Chapter 22: Chapter 22

"Eleonora?! What are you doing here?!"

Claudette's face screwed up as she turned to Garren.

"You dipshit! Didn't I tell you to not call me by my second name?! Do you want to die?!"

I was flabbergasted by how she talks to him. If I were to talk like that to Garren, he would surely kill me.

"Whatever. Seriously, what are you doing here?"

He walked towards us.

"When did you arrive? You did not even inform me that you were coming. I could have picked you up at the airport."

"I told Xavier. I don't know why he didn't notify you because I only said not to spill my arrival to mom and dad because I wanted to surprise them."

Someone suddenly emerged from the door, pulling luggage behind him. It was Xavier.

"I forgot to tell him."

He shot daggers at Claudette.

"You didn't even help me carry your luggage, you brat."

While staring at them, I noticed the similarities in their features. That gave me a hunch about their relationship.

They are probably siblings. I was able to confirm that with what Claudette said next.

"Thanks, bro. I'll give you Harper's number as a compensation."

"Cleo."

I looked at Garren when he suddenly called my name. "Yes, sir?"

"We're having a conversation. Don't you think it's time for you to leave? Unless you don't know basic manners?"

My cheeks flushed due to extreme humiliation. On that exact moment, I just want the floor to swallow me.

"Apologies, sir Garren."

I bowed my head.

"You don't need to be so harsh on her."

"Shut the hell up."

I heard Xavier defending me, but his brother just spurned him.

I hastily stepped out of that scene and walked back to my room.

As soon as I closed the door, I dove onto my bed and buried my face in the pillow. I let out a muffled scream while punching the mattress.

"That was so embarrassing, Cleo! Why couldn't you stop your curious ass!"

I scolded myself while slapping my face consecutively. This was not the first time that Garren humiliated me, but doing such thing in front of other people, and most especially his siblings- this is beyond demeaning!

"I just want to kill myself right now."

After I lamented over that mortification, I pulled myself and went outside. I carefully walked through the hallway, checking if they are still there.

"Who are you looking for?"

I was startled when someone spoke behind me. I turned around and saw Aunt Esther looking at me with furrowed eyebrows.

"N-nothing," I answered nervously.

"Garren and his siblings are in the gazebo at the back." She smiled and patted my shoulder. "You are not a good liar, Cleo. Come on, why not just help me bake some cookies for Greyson?"

I faintly smiled. "I would love that."

We walked towards the kitchen. I know a little to none about baking, so she patiently gives me instructions on making the cookies. And I must say that this is quite exciting.

"Claudette is the youngest among the three, with Garren as the oldest and Xavier as the middle child," Aunt Esther answered when I queried about the newcomer.

"They seem really close to each other," I remarked.

"Indeed. Those three live together under the same roof on La Cassa De Royal."

My eyebrows knitted. "What's that?"

"It's the ancestral mansion of the Montreal clan. Their parents, Don Amadeus and Doña Veronica, still live there. I worked for them before as Garren's babysitter. And now that their oldest son grew up, I continued looking after him."

There's a genuine smile plastered on her face as she narrated that, as if she recollected beautiful memories from the past.

"However, when those three turned to college, they got separated. Xavier flew to US to pursue his doctorate degree. Then, three years later, the youngest child, Claudette, also went to New York to quest for her dreams."

"And she just came back now?"

She nodded.

"What about Garren?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Garren was the only one who stayed in the country. He was trained by Don Amadeus as the next heir of their company."

I frowned. "Does that mean Montreal Avionics was originally owned by his father?"

"Yes. He passed it down to Garren, and it's one of the best decisions that he made because look where his son brought their name, right?"

I couldn't agree more. He might be the biggest jerk I've ever known, but I'm certain that he's one hell of a great businessman. The company that he owns won't be at the top if he isn't.

"Anyway, let's finish this as soon as we can. I also need to cook pasta and lasagna for Claudette and Xavier."

With that, we continue preparing the ingredients. It took us almost an hour before we finished.

"This tastes like heaven, aunt!" I shrilled after tasting the cookies we baked together. "I wish I can be good at cooking like you."

"There's nothing you can't learn with hard work and persistence. You should bring these to Greyson."

"Sure!"

I went upstairs carrying a platter of cookies and a glass of juice on the side.

"Greyson? It's Cleo." I knocked.

"Come in!"

I opened the door and saw him doing his homework.

"Are those chocolate cookies?" He asked in high spirits.

"Yep!" I put the platter on the table. "Take a break and stuff yourself."

He dropped the pen and started munching the cookies.

"This is scrumptious!"

My lips curved into a smile. "I helped Aunt Esther bake those. Anyway, don't you need any help with your assignment?"

He shook his head, still enjoying the food. "Nope. Our homework is a piece of cake. I can do it myself."

I shrugged my shoulders. "If you say so. By the way, your aunt arrived a while ago."

He looked at me with a puckered forehead. I laughed at the crumbs around his mouth. I got a tissue and wiped them off.

"You're such a messy eater."

"Sorry. But who's aunt are you talking about?"

"Your dad and uncle Xavier's younger sister."

His eyes widened a fraction. "Aunt Claudette?! Really?!"

"Yup!"

He put back the cookies and wiped his hands. "I want to see her!" he screamed excitedly.

"No. Finish your cookies first and then your homework. Besides, she's still talking to your dad and Xavier."

He heaved out a sigh and sat back down in the chair.

"Are you close to her?"

His face lightened up. "Yep! I've never seen Aunt Claudette in person, but I always talk to her on Skype. She is the coolest!"

"I'm pretty sure she's excited to see you as well."

After Greyson finished the cookies, I headed downstairs to bring back the dishes to the kitchen. Aunt Esther was still busy cooking.

"Cleo, can you please bring these foods to Garren? I could not find Cynthia, and I'm quite busy here," she entreated.

Although hesitating, I still agreed to her request. She then handed me the tray of cookies and a pitcher of juice.

"Tell them I will bring the pasta and lasagna later."

I replied with a nod. I headed to the back of the mansion. When I opened the door leading to the backyard, I saw them sitting in the gazebo near the swimming pool.

Xavier was the first one to see me.

"Oh, it's Cleo!"

Much to my astonishment, he stood up and walked up to me, smiling all ears.

"Let me help you," he offered and got the glass pitcher from me.

I looked at Garren, and a shiver ran down my spine when I noticed his sharp glare at me. His face is also distorted at the moment.

I know damn well that he's thinking something vitriolic and defamatory of me again. He is certainly calling me obscene names in his mind just because his brother is offering help.

I averted my gaze and smiled at Xavier. "Thank you."

"Don't mention it."

I still accepted his help. Who cares if Garren thinks of me as a leeching whore? His dirty mind is not my damn problem anymore.

"Xav, you're being extra gentleman. That's so out of your character. "

The mischievous and playful grin across Claudette's face made me blush. But I brushed it off because I might be picking the wrong signal.

"Shut up, Claudette Eleonora. I've always been a gentleman."

The younger glared at him. "I said stop calling me by my second name! You and Garren are stubborn as a mule!"

He looked at me. "Pardon my sister's behavior. She has some loose screws in her head. In short, she's insane."

Claudette surprisingly encircled her arms around me, catching me real off-guard.

"Don't believe this jerk, Cleo. You should side with me because we're already friends, right?"

I could only beam sheepishly because I didn't know what to say.

"Oh my god! Is that Aunt Esther's chocolate cookies?!"

She got off of me and took one from the tray.

"I freaking miss this! I've been finding a chocolate cookie in Singapore that tastes like this, but nothing beats Aunt Esther's," she shrieked after taking a bite of the chips.

"Aunt Esther will bring the pasta and lasagna later. Enjoy eating, Ma'am Claudette."

She jokingly rolled her eyes. "Drop the honorifics. We're the same age."

I simply nod my head.

I gave Garren a once-over, and I frowned when I saw him looking at me.

Is he staring at me the whole time? Why? to scrutinize how I behave around them and if I'm planning to use his siblings to my advantage? I wouldn't be surprised if that's what's running inside his head right now.

I tore off my gaze from him and excused myself.

When the night fell, the maid cooked a lot of food as a celebration of Claudette's arrival. The dinner table was filled with different cuisines that made it seem like we were celebrating a special occasion. Garren also brought out some wines and liquors.

Greyson was delighted to finally see her aunt. She even gave him a present that she brought from New York.

I really like her, despite the fact that we just met today. She gets along with everyone. Her social energy reminds me so much of Lauren. There was no awkward moment with her.

For the first time, the night inside the Montreal mansion soaks in ebullience, all thanks to Claudette's arrival.

"Hey."

I turned my back when someone spoke behind me- it's Xavier.

"Do you need help with that?" he asked, referring to the dishes I'm currently washing.

I shook my head. "I'm fine here. Thanks for the offer, though."

"Are you sure? Those dishes are quite a lot."

"Are you deaf? She already said she could do it alone. Stop being stubborn, Xavier."

The two of us turned our heads to Garren, who just appeared out of nowhere and said those words.

"Dude, why are you so fucking irascible? I was simply offering Cleo help," Xavier retorted in knitted eyebrows.

"And she declined your offer. Now, get lost."

The tension between them is giving me gooseflesh.

"What the hell is your problem?"

The irritation in Xavier's voice is apparent.

He hissed. "Cleo, how can you bear with your boss' attitude? If I was in your shoes, I would leave this house on a whim."

I scrunched up my nose. Why does he need to drag me into their contretemps?! He's getting me in trouble!

But in the very first place, why did Garren even make a fuss towards his brother's harmless action. He's being illogical.

"Imma leave before this shitface gets under my skin," Xavier grouched before leaving the kitchen.

And now I'm left alone with Garren. Great.