Chapter 18
Off to the side, Thiago cut in, “Mom, am I dead or something? You can’t see me?”
Brenda shot him a death glare, her irritation boiling over.
“Seeing you just pisses me off. Your dad got you to go on a blind date, and you pretended to be possessed by a ghost. You couldn’t come up with anything better? Why not smear whipped cream on your mouth and pretend as though it’s foaming? Now, Martha Nord is going around saying you’ve got mental issues. I swear, you’re the only blemish on my perfect life!”
Thiago let out a bark of laughter. “I thought Dad was your biggest blemish. He’s not exactly a looker. Good thing you made up for it by giving him three ridiculously good–looking kids!”
Brenda fired back, “Your dad might not be a looker, but he’s got heart–and money. You? You don’t even have a woman in your life. When you die, there won’t be anyone to remember you!”
Thiago shot a smug look at Hans. “Hans can do it for me.”
Brenda raised a brow. “Hans is nearly ten years older than you. You sure you’ll kick it before he does?”
Hans was rendered speechless.
After a cozy family dinner, Thiago headed upstairs to his room to pack.
Since coming back from abroad, he hadn’t had time to bring over his things from the Langston residence to his penthouse at Capital Crown Plaza, He pulled open a drawer and picked up a book titled “Letter from an Unknown Woman by Stefan Zweig“, flipping casually through the pages.
That was when the bedroom door slammed open and Alicia strutted in like she owned the place.
Thiago shot her a glare, clearly annoyed. “Alicia, are you seriously barging into a grown man’s room without knocking? What if I’d been naked, changing clothes? You’d traumatize yourself!”
“Please, I’ve seen every inch of you growing up. Your body, traumatizing me? More like eye candy. It’d be better than a miracle cure!”
Thiago smirked. “Yeah? Want me to strip right now? Consider it a free youth serum.”
She ignored him, her eyes falling on the book in his hands. “Well, well. Since when do you read stuff like that? This one’s about unrequited love, right? The girl in it gets totally wrecked.”
Thiago gave a disinterested shrug. “Exactly. Don’t know what the hype is about.”
Alicia crossed her arms, scanning him from head to toe. “Something’s off. What’s going on? Altigo Group’s about to be listed, and you suddenly enroll in grad school at Jorendale University? What kind of stunt is that? Don’t think I don’t know what’s up just because I’m in the entertainment industry. With your level, you should be the one teaching.”
Thiago stuffed things into his bag and said, “Can’t a guy try to level up his skills? Ever heard of wanting to get better at something?” Alicia didn’t buy it for a second. She hopped up onto his desk, staring at him with a knowing smirk.
“Okay, spill. What’s the deal with that girl Hans mentioned? You jumped out of the car and followed her onto a bus? Come on. Are you into her?
01
Thiago leaned his head to the side, his smile cryptic. “Hans doesn’t know shit. She’s just a classmate. Don’t go spreading stuff. I don’t want rumors messing up her reputation.”
Alicia narrowed her eyes. “Classmate? From high school? Wait, is this that girl from your senior year at Silverlake High School? Don’t tell me you scared her off by pretending to be some broody mute back then.”
Thiago replied, “I had just been yanked back from Ubrurg by Dad. I was pissed. Ife told me to keep a low profile. What else was I supposed to do
smile and wave?”
“So, you were always on your phone and not talking?” Alicia suddenly lit up. “Walt a sec I know it! You were pulling that classic ‘silent crush‘ inove, huh? Come on, just admit it. You’ve had a thing for her since before!”
*Silent crush? Nah, I was upfront about it. I told her how I felt before the college entrance exams. She totally brushed me off.”
Alia gasped. “You’ve got to be kidding. She turned you down? With that face of yours? What, was she scared off because we’re too rich? I knew Dad should’ve toned it down. No, wait–he started parading you around like a prince the second you turned 20. No wonder you scared her pit”
Thiago zipped up his bag with a shrug, his voice neutral “Who knows why she ignored me?”
