DAISY'S POV

A stupid smile from spread on my face reading the note stuck to the roses that had been delivered... Alex.
    Of course.
He'd been such a sweetheart ever since we coupled up.
And yes, our relationship was doing just fine. Every other girl had slowly backed out. They'd all moved to the side as each had been afraid of him dying and leaving them.

"I'm not sure what would make my princess grin so widely," dad's voice interrupted.
    He walked in the lounge.
I rose, trying to hide the smile shyly.
       "Beautiful roses."
"They're from Alex dad."
His expression deteriorated taking the note.

"Oh!"
  The little paper was returned.
"By the way, we'll be having visitors at dinner. I hope you'll be around. A friend of mine would love to meet my whole family."
      I frowned clueless.
"Who's the...friend? And, is Stew-"
"You'll see them when they come Daisy. Don't run late today."
"As you say dad... I'll leave for class right away."
  

    The professor didn't show up in the hall... And the person that walked in, had every eye in the room shoot up, Vince, the senator's son.
Never had I laid eyes on that soul other than on TV. To be honest, he looked so much better and hotter in person.
          
     Someone poked my ribs.
"Are we in the same Vince dream?" Windy whispered.
My eyes rolled. "Yes Windy. But will you not make it sound so dramatic. He's just a guy like-"
   The girl glared at me.
"Oh shut up! You have Alex. Let me fancy myself with this one."
     "Whatever! Take your time."
My eyes returned to the laptop. No matter how devilishly cute Vince looked, I was sure staring at him would not give me a single distinction. Or a pass for that matter.

Wherever he sat, or whatever he had showed up in the hall to do, bothered me not. With all the tests pressure, I couldn't afford to slow down... Then there were the units I had missed out on during Alex's recovery period.
     When the professor showed up, I had finished a few sums and filed some documents that needed assessment.

In the middle of the lesson, my phone buzzed.
Alex: Dinner date tonight?
    I sighed sadly to myself. "This will be hard to explain."
Me: Sorry. Dad's bringing a friend at dinner. I'm supposed to be there.
In less than a minute, a reply buzzed.

Alex: Looks like I'll have to talk to him.
"No!" I cried, forgetting he wasn't around. Some heads darted at me. And I could only imagine the look of embarrassment on my face from the heat.
Me: We'll talk after class.

When the lecture wound up, I was quick to leave. All I said to Windy was an I'll see you later.

Relief washed over me upon laying eyes on Mr Universe, my boyfriend.
"Alex!"
He quickly drew my body against his, and delivered a fierce kiss. Oh he had been kissing me so often, like he had waited forever to have me.
     
        
"About tonight-" "We can have the date tomorrow. But it's impossible tonight."
   Alex groaned cupping my face.
"Why did your dad have to ruin this for me?"
I couldn't help but laugh. He was acting like a silly kid. A smitten ten-year-old craving for his little girlfriend.
          "Come on Alex. We got forever to date."

"But I want tonight, not some unpredictable future honey."
Looking into his beautiful eyes, I noticed he meant every word.
     "How about, after that dinner, I can sneak out?"
Alex didn't reply. His attention was purely over my head to someone or something to the hall doors.

"Wait, isn't that Vince?"
    My feet slowly turned. "Yes."
"Damn! This is bad." Alex cursed and I faced him. He was raking a hand through his perfect hair. But the look on his face spoke of displeasure at the Vince guy.
"Are you ok-" "No! Is he attending classes in this college now?"

My shoulders shrugged. "Maybe. He stayed throughout my class."
   That seemed to tick Alex off.
He took my hand and led me away, straight to the lot.
Without a word, Alex opened the passenger door, his eyes asking me to get in and not question.

Once the car was out on the road, I studied him. "Will you please talk. I'm dying here. All of a sudden, you look like you killed his heart."
   "He's my older brother."
"Say what now?" Of course it was damn difficult to even begin imagining.
"Mom had him when she was seventeen. Because of her age and resources, she couldn't keep him. So his father took him away. He was only four months old."

There was bitterness on Alex's face as he explained. As if whatever his mom did was unforgivable.
      "Alex." I placed a hand on his arm. "It's alright. At least you now have a chance to be with hi-"
"Never!" His jaw clenched. "He's the reason my family fell apart. His father had mine set up, all to get back at mom for their past."
My brows furrowed. I could only  picture how hard it must have been for Alex as all that happened.

        "But why are you mad at Vince?"
He pulled over outside a restaurant. "Let's have lunch if dinner will be a problem."
No. Alex was trying to switch topics. I grasped his arm and had him face me.
    "What's your personal relationship with Vince?"
His whole face went in agony. Deep agony from the low groan and tight muscles.

       "I did something stupid to him in my vengeance."
"Alex, tell me everything. I need to know. We'll fix this."
He tried to smile, but all that came out was a guilty curve that felt pity on someone.
    "It's no good Daisy. Can we please stop talking about this."
"But Alex-" "I said ENOUGH!" He bellowed... For the very first time, Alex raised his voice at me.
   The air suddenly turned cold and unfriendly. Quiet and tensed.

I threw my wet gaze outside.
  "Dais-" "It's enough. Let's go have lunch." Said opening the door. I peeled his hands off my arm when he tried stopping me.
*               *                 *

    Found mom busy in the kitchen... "Hey mom?"
"You're home early!"
I sighed walking past the door to the hallway. "Had a terrific day."
   "Okay. Come help me when you've freshened up," she yelled from behind. "Sure mom."

By five thirty, most of the foods were ready. I only had Turkey to roast.
  "What really happened? You've been so lost."
Her eyes remained glued on my movements around the counter. All that while, wiping off the water from her hands and taking off her apron.
       "It's nothing mom. Just normal bad days." Mom laughed.
"Did you have an argument with Alex?"

I iced. What is so obvious?
  "Alex called earlier. He asked me to say sorry about lunch. So I'm guessing you two..."
It was stupid hiding it from her.
"We had an argument. It got heated up till he bellowed at me mom." I sobbed childishly.

And she hurried to me, put arms on my back in a light embrace.
  "It's alright dear. Men can be out of control sometimes. But he didn't dare lay a finger on you?"

I retreated, wiping off the wetness on my cheeks. "No mom. Alex would never hit me."
   She sighed smiling. "That's good. So, do you want me to talk to hi-" "No, no. We'll sort this out on our own."
"That's my girl. And Daisy, always give him a chance to explain himself. I'm sure by now you know him deeper. You know what he's capable of."

   I smiled, "Of course mom. Thanks for the talk."
She ruffled my hairs. "If I don't give you girl-talks, who will?"
      "I don't know, grandma!"
We shared in the laugh, and hugged.

         Six thirty.

The table was set, with candles, flowers and everything. Mom went to take a shower as I finished up the drinks, champagne and wine since dad had given an exact like from the coming guests.
     "Daisy! Why haven't you gone to change? Your father just called. They're pretty close."

Her flawless yellow gown scorched my sight sweetly.
  "Oh mom, you look so amazing. Dad will be so proud of his flower."
She giggled approaching me in the red heels. "Well he did say we look our best."
      "That's so precise. Who's coming anyway?"
Her lips curved clueless. "Said it'd be a surprise. Anyway, hurry up."

I ran for the door, stopping at the staircase. "And Stew?"
   "He'll be a little late. Now go!"

In fifteen minutes, I was combing my hair. No makeup tonight, I told myself dropping the mascara. "You're naturally attractive Daisy," told my reflection on the dressing mirror.
      
    "Daisy?" Mom yelled from downstairs... "Coming mom."
Immediately, the roar of a car engine died outside.
  After sliding in my black flats to match the red dress, I rushed out.
"Looks like someone's up for a date." Mom teased when I joined her at the main door. We chuckled and went quiet as the doorbell rang.
    "You have the pleasure of welcoming them honey. Open."
All I could do was smile at her, reaching for the knob.

Reality had never struck any harder like then. The frame standing out there got me numb.
  "You?" Vince started. "I have seen you before?"
      "Um... Welcome." I shot avoiding any embarrassing moment before mom.
Why hadn't dad stated out that that guy would be coming? I'd have appreciated a notice, not go awestruck from having such an influential family in my house.

       I served everyone. Only tensing when I sat next to Mr Have-it-all... He eyed me weirdly.
But the advantage of the rest of the families was greater. They kept him talking about business.