

"What car?"

"The one you bought me when I was eight. I think now will be the appropriate time to give it to me"

At that JR smiled fondly. "Your mother made me take it back after giving me an earful. I don't even know what I was thinking when I bought it in the first place"

"Yeah. You were so clueless" she said perching herself on the edge of his desk. Her mother had spent all night explaining to her why she couldn't keep it and she remembered being so mad that she went to stay at Vincent's house for the weekend. He was the one who'd told her that all she had to do was wait till she was a grown up then ask for it. No time like the present. "So? Can I get it?"

"Yes. We'll go and get you one whenever you want to. I'll have Alice hold an interview for a driver and call my friend Fabian to send me a couple of security guys so you can pick one"

"Whoa. Hold it right there dad. What do you mean by security? You're not hiring a bodyguard for me."

"The car comes with the rule."

"Why? I don't want some creep following me around all day. Isn't telling Jayden to sell my bike enough?"

"They are for your protection. Or you can choose between the car and apartment. Which one do you want?"

"Apartment"

"Car it is then" he nodded to himself then said "Will you please get me a cup of coffee?"

"This is your way of kicking me out of your office. We're not done talking dad. I'll be right back" she left, heading to the kitchen. Knowing him, he would never let her move out. She was glad he'd accepted her fully as his daughter and vice versa but JR could be so overprotective sometimes. At first he had no clue about parenting and she had taken advantage of that, asking for inappropriate things which ended up pissing her mom off every time. She'd sat him down and explained that being a good parent meant saying no sometimes. He didn't have to say yes to whatever she asked for which was a bummer, because after that he said no to everything. It took him awhile to get the gist of it but after he did, he became papa bear. Papa bear was worse than clueless JR. Entering the kitchen, she spotted her mother behind the counter cooking up some new recipe

"Hey mom"

"No"

"Huh?" Alexis asked confused.

"Your father said to say no before you even asked"

"Do you even know what I was going to ask for?"

"No but he...."

"Coffee mom. He sent me coffee then tells you to say no and you listen? Come on mom" she rolled her eyes moving to the cabinet to take out a cup. "Talk about following someone blindly" she muttered to herself knowing her mother would hear her. Just a little twist and she would get what she wanted. "Don't you think it's too much? At least hear me out before you say no."

Hayley sighed "You're right. What is it you want?"

"My own place mom. I'm old enough to start living by myself" her mother blinked rapidly.

"You want to move out?"

"Yeah."

She looked shocked for a second then her face transformed into that of pure wonder and excitement "Well why didn't you say so? Wait here. I'll go get it"

"Get what?"

"My color scheme book. I'm thinking pink, white, cream and grey"

"Mom" Alexis said in warning but she was long gone. Talk about digging your own grave. Maybe this was a bad idea. Her mother could sometimes go over the top with her ideas. Holy shit. Her and JR were like two peas in a pod. Pink, cream and grey? Really? She shuddered carrying the cup of coffee back to her father. Yes, she wanted an apartment but she also wanted it to be all her. Her designs, her color scheme, even the furniture. They had to be her decision. Not her mother's or some interior designer. Thinking about a solution she entered the study. "Here's your coffee"

"Thanks honey. What did your mom say?"

Alexis narrowed her eyes "She left to get her book. Did you know she's been dying to redecorate the house?"

JR's eyes widened "She has?"

"Yes. She even has a book full of ideas. How come you never let her?"

"Because I didn't know" he said springing up from his chair "Why didn't she tell me?" he left the office in a rush, probably going to ask if it was true. Alexis rounded the desk and sat down on the chair he'd just vacated. Taking the coffee he hadn't bothered to drink, she sipped it thinking that if everything went according to plan, she would have her own place and car.

Alexis - 1,

Parents - 0.

----------------------------

"Hi can I speak to the Dean please? It's about one of your students"

"Hold on, I'll put you through"

"Hello"

"Hi. So word is one of your students is selling drugs on campus. Now I know that is not unusual activity in a campus but it's getting out of hand. Do something about it"

"Do you know the name of that student?"

"I believe it's Connor Walters. I also think that if you happened to search his bag or him right this second , you'll find the evidence."

"And who am I speaking to?"

"A concerned citizen" then they hung up.

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Raymond took his ringing phone out and groaned. "Hey Hayley"

"Raymond, I need to talk to you. Can we meet?"

"Sure. The Alexandra?"

"No. Too open. I know just the place"

Half an hour later he ran his eyes over the place Hayley had picked while getting out of his car. It looked nothing like The Alexandra but it was okay. He wondered why she would want to talk to him in a strange place where no one knew them. Between her and her husband, she was the level headed one. He'd heard stories of how JR had tried to win her over and let's just say he wouldn't use those methods to try and get Alexis. The man was, well, crazy. And that was putting it mildly. Locking his car, he stepped in the restaurant immediately beginning his search for Hayley.

"Hi. By any chance are you Raymond?" a waitress approached him. She had to be sixteen or seventeen years old judging from her appearance. She was also spotting a rosy hue on her cheeks and he guessed it was from one of two things. Either she had been rushing around the place, which explained the heavy breathing or she had a crush on him. He would pick the latter. Not to be proud or anything but he had that effect on women, no matter the age. Not all women. He reminded himself. There was one that had proven to be elusive. Hopefully not for long or he'd turn into JR 2.0.

"Yes?"

"Hayley said to show you to a table. She'll be right out"

"Ah thanks." he said following her "Where is she anyway?"

"In the kitchen. She's helping my mom out with something"

"Okay. Thank you"

"You're welcome. Would you like to order anything?"

"Coffee please."

"Alright. I'll be right back with your order sir" the sir came out breathy like she was trying really hard to get oxygen into her lungs. Raymond watched her turn and scurry back to the kitchen, missing hitting a table narrowly. This would have given him immense pleasure if that was Alexis. Knowing he affected her that way wouldn't be that bad for his ego but that woman was a hard nut to crack.

When he'd found her in the kitchen with Marjorie, the look in her eyes told him she was planning one of her stupid stunts. Problem was he didn't know what it was this time because all of a sudden they'd gone quiet. Not even the promise of an new pair of Louboutins would make Marjorie confess. Which was annoying since normally she wouldn't shut up. He had to ask Jayden to keep an eye on her and report back to him. It cost him, but it was worth it. Anything to keep his princess out of trouble.

"Raymond I'm glad you made it" Hayley said taking the seat opposite him.

"How could I refuse such a beautiful woman like you?" JR didn't like him much mainly because he suspected he had feelings for his daughter. Ray understood that seeing as his father was also over protective of his sister. Which meant that as far as allies go, his future father in law was out of the question. That didn't mean he couldn't charm his mother in law into being on his side. Who btw was furiously blushing at that moment.

"Oh Ray. You're such a sweet boy and as much as I want to listen to you flatter me all day, that's not why I called you here"

"Then why?"

"Alexis is moving out of the house"

"Okay. She is old enough to do that. Right?"

"Yes. But I don't want her out there all by herself which is why you're going to move in next door to her"

He blinked "What?"

"You heard me. I want to sleep at night, knowing she's safe and you're the only person I can trust to do that. She might think she's all grown up but she'll always be my little girl. Please just do it"

"Okay. For your peace of mind I'll move in next door to her." bullshit. He was doing it for himself. Being that close to her all day long, all night long? Jesus. He already had ideas. The kind Hayley wouldn't approve if she found out. Thank God for not giving human kind the ability to read minds or he'd be six feet under right then.

"Thank you so much. I knew I could count on you"

"No problem. Like I said, anything for you"

"I'm glad to know Vince raised you so well. I can't help but think that if I hadn't met Jim - may his soul rest in peace- I would have married your father. Then things would be awkward seeing as you lov....." she stopped realizing she was saying too much. "Anyway believe it or not, things happen for a reason"

"Yes they do."

"So tell me what are your....." her phone pinged alerting her of a message. She took it out, read it and groaned.

"Is something wrong?" he asked drinking the already cold coffee.

"Yes. Lucinda is back from her retreat in India and she brought a wife for Jayden with her"

Raymond chocked on the drink. "What?"

"My thoughts exactly. I wonder how she managed to convince the girl's parents" she mused then jerked upright. "Oh God. What if she promised them my other sons? I wouldn't put that past her. Let's go. I need to nip this problem on the bud before it gets too far. Or uproot the whole thing. Left on her own, that woman would marry off my husband for the second time. And it wouldn't be because she's malicious or something like that. Oh no. I think that now that the boys are all grown up, she really has nothing to do. Christ, I hope she didn't bring a husband for Alexis too. "

That thought got Raymond moving. "Sure. Let me just pay for the coffee"

"Forget it. I own this place, well co-own it with a friend of mine. Did you know I used to work here?"

He shook his head holding the door open for her. "No."

"I was a simple waitress back then. I think deep down, I still am" Ray studied her looking for any signs that showed she was still a waitress. He found none. She was stunning, her brown hair tied up in a classy chignon. He saw Alexis in her. Only older and blonde. In fact, the blonde hair was the only difference between them and he approved. Clearly age didn't dull the Barret's beauty. If anything it made them more beautiful, in a regal kind of way.

Jayden was standing by the door when they arrived. "Mom seriously I am not going to marry that girl. Grandma says she's perfect for me but I don't like her. I barely know her."

"Calm down honey. I'll make sure your grandmother understands that you're too young to date"

"What? I didn't say that. Besides, I'm almost seventeen. Dad had his first girlfriend when he was twelve"

"He told you that?"

"No. Grandpa did"

"Jayden dear, it's rude to leave guests unattended" Lucinda's voice came from somewhere inside. Ray watched as Jayden winced, thanking the heavens he wasn't in his place. Lucinda could be crazy sometimes. Just like her son. Speaking of which, he better leave before they saw him and turned their attention to him. If he found out that woman had brought a potential husband for Alexis, the guy wouldn't live to see another day. Connor the con was already enough competition.

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Yikes. I feel sorry for Jayden and Connor. It's really not their day.

Hayley on the other hand is at it again. Pushing Alexis and Ray together. I wonder how our princess will react when she finds out who her neighbor is.