The Bachelor by David Dower (read along books TXT) 📖

told her his mood was not the same as before his visitors arrived.

 *****

Zach didn’t want to be alone with his parents. He wanted to be alone with Liam and beat the hell out of the man. How could he be so stupid to bring his parents here? He would have to talk with the man anyway. They had to talk about the bet.

Fatima had already gathered the girls, Julianne included, in the living room. Jack Carter was busily organizing the camera guys around before the introduction. It was a big surprise and nobody wanted to miss it.

His father was looking everywhere with disapproval. Zach knew he didn’t like the presence of the cameras around. But he couldn’t very well tell them to go away because the ranch was not his. It was Zach’s and he knew that Zach could do anything he wanted in this place. It was the only place he could do anything freely without his dad interfering.

His mother on the other hand, was busily looking at the ladies. Her eyes were like those of a vulture’s, looking and studying her preys. The ladies themselves appeared to be more conscious as ever. But what surprised him was Julianne. She was sitting there still as a statue. Was she nervous? He stifled a chuckle knowing she would hate him if she’d realize he was laughing at her.

Instead, he cleared his throat and said, “Ladies, these are my parents. Mom, dad, meet Julianne,” yes, of course he would mention her first, “Kim, Penny, Tanya, Stella, Amanda, Chloe, and Pauline.” He would have loved to not mention Pauline, but that would be rude and immature.

A series of shy hello’s and hi’s erupted from the ladies. His mom smiled and said, “Hello, girls, now I see why my son was not able to return my calls,” she finished it with a chuckle.

The girls smiled and sighed.

“Now, since you’re all quite acquainted—”

“What about me?” Liam spoke beside him. He glared at his friend. He was hoping he’d have kept quiet.

“Girls, meet Liam, Liam, the girls…now,” he turned his attention back on the girls, “I’m going to have some private talk with my parents. Maybe later we can all enjoy their company…” he looked at his father for an answer. He gave a short nod as he clasped his hands together. “Great. We’ll see you in a while, ladies…Liam will be joining you, right?” he asked his friend. Liam just shrugged and nodded.

He looked at his mom and took her hand. “The study?” he asked his dad.

The man nodded and with one last glance at the ladies, he said, “Nice to meet you,” he turned and walked to the study.

Zach was startled. He never expected that from the man. That was a good sign, but still, he couldn’t be too sure since there were cameras and his dad might have just been acting.

Once inside the study, and the moment he shut the door, his father turned to him and said, “Why haven’t you been answering our calls? Do you know that your mother was going half-crazy with worry?”

Okay, honestly, he didn’t expect that. He looked at his mom. She seemed okay. “Dad, they air the show every week. Surely you must know that I’m okay.”

“It’s different,” his father snapped. “And I don’t watch the stupid show.”

“Couldn’t blame you…wouldn’t watch it myself either,” he murmured.

“I watch it,” his mother said from across the room. She was already seated at the couch beside a large global miniature. “I even like one girl.”

He was almost afraid to ask. “Really?”

“Yes, I like Julianne,” her eyes were twinkling as she stared up at him. “You like her, don’t you?”

He could almost feel himself blush. It was not his thing to talk about girls with his mother. “Yeah,” he shrugged, pretending his heart was not fluttering with happiness.

“Poor girl,” her mother clicked her tongue. “You should not give that girl Pauline a rose,” she suggested.

“I couldn’t do that, mom,” he sighed. “The producers like her.”

“I can’t believe you’re actually serious about this,” his father uttered, walking over to the liquor cabinet.

“I’m serious about one girl,” he answered, his eyes on his mother. “She’s a writer,” he said proudly.

“Yes, I know,” his mother nodded.

“You do?”

She rolled her eyes. “I know a lot of people, Zachary. It didn’t take long to find out about every one of the girls.”

He gaped. “You researched on every one of them?”

“And she was very meticulous about it,” his father sighed, sitting beside his wife. He then looked at his son, his eyes serious. “Zachary, if you’re not serious about this game, you better end it soon. I don’t think I will like the publicity if things go wrong.”

“Don’t worry, dad, it’s going to be fine,” he tried to make himself believe his words as well.

He was not sure about how it would end with Julianne, but he would make it sure he wouldn’t give up without a fight. If she chose to leave and he would have to go on with the show alone, he would have to patiently wait until everything was over before he would hunt her down. She might not like it, but he was not planning to give up. And as he stood before his parents, he found out that the bet did not matter anymore. His friend could laugh at his face. He would deserve it for thinking love didn’t exist.

“Do you suppose she will sign a copy for me?” his mother asked giddily.

“What?” She lost him for a moment there. “You mean you read her book?”

“We both did,” she motioned her head towards her husband.

He looked at his father in disbelief. The man looked away guiltily. What the hell?! Could this be any real?

Now he was beginning to think that his parents’ visit would be to his advantage.

 *****

Julianne couldn’t understand why she was suddenly nervous. She knew the girls were already planning on how to impress Mr. and Mrs. Astor, but she was not about to go there. She was confident with herself and she knew herself enough to even think of trying to impress others. But still, she was nervous. She couldn’t point out why.

It was not a good sign, she knew that. It meant that it mattered to her that Zach’s parents would find her suitable. And as much as she hated herself for even thinking along that path, she couldn’t stop.

She looked at Pauline talking to Liam who was surrounded by the girls. She was seated nearby but she didn’t care if people would think she was trying to be noticed by staying away. Kim was staying away. In fact, the lady was talking with Jack Carter in the kitchen. Amusing, isn’t it? To see something going on, other than the bitchiness and the flirting, was somehow relieving. And the way Jack and Kim looked at eachother, Julianne wouldn’t be surprised at all if Kim would decide to leave.

“Tell us what really happened in Vegas,” she heard Pauline ask Liam.

Liam, loyal as ever to his friend, avoided the topic by saying, “I crept inside Zach’s room and we slept together like tigers,” and as expected, the girls burst with mirth.

Julianne just shook her head when Liam looked at her and winked.

She was the first to notice the study door opening, revealing Mrs. Astor followed by her son and husband. Julianne straightened in her chair and looked away.

“Ladies, my parents will honor us with their presence during dinner. So…” Zach looked at his mother as he said, “my mom wishes to know each and every one of you better.” He then looked at her and like his friend, he gave her a wink. Her heart began to hammer. No, she would be completely speechless if his parents talked to her.

“I hope dinner’s ready?” Mrs. Astor asked his son.

“Yes, of course,” he led her to the dining room and said over his shoulder, “what are you girls waiting for? Time to eat!”

As Julianne stood up from her chair, she couldn’t help by notice that Zach was in a pretty good mood. Whatever happened inside that study must have been good.

 *****

The girls were quiet throughout dinner. Every time his mother would open her mouth, everybody would turn their heads and listen like she was a freaking preacher about to bring them salvation. Zach was finding it amusing that even Julianne was doing it, but in a much subtle way. His father chose to be quiet as usual and that was fine with him. The man was always quiet you wouldn’t know what was on his mind. Liam on the other hand, had been gazing at him like a moron and he would give anything to have his fork stuck into his friend’s eyeball.

When dinner was done, his mother invited them for a cup of coffee, which everyone obliged with giddiness. His father invited him for a game of chess. Liam decided to roam around, transferring from one group to another. Right now, his friend was with Julianne and Kim, and he had been throwing Zach a taunting look from time to time.

If his friend as much as mention about the bet, he would crush him.

But so far, Julianne and Kim seemed to be enjoying his company.

 *****

“So, Julianne, how is life here?” Liam asked her.

“It’s fine, it’s good, I think,” she answered with a nod.

“We haven’t met before, right?” he asked Kim.

“Yes,” Kim answered. Then she suddenly turned toward Julianne. “Hey, can I ask you a favor?”

Liam leaned away, probably knowing he shouldn’t be listening.

“Sure,” Julianne said.

“Can you sign my book?”

“Later,” she answered with a smile.

Kim gaped and looked at Liam. She turned her face back towards Julianne and said, “I shouldn’t have mentioned it, right?”

“It’s okay,” Julianne said, looking at Liam.

“I already know you’re J. Green. Mrs. Astor told me,” he shrugged.

“She knows?”

Liam chuckled. “She did her research, I guess.”

Julianne just nodded. It was weird to know Zach’s mother researched about her. Was she pleased to find out she was J. Green? Or was she disappointed? “Anyone want to have water? I’m going to get some,” she asked Kim and Liam.

They both shook their heads. She got up and went to the kitchen, her mind full of questions.

 *****

“Checkmate,” his father uttered before standing up.

“What?” he asked in disbelief. He looked at the remaining pieces on the board and groaned. “Not again…”

“Practice, son, practice,” his father said, walking away.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to talk to one of the girls,” he said.

“Who?” he asked in alarm.

“Not your business,” his father muttered as he walked away.

Zach’s heart leapt when he saw him walking toward the kitchen where Julianne just walked in.

 *****

Julianne was pouring herself a glass of water when the voice said, “Can I have some?”

She froze and looked up. “Mr. Astor,” she uttered.

Of all the luck, she found herself in front of Zach’s father. Chapter 22

“Mr. Astor…” she stuttered once again.

“Julianne, right?” he asked, walking closer.

Julianne nodded.

“Water?” he asked, his eyebrows arched.

Once again, Julianne nodded. Why was she speechless?

Oh, yes, because she freaking expected Zach’s mother to talk to her, not his freaking father!

She swallowed as she poured water into a clean glass and handed it to the old man.

“Thank you,” he uttered, eyeing her with curiosity. “You know, for someone of your reputation, I find