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Chapter 7

All work, no play

Tobias' POV

"Marcus," I say, my jaw is tighter than it has been in days. I hold the phone close to my ear.

"Tobias, my boy, how's it going up there?" He asks, sounding cheerful as ever.

"Fine. Everything is fine," I say, reassuring him.

"Good. Good." He says. I walk a little further from the group and deeper into the woods. I stop short of a few trees, leaning against a large tree trunk as I exhale silently. Even miles away I feel my anxiety kick in by just talking to him. "So, what have you observed so far? Should I be impressed with your report? I bet you must be close to having it done already." He speaks. I can hear it in his voice, he wants nothing more than for me to tell him exactly what he wants to hear.

"The grounds are larger than the typical property, Marcus. I haven't toured everything just yet." I informed him.

"You haven't toured it all yet?" He says, with disappointment in his tone. "Well, what the hell have you been doing up there all this time? You're not being paid to just lay around…" He continues, I can hear the large sigh as he processes how much of a disappointment I am once again to him. Fuck. "Should I get Eric on this? Maybe this was too much for you to handle, "he says.

"I have it under control, Marcus." I assure him.

"Well, I hope so… I expect the paperwork from you come Christmas Eve. I want no surprises, no stone left unturned."

"Yes, sir," I submit. Feeling more like the child under his control and not the adult that I have been trying to prove I am.

"Well, I hope so." He says, ending the call.

"Goodbye to you too," I say sarcastically as I slip the phone back into my pocket. Son of a bitch!

I walk back to the group; I feel like a child stomping their feet after not getting their way. I walk up to Tris who seems to be chatting it up with a couple that I don't know. The woman is short with dark hair. She is taller than Tris, fuller, with luscious curves. But something about her tells me that she is high maintenance. The male next to her is tall and claims his girl one hundred percent, as he has his arm draped over her. They are laughing at whatever they and Tris are talking about.

"Excuse me," I say, announcing myself.

"Hi." The woman greets me, eyeing me.

"Oh um… Four." She says, smirking like my nickname is some kind of inside joke. "Four, this is Christina, and her husband Will." She gestures between the three of us.

"Four? Like the number?" Christina asks, her voice is full of amusement as she continues. "What was one through three taken?" Yup, like I have never heard that before. I see Tris give her the eye, trying to wordlessly tell her to shut up.

"Is there a problem?" I ask, sounding more intimidating than I mean to.

"No." She says, her eyes falling to the ground.

"Anyways," I say, turning towards Tris. "I need to go. I have work to do." I spit out.

"Oh okay. Sure. I have to get back anyways, I'm sure my mom needs help with something." Tris says, nodding.

We spotted the group pretty quick, although they weren't hard to find. Just follow the loud laughter from Uriah's loudmouth and there you go. You'll never lose him. When we catch up, we let them know that we both are pressed for time and need to get back. Although they act a little bummed, they don't press for anything more. I do see Zeke and Shauna both share a look as Tris and I walk away together. What was that about? I have no idea.

"I was wondering if you could help me, I need to see the whole property inside and out today." I announce as Tris cranks up the heat in the car.

"Um… That could be a challenge, but I can see what can be done." She says as she pulls out. I wonder for a moment what could possibly make it such a challenge. The property can't be that big. Can it?

Tris' POV

We get back to Prior Valley within no time, I feel like banging my head against the steering wheel. Doesn't he understand how large the property is? Why is it so hard for him to understand that not everything is done by the snap of your fingers. I take a deep breath, trying to keep myself calm and cool for now.

"Why don't I see what's for lunch? We can eat before heading back out." I suggest. Honestly, I just need a little distance from this jerk right now. For the whole drive back, the whole twenty-three-minute drive, all Tobias could seem to talk about was the lack of snowmobiles and why we don't have them.

"You seriously don't have a snowmobile? I don't get it…" Tobias continues on. I fight the annoyance raging inside of me, as I listen to him ask time and time again. As if asking the same question in different ways will somehow get a different answer magically out of me. "You can't just find a way to borrow one, or rent one for the day?"

"No." I sigh. I'm not sure how many more ways I can say the word no or explain why my father…The current owner doesn't like the noise from them. He says it disturbs the guests. But what does he know about being mindful of others?

"Yeah, that sounds like a plan." Tobias says, his tone hinting to me that he isn't very thrilled with me right this moment either. I tell him to take a seat while I peek in the kitchen. I walk almost too fast into the swinging doors.

"Hey Mom… Hey Hana," I greet them, dropping myself into the empty bar stool next to Hana. My mom is busing herself dicing onions.

"Hey sweet girl," my mother says as Hana smiles and says "hello."

I glance behind me at the kid's table and chairs, smiling at the two adorable children who seem to be busying themselves building jumbo Lego buildings.

"You're back fast." My mother notices.

"Yes," Hana agrees. " I was about to say the same."

"Yeah…" I roll my eyes. "Umm... Mom, do you think that Dad would approve a snowmobile just this once?" I ask. Hating the thought of having to answer to him. It reminds me of the countless arguments we have had over the years about changes to Prior Valley that should be necessary, but he thought of it as an unnecessary luxury and a distraction to the guests.

"Why on earth would you ask that? You already know the answer." She says.

"Tobias wants to tour the grounds…" I explained, short and simple. Hoping to answer her question, but not give too much away.

"Well then you should already know what to tell him." My father says, grumpily as he enters the kitchen. "All these city folks… they just never know how to slow down and smell the lemons." His tone is nothing but disappointment and worry.

"I already told him that, I just wanted to express his needs and wants." I answered, hoping to calm my father. A part of me wants him to know that this obviously isn't me trying to go behind his back and do what I want. But he and Caleb did want me to play nice. Which is exactly what I'm doing now.

"Well then, that a girl." He says, taking a bowl of hot stew and exiting the kitchen once again. I feel the instant relief the moment he leaves, as if the pressure in my lungs just escaped.

"So, tell me, what did you think of my Tobias?" Hana asks.

"Oh yes… do tell." My mother says, joining in.

"Tell you what?" I ask, having no idea what they are getting at.

"Oh come on, girl, my Tobias is a real looker. Don't you think so?" Hana presses on.

"I mean if you like that intimidating, annoying, overconfident type" I say, trying to hide the defensiveness in my voice. There is no way in hell I would ever think Tobias is anyone more than what he is… an ass.

"My Tobias, intimidating… No. You just have to get to know him. He's a good man. You'll see." Hana says, patting my hand that sits on the counter. My mother smiles, as if she knows something I don't. I shake my head in disbelief, let them think all they want. I know better. I probably should get back out there. I stand up from my seat, I have left Tobias waiting long enough. I grab two large bowls and fill them with the same beef stew my father just did. I breathe deeply the delicious smell of my mother's stew, before placing them on a tray along with a slice of bread each, a few napkins and some utensils. I smirk, telling them that I will see them later. I have to return back to my guest. My very handsome, impatient guest.

Revised by: FDFobsessed