CHAPTER 10: THE MEETING AND THE TRUTH

Sienna's POV

"Honey, don't start in her presence," Mrs. Linda said, her voice carrying a warning.

"What? Sebastian is trying to prevent a simple greeting," his father replied, his tone sharp.

Amidst the affection, there was still some hidden grudge within this family. I could feel it. The tension. The unspoken words. The anger simmering just below the surface.

"Dad?" Sophia yelled, frustration written all over her face.

Victor raised his hands as he walked over to his seat beside his wife. I turned at Sebastian. He wasn't saying anything, and I wondered what the silence meant. What was he thinking? What was he protecting?

"I'm sorry, sir, for the misunderstanding," I started to say.

"Can we get into what we came here for? I just came here to make you know my wife and not intimidate her," Sebastian suddenly said. His voice was cold and serious. There was a brief silence. I was getting very uncomfortable with the interaction. The way his father looked at me. The way his mother kept studying my face. Like they knew something I didn't.

"What is your name, my girl?" his father finally asked.

I put on a smile. "Sienna Lopez," I said, the lie rolling so smoothly on my tongue that I almost believed it myself.

He nodded, and the air became lighter. Not much. Just slightly. But enough.

"Can we dig in now?" Mrs. Linda asked.

"Yes, I am starving," Sophia added.

We started eating. The food was incredible. Everything was perfectly prepared. Everything was perfect except for the tension that wouldn't go away.

"Where did you and Sebastian meet?" Mrs. Linda asked gently.

I looked at Sebastian, who gave me a reassuring smile. It was the kind of smile that made me believe we were in this together. That we were a team.

"We met on a business trip to Paris," I said, the lie rolling so smoothly on my tongue.

"Wow," she exclaimed, tilting her head as if trying to examine my words gently.

"Yes, we had some issues and never knew I would end up here with him," I added carefully.

Sophia chuckled. "I don't believe Sebastian would end up here. I bet he is really in love with her. I'm so jealous," she pouted.

I laughed. Her words struck something in me. Something I didn't want to acknowledge. I turned at him. He was staring at me, a smirk on his face. Or maybe her words didn't strike anything at all.

"Anyways, welcome to the Ashford family, Sienna," his father said. He was a man of few words.

"It's my pleasure," I replied.

I scooped some meal into my spoon, relieved that this dinner introduction was going as planned. Not until his mother asked the crucial, suspicious question.

"What about your parents?" she asked.

My spoon stopped midway. I put on a smile immediately.

"They are dead," I said, the aspect of that true at least.

"Oh, so sorry dear. I didn't know. I shouldn't have asked," Mrs. Linda said, true emotions written on her face.

"No, ma'am, don't be. They died two years ago, so I was mature enough to handle it," I said carefully. If I should pursue an acting career, I would have gotten to the top.

"Oh, sorry honey. I shouldn't have asked, but something just kept bothering me since I descended from the stairs. You look like the daughter of one of our dead family friends," she continued, her voice trailing off.

My heart started beating fast. So she had noticed. Would I be exposed now? Did she know?

"Woman!" Mr. Victor's deep voice interrupted the moment. "This is a family moment. Do not bring in another matter in here."

"Yes, I know, but I am just stating facts that she looks like that little girl we saw once at..." Mrs. Linda continued.

"Mum, would you just stop this," Sebastian yelled, interrupting her. She fell silent. Her expression was sullen. Sad. Did I remind her of the past?

"For goodness sake, can we just eat in peace? Sebastian's wife came today and Mum and Dad are displaying in front of her. I am really disappointed," Sophia said as she stood up with her food and headed towards the stairs.

"I am really sorry. I should not have brought this," Mrs. Linda said, lowering her head.

I was about to say something, to smooth things over, to make this better. But Sebastian was already moving.

"I think this marks the end of the dinner. You've all met her," Sebastian said coldly. He held my hand immediately, pulling me up forcefully.

"Um, goodbye, Mrs. Linda, Mr. Victor. I hope we meet again," I managed to say as Sebastian pulled me out toward the car.

"We cannot just leave like this," I protested as we walked. We entered the car that was already running. The driver had seen us leaving and started the engine immediately as soon as we got in.

"If we stay here, everything we planned might be exposed. My mum is so emotional right there, and I don't want you to..." he started, his voice tight.

He stopped. Rage. Worry. Unwritten emotions written all over his face.

"Don't want me to do what?" I asked.

"Let's just go home. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow," he said instead.

The car reversed out of the curb as the gate opened, mixing with the traffic. I kept quiet. I was not sure if I had gotten on the good side of this mixed-emotion family of his. What was the vibe between him and his father? Throughout everything I noticed, the both of them had not talked. Not even an eye contact. Was there some grudge between them?

My phone suddenly rang. Mrs. Linda.

"Your mum is calling," I said, turning the phone toward him.

He looked at me and then sighed deeply.

"She might want to apologize. Pick up and hear what she wants to say," he said.

I swiped right and raised the phone to my ear.

"Hello, Sienna. I am really sorry about my attitude at the table few minutes ago. I should not have brought that up," Mrs. Linda said, her voice apologetic.

"I understand, ma'am. Some things just come at unexpected moments," I replied.

"Yes, it's just some family business issues. You do not need to worry about it," she said.

"I am good here, ma'am," I replied with a smile.

"Alright, can we meet? I need just you and me moment. I want to know you more, and there are something I might need to ask you personally," she said in a whisper. I noticed that.

I nodded my head even though she couldn't see me.

"I will be happy for that day, Mum," I said and smiled.

"Okay, I will text you where we need to meet. My regards to that punk. I know he is angry at me at the moment," she said.

I turned at him. He was already busy with some paperwork, staring out the window like the world outside mattered more than this conversation.

"I will," I said.

The call ended. I folded my lips.

"Your mum wants to meet with me," I said.

He raised his head, his eyebrow raised.

"Why?" he asked, his voice suddenly sharp.

"She needed to bond," I replied carefully.

He dropped the papers. "She is not really bonding. I know my mum. She knows already. She recognizes you. Meeting you will prove her fears," he said.

I had taken a guess that this was what the meeting was all about.

"I cannot reject this," I said quietly.

He nodded. "That is why you need to go. My mum has secrets that I do not know about. All what I knew about your parents' death were just through eavesdropping. She would probably tell you more about this," he said.

I nodded. This was a big opportunity to know more about my parents. Information I needed. Information that could change everything.

"Yes, this is a big shot," I said.

He chuckled, but there was no humor in it. He held my eyes.

"I am sorry about the situation you met my family in earlier. It's just always like that sometimes," he said gently.

"Life is not full of roses every time," I replied.

He nodded. He leaned forward suddenly, taking me aback. Butterflies erupted in my stomach. The closeness of him made it hard to think.

"You know what is the happiest for me right now?" he asked.

"What... what is that?" I stuttered, the effect of his closeness erupting my mentality.

"It's because I am married to a smart girl like you, who would be able to handle one of my companies successfully," he said.

Married. Wife. The words hung between us, heavy with meaning.

I blinked repeatedly, unable to say a word. My head was fluttering hard.

"Okay," that single word came out of my mouth.

"By tomorrow, no need for stalling. You would be handling TX Textiles, and I would be introducing you to the board members immediately," he said.

And that was it. I was making progress.

But as I stared out the window at the city passing by, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was walking straight into something I couldn't control. That Mrs. Linda's meeting with me wasn't about bonding. It was about something else entirely.

Something that could change everything.