Chapter 9: Chapter 9

Brody's POV

I drove into my organization and parked my car in the parking lot. It was a short but boring drive, walking into the organization, almost everyone scurried to their seats except my best friend.

He looked at me with a smile. "What's the problem?" Alex asked.

I became confused. I didn't remember informing him of any problem, I didn't know where he got the idea from. "I don't understand you."

He chuckled. "I mean, we all know that you only come here when you're angry or you want to sack someone."

I frowned. "That's not true," I told him, he looked surprised and perplexed. "I mean, it's not a lie but I don't always sack my workers."

His brow furrowed in consternation. "Really?"

I glanced through the hall, everyone seemed to mind their business. They avoided looking at me. "Is that the reason they all ran to their seats when they saw me?" I asked.

"No one wants to get on your bad side." He answered.

I shook my head in shock and walked into my office. "You're just being paranoid." I told him as he walked into my office.

"Paranoid? How? You sacked the cleaner this morning, a poor woman who needed to survive."

"My actions should not concern you." I snapped.

He chuckled and sat down. I also sat down too and glanced through the paper in front of me. "What's this?" I asked.

"Our production level of soap decreased by 10% in this organization."

I smiled. "That shouldn't be a problem, should it?" I inquired.

He gave me a crooked smile. "You have competitors who'll go at any length to bring you down."

I wondered why he underestimated me, I definitely knew about my competitor's plan to bring me down. "My mother's coming." I announced, changing the topic.

His eyes widened and his eyes sparkled mischievously. "I can't wait for your secrets to be exposed." He mocked.

I laughed and folded my hands. "I'm not a fool, I've got everything planned."

Ignoring the stab of curiosity, he inquired. "What do you plan to do?"

"I've got a contract signed and I've got a girl who will pretend to be my girlfriend." I announced and he chuckled.

I frowned, my broad shoulders straining against the soft worn cotton of my shirt. He made an apologetic face as I frowned at him. "Why don't you want to get a girlfriend?"

"I keep telling you all the time that romance is not at the top of my priorities, I have other better things to do."

"But your mom is coming?" He reminded me.

I shrugged, feeling myself tense even more. "Well, I've got everything sorted out, Karen would pretend to be my girlfriend."

"Who's Karen?" He asked.

"She's the one who agreed to the contract for one million dollars."

He ran his fingers through his hair. "Considering the fact that you're rich, one million dollars is not a problem." He remarked, with a gloomy sigh.

He fiddled with his pen and my phone rang, it was my sister calling. "Hey brother." She shouted as soon as I picked.

My ears hurt from her loud voice. "Can you lower your voice a little?" I pleaded.

"I'll be bringing my son to spend time with you for the weekend, he wants to meet his grandma in your mansion." She told me in an excited tone.

Oh no! This was totally out of control. I didn't want her coming, it was not part of the deal, I didn't even inform Karen that my mother would be coming, she didn't sign the deal. She could decide not to help me again for lying to her. "You can't possibly come," I said and heard muffled voices in the background. "I'm terribly busy with work and stuff."

Gosh! That was a stupid thought. "My son won't affect your schedule or plans, I'm sorry I informed you late. Hollywood wants me to act a role and I can't act with my son disturbing me on set." She replied.

I looked at Alex who stared at me with a blank expression. "Your husband should be able to take care of your son." I told her.

She chuckled. "He's useless and dumb." She replied.

"How many days is your son going to stay in my house?" I asked.

"He's going to stay until the party." She answered and I blinked in confusion.

What party? "I don't understand you, what party?"

"Shit, mom didn't tell you, there's going to be a party at your apartment next week, she didn't tell me the date."

A raspy breath escaped my throat as I got angrier. "I wasn't informed and without my permission, no party can take place." I said.

"You won't possibly disobey mother, would you?" She asked in a casual voice.

"I'll be expecting your son soon," I answered and switched off my phone immediately. "No more calls, no more calls, no more calls." I muttered repeatedly, taking a deep breath.

"What happened?" He asked.

"My sister's bringing her son to spend time with me, she's acting a film and the producers don't want her son to disturb her." I answered, a little breathlessly.

"That's good news."

"Not for me, Karen doesn't know that my family is going to be coming. She's definitely not going to be comfortable especially when there would be a party."

He looked at me with wide eyes. "A party?" He asked.

I nodded as my face turned sour. "Karen's going to be shy at the party and I'm afraid she might embarrass me or do something crazy. That lady is damn crazy." I answered.

He laughed. "I love crazy women." He remarked.

I gave him a frown at his words. "I don't know what to do, my phone should remain switched off for the meantime."

He palmed his forehead, he reached out and ruffled my hair. "I should probably go and check up one the production department, I'll be back," He said and stood up. "Everything will be alright." He promised softly and left.

I stood up and frowned. Karen would certainly get angry if she found out that my mom was also coming for vacation. Everything was not alright, it was definitely not alright.

My parents were rude and annoying, it would only make matters worse if they talked angrily to Karen. She might do something crazy.