Stella

Twenty-five

He glanced at his watch then out the window. "Alright, fine." He gave her his number and walked off while Lexi was basking in her victory. Her lips stretched into a smile, and she couldn't wait to tell her friends about it. Especially Gabrielle.

✦

Stella's brows raised as she looked at the blinding grin on Lexi's face.

"I'm beginning to feel scared," Robert drawled as he watched her starry eyes.

"So am I, Brother," she murmured back. "She's only said a couple of words since coming home. I want to check and make sure she hasn't hit her head, but I'm afraid she's caught something contagious."

Robert nodded. "Don't put yourself in danger. I wouldn't know what to do if you became like... that."

Stella nodded and continued watching her stepsister as she sipped her tea. "What a strange day."

"What else happened?"

"Mr Dougal was actually a pleasant human being." She chuckled. "I also ran into Mr Van der Meer earlier. We were both in a hurry to get to a meeting."

"And?"

"And nothing, we shared a few words here or there. He's a very charming man, maybe a little too charismatic for my taste."

"If he turns out to be your fiancé, I will remind you of that."

Stella gave him the side eye. "I doubt I'm engaged to a Van der Meer."

"What makes you say that?" Robert raised his brows.

"I heard they're tied with the Orlev's daughter." Robert nodded at her words. "With the relations our family has, a Grimaldi or Von Siemens is likely."

"Well, I agree with you there. I don't think Father likes the Van der Meers all that much."

"Why is that?"

"I think they had an argument at some stage. Father said they were arrogant pricks and spoke a few other choice words. He wasn't the biggest fan of Diedrick Van der Meer."

Stella chuckled. She turned back to her dazed stepsister. "What are we going to do about this?"

"I have no idea," Robert mumbled.

"I'm here!" Gabrielle's voice echoed around the space making Lexi perk up even more. "What was so urgent I had to be here as soon as possible?"

"I found him!" Lexi exclaimed, eyes bright and smile wide.

"Who?" Robert and Stella furrowed their brows.

"Mr Pale Blue Eyes."

Gabrielle's brows raised as she looked to Lexi. "Did you get a name?"

Lexi's face dropped and she slapped her forehead. "Damn it!"

Gabrielle laughed. "You're a mess."

"I forgot, but I got his number!" She held her phone up. She explained what happened at the café. "I didn't want to keep him any longer and this seemed like the only solution, but at least I have a way to contact him now."

Robert raised a brow.

"Play it cool, Lexi." Gabrielle's brows furrowed. "Be careful too, you still don't know anything about him."

Stella nodded. "If you meet up with him, make sure it's in public or have someone with you."

"Of course! I'm not dumb." She rolled her eyes.

"Debatable," Robert muttered under his breath. A smack rang out. His hand came up to rub his arm with an exaggerated expression. "Ow, Stella Marie! Don't hit."

"Be nice, she's just excited."

"Did he say much about it?" Gabrielle asked. "Did he remember you?"

"He said he did." Lexi flushed. "It's so embarrassing. I met him when I was so drunk." She bit her lip and decided to keep to herself that he knew the Callahans. If she told them they would probably lecture her about their societal nonsense. He's most likely a normal guy who does business with them. She shrugged and giggled. "I'm really excited."

Gabrielle laughed. "We can see that. When are you going to contact him?"

"In a few days. I'll ask him to meet up for coffee. One of the girls suggested a bar but we all shot that down. That's pretty suggestive."

"And you're also underage." Robert rolled his eyes.

"I drink with you guys." She shrugged.

"That's because you're with the Callahans at The Spirit." Gabrielle raised her brows. "You go out with just me and I guarantee they won't serve you. The Callahans are on most VIP lists."

"So, if I changed my name to Callahan, I could do whatever I wanted?"

"Theoretically." She shrugged. "As long as you're willing to answer to Mrs Ida."

"You won't be able to change your name to Callahan," Stella drawled. "The only way to do that is with Grandmamma's permission and I doubt she would give it."

Robert nodded.

"Why not?"

"Wanting the name just so you can buy alcohol isn't exactly a reason to take our name and abandon yours." Robert shrugged. "Besides, you haven't been here for very long."

"My mom's a Callahan now."

"That's in name only."

"So then how is it any different to your mother?" Her brows pulled together.

Robert sighed. "Our mother was going to be a family head. She had the knowledge. It takes a lot to be matriarch. Now, if something happened to Father, the next head of the family would be me and if something happened to me it would go to Stella."

"Oh..." Lexi pursed her lips in thought.

RIP Taylor Hawkins
Drummer for the Foo Fighters and singer and drummer for Taylor Hawkins and the Coattail Riders.

2022 has not been a good year for the music industry, also having lost Mark Lanegan who was a solo musician and also the lead singer of The Screaming Trees and collaborator with Queens of the Sone Age and many other musicians. 

Stay safe out there.
Howard xx