Dream got out of her car, and as her mother's eyes scrutinized her appearance, her expression went from worry to disappointment, and then back to worry.
"Dreamy!" Fay opened her arms widely, and Dream hugged her dearly.
Thirty minutes later, Dream had forgotten all about her encounter with the weird man, and was now partying with her teen siblings, and their friends.
"Hey, there you go," she presented her siblings with their gifts, and watched their faces lit up when they realized what it was.
That moment was worth all the stress and empty promises she had to make to get the gifts for them.
"Dream rocks! I wish I had an older sister," Mia, Her aunty Leighton's daughter who was best friends with Lilly said.
"I thought I compensated by giving you a younger brother," Leighton strolled into their midst with Fay beside her.
Mia's face went to her fifteen year old younger brother, Mason, who was already acting too cool for parties in his dark sunglasses, and shuddered from cringe.
Fay laughed at the same time Dream did, and for a moment there, everyone's eyes were drawn to the duo who looked so alike it was scary.
Also strange, because as a child, Dream had looked exactly like her father.
From the corner he stood with his best friend, Landon, Aces' gaze trailed to the girls, and a warmth filled his heart.
They had enjoyed a lot of peace in the last eighteen years. He hoped it would continue like that forever.
In that moment, Dream's phone beeped and she excused herself to read her text.
"My lawyer is going to draft the contract tomorrow. I'll send it to you right after," she read with squinted eyes.
Her eyes widened when she looked down and saw the name, Adam.
"How the fuck did he get my number?" She bit her lips worriedly, as she hurriedly blocked him too. "Weirdo," she muttered, returning to the party.
Dream spent the next few days after the party settling into life after business school.
Her parents wanted her to handle a business of her choice, but she had other plans for the time being.
Since they were still young enough to run their companies, she focused on her charity organizations, and also Glam, which her precious great-grandmother, the infamous matriarch, had left her before her death.
She walked into her lawyers office, and his personal assistant Lanny, escorted her into his office.
"Mr James, I haven't heard from you, and I'm beginning to worry," she said as soon as she walked into his office and took a seat.
He regarded her carefully, still awestruck by her beauty.
If only she wasn't about twenty years younger than him, he always thought everytime he looked at her.
"Zayn Bass is not letting go of the property. We're still doing all we can to get it back from him. Although we must admit we stalled a bit, hence this pithole we're in right now. If you had just done a down pay—"
"Excuse you? Why would I pay for a land that belongs to my family? Just because that crazy realtor insists it was sold to him without proper evidence doesn't make it true. I've trusted you so far with this, but if it's above your capabilities, let me know so I can find a better alternative on time. I'm not going to wait past a week." She rose to her feet, and despite her lawyer's pathetic attempt to get to her to stay, stormed out of his office.
Her eyes went to her wristwatch as she left the high-rise building where her lawyers office was located.
By her calculations, she still had thirty minutes before she had to meet her parents for dinner.
Then all lived in the same house, yet they insisted on the tradition of eating out every Friday.
She didn't usually mind it, except for days like this where all she wanted was to find Zayn Bass, and punch him in the face for being an asshole.
"Seriously, what kind of asshole wouldn't just give up land that is going to be used to build a shelter for homeless kids?" She whined to Crystal who was on the phone with her.
"A spineless one," Crystal said, validating her anger.
"I'm so mad, but I'm on my way to my parents now, so I have to put on a calm face."
"Yeah, you have a lot on your plate. Let's not also forget about your boy—"
"Crys, I love you, but don't you dare mention that creep," she said, but her stubborn mind conjured an image of him anyway.
Dark hair, strong jawline, green eyes, sarcastically quiet.
Crystal burst into laughter. "I can't believe you really blocked him after he sent you that text. He's probably seething everyday, knowing he lost Dream Atticus."
She scoffed. "He'll live. He said he has a teacher girlfriend. I hope they live happily ever after," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm as she drove into the parking lot of the restaurant she was meeting her parents in.
"And you're sure everything is over with him. Life is funny, you know."
"Life has no say on what Dream Atticus wants. Love you Crys, but I have to go."
They exchanged digital kisses, before ending the call.
Taking a deep breath, Dream stared at her reflection in the mirror above.
She had stopped by the house to change into something dinner friendly. Which was really just a long black dress, cinched to her waist to show off her skinny curves.
As she opened the door of her Aston Martin, her red bottom heels touched the ground first, before her model body followed.
She clutched her diamond encrusted purse to her hips, as she began her entrance into the dimly lit restaurant.
Many years ago, her father had bought the restaurant for her mother. After all, it was where they officially met as adults.
Her parents' eyes lit up from their special seats, when they saw her walking towards them.
"Dreamy looks so much like mummy, it's unbelievable!," Lilly said.
"And she's gorgeous, unlike you." Luca poked her.
One look from Ace, had them straightening up.
Dream arrived, and went round to drop her family kisses on their cheeks.
"I'm starving," she said, sliding into her seat next to her mother.
"It's my fault for not learning to cook. You kids would never get hungry if I could cook," Fay said, and they all burst into a chuckle. "What?" She asked, looking around in confusion.
"Bless you heart, mummy, but what does not knowing how to cook have to do with Dream starving?" Lilly asked.
Leave your mother alone, Lilly," Ace chastised.
"As if you didn't join them to laugh at me," she snickered and pulled her hands away from Ace as he tried to hold her.
"Common mummy, give daddy some love," the kids chorused.
"Say please first."
"Pleaseeee," they all said, including Ace.
"Fine." She kissed him fully in the lips, and all of them cheered excitedly.
Minutes into the second course, a valet arrived at their table, and whispered into Dreams' ears.
"Oh thanks," she said, rising to her feet.
"What is it?" Ace asked, already standing up too.
"No dad, I've got it. I just need to move my car a little. I'll be right back."
"Are you sure?"
She smiled sweetly. "I know you're a strong guy, dad, but it's seriously fine. I'll be right back."
"Come back quickly," Fay called after her, as Dream walked away.
Immediately she got to her car, she saw she wasn't blocking anyone.
Confused by the valet's message, she turned to search for him, but came face to face with Zayn Bass.
"You?" She took a step back.
"Me," he said, holding up a document.
"What is that?" She said as her eyes slowly turned to it.
"Our agreement. Sign it," he said, pulling out a pen from his pocket.
"Are you stupid? Like I'll sign any document without my lawyer going through it first."
"Fine," he shrugged. "Call your lawyers. But if you don't sign the documents today, I'll walk in and alert your parents on what a deceitful, compulsive liar you are," he said in his usual calm but stern demeanor.
Dreams arrogance faltered. She didn't want her parents knowing anything about this.
He saw that her eyes had given her up, and smiled inwardly.
"What's the stupid contract about again?" She asked, snatching the document out of his hand.
"Don't pretend not to remember," he said, and she hissed.
"Fine," she said, and began to sign in all the places he showed her. "Here, take your stupid document!" She threw it at him together with his pen when she was done.
He caught them just in time, as she turned around to walk away from him.
However, he wasn't done yet. Stretching a hand forward, he pulled her back, and turned her to him.
"Unblock me," he warned, his face just inches away from hers.
She swallowed hard. "Whatever," she said.
"Yeah, whatever," he echoed, his eyes moving dangerously to her glossy lips.