22

WEEKS LATER

Things had been going well for Melinda. Work had been stressful but she was able to cope as usual. Alex had always been there for her and she couldn't be happier for having a boyfriend like him. No one knew about her relationship with Alex yet, except Dee and Nate.

Melinda was also very happy because her lawyer gave her the news that her divorce would be finalized the following week. Perhaps after that, she would make her relationship with Alex public, but not before telling her parents.

So Mel was currently at her Parent's mansion because today was her Mother's birthday. They decided to have a small get-together with family and close friends only.

"Happy birthday, Mommy," Mel greeted as soon as she entered her parents' room.

"Thank you, my baby," Michelle said as she returned her daughter's hug after which she kissed her forehead and Mel chuckled.

"Mom, you still treat me like a baby, I'm a grown woman" Mel whined.

"Even though you are 90, you will still be my baby girl," Michelle replied as she playfully pinched Mel's nose.

"I love you, mom." Melinda pecked her mother.

"I love you too, sweetheart," Michelle replied.

"I'm getting jealous. Don't I deserve a hug too?" Raymond, Melinda's father said as he entered the room.

"But Dad, I hugged you downstairs not quite long." Mel pouted.

"It doesn't matter. You hardly come to visit so now that you are here, I need to get as many hugs as possible from you because I don't know when I will see you next." Raymond said.

The truth was that Mel used to visit her parents at least twice a week but that stopped when she started dating Alex. She spent most of her free hours with him but she called her parents often. Raymond and Michelle also knew that their daughter was probably seeing someone but they decided not to bug her about it. They knew she would come clean to them when she was ready to talk about it with them.

Mel felt a little guilty and proceeded to hug her father. "I'm so sorry, dad. I promise to find time to visit you more often." She said sincerely which earned a smile from Raymond.

"So, what about Nate and Dee? Are they here already?" Michelle asked as she took a seat beside her husband on the couch.

"Not yet mom. But they should be here soon." Mel replied.

"Hope you know Alyssa will be here along with your Nephews," Raymond said and Mel's eyes lit up at the mention of her favorite nephews.

"Really? I can't wait to see them. I miss them so much." Mel cooed.

Alyssa was Raymond's youngest sister and Mel's favorite aunt. She was a mother to two twin boys who won Mel's heart immediately after they were born. Mel had not seen them for over a year because they moved to Scotland. So she only talks to them on the phone.

"I will go downstairs and say hi to Rhoda and the others," Mel said, then exited her parents' room.

As Melinda walked past her Father's study, she felt someone drag her back and pull her into the room. Before she could raise an alarm, A soothing voice calmed her down.

"Shhhhh, Don't be scared baby, it's me." The voice said and the person kissed her forehead.

"Oh, Alex. You scared me," She pouted.

"I missed you," Alex cupped her face in his hands.

"But you still saw me this morning." Mel chuckled.

"I know Mel. I just miss you." Alex said as he hid his face in the crook of her neck inhaling her scent.

"I miss you too, Alexander." Mel moaned as Alex began sucking her neck. "We need to stop Alex, someone might come in." Mel managed to say but deep down she did not want him to stop and at the same time she was afraid of anyone seeing them as she does not have answers yet.

Alex pretended not to hear Mel because he knew that she wanted more from the way her body was responding to the pleasure he was giving her.

Alex moved from Mel's neck and began kissing her. The two lovebirds got carried away in their own world that they failed to notice when someone entered the study.

"I think I deserve an explanation about what is going on here!" The voice said, making Melinda and Alexander tear apart.

Mel got so embarrassed as she recognized that voice. She didn't want her mom to find out like this. She had wanted to come clean herself. "Oh Alex, look at what you've done." Mel blamed him mentally.

"I'm still waiting for one of you to speak up," Michelle said with a very serious face as she leaned against the door with her arms folded, her face moving between her daughter and Alex, the driver.

"Hmm..Mom...you see, Alex and I...uhm...I mean...He is..." Mel shuttered not knowing what to say and most importantly afraid of what her mom would think about both of them being together.

"Mrs. Davis, your daughter and I are in a relationship, we..." Alex said but before he could continue, he was interrupted by Michelle.

"Since when?" Michelle asks.

"A few weeks back. I'm in love with your daughter Mrs. Davis and I give you my word that I will take care of her and I will never do anything to hurt her. I love her so much and I can't imagine my life without her. Please don't be mad at us for not telling you about us before now." Alexander said after which he took Mel's left hand in his right hand and gave it a light squeeze of assurance, letting her know that they were both in this together.

"Alex, can you please excuse us? I would like to talk to my daughter in private." Michelle said with an unreadable expression.

Alex nodded after which he turned to kiss Melinda on her forehead, not giving a damn if her mother was watching them. "It will be fine. I will be waiting for you outside." Alex whispered in her ear as he gave her a comforting squeeze on her shoulder before exiting her father's study.

After Alex walked out of the study, Michelle took a seat on the couch and told her daughter to come sit beside her. She obeyed.

"Mom, I'm sorry you had to find out about us this way. Believe me, I plan to tell you sometime next week, after my divorce with Frank has been finalized even though I was scared of what you and dad's reaction was going to be." Mel said, looking straight into her mother's eyes.

Michelle took her daughter's warm hands into hers "Are you happy with him?"

Mel smiled and nodded. "I am happy, mom. At first, it was hard for me to accept what I felt for him. But I'm happy he never gave up on me and I'm happier that I gave us a chance."

"Do you love him?" Michelle asked her daughter even though she already knew the answer to the question she asked. She knew Alex loved her daughter too. The look in his eyes earlier on told it all. No doubt the young man really adored her daughter. But right now she wanted to hear the word from her daughter's mouth.

"I guess I do. I mean, words are not even enough to describe what I feel for him. He made me feel what I've never felt before. But I have not said those three magical words to him even though he keeps on telling me every Second." Mel answered.

Michelle did not fail to notice the sparkle in her daughter's eyes. One could clearly see that she was drunk in love.

"I'm happy that you are happy, my dear. And I know Alex will take proper care of you." Michelle said with a smile on her face.

"So you are not mad at me?" Melinda asked, relieved.

"You know I can never be mad at you, my dear. Well, your dad and I predicted you were seeing someone. I mean, you never come to see us during the weekends again and you were always happy whenever we talked on the phone. We were just eager to know who you were with if our prediction was right." Michelle completed and quickly added, "Why do you think I would be mad at you?" She asked.

"I thought you wouldn't be happy with the idea...hmm..you know...Alex being my driver," Mel said.

"You shouldn't think that way, Melinda. You are a grown woman and you know what you want. Besides, I'm happy you are with Alexander, I saw the way he kept on looking at you with so much adoration in his eyes. No doubt you are in good hands and I think I like him too." Michelle said and Mel could not help with the smile that instantly found its way to her face.

She engulfed her mom in a hug "I love you, mom."

" And I love you too, my daughter," Michelle replied.

"Mom, can you please not tell dad yet? I mean I want to be the one to tell him myself." Mel said.

"You better do it asap before I beat you to it." Michelle challenged.

"And I guess you go meet that boyfriend of yours, He must be very worried," Michelle suggested and Mel stood up from the couch after which she hugged her mother once more. "Thanks, mom. Thank you for understanding."

As Melinda walked out of her father's study, she was greeted by the face of a very worried Alex.

"Mel, are you okay? What did mom say? Did she agree with us being together? if she didn't, let me go in and beg her. I will also give her my word that I will never hurt you. I can't lose you, Melinda, not now, not ever." Alex said at a go which earned a wide smile from Melinda.

"You worry too much, Alex. Mom is okay with us being together." Mel chuckled.

Alexander heaved a sigh of relief then rested his forehead against hers. "Thank God. I thought I lost you. I don't want history to repeat itself. I can't imagine my life without you." Alex said.

"What do you mean by history repeating itself?" Mel asked curiously and Alexander did all he could to hide his shock, he realized he had said too much.

"UHM I mean, I lost my loved ones already and I don't want to lose you," He clarified.

"You are not going to lose me, Alex. I don't think I would be able to live without you in my life." She assured, got on her tippy-toe and gave him a quick kiss.

The rest of the party went better than expected. Everyone had a wonderful time and Mel was able to tell her Dad about Alexander. Thankfully, Raymond took the news well and gave them his blessings but not before threatening to kill Alex if he does anything to hurt his daughter.