The gangster next door

Chapter 4

Alfred led me to my room and, frankly? It was huge. It was actually bigger than the biggest classroom at school. I was sure it would take me more than ten seconds to walk to the other end of the room, it was that spacious.

My grandparents made sure that everything was to my taste and liking and seeing that, I was actually thinking whether my mother had been planning to send me here already for a long time or if my grandparents just wanted me to have a room on my own for the time we came to visit. I guess I will need to ask them later.

I had a walk-in closet, already filled up with a few expensive outfits, and I had my own bathroom which was f*cking amazing. Like they looked into my head and copied all of my thoughts about my dream bathroom. Unbelievable.

‘Maybe I should just stay here and live like a queen.’ I thought to myself and let out a chuckle at my silly thoughts.

My friends from school would die for even one of those dresses that Grandma bought for me. 'Maybe I will bring a few for them as a souvenir when I return home.' I thought.

I didn't start unpacking, I just put my suitcase into the walk-in closet, because Alfred said it was almost dinner time, so I didn’t have time to do anything else, just to look around a bit.

I left my brand-new room and tried to remember the way we came from, while I looked around a bit more. Everything was beautiful like straight out of a movie and I fell in love with the house at first sight.

I was on the second floor, so I walked to the huge window to look out. An amazing view greeted me of a huge swimming pool in the middle of the garden and sun beds around it, so I knew right away what I was going to do tomorrow. I wanted to enjoy the weather if my grandparents didn’t have anything else in mind.

I looked up to see the actual view and my eyes widened when an even bigger mansion stood on the other side of the fence. The two buildings weren’t so close to each other, but I could still easily see a guy standing on the balcony, having a conversation on his phone while smoking. That reminded me that I hadn’t smoked for hours, but I decided to have dinner first, so I continued my way down the stairs.

“There she is. Did you like your room?” Granny asked with a huge smile as soon as I walked into the huge dining room, or I should say, dining hall. Even though it was huge, it wasn’t easy to find it, but luckily I managed without a map.

“I love it. How did you know what I like and when did you have time to prepare it so quickly?” I asked them as I took a seat at the long table. I didn’t even understand why they needed such a big table for the two of them. Let alone the huge house. I guess only rich people could answer that question.

“We wanted you to have a room to your liking when we bought the house. Your parents have one as well. We actually asked you what kind of room you would like a few years ago. Do you remember?” Grandpa asked, and then the realization hit me.

“Yes, now I remember. Thanks a lot. I don’t even know why we didn’t visit the two of you earlier. You even prepared our personalized rooms and all,” I told them.

“We have invited all of you a lot of times. We told your parents to come, but they were always busy.” Granny said sadly, and I felt sorry for them.

“That stubborn girl didn’t even want to take the company over from us. She wanted to manage her life on her own and didn’t let us help whenever we offered.” Grandpa complained, and I didn’t know that. I knew that mom was stubborn, but I didn’t know that my grandparents offered to help us.

“She always wanted to work for her own living expenses. Even though we told her she didn’t need to work at all, because we had more than enough money for all of us. We even asked her to work with us in the company, but she didn’t want to move back here either.” Grandma said while she shook her head sadly.

“At least she is responsible, and you don’t need to worry about her well-being in the future when you are no more.” I told them with a half smile and they both looked at me. “It’s not good if someone is living off of her parents and doesn’t know what working hard means.” I said and they nodded their heads in agreement.

Mom earned my respect even more after hearing that. I guess that’s why she was always so strict with me when it came to studying and working hard for something that you want to achieve.

“You are completely right, sweetheart. When did you get so smart?” Grandpa asked with a proud smile and I grinned at him.

“I guess it’s thanks to my genes,” I said, and they both laughed.

“I can’t even believe that you are actually a delinquent at school,” Grandma said while she shook her head.

“You can believe that, granny. My friend and I like to cause trouble and prank teachers. It’s really fun, but I know that I need to stop doing things like that.” I told them what they wanted to hear and they both smiled at me.

“You have become a smart young lady, Angie,” Grandpa said while he nodded in appreciation and I pushed my chest out.

“Thanks, grandpa. I am trying.” I said, but my eyes widened when the maids brought all the food inside and spread it out on the table. I had never seen so much food on one table ever in my life, and they keep bringing more plates.

“We weren’t sure what you wanted to eat, so we asked them to prepare more kind of dishes.” Grandma explained, and I picked up my jaw from the floor.

“I am not picky, so it doesn’t matter to me, but this is too much food. We can’t eat so much.” I told them in disbelief and grandpa let out a laugh.

“We don’t need to eat all of it. The staff will finish it when we are done,” Grandma said.

“Oh, that makes sense.” I said and we started eating. “Everything tastes like it’s come out of the best restaurant in the city.” I told them in delight. I couldn’t even imagine that food could taste that good. Mom was a good cook, but it was phenomenal compared to that.

“You might be right because we have our own Michelin-star chef to take care of our breakfast, lunch and dinner.” Granny said, and my eyes widened.

“What? Are you serious?” I asked them in disbelief, and they chuckled at my reaction.

“Yes, sweetheart. Perks of being rich, I guess. Also, your grandma wanted us to taste the best dishes for the rest of our short lives.” Grandpa explained and smiled at granny lovingly.

“Don’t say that, grandpa. I am sure you will live thirty years more at least, but I understand what you mean. You can afford it, so why not? Life is too short to miss out on good things, right?” I said and they both smiled.

“That’s right, Angie,” Grandma said, and we all continued eating in silence.

I realized that I barely knew anything about my grandparents and there were so many things to know about them. I decided to get to know them better in those two months and make the most of it.

After dinner, I went to my room and unpacked my suitcase before I took a shower in my new bathroom that I bet nobody used before me. I really felt like a princess and I could totally get used to the luxury. It wasn’t even a punishment like that. It felt more like a well deserved holiday. Thanks to my folks back at home.

After I finished my shower, I wrapped a huge towel around my body and walked into my closet, which was bigger than my room at home. I dressed in my Sponge Bob pajamas that I got from Colton for my birthday last year. He had a similar one too, and we used to wear them when we had a sleepover.

'Childish? I know, but what can I say? We are all a bit childish deep inside, and it was always fun to act like children sometimes anyway. For example, who says that adults can’t watch cartoons? They totally can.'

I decided to go to check out the huge balcony that was attached to my room and light up a cigarette if I was already there, and before I wash my teeth.

“Wow.” I looked around in amazement because the view from my balcony was great. It was already dark, but the lights of the neighboring house lit up the area. Not to mention the lights of the pool under the balcony. It gave the whole garden a whole new feeling. It was kind of magical, and I got the urge to go swimming at night.

‘It’s not late yet.’ I thought to myself and searched for my bikini. I put them on quickly and stepped into my slippers before I grabbed a towel and headed downstairs quietly. The whole house was dark and quiet.

‘What the f*ck? It’s just nine o’clock. Where is everyone?’ I thought as I tried to watch my steps in the dark. I guess old people go to sleep early.

“Lady Angie?” I jumped from the sudden voice and the shadow in the dark.

“What the hell, Alfred? You scared the sh*t out of me.” I told the older man while I tried to calm my rapidly beating heart after he turned the lights on.

“I am sorry, Lady Angie. Do you need me to bring you new clothes or a new swimsuit?” He asked worriedly, and I looked at him in confusion.

“Why would I need new clothes?” I asked him.

“Didn’t you have an… accident?” He asked in embarrassment and looked at my lower body. My eyes widened from the realization when I understood what he meant.

“No, no, I didn’t mean it that way, Alfred. I didn’t have an ‘accident’. It’s just slang that people use when they… whatever. I am fine, I just wanted to go for a swim, but this place is huge. I didn’t even find the light switch.” I told him with a chuckle. The old man thought that I had sh*t in my pants for real. Old people can be so funny sometimes. I didn’t think Alfred had been around young people a lot recently.

'Living in this house would be fun, it seems.'