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and uncle stood before us, exasperated.

Uncle threw back his head, groaning and ran his hand down his face. "Not again."

From the corner of my eyes, I watched that idiot as he stood next to me, his jaw clenched, a bruise forming there on his chiseled jaw and a scratch on his other perfectly carved cheek. His dark strands of hair were falling over his forehead and his emerald eyes were casted on the floor. And he was sulking. Should have hit him more.

My lower back hurt since he had shoved me down on the ground in order to defend himself. Besides that I was completely fine. Though I am surprised he didn't hit me back. It would have been more fun then.

"You know what..." Uncle said to my dad. "I have to go walk my fish. You deal with them."

Uncle made an effort to leave but dad grabbed the back of his collar and dragged him back. "I am not doing this shit alone."

Uncle looked on the verge of crying but sighing, he gave up.

"Althea. Why did you beat him up?" Dad asked sternly, folding his hands across his chest.

"First of all, I just punched him and accidentally scratched his cheek. Nothing else." I defended myself.

And I decided to add. "And this idiot shoved me and now my lower back hurts! Why don't you scold him too?"

The said idiot's head snapped to me, rage brewing in his eyes. "That was a fucking self defence, you were the one who punched me first."

"Would you also like to tell them why exactly I punched you?" I asked in a sachharine tone.

His eyes narrowed at me making me smirk. "Shut up." He mouthed making me smirk.

If there's one thing uncle doesn't approve of his, is this.

I took a step forward. "Uncle, I was having a peaceful date but he came out of no where and he crashed it! He made that guy almost run away with his questions."

My smirk widened when uncle glared at him. "This is not acceptable, Calix."

"With all due respect..." And he shot me a glare before focusing back on his father. "He was a fucking asshole!"

"Who the fuck are you to decide if he was an asshole or not? He was my date not yours!"

Dad snapped all of a sudden. "For fuck's sake, stop cursing!"

Uncle gave him a blank expression. "You do realise that you are cursing yourself?"

Dad looked offended and lowered his voice. "I am cursing?"

"Yes." Uncle rolled his eyes and shoved him away before focusing on us.

"Anyway..." He addressed Calix. "How can you say that he was an asshole. I told you not to judge anyone."

"Dad, he was staring at her body instead of her face. He wasn't even listening to her so, yes, he was an asshole."

Yes, he was I was going to check him for that but Calix made his entry at the same minute.

"Okay, he was an asshole." Uncle and dad agreed with that idiot.

"But still he doesn't have the right to interrupt my date like that." I argued. "This is the fourth time he has done something like this and if this happens one more time he will have a deformed face."

"Calix Hanzall Andrews." Uncle called out his full name making him groan. "What's your age?"

"Dad." He groaned in protest once again.

"Your age, Calix." Uncle demanded.

"Twenty eight." He grumbled.

Uncle hummed and addressed me next. "And you, Althea Coleman, what's your age?"

What is he doing? "Twenty five."

"I guess that makes both of you adults. You are the CEO of Andrews Enterprises and you, Althea, you are the captain of the Australian Cricket Team. So, I expect both of you to act maturely from now onwards. And if you both continue acting like kids, I am going to record that and post it online. I'm sure your fans will love that."

NO WAY! My reputation will be ruined.

My eye's widened and Calix's jaw clenched.

"Now, if all is resolved, I will be going." Dad spoke and uncle smacked him on the back of his head.

"You hardly did anything."

"Whatever." Dad walked to us and gave me a glare. "Don't hit him again, Althea." And he patted Calix on the back before leaving.

Seriously? It's my mistake now?

Uncle sighed and came to us and his eyes roamed over Calix's face before settling on mine. "Are you hurt somewhere too?"

"He pushed me, uncle!" I complained. "My lower back is hurting so much."

"That was out of self defence!" Calix snapped at me.

"But I got hurt!"

"As if I am not hurt myself."

"You fucking deserved it! Why did you interrupt my date?!"

"For the hundredth time, he was a fucking asshole! You should thank me."

"Thank you, my ass. I am capable of judging my date, you don't have to butt in like my father everytime."

"You--" He stopped abruptly when he noticed uncle recording our argument with an amused look on his face.

"No, no. Go on, please." He said when we both looked away from the camera.

I huffed in annoyance and shaking my head I made my way to the front door.

I hope uncle doesn't post it online or I will die of embarrassment.

As I was about to close the door behind myself, I heard uncle say to that idiot softly, "If you want just ask her out nicely. Why do you have to do all this?"

What?

"Dating is useless and a waste of time." He replied and then I closed the door not wanting to eavesdrop.

Uncle is insane if he thinks I would allow that idiot to take me out on a date besides, he hates me, right? I mean he has been annoying me, troubling me ever since I can remember then why?

But then there are moments where I question everything...like how he kisses my forehead everytime I leave which by the way he didn't kiss right now...I guess, he is pissed off with me.

And it's not that I am dying for it.

But as I drove out of there, my mind drifted off to a certain memory.

It was my 25th birthday celebration that I had organised in my house with some help and at that moment my house was flooded with my teammates, family and friends.

And yes, I had invited that idiot too because it would have been rude of me if I hadn't. But the whole time I didn't see him even once making me think that he didn't come.

I had to adjust my makeup and contact lenses so I excused myself and went upstairs to my room and sighing I leaned against the door as I closed it.

"Tired, baby?"

I almost shrieked in surprise when I noticed Calix sitting on the edge of my bed wearing a navy blue shirt whose top two buttons were open giving a view of his chest and a pair of jeans.

His palms rested back on the bed and a lazy smirk spread over his lips.

"What the fuck are you doing here? In my room?"

"I hate parties, this was the only peaceful place. Besides, I had to give you your gift."

"You could have given me that downstairs."

He stood up and picked up the small jwellery box lying on the bed and moved closer to me. "I prefer doing it in privacy."

He gently took my hand in his and guided me until I was standing infront of the full length mirror opposite to the bed with him behind me.

He opened the box and pulled out an elegant diamond pendant.

I watched him through the mirror as he very carefully sweeped my hair to one side exposing my neck and clasped the pendant behind my neck.

His hands gently gripped both my biceps keeping me trapped there as his eyes met mine in the mirror.

The intensity in his gaze held me in one place before I realised that I should probably thank him.

I brushed my finger over the pendant. "Thank you, it's beautiful."

My breath hitched when he dipped his head and his lips ever so gently grazed my bare shoulder. "Happy Birthday, baby." He whispered huskily, his eyes not leaving mine.

And in that moment, I knew that this idiot was lusting over me, it was clearly written in his eyes.

His hands left mine and he stepped back and I turned around to face him when his lips pressed firmly to my forehead. "Have a wonderful day, Althea."

And when he leaned back, I was caught off guard by the glimmer of sadness and longing in his eyes.

He gave me one last, small smile before he left. He left the party. He didn't even stay for the cake cutting. He was just there to give me the gift.

I shook my head to clear away those memories. He wants me physically and that's it.

What I don't understand is his obsession and problem with me dating.

When we were in school and I started to date, he was so pissed off. And it's not that he was being a hypocrite by having a girlfriend himself. Nope. Never.

He never had a girlfriend, I never saw him hanging out with a girl either. I even asked his best friend about it and he confirmed that he has never been with a woman before.

So the next time, I begged him to leave me alone and get himself a girlfriend instead but he refused immediately. He was eighteen at that time.

I stopped giving a fuck about him. And even though I dated a lot, he thankfully, took a step back but that didn't stop him from inquiring my boyfriends if he ever crossed them.

And then finally, years later, when he was twenty one, that's when he got himself a girlfriend and brought her to the family dinner we have every month.

I felt so relieved. And that the same time kinda annoyed because he ignored me the whole time during the dinner. He didn't even spare me a glance.

He dated her for two months before they broke up. Mutually.

And it's been seven years ever since and that idiot never got himself another girlfriend.

I don't know, maybe he has one night stands or whatever but I have never seen him interested in a girl.

Except me. That idiot keeps saying that I am his future wife that's why he doesn't date anymore. Like what the hell. I don't wanna marry him. Why would I?

He hates me and that's all he should ever feel for me.