People must not know that you are my child, Alexandria said calmly as she tucked in her son's uniform to be ready just in time before the school bus arrives.
But why Alex, why shouldn't I be able to call you mom and identify as your son? why do I need to be paraded as an orphan, Ten years old Ryan revolted but Alexandria was not having it as she gave Ryan a resounding slap on the cheek.
You do not speak back at me when I give you a command how dare you? Do you think you are grown? Should I send you out to be an Adult? Alexandria yelled thunderously.
No Alex I am sorry, I will not do it again Ryan said rubbing his cheek and crying subtly.
Fix your face! you don't want the world to see you weak Alexandria said authoritatively.
Yes ma'am Ryan responded like a soldier as he quickly wipes his tears and flashed a smile
That's my boy Alexandria said with a wide smile which gave away a diastema.
You've been awfully quiet Ryan, Alexandria drew Ryan's attention as he doesn't seem to be in on the board meeting. Ryan? she called out again but still no response, Ryan was lost in thought as he took a trip down memory lane back to his childhood.
His colleague Steve gave him a pinch on his tigh which jolted him back to reality. By now Alexandria was already fuming, if there's one thing she hates is absent mindness and here is Ryan doing exactly that in a board meeting that decides the faith of her life's work.
The sales presentation was still going on when Alexandria ended the meeting abruptly and dismissed everyone except Ryan. Being the head of sales, it won't reflect nicely on the company's account that he's not at the top of his game and Alexandria a money conscious Managing director wasn't going to take any chances.
What seemed to be the problem? Alexandria questioned as she locked the office entrance door with a key and made a majestic walk to her executive chair.
Nothing Alex, all is well. Ryan responded in a depressed tone.
All is not well and if I ask you again, you would not like my methods Alexandria responded in a tone signifying she's trying so hard to conceal the anger in her voice.
I met someone and it's pretty serious. I have met her family and she wants to meet mine. Ryan responded a bit terrified
Family? Alexandria questioned as if to be sure her hearing did not fail her half way into Ryan's explanation.
Yes Alex family Ryan responded trying to build up a little confidence.
What do mean by family? have you forgotten the drill? by now Alexandria was yelling and turning red from all that suppressed anger.
I want to Marry her Alex and it's only fair she gets to meet you as my mom and not what you want the world to see. Ryan said in a convincing manner.
Marriage! he's talking about marriage Alexandria said out loud laughing hysterically.
By now Ryan was quiet as he knew any more word from him would stir the hornet's nest.
There was a long silence then Alexandria said to Ryan in a commanding tone, leave my office at once!
Ryan stood up and took his leave quietly.
Life in the Alexandria mansion went as it was, if there is one thing Alexandria was good at, it's pretence. She acted perfectly well like nothing happened and didn't speak about Ryans intention to take a wife, or be introduced to her as his mother until a month after at a nice homemade dinner.
So Ryan, which is it? are you marrying her to my mansion or you are moving out to your own place Alexandria dropped the bombshell on Ryan as she worked on the stake in her plate with the cutlery.
Ryan was almost choking on his meatball as he wasn't expecting such question from his mother. He hurriedly chewed and swallowed, drank water, cleared his throat then responded. We wouldn't want to be a bother Alex so I will be moving to my own place with her.
Silence ensued again as Alexandria kept eating with so much grace that she could pass off as royalty.
I knew I raised no fool, Alexandria said giving a very crooked smile. I give you my blessings and wish you all the best in your new life. I will also see to it that you get the best wedding party there is, she added.
Ryan was confused, it was all too easy, he cleared his throat again and said just like that? I mean you haven't even met her.
I don't need to meet her Ryan because if I do, I will not find her good enough for you. You already met her family and made plans to marry her without my approval. Your mother is not slow Ryan I know everything she said smiling in a suspicious manner.
Ryan's eyes shun as he had secretly concluded wedding plans without his mother's consent. He was really surprised how his mother knew but then again it's Alex and nothing gets passed her he concluded in his mind.
So does this mean I get to introduce you as my mom? Ryan asked with traces of excitement in his voice.
You wouldn't dare! Alexandria cuts in sharply. You remain an Orphan as I your guardian who barely tolerates you.
These words hurt Ryan so much, as he suddenly lost his appetite and excused himself from the dinner table.
Few weeks later Ryan's big day came and everyone who knew Ryan and Alexandria attended. The wedding party took place at one of Alexandria's resort and everyone was having a good time, there were drinks, music and food as promised by Alexandria. Alexandria on the other hand was barely spotted at the event, she was seated alone in a secluded corner having a sip from her most expensive wine.
At the highlight of the party, Ryan had a little too much to drink but still insisted on giving a toast. He climbed on stage and the music was toned down. Holding up his glass of wine with one hand and the microphone with the other, Ryan started with a speech appreciating everyone for taking out time to celebrate with him. Then he made a shocking revelation, a toast to Alexandria Donalds whom I fundly call Alex, for all those years you have been a heartless and cruel mother to me, for the times you constantly reminded me nobody must know you are my mother, for all the humiliating years you paraded me as an orphan and threatened to throw me out whenever I revolted, I do a toast for I am a family man now and won't have to put up with your bullshit anymore. To Alex! Ryan yelled on the microphone as he raised his glass up high trying to get a grip of himself from falling off the stage.
The party went mute as everyone was too shocked to say a word or even raise their glass. No one saw such stunt coming, everyone who knew Ryan and Alexandria started searching for Alexandria to see her reaction but she was long gone from her secluded area. They all felt it was a prank or an expensive joke but Ryan has never been known to play pranks and Alexandria leaving suddenly sort of confirmed Ryan's allegations. The party ended in shock as people still couldn't come to terms with the fact that Alexandria has a child in whom is Ryan. They've always thought she was without family and nothing was known of her love life, no one knew if she was ever married and now they are knowing Ryan is her biological son. They wondered what other skeletons could Alexandria be hiding and some women gossiped about her as an unfit mother.
The next day at the office Alexandria had resumed in her usual bossy and intimidating aura. Ryan's resignation letter had come in and Alexandria wasn't even bothered or disturbed. She called for an emergency board meeting where she promoted Ryan's subordinate to be the new head of sales. She could sense the tension in the air and see the shock from the party in the employees expression but She pretended all was well as usual and no one dared raise it up with her, they just did what they could do best which was murmur while Alexandria was nowhere in sight.
Months later, Ryan on his end had relocated to a private Island which was an inheritance from his mother. Surprisingly his mother did not freeze any of his account or confisticate any of the properties she had gifted him. Life seemed to be going well as he had cleared his conscience and no longer would he be seen as an orphan or one with no identity.
Ryan woke up to the smell of toast and breakfast in bed as his wife had thought to do something sweet.
You know you really didn't have to go through all this trouble to make me breakfast, we could have done it together since you refused us getting any domestic staff. Ryan said to his wife Phoebe as he took a bite from the overly browned toast. He offered Phoebe a sip from his orange juice but Phoebe declined and opt in for the coffee instead. Ryan gulped down the glass of orange juice and Phoebe soon set aside the breakfast tray as Ryan was already acting woozy. Not understanding what's going on as his eyes started seeing double, he asked Phoebe what was in the drink as she just stood there without helping him. Ryan collapsed and a chopper soon arrived as some men came in to carry Ryan's unconscious body away.
News soon got to Alexanderia as she received a text message to present herself in exchange for her son.
She laughed in amusement for quite a while and then said, seemed like my boy is about to learn the hard way. She had made up her mind to let Ryan face the dance to the music he had started but then her motherly instinct couldn't let her. She soon found herself returning to a life she had left behind three decades ago as she made moves to rescue her son.
Alexanderia had a rough past and she never had the opportunity of parental love. She was constantly abused by her mentally unstable mother till she became a teenager and ran away from home. She was granted shelter by an organization contracted to eliminating people. At the tender age of sixteen, she was already traveling the world tracking down and eliminating her victims without trace. She grew to be a cold blooded killing machine and the closest she ever came to love was with Jerry Ryan’s father. They were colleagues both at the top of their A game in never missing a target. They became an item against their work ethics and the organization tolerated them till Alexandria got pregnant and decided with Jerry to leave the organization and start off a decent life, that was when they got blacklisted by the organization and they started tracking them down. Alexandria was lucky to have escaped and started on a clean slate with Ryan vowing to conceal his identity, to keep him safe so he won’t end up like his father. But then trouble sure has a way of raring its ugly head as she had ran tabs on Phoebe before the wedding and discovered Phoebe works with the organization her and Jerry had tried escaping from that has been tracking her down for years. She’s been lucky to had escaped their radial but Jerry wasn't as while they tried escaping twenty five years ago, Jerry was hit and died in Alexandaria’s arms while she was two months gone with Ryan.
Ryan's abduction opened the wounds from the past she had tried so hard to heal from and she was faced with a choice of doing things her way or go to the authorities. Never wanting to be who she was again, she gathered all the necessary information plus evidences to nail the organization for good and took it to the appropriate authorities. She had spiked Ryan's drink with a tracking device during the wedding party which was used to track him down.
Ryan was rescued and the rest of the gang members including Phoebe were arrested and trialed, it was a case with the state as the government had tried so hard to nail the organization for years but failed. With the evidences presented by Alexandria, the organization was dismantled and after the trial the gang members were found guilty and put away for life.
It was a chilling evening as the heavy down pour just ended. Alexandria and Ryan were seated in their vintage themed parlor when the news came up that the Police had gone to arrest Scar the organization head at his hide out but found him dead. Alexandria gave a fulfilling smile and took a sip from her drink. Ryan now coming to the full knowledge of who his mother was and everything that has happened asked Alexandria, did you do this? referring to scar.
Alexandria smiled and took another sip then said what can I say Ryan? old habits die hard.
Just out of curiosity Alex, why did you let me marry Phoebe?
What did they say about experience? Alexandria questioned in her usual calm manner as she played with her drink by swirling it in the glass.
That experience is the best teacher Ryan responded and smiled now coming to terms with what his mother did.
Good! I knew I raised no fool Alexandria said again giving her usual mischievous smile.
I might not approve of the way you do things or how you have treated me Alex but I Love you, I understand better now and I appreciate the life you've given me. Thank you for keeping me safe. Ryan said to Alexandria as she was seen visibly trying to conceal a tear from dropping.
