472 Ba
ch 18

-Mom… what are you talking about? – Zack whispered and his mother raised her eyebrows in a suggestive gesture. -Son, your father was one of the most respected bankers in this country for years, believe me, he’s used to people lying to his face, but never this bad. -Mom… -Save it, Zack, I heard everything you told him – his mother warned him. -Were you keeping your ear to the door? – he was shocked. -Yes. Is there a problem? – Luana replied firmly and the big man that was Zack Keller became small. -No, mom. -No, mom, exactly. Now… we’re going for a walk and you’re going to tell me everything in great detail and without leaving anything out. Okay? Zack nodded when he realized he didn’t have many options. They went for a walk along the path that surrounded the mountain, his mother hanging on his arm and Zack telling her absolutely everything that had happened since Giselle’s abortion. When they returned and had the house in sight again, Mrs. Luana stopped. -I’m really sorry, mom, but I didn’t know how to take that joy away from the old man, and when you told me that it could be the last Christmas we spend together… His mother sighed with the same patience she had had with them since they were children. Thanks for reading on LeeNovelas.com. -At any other time I would have yelled at you -she replied-. But the truth is that Nikola is very happy. Son, your father and I don’t care about blood, you know that more than anyone, right? -Zack nodded because of the five brothers two were adopted and only Zack, who was one of the oldest, remembered that. -I know, mom. -Your father and I don’t care that you didn’t make that baby, but Nikola will be upset if he knows you lied to him, so I don’t want him to replace out, okay? -Okay. -Well, then start acting a little more like a boyfriend, because I raised three alpha males and you’re holding his hand like they were in elementary school – Luana grumbled. -Mom! Remember. Read this novel only at LeeNovelas.com, not on other sites. -And buy him furniture when they get back, you idiot! Don’t be cheap! Zack pressed his lips together to keep from laughing and then hugged his mother. -Thanks for understanding, Mom, but are you sure you want to help me with this? -Of course you do. Zack looked at her uncertainly. -And why? -he asked. His mother shook her head impatiently and pushed him into the house. -Because I said so, Zack! And now go! Come on! There are so many things to do! Chop wood! Go! Zack kissed her and ran to the shed, and Luana took a deep breath at the sight. Why was she helping him? That was a good question. Because that girl will end up being his daughter, she thought. What difference does it make whether Nikola creates it sooner or later? Zack chopped some more wood for the fireplace in his room, and by the time he unloaded it into the dispensary and pulled off his sweater, his skin was shiny with sweat. Adriana was exhausted from sleep in her crib, and he looked around, but Andrea was nowhere to be found. He thought she must be nearby,So he got into the shower without much consideration, only to hear a muffled scream a few seconds later. “Fuck, you were in the jacuzzi!” Zack shouted, facing the wall. On the other side of the bathroom, the jacuzzi was full but not turned on and Andrea had poked her little head out of the pile of foam to see him very happy under the shower. How she came into the world! In a second she also turned around and blushed. “I’m sorry!” Zack said, wanting to climb the wall. “I’m sorry, there was no noise, I didn’t know you were here.” “No problem… it’s not like I saw anything…” “Really, nothing?!” he was shocked. “It’s an expression, Zack!” she exclaimed, redder than a beef steak, but she looked sideways and then bit her lip. Do… do you know that the wall at the back of the shower… is a mirror?” she murmured and Zack looked down to see himself. “Fuck!” -he growled but only heard laughter and a body sinking into the water. -Don’t cry anymore, I’m not going to look at you, nothing at all. Finish showering, I’ll stay hidden in the jacuzzi and I won’t open my eyes for anything -Andrea told him, sinking up to her nose. -Don’t exaggerate either, I’m not that ugly to look at -he grumbled and got back under the shower to see if that infernal heat would go away. Five minutes later he wrapped himself in a towel, and as he could see Andrea’s legs against the back wall of the jacuzzi, he knew she had kept her word of not looking at him. The problem was that he was getting curious! He took Adriana to play with his uncles while Andrea came out of the bathroom, and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her arrive in the living room, in that soft dress and some low sandals that made her look like a little elf. Dinner was quite quiet and it was obvious that Mr. Nikola was more than happy. Adriana was resting in her highchair, but it seemed that she had only learned to recognize his voice in one afternoon, because as soon as he spoke she immediately paid attention to him. And at dessert time they both entertained themselves by throwing cereal at the rest of the family. -Zack, why don’t you take the day tomorrow to take Andrea to see the place? – encouraged his father. -I don’t believe your good will, what you want is to monopolize the baby of his son. -Also, also! But don’t tell me that this is a very beautiful place. Don’t tell me that you don’t want your girlfriend to see it! exclaimed Nikola. -You can even take her to the professional slopes where you competed. Andrea laughed and shook her head. -No, no, no, no. Better take me to the beginners’ slopes and not let me go, or I’ll arrive at the base in the form of a snowball laughed Andrea. -Wait, don’t you know how to ski? – asked Chiara with a mocking laugh. -No, why? -Andrea asked. -Well…On the other side of the bathroom the jacuzzi was full but not turned on and Andrea had poked her little head out of the pile of foam to see him very happy under the shower. How he had come into the world! In a second she also turned around and blushed. -I’m sorry! -said Zack wanting to climb the wall-. I’m sorry, there was no noise, I didn’t know you were here. -No problem… it’s not like I saw anything… -Really, nothing?! -he was shocked. -It’s an expression, Zack! -she exclaimed, redder than a beef steak, but she looked sideways and then bit her lip. Do… do you know that the wall at the back of the shower… is a mirror? -she murmured and Zack looked down to see himself. -Fuck! -he growled but only heard laughter and a body sinking into the water. -Don’t cry anymore, I’m not going to look at you, nothing at all. Finish bathing, I’ll stay hidden in the jacuzzi and I won’t even open my eyes – Andrea told him, sinking up to her nose. – Don’t exaggerate either, I’m not that ugly to look at – he grumbled and got back under the shower to see if that infernal heat would go away. Five minutes later he wrapped himself in a towel, and as he could see Andrea’s legs against the back wall of the jacuzzi, he knew she had kept her word of not looking at him. The problem was that he was getting curious! He took Adriana to play with his uncles while Andrea came out of the bathroom, and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her arrive in the living room, in that soft dress and some low sandals that made her look like a little elf. Dinner was quite quiet and it was obvious that Mr. Nikola was more than happy. Adriana rested in her highchair, but it seemed that it only took one afternoon for her to learn to recognize his voice, because as soon as he spoke she immediately paid attention to him. And at dessert time, the two of them entertained themselves by throwing cereal at the rest of the family. “Zack, why don’t you take the day off tomorrow to take Andrea to see the place?” his father encouraged him. “I don’t believe your good will, what you want is to monopolize the baby of your son.” “Yes, yes! But don’t tell me that this is a very beautiful place. Don’t tell me that you don’t want your girlfriend to see it!” exclaimed Nikola. “You can even take her to the professional slopes where you competed.” Andrea laughed and shook her head. “No, no, no, no. She better take me to the beginners’ slopes and not let me go, or I’ll arrive at the base in the form of a snowball,” laughed Andrea. “Wait, don’t you know how to ski?” asked Chiara with a mocking laugh. “No, why?” asked Andrea. “Well…On the other side of the bathroom the jacuzzi was full but not turned on and Andrea had poked her little head out of the pile of foam to see him very happy under the shower. How he had come into the world! In a second she also turned around and blushed. -I’m sorry! -said Zack wanting to climb the wall-. I’m sorry, there was no noise, I didn’t know you were here. -No problem… it’s not like I saw anything… -Really, nothing?! -he was shocked. -It’s an expression, Zack! -she exclaimed, redder than a beef steak, but she looked sideways and then bit her lip. Do… do you know that the wall at the back of the shower… is a mirror? -she murmured and Zack looked down to see himself. -Fuck! -he growled but only heard laughter and a body sinking into the water. -Don’t cry anymore, I’m not going to look at you, nothing at all. Finish bathing, I’ll stay hidden in the jacuzzi and I won’t even open my eyes – Andrea told him, sinking up to her nose. – Don’t exaggerate either, I’m not that ugly to look at – he grumbled and got back under the shower to see if that infernal heat would go away. Five minutes later he wrapped himself in a towel, and as he could see Andrea’s legs against the back wall of the jacuzzi, he knew she had kept her word of not looking at him. The problem was that he was getting curious! He took Adriana to play with his uncles while Andrea came out of the bathroom, and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her arrive in the living room, in that soft dress and some low sandals that made her look like a little elf. Dinner was quite quiet and it was obvious that Mr. Nikola was more than happy. Adriana rested in her highchair, but it seemed that it only took one afternoon for her to learn to recognize his voice, because as soon as he spoke she immediately paid attention to him. And at dessert time, the two of them entertained themselves by throwing cereal at the rest of the family. “Zack, why don’t you take the day off tomorrow to take Andrea to see the place?” his father encouraged him. “I don’t believe your good will, what you want is to monopolize the baby of your son.” “Yes, yes! But don’t tell me that this is a very beautiful place. Don’t tell me that you don’t want your girlfriend to see it!” exclaimed Nikola. “You can even take her to the professional slopes where you competed.” Andrea laughed and shook her head. “No, no, no, no. She better take me to the beginners’ slopes and not let me go, or I’ll arrive at the base in the form of a snowball,” laughed Andrea. “Wait, don’t you know how to ski?” asked Chiara with a mocking laugh. “No, why?” asked Andrea. “Well…But she looked sideways and then bit her lip. Do you… do you know that the wall at the back of the shower… is a mirror? – she murmured and Zack looked down to see himself completely. – Fuck! – he growled but only heard laughter and a body sinking into the water. – Don’t cry anymore, I’m not going to look at you, nothing at all. Finish showering, I’ll stay hidden in the jacuzzi and I won’t open my eyes for nothing – Andrea told him, sinking up to her nose. – Don’t exaggerate either, I’m not that ugly to look at – he grumbled and got back under the shower to see if that infernal heat would go away. Five minutes later he wrapped himself in a towel, and as he could see Andrea’s legs against the wall at the back of the jacuzzi, he knew she had kept her word of not looking at him. The problem was that he was getting curious! He took Adriana to play with his uncles while Andrea came out of the bathroom, and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her arrive in the living room, wearing that soft dress and some low sandals that made her look like a little elf. Dinner was quite quiet and it was obvious that Mr. Nikola was more than happy. Adriana rested in her highchair, but it seemed that she had only learned to recognize his voice in one afternoon, because as soon as he spoke she immediately paid attention to him. And at dessert time they both entertained themselves by throwing cereal at the rest of the family. “Zack, why don’t you take the day off tomorrow to take Andrea to see the place?” his father encouraged him. “I don’t believe your good will, what you want is to monopolize the baby of your son.” “Also, also! But don’t tell me that this is a very beautiful place. Don’t tell me that you don’t want your girlfriend to see it!” exclaimed Nikola. “You can even take her to the professional tracks where you competed.” Andrea laughed and shook her head. -No, no, no, no. He better take me to the beginners’ and not let me go, or I’ll end up at the base in a snowball, laughed Andrea. -Wait, you don’t know how to ski? – asked Chiara with a mocking laugh. -No, why? – asked Andrea. -Well…But she looked sideways and then bit her lip. Do you… do you know that the wall at the back of the shower… is a mirror? – she murmured and Zack looked down to see himself completely. – Fuck! – he growled but only heard laughter and a body sinking into the water. – Don’t cry anymore, I’m not going to look at you, nothing at all. Finish showering, I’ll stay hidden in the jacuzzi and I won’t open my eyes for nothing – Andrea told him, sinking up to her nose. – Don’t exaggerate either, I’m not that ugly to look at – he grumbled and got back under the shower to see if that infernal heat would go away. Five minutes later he wrapped himself in a towel, and as he could see Andrea’s legs against the wall at the back of the jacuzzi, he knew she had kept her word of not looking at him. The problem was that he was getting curious! He took Adriana to play with his uncles while Andrea came out of the bathroom, and he couldn’t help but smile when he saw her arrive in the living room, wearing that soft dress and some low sandals that made her look like a little elf. Dinner was quite quiet and it was obvious that Mr. Nikola was more than happy. Adriana rested in her highchair, but it seemed that she had only learned to recognize his voice in one afternoon, because as soon as he spoke she immediately paid attention to him. And at dessert time they both entertained themselves by throwing cereal at the rest of the family. “Zack, why don’t you take the day off tomorrow to take Andrea to see the place?” his father encouraged him. “I don’t believe your good will, what you want is to monopolize the baby of your son.” “Also, also! But don’t tell me that this is a very beautiful place. Don’t tell me that you don’t want your girlfriend to see it!” exclaimed Nikola. “You can even take her to the professional tracks where you competed.” Andrea laughed and shook her head. -No, no, no, no. He better take me to the beginners’ and not let me go, or I’ll end up at the base in a snowball, laughed Andrea. -Wait, you don’t know how to ski? – asked Chiara with a mocking laugh. -No, why? – asked Andrea. -Well…with that soft dress and some low sandals that made her look like a little elf. Dinner was quite quiet and it was clear that Mr. Nikola was more than happy. Adriana rested in her highchair, but it seemed that she had only learned to recognize his voice in one afternoon, because as soon as he spoke she immediately paid attention to him. And at dessert time they both entertained themselves by throwing cereal at the rest of the family. -Zack, why don’t you take the day off tomorrow to take Andrea to see the place? – encouraged his father. -I don’t believe your good will, what you want is to monopolize the baby of your son. -Also, also! But don’t tell me that this is a very beautiful place. Don’t tell me that you don’t want your girlfriend to see it! exclaimed Nikola-. You can even take her to the professional tracks where you competed. Andrea laughed and shook her head. -No, no, no, no. Better take me to the beginners’ and don’t let me go, or I’ll snowball back to the base,” Andrea laughed. “Wait, you don’t know how to ski?” Chiara asked with a mocking laugh. “No, why?” Andrea asked. “Well…”with that soft dress and some low sandals that made her look like a little elf. Dinner was quite quiet and it was clear that Mr. Nikola was more than happy. Adriana rested in her highchair, but it seemed that she had only learned to recognize his voice in one afternoon, because as soon as he spoke she immediately paid attention to him. And at dessert time they both entertained themselves by throwing cereal at the rest of the family. -Zack, why don’t you take the day off tomorrow to take Andrea to see the place? – encouraged his father. -I don’t believe your good will, what you want is to monopolize the baby of your son. -Also, also! But don’t tell me that this is a very beautiful place. Don’t tell me that you don’t want your girlfriend to see it! exclaimed Nikola-. You can even take her to the professional tracks where you competed. Andrea laughed and shook her head. -No, no, no, no. Better take me to the beginners’ and don’t let me go, or I’ll snowball back to the base,” Andrea laughed. “Wait, you don’t know how to ski?” Chiara asked with a mocking laugh. “No, why?” Andrea asked. “Well…”Being the girlfriend of a winter games champion, it certainly is very strange – replied Noémi – One wonders how she could fall in love with a person so… different from him. You two don’t match at all! I mean… you don’t even know how to ski! – Well, I guess that’s not the most important thing for him – replied Andrea – Honestly, I would have been scared if he only liked the way my buttocks bounced down the mountain. Isn’t that right, Thorcito? Noémi coughed and Andrea frowned. Her little sister had tired her with her bad intentions so she leaned towards her on the table and repeated: – Buttocks! Chiara and Noémi both turned red and uncomfortable, coughing loudly while Mr. and Mrs. Keller tried to contain their laughter. A second later Milo approached too and played along. – Tits! – he said. – Milo…! – Ass! – Loan…! “Chiara shouted and the twins stood up from the table with murderous expressions. “There was no need to be vulgar!” “There was no need to be pedantic either,” Zack replied in a sombre voice. “But I suppose you can’t help it either.” Chiara gave him a helpless look and Noémi snapped. “We’ll wait for you in the west room for coffee. We’ve lost our appetite.” In a second they were gone and Andrea felt bad for a second when she realised what had happened. “Well, now that the fussy ladies are gone and we don’t have to eat those French sweets… Luana, bring out the pudding!” Nikola exclaimed and his children banged on the table as if they were Vikings waiting for beer and not big children wanting their mother’s chocolate pudding. The after-dinner conversation was less peaceful than they had imagined. Zack noticed that his father was short of breath just by the effort of getting from his chair to a couch, so he stayed by his side the whole time, making sure he could play with Adriana without getting too worked up. Finally, it was time for the gingerbread house presentation, and when Andrea brought the cart with hers in, everyone gasped. “Wow! That’s a gingerbread palace!” Loan exclaimed. “No, wait… it’s this house!” Everyone turned the work of art they had made upside down and they were immediately declared the winners of the prize by unanimous decision. “I can’t wait to try it!” Nikola exclaimed, and Andrea and Zack looked at each other in horror. Luckily, there was a rowdy baby in the group, who a few minutes later pulled the tablecloth and the house, tablecloth, cart and everything else fell to the ground. But since the destruction made her laugh, no one cared. -Saved by the baby – Zack whispered in Andrea’s ear, leaning against her back and she turned her head to look at him. -We’ll have to give him extra formula or something – she smiled. -Well, his father and I will think about the prize tonight and we will deliver it tomorrow morning! – Mrs. Luana declared – Now, who wants some punch? The evening was beautiful, and for the first time in a long time Andrea felt like she was with family,which made it much harder to have to lie to them. However, everything became even more difficult when they arrived at his room that night and the couch was gone. “Zaaaaack?” she murmured. “Where’s the couch?” He saw that instead of the couch they had installed a rocking chair to put the girl to sleep and his eyes widened. “We can’t ask for it back!” he said. “Don’t tell me!” Andrea replied. “And now what?”