Chapter 14 - Family dinner

Troy's POV

"Yay!" Alec exclaimed cheerfully as he raised his arms up, grinning. I chuckled and tapped on his nose playfully.

"Are you sure? You are busy with your company. It will be difficult to look after him." Camila said, ruffling her hair.

"Yes, it will be exhausting for you. Moreover, sometimes Alec becomes difficult to handle." Kate commented.

"I want to stay with Troy." Alec pouted as he wrapped his arms around my neck tightly, leaning his cheek against mine. I smiled at his behavior, amused.

"I have an office in my penthouse too. I will work from home while taking care of Alec. It will not be a problem for me. And my housekeeper will help me as well." I stated firmly.

"Please, Granny." Alec gave her puppy eyes.

"Fine, but be a good boy, Alec!" Camila nodded as she warned him.

"Yes, I will." Alec gave her a cheeky grin.

****

I walked into my penthouse, carrying Alec in my arms while he was sleeping peacefully. He looked so cute as always. I took him to my bedroom and laid him on the bed carefully.

After taking off his jean jacket and shoes, I pulled a blanket over his body. I sat down beside him on the bed and stroked his silky hair gently while watching him sleeping. I smiled and placed a soft kiss on his forehead.

"Sweet dreams, Alec." I whispered softly and stood up. Then I went to the study room.

I yawned before opening my eyes and straightened, rubbing my neck. I have fallen asleep in my study room. I looked at the watch; the housekeeper must be here. I stood up and went to the kitchen.

After ordering her to prepare something to eat for Alec and me, I called my assistant and told her that I wouldn't come to the company and ordered her to cancel all my meetings for today while walking towards the bedroom.

When I walked in, Alec was still sleeping. I smiled and tiptoed to the bathroom. Once I finished having a shower, I dried my body and hair, then I put on a black shirt and dark blue denim jeans. When I left the walk-in closet, Alec was sitting on the bed while rubbing his eye sleepily.

"Good morning, buddy." I gave him a smile as I approached him.

"Good morning." He greeted me, giving me a cheeky grin.

"Let's change your clothes and have breakfast. My housekeeper, Molly, is making delicious pancakes for you." I said and winked at him.

He nodded as I took him in my arms. After changing his clothes, we went to have breakfast.

Alec and I were playing with his train set when my phone rang. I pulled it out of my pocket and looked at it; it was my mother. I stood up and walked away a little, leaving Alec playing with his trains.

"Hi, Mom. How are you?" I asked as I picked up the phone.

"Hi. Fine. And you?" She asked softly and told something to the maid.

"I am fine." I replied, smiling and looked at Alec. "When did you come? I thought you were going to stay there for a few more days." I asked as I grabbed my mug and sipped my coffee.

"Yes, but I came back as we finished earlier than we planned. Liam also came back with me. Actually, I called you to inform you about dinner for celebrating my new collection this evening." She informed.

"Mom, I can't." I said, running my hand through my hair as I looked at Alec.

"Troy Anderson, don't tell me you have to work; because of it, you decline your mother's invitation. I don't know my own son after your vacation in London. What happened to you there?" She asked angrily, but the concern in her voice was noticeable too.

"Nothing, Mom." I sighed as she asked the same question which everyone had asked me since I came back from London five years ago. "And no, it isn't because of work. Kate and Camila went to Toronto; Kate's aunt had a heart attack. I look after Alec. So I cannot come." I explained.

"Oh. How is she?" She asked, concerned.

"Her son told Camila that her condition is critical." I replied.

"I will call Camila and ask her if she needs something and wish her sister to get better soon." She said and sighed. "Well, then bring Alec with you. I want to meet him. You always talk about him. I want to see that little man." She added softly.

"Fine. We will be there." I accepted.

After hanging up, I went towards Alec as I informed him that we were going to my parents' house this evening and continued playing with him.

****

I held Alec's hand as we walked into the living room. My parents, Sienna, Romeo, Liam, my grandparents, my aunt Elva with her husband, David and their daughter with her fiancé were already here. Just my uncle Milan, his wife, Maria and their two daughters couldn't join us because they were on a vacation in Florence.

"Good evening." I greeted them, smiling.

They greeted us while looking at Alec, surprised. He tightened his grip around my hand as he leaned against my leg, looking at them curiously as well as shyly. I smiled at him tenderly while holding his hand tightly.

"Let me introduce Alec to you. He is Kate's nephew." I said softly and looked at him, smiling.

"Hello." He said shyly and bit his lower lip, still leaning against me.

"Hello, Alec. Nice to meet you." My father, Aspen greeted him as he approached us, smiling. "Isn't he cute?" He added as he looked at my mother while my mother was staring at Alec without saying anything.

"Umm..." She cleared her throat and smiled as she placed her hand on my father's back. "Yes, he is. Welcome to our home, Alec. I am Serena, Troy's mother." She introduced herself softly. "And it is my husband, Aspen." She added, trailing her hand up and down along my father's back.

"Such a cute boy!" My sister exclaimed happily as she approached us with Romeo. "I am Sienna, Troy's sister. And this is Romeo, my husband." She added while resting her hand on her showing belly and gestured to Romeo.

Then others introduced themselves, greeting Alec warmly. Then we started having dinner.

"I didn't know Kate has a sister." Sienna commented as she took a sip from her water.

"Neither do I." My mother commented, looking at Alec strangely.

"I didn't know either. I found out recently." I stated and stroked Alec's hair affectionately.

"I knew. Steven told me about her a little." My father admitted and shrugged his shoulders.

"There is some problem between them because of it, we didn't meet her." I informed and sighed.

I was watching Alec in amusement while he was playing with my grandfather, Blaze Anderson and my father. As some time passed, Alec got used to my family and charmed all of them. Especially, he got along well with my father.

When I turned my gaze from him, I noticed my mother watching me, lost in her thoughts.

"Mom, are you fine?" I asked as I leaned towards her.

"I am fine." She gave me a warm smile. "You get along well with Alec." She added, looking at me.

"Yes, I like him so much." I admitted, grinning sheepishly.

"Troy! Look, what Sienna gave me." Alec said in excitement, running towards me, holding a book in his hand.

"What is it?" I asked softly as I put him in my lap. "Oh, it was my favorite fairy tale book." I informed him, looking at the book. "Where did you find it?" I asked Sienna.

"While I was searching for my stuffed rabbit in our old playroom. I want my daughter to play with the rabbit too." She replied as she sat down beside my mother.

"Will you read it to me, please?" Alec asked, giving me a begging look. I nodded, smiling, and grabbed the book.

Alec was listening to me attentively, leaning against my chest while sitting on my lap, rubbing his eye. It was late. Everyone had left recently. Just Liam didn't leave. He was going to stay the night at our parents'. He was texting someone on his phone while sipping his whiskey, sitting in the armchair next to the floor to ceiling window. He looked strange today. He was always talkative and funny, but he looked timid this evening.

I looked at Alec, smiling as he yawned. I closed the book and placed it on the couch.

"Why did you stop reading?" He asked, upset.

"It is your bedtime. We should go home." I replied, stroking his hair gently.

"Don't go. Stay here." My mother suggested as she sat down on the couch. "I will inform the maid to prepare a guest room for Alec." She gave me a hopeful look. I nodded, smiling.

"If we don't go, can you read more? I want to know what will happen next to the little fox." Alec said, looking at me with puppy eyes.

"Fine, but for five minutes. Then you will sleep." I stated softly. He nodded, grinning.