"Father did you plan this?" Alex accused his father the next day. Thrusting the newspaper at his father.

His accusations was based on the news report published about him and Natasha with a compromising picture to compliment the effect,  showing when his lips had met Natasha's by mistake.

Only that this was known to only him and Natasha.

Of all their interaction last night they had to get only that part  and publish.

What happened to when he was signing the documents she presented, when they had got talking with no form of physical interaction or whatsoever.

Apparently the paparazzi didn't quite get that part,  or had decided to publish what would help their course or better still  they had miraculously managed to get the mistake he had committed on camera. In picture.

What the hell.

So, now standing not to far away from his father, at a considerate safe distance, he was damn furious and hurt.

Furious that the paparazzi had him stuck in a compromising position with their publication. He surely would have a hard time getting Diana to believe him. This was definitely a spoil-sport.

Damn.

Hurt that his father would resort to such extends to get him with Natasha,  deceived him into going to the  dinner that had gotten him to this tight situation he was.

"Plan what, son?" Richard Tanner asked in feigned innocence.

"Dad, I know you know what am talking about. So please cut the  fake innocent crap and safe us both this misery " Alex vent out, running out of patience.

Richard finally got hold of the newspaper his son tossed at him immediately he entered. His eyes scanned the picture on the first page that  showed Alex locking lips with Natasha.

"You mean this?" Richard asked lifting up the paper while at it.

"If I said I had nothing to do with this, you won't believe me would you?"

"Most especially not on the kissing part, I would say" Richard said smiling with an accomplished smirk.

"Son you sure do act fast" Richard admitted making himself comfortable in one of the sofas in the sitting room.

"Why would you do something like that father? clearly you know how I feel about Diana." Alex said instead of explaining the picture to his father, he knew better than to dwell on that.

"Maybe you didn't quite get the message son through this broadcast made, you and Diana clearly cannot be together. You are entirely from two different worlds...."

"Don't you think I know that" Alex cuts in before his father could continue in his glorious rampage on how Diana wasn't right for him. He had heard that a lot more than he could keep track of.

"And yet I still feel the way I do toward her" Alex concluded running his hands through his hair, giving his father the why can't you just respect my decision look.

"I need to you to understand that I and Natasha cannot work, regardless of what you think you just saw  us doing in that picture" Alex said as a matter of fact pointing to the  newspaper still in his father's hand.

"It was just a misunderstanding" Alex said convincingly to himself rather to his father.

"If  that didn't convince me" Richard notified Alex clearly talking about his last statement where he went on that it was just a misunderstanding.

"How would that do any to Diana when you finally plan to make up an appearance to her" his father concluded with satisfying dangerous look.

"So this is what..." Alex picked up the paper to emphasise his point. He continued "this is all about"

"Guess what father? Diana doesn't  believe all what she sees" Alex defended to his father.

That been said Alex took to his heels to let himself out already.

"Good luck explaining that son" Richard announced to his son retreating backview as he let himself out.