CHAPTER 8•MEETING THE FAMILY.

~Chiara.

"Stop it mum, She's not who you think she is ."

Alex's voice grated out tensely through the room.

I was puzzled by the statement but even more so with the horror reflected in Margaux's eyes at the sight of my necklace.

Alexander had simultaneously gone very tense beside me.

Margaux tore her gaze from the necklace and turned to him, eyes wide.

"Are you sure?"

"Please stop it. I looked into her records."

I watched her slowly turn her attention back to me , survey my whole body from crown to tip and then -

Nothing.

Her expression dismissed me abruptly. She turned her full attention back to her son like I didn't exist.

"Alex, Son." She greeted him, her voice cool and crisp .She offered him a cheeky and then another .

Alexander didn't kiss it. Just stood there staring around. Margaux rolled her eyes and clasped both hands in front of her.

"Come on , Alexander. It's high time you stopped this touch phobia of yours. Greet your mum properly, darling."

Alexander hesitated. His face flickering with a flurry of emotions before he moved slowly, raised his hands to place on her shoulder -

And they landed lightly on my shoulders instead .

I shot him a confounded glance.

What was going on here ?

I heard conglomerate families were weird but this was the height of it to me.

"Mum,this is Chiara DeLuca," Alex introduced tonelessly "my mother , Margaux Carrington."

Margaux finally spanned her attention to accommodate,I ,the lowly mortal. She took in every detail;my hair , face, my dress and then her eyes lingered again on my necklace.

I felt compelled to explain.

"The necklace was my mother's. Incase you were wondering.Mum gave it to me as soon as she gave birth to me."

Her eyes narrowed , sliding a brief glance toward Alex.He gave a small indifferent shrug.She began stalking towards me.I fought to keep my ground.

'Chiara DeLuca huh?I'm guessing Italian?"

I nodded, swallowing.

Shereached out to run a cold finger through a wisp of my hair.

" But you don't look Italian.Your hair , colouring -"

I hastened to clarify,

"Well actually I'm not my parent's biological child.My parents had trouble conceiving so they did an IVF -with a donated embryo."

The hawk -quality drained from her eyes and I let out a deep breath after holding it for so long.

Not that they had any right to my biological information but she had drawn it from me with just a stare. She managed a smirk at me and I was struck by how much of a resemblance she had with her son.

" A pleasure, Ms. DeLuca. Though I would say your dramatic entry into our family was pretty.... rapid , don't you think?"

I looped my arm through Alex's sharply and forced what I thought was a lovey dovey smile .

"Well , I never thought I'd be so madly in love with someone"

I said brightly.

Margaux scoffed " Of course "

Without further ado, she led us into the dining room . Alex immediately withdrew his arm from mine.

"Don't do that again."

I stared up at him , incensed.

"Excuse me ?You practically tossed me to the wolves while your mother grilled me alive."

His jaw clenched,hands curling into fists .Then he yanked at his tie and flung it aside -it landed perfectly on a doorknob.

" And what did I say about touching me without permission?"

He growled out.His voice hd gone so low it sounded deadly.

My mouth hung open.I had completely forgotten.

"I'm sorr-"

He cut me off by walking faster to the dining table.

That was when I noticed another presence in the room.

A female one with a sceptical and bored look about her as she watched us approach the table -

Scratch that ,she watched ME approach the table-

She was already seated and helping herself to a plate of macarons.

"Amelia?"

Alexander intoned threateningly and I lost a heartbeat in astonishment.This was Amelia Carrington.

The world's number 1 top fashion model .The stuff of every teenager's dream.

"Yes?"

She cooed,batting her lashes at him.She stood and glided towards him.She was an epitome of earthly perfection.Every move of hers was liquid elegance.

I was so lost in my worship I almost didn't hear Alex snap at his mother.

"What's this about, mother?Alex demanded, turning sharply to Margaux.

She gave a careless shrug " What could I say? ,she wanted to meet your new fiancee."

" Hi..I'm Amelia."

Amelia sang , flashing me a dazzling smile as she extended her hand and shook my hand ,her grey eyes so vivid in their beauty ,accessed me thoroughly.

I shook it politely

" Yeah I Know ..I'm-"

" -oh don't bother-" she interrupted smoothly "I already know all I care about you."

Her tone was airy but dismissive and before I could process that sting ,she sauntered back to Alex . Leaning close,she whispered something in his ear .

His eyebrows puckered in fury at first ,then arched in amusement.

What I wouldn't give to know what she was saying.From their relationship, I deduced she was someone close to Alex and from her body language -she was being territorial about Alexander-

Oh my God,

I clasped a hand on my chest in fright while I watched her raise a slender wrist and stroke his cheek out of the blue.

I stared at Alex for any signs of annoyance .

Alexander Carrington was laughing.