13

   The dinner table looked like it had been carefully put together by an artist. Grilled turkey sat right in the middle of the table. Mrs Wyatt had put together so much effort into the dinner. She ensured the expensive chinaware plates were placed carefully. The room was well decorated with candles lit in strategic corners of the room. A harper played at another corner, releasing soft melodious tunes. Nate overheard one of the servants say Mrs Wyatt flew the harper all the way from Ireland. That was how much extra she was.

One Christmas when she was hosting a party, she invited ballerinas to grace the occasion and had real swans in the hall. One of the swans got flustered, causing a tray of food to topple over. 

   Nate resisted the urge to laugh at Mrs Wyatt’s efforts. She was so extra when hosting dinners and made it look like she was hosting a royal event. Ever since he was in high school, it was always the same routine with Mrs Wyatt inviting his family over for fancy dinners. She always tried to impress him although he was rather amused than impressed.

  “Oh welcome darling” Mrs Wyatt said in a singsong voice as she placed a peck on both sides of Nate’s cheek. He reminded himself to wear a smile and be polite and not comment on how funny he thought everything was.

Mrs Wyatt greeted Mrs Jacobin in the same manner as she ushered them into the hall. Mrs Jacobin acted surprised as if it wasn’t the same pattern every time Mrs Wyatt invited them over.

 Grace Jacobin had spent the previous day begging her son to come for the dinner, she knew her son was strong headed but she was persistent. They came to an agreement that if he went for the dinner, she would lay off him. 

 “Taylor would be down in another minute” Mrs Wyatt announced.

Nate and Grace took their seats while Mrs Wyatt lashed out orders to the servants. To Nate’s happiness, Mr Wyatt wasn’t going to have dinner with them as he was out of the country. Mr Wyatt was a thorn in his flesh, he had always tried to force Nate to go on a business trip with him.

  A couple of minutes later, Taylor was walking down the stairs in a red flowing gown with a deep plunging neckline. Her hair and makeup were carefully done.

“You’ll make such a beautiful bride” Grace gushed 

Nate wrinkled his nose mockingly. Taylor was going to make a perfect actress. She sashayed gracefully to the dinner table where she joined them, taking her seat beside Nate. 

They hadn’t spoken to each other after their dispute in his office. Taylor was surprised but glad he honored her mother’s invitation. She was yet to figure out what was behind his new behavior but made a mental note to do so before the week ran out.

 The servants began dishing out a healthy amount of food unto their plates.

Nate had mentally prepared himself for what was coming up. He aware that Mrs Wyatt was going to try to bring up discussions about marriage.

He had known Taylor since he was five but he never took what was going on between them serious. 

He believed in having flings every now and then with no emotional strings attached but Taylor believed in the exact opposite.

  “So, how is the company doing? I saw on the news that you were awarded a contract worth millions of dollars” Mrs Wyatt started as she lifted her wineglass to her lips.

  Nate sighed mentally, he wished she could cut the chase and go straight to the reason she invited him and his mother.

“Everything is going smoothly” was his curt reply 

Things at the company were infact very great although very tedious too. Ever since Ruby won the company the contract, they had become extra busy as more and more business deals kept coming in. He thought of the brunette and her annoying aura. She was also buried in work and he had no time to upset her. He was a little concerned that she was breaking down. 

During their last meeting, he had noticed she kept zoning out. On top of that, she looked troubled.

   To make up for the coffee he threw away, he wanted to take to the finest coffee shop in Oregon and treat her nicely. A little shiver ran through him as he was freaked out by his own thoughts, why was he thinking of the annoying brunette this much?

 “Nate, Nate….” 

The death stare on Taylor’s face told him he was in for a lot of drama and shouting. He was lost in his own world and wasn’t listening to anything being said at the table.

  “I’m sorry, what were you saying?” He asked

He realized he had barely touched his food or wine.

  “Do you want to tell us what is going on?” Taylor demanded. “This is your best wine and you haven’t had a sip of it”

  His eyes fell to his feet, the dinner was a totally bad idea. He could feel the eyes of the three women bore holes into his skin. Work, that was his usual lie.

  “I’ve been busy at work, I’ve had to double my efforts” he said quietly.

He was sure they were going to buy his lie.

 “You should have said so,” Mrs Wyatt said pitifully. “I think you deserve a break from everything”

  Grace remained quiet as she returned to her meal. She knew her son better, he wasn’t interested in Taylor but Mrs Wyatt and her daughter kept pushing the idea ever since they were kids.

 “So, let’s talk about your marriage” Mrs Wyatt smiled, her eyes twinkling.

Nate had had enough of her and her sickening dinner. He needed an excuse to get away from everything. He took a slice of potato and choked on it purposely, making the women panic as servants rushed to their side. Nate smiled to himself, dinner was finally over.