Billionaire Quadruplet Alphas

Friday 25th September, 2020

Star

“So only Zaya took a dip in your milky way, Star?” Confirmed Toby-me.

“Toby!” I said indignantly, my cheeks flushing.

“Just clarifying,” said Toby-me.

Toby-me put the finishing touches of concealer on my neck and then practically bathed me in perfume.

“What was that for?” I said in between sneezes.

“You reek of your mates,” said Toby-me as though it was obvious.

s**t! I had totally forgotten about scent and so had the Quads.

“Your Dad’ll know eventually. You do realise that, right?” Asked Toby-me.

“I know,” I said softly.

I just needed to buy some time and get Dad to agree to the Quads coming back to the Ice Moon Castle with us. I was already missing there. It did feel like home. I especially missed Haven, my dragon. I bet Harper missed Helena too.

“Toby, I owe you one,” I said, admiring the seemingly blemish-free skin on my neck.

“You owe me four,” said Toby-me, laughing.

I sighed at the stupid joke.

“When do you change back into you?” I asked.

“I have about ten to fifteen minutes again,” said Toby-me, glancing at his phone. “Just enough time to show you how good you would look if you let me pick out your outfits!” Said Toby-me, flinging my dresses all over the place until one was deemed worthy.

Toby-me put on the skimpy black dress and smoothed on some red lipstick with a ton of mascara.

“Eye lashes are everything, darling!” He informed me.

Toby strutted out of the room, down the hallway receiving quite a few looks and even a catcall when we reached the hotel bar. Toby had his chauffeur waiting for him with a bag of his own clothes. We got into the backseat of the car just as his curls straightened and shortened. His eyes changed colours. His jaw became more prominent. His boobs shrank.

“Aww,” lamented Toby at the loss of his boobs. He burst into laughter.

I giggled.

He pulled on some fancy joggers, a polo and a blazer. All black. He tossed my heels away and put on his own shoes.

“A hallway and a bar full of people just saw us! They probably assumed we were twins,” I said hopefully.

“Honey, no one was looking at you in that!” Said Toby frankly, gesturing towards my tee shirt.

“The shoes are gorge though!” He exclaimed.

“Jonah got them for me!” I said happily.

It felt strange to say. Jonah buying me gifts? I was accustomed to him calling me cloud. Had I forgiven him too soon? I pulled off his tee shirt, revealing the lingerie from Noah. Toby made a purring noise in response to that. I giggled.

“Noah got me this,” I said.

“Kinky,” said Toby.

I realised Toby had tricked me.

“Hey! You walked away so suddenly…” I said.

“You didn’t realise you’d have to wear this dress!” Said Toby, finishing my sentence for me and handing me the tiny dress he had cat-walked around the hotel with moments earlier. I had to wear it. The tee shirt smelled of Jonah.

“Keep the Jonah shoes!” He instructed. “They’re fab!”

I pulled on the dress. It hugged my figure. I was used to more loose-fitting dresses. I grumbled to myself. We ran back into the hotel and upstairs. I bumped into my Dad.

“Dad!” I squeaked. “I…I got up a little while ago and met Toby at the bar for a brunch cocktail,” I said, making up whatever I could think of.

Toby eyed me, judging my pathetic lie silently.

“I know,” said Dad. “You told me Toby would be meeting you earlier.”

I did?

“Of course,” I said.

Toby grinned.

“Heath, I must say you don’t look like you could have a daughter Star’s age! You look like a college student!” Exclaimed Toby.

Dad smiled. “Yeah right,” he said in his gruff voice.

“I do not tell lies,” said Toby dramatically.

Dad chuckled. “If you say so,” said Dad.

“Dad…um…the Quads will also be joining us for brunch if that’s ok,” I said.

Dad narrowed his eyes.

“I know you don’t like them, Dad,” I began.

“I like Eli,” said Dad defensively.

“One out of four ain’t bad,” said Toby.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Yes, it is!” I said. “That’s a failing grade.”

“Hey! He could have liked none of them!” Said Toby.

“I like this kid,” said Dad.

Who’s side are you on? I growled at Toby over mind-link.

I’m helping your Dad to feel that his emotions and thoughts are being validated! Said Toby.

“Why don’t you date this kid?” Asked Dad.

Toby stifled a laugh.

“Dad,” I said, not sure how to state the obvious.

“Star is too good for me,” joked Toby.

“Star is very special,” agreed Dad. “But she needs to be with someone respectful like you or Eli.”

“She is with Eli,” said Toby. “And company,” he added.

Dad frowned.

“They’re really not that bad, Heath, trust me,” said Toby. “Now that Serial Killer Barbie is out of Jonah’s life, things will be much easier for you and for Star.”

Dad snorted with laughter. “I suppose,” he said. “Let’s go down to the brunch.”

I nodded, linking arms with Toby on one side and my Dad on the other.

Harper and Holly came out of their room just then. Harper glared at Toby.

“Holly! Vintage! I love it!” Said Toby, looking at her peasant-style dress although she actually always dressed like that. She wasn’t from a modern Fae community. She was from one of luddites where technology and modern lifestyles and fashion were frowned upon. Those clothes suited her though.

“You look pretty as always,” I said.

Holly blushed from all the attention. Toby extended his arm to Holly and she took it with Harper on her other side.

“Friends?” Asked Toby, looking at Harper.

“Yeah,” said Harper exasperatedly.

Harper was looking at me, scrutinising my neck and sniffing the air.

“What happened between you two?” Asked Dad, looking suspiciously at Harper and Toby.

“We wanted different people to win The Voice,” said Toby as though this was a horrible life-altering difference in opinion.

“We’re ok with each other’s picks now,” said Harper.

“Ok,” said Dad slowly.

Had I actually gotten away with sneaking out last night? I tried to hide my grin as we made our way down to the brunch buffet. I spotted my mates right away at a large table. They waved us over.

“Good morning,” mumbled Dad. “Aren’t you four here early?” He said.

“Yeah,” said Noah brightly. “We wanted to check on Star first thing this morning.”

“How’re you feeling?” Asked Jonah, pulling out my chair.

“Good,” I said as I sat down.

“Sir, I just want to reiterate how sorry I am regarding my outburst the last time we spoke back at the castle. I spoke out of turn and that was rude of me but I was just desperate to have my mate with me. I know you of all people know how much it hurts to be apart from one’s mate,” said Zaya.

Dad nodded. He didn’t say anything.

“Sir, thank you for allowing us to join your family for brunch,” said Eli.

“You’re welcome, Eli,” said Dad with a small smile.

“Yes, thank you, Sir!” Said Jonah.

Dad just frowned at Jonah.

“When are you heading back to Ice Moon?” Asked Eli.

“Today,” said Dad as a waiter brought us coffee and cocktails.

“We were hoping to go back with you,” said Noah.

“To Ice Moon? The four of you?” Grunted Dad.

They all nodded eagerly.

“No,” said Dad sternly.

“Dad, may I speak with you, in private,” I said.

“No,” said Dad.

“DAD!” I said.

Dad sighed. We walked away from the table and out of the dining area into an empty hallway.

“Why can’t they come back with us?” I asked.

“Why should they come back with us?” He countered.

“They’re my mates,” I said.

“So! They need to earn you!” Said Dad.

“They broke the curse!” I said defensively.

“You broke the curse?!” Growled Dad.

“Jonah broke up with Angie like you wanted!” I said, my voice becoming more shrill as my emotions got the better of me.

Dad snorted with laughter.

“She’s dead! They didn’t break up!” Said Dad.

“Jonah killed her! To protect me!” I yelled.

“Jonah waited for his former girlfriend to all but kill you before he protected you,” snarled Dad.

“The others are blameless,” I lied.

“Noah and Jonah have been wishy-washy from the start. You think I don’t see things! You think I don’t know things! You think you know better than me! You don’t! You’re young and inexperienced and it shows!” Snapped Dad.

“You let Harper be with his mate no problem!” I snapped back. “Double standards because I’m a girl!” I hissed.

“Don’t insult me!” Roared Dad. “Name one thing! ONE! That Holly has done to harm Harper physically or emotionally!”

“She only just got here! I don’t know!” I said.

Ugh! I couldn’t think of anything and I didn’t actually have any problem with Holly. I felt guilty for bringing her up.

“Let me tell you what I see and what I know, little girl, because that is what you’re acting like!” Hissed Dad.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I was seething.

“Since you want to compare yourself to your brother, Holly is practically Harper’s shadow. She has no complaints, no lingering psycho boyfriend, no reservations, no deadly curse on her family, no need to take Harper back to the Fae village she is from, she has never bullied Harper or helped other people bully Harper. She has never ignored Harper, played hot and cold, humiliated him in front of peers, paraded a different love interest around nor started a fight with you Star!” Roared Dad.

My eyes were brimming with tears as I recalled certain things.

“I know Zaya tried to attack Harper in his wolf form at your school talent show. I know Angelique bullied you and Zaya and Eli didn’t do much to stop it and Noah and Jonah even helped, calling you names too! I know Noah and Jonah played games with your feelings all in the name of the curse! Oh please! Spare me! What does the curse have to do with being mean to you? Had they been better men they wouldn’t have even bothered you or breathed your name until they were ready!” Yelled Dad.

He stopped. He was slightly out of breath.

A waitress had come to check on us. She was standing there awkwardly with a tray of drinks. Dad took a napkin and wiped it on the condensed water droplets on the outside of a glass. Dad waved her inside and she scampered away. Dad took the damp napkin and wiped my neck. I flinched but the concealer had already come off. Dad’s face when he looked at the marks was so forlorn.

“I want you to value yourself enough to know that you’re worth working and waiting for,” he said softly. He handed me the napkin and went back inside.

I stayed out in the hallway just clutching the napkin.