CHAPTER 9: THE DINNER

Sebastian's POV

I was amused by where that boldness was coming from.

"And why do you want me to put you in that position?" I teased, leaning back slightly to study her reaction.

She was serious. Dead serious.

"An idea just popped into my head," she started to explain.

I chuckled, cutting her words short. She tilted her head, an eyebrow raised at my interruption.

"I know this request is out of nowhere, and I shouldn't be asking," she continued, her voice uncertain.

"Deal," I said simply.

She froze and leaned back, surprise clearly written all over her face.

"That was quite fast. I mean, I was expecting you to disagree with me," she said.

"Do you want me to withdraw my answer back?" I asked, knowing full well what her response would be.

"No, no," she said quickly.

There was a brief silence between us. I could see her mind working, trying to understand my quick acceptance. But she didn't need to understand. Not yet.

"These are things to do to make this marriage look real. And since you proposed it, I cannot refuse it," I said, though the words felt hollow even to me. The truth was far more complicated. The truth was that I would give her anything she asked for. CEO position. A company. The world if she wanted it.

I held her eyes, a gentle smile spreading on my face.

"We would discuss this after this dinner. Now, can we go in?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied.

We got out of the car. I walked over to her side, hooking her hand into my arm. She was so soft. I noticed that. The way her hand felt in the crook of my elbow. Like she belonged there. Like this wasn't pretend.

"There are cameras. We need to look real," I lied. There were indeed cameras, but they couldn't be watching right now. I just needed an excuse to touch her. Just needed a reason to be close to her.

"Really?" she asked sarcastically, her eyes meeting mine with a challenge.

I nodded with a smirk, even though inside I was falling apart. I breathed in and out slowly. I was about to face my father. His secrets sat deep in my chest, unable to be spoken until I was sure of the full truth. And she didn't know what I was keeping from her. She didn't know that the man beside her, the man she was beginning to trust, was complicit in the murder of her parents through his silence.

"Welcome, sir," the family attendant greeted us at the door.

"Hello, Paul," I said, my voice steady despite the chaos inside me.

Sienna's POV

Surprisingly, I wasn't expecting him to accept my request that quickly. But all the same, I was making progress. That apart, the environment was on a completely different level. Family-based. I should be the one tensing, but he was beside me, and somehow that made everything feel manageable.

We entered the house, and there was a young lady sitting on the couch amidst the large luxurious living room. As soon as she saw us, she sprang up and rushed toward Sebastian.

"Welcome home, brother," she said, her face bright with genuine affection.

He hugged her back, and I could see there was real sibling affection between them. Something I had never experienced. Something I had always envied about people who had families.

"When did you get here?" he asked.

"As soon as Mummy said you were bringing your wife," she replied, turning to me with an enormous smile.

"Oh, I'm sorry, babe. I did not tell you about my sister. Meet Sophia," Sebastian said.

I put on a smile and looked at her. She sure looked like him. The eyes. The hair. She was tall in that model-form way. Gorgeous. An expensive lady in every sense of the word.

"Hi, Sophia, it's my pleasure seeing you," I said.

She immediately hugged me, touching me all over like we had known each other for years.

"Oh my God, you look so pretty in person. I mean, I was over excited when Sebastian sent your picture to me," she said enthusiastically.

I glanced briefly at Sebastian. That damn smirk was back on his face. He had sent her a picture? When? How? Why hadn't he told me?

"Come on, please sit," Sophia said, holding my hand as she led me to the couch.

"Mum, brother is here," she yelled upstairs.

Soon she started discussing with me, asking me questions about where I was from, what I did, how I met Sebastian. She seemed free-spirited, genuinely interested in getting to know me. Sebastian had gone to some hallway, leaving us two together. Some chefs came forward, serving us appetizers that looked too beautiful to eat.

"Do not mind the settings of our house. Mum and Dad are attending to some things in the hall room," Sophia explained.

I nodded my head. I was not here to rush. I was here to make a mark. To plant myself firmly in this family's world so I could use it to destroy Dominic. And it seemed to have started so fast with her.

"Do not worry about that. I am as patient as you would not think," I said.

She chuckled, holding my hand and folding her legs under her on the couch.

"My brother is not someone to bring in someone even when he was dating K," she said casually.

Miss K. The lady those attendants were whispering about. So she was real. So she was his ex.

My chest felt tight, but I forced myself to smile.

"Oh really?" I asked, keeping my voice light.

"Seriously? Sebastian didn't tell you about that bitch?" Sophia asked.

I smiled nervously. "Well, maybe he is not comfortable talking about his ex," I said, choosing my words carefully. But inside, I was wondering. Who was this K? How serious had they been? Did he still think about her?

"Sophia, can you stop asking her unnecessary questions?"

A rich feminine voice said from behind us. The sound of heels descending the stairs followed.

"Mum, I am just trying to bond with her," Sophia protested.

I stood up and turned. Mrs. Linda Ashford stood before me. Sebastian had mentioned her name, but meeting her in person was different. She was a woman who controlled companies. A woman with power. She had that air about her. Her dark hair was styled perfectly, not a strand out of place. Her face was lined with age but maintained with the kind of skincare regimen that cost thousands. She wore a cream-colored dress that screamed wealth. Diamond earrings caught the light. Everything about her screamed authority and control.

"You look so beautiful," she complimented, her eyes studying me like I was a puzzle she was trying to solve.

"Thank you, Mrs. Linda," I replied.

"Just call me Mum," she said, her smile reaching her eyes.

I saw the wrinkles form around her eyes as she smiled. Her skin was flawless, golden from good genes and expensive care.

"And what is your name, my girl?" she asked.

"Sienna Lopez," I said, the false name rolling off my tongue smoothly.

She held my arm, checking me out with an intensity that made me wonder if she could see through the lie.

"Lopez," she repeated, like the name was new to her. Did she notice anything? Did she know who I really was?

"Yes, ma'am," I said, sounding true and convinced.

"Mum, I am gonna get Dad right now. The food is going to get cold. I am fucking hungry," Sophia said, stomping up the stairs.

"Come on, let's seat at the dining," Mrs. Linda said, leading me away. "Speaking of which, where is that brat?" she demanded as we walked.

The atmosphere of the family looked so calm. It made me suddenly feel so among them, having not grown up with family or anyone to love me. The affection I was witnessing, even if it was just pretend on my part, touched something in me that I didn't want to acknowledge.

"Here I am, Mum. You do not need to call me a brat," Sebastian said, showing up suddenly. He sat down beside me immediately.

"You punk. Why don't you ever visit? If not for this dinner, I would not even remember what my son's face looks like," she said, her tone teasing but with real affection underneath.

He looked at me and winked.

"Now I am here. Happy?" he asked her.

She rolled her eyes. I chuckled gently. He held my hand suddenly, interweaving our fingers. It caught me by surprise. Our hands fit together perfectly, like they were made for this.

"Are you okay?" he mouthed.

I nodded, even though my heart was racing with his closeness.

Soon Sophia's chatter came near, mixed with heavy footsteps behind her.

"Dad, you need to see Sebastian's wife. She is so pretty," Sophia announced.

I picked up on her words and my smile widened. I wanted to stand up to show some respect as soon as he appeared at the top of the stairs, but Sebastian held me down immediately. I looked at him questioningly.

"I said, do not be intimidated by him," he whispered.

"I am not intimidated. I am just showing respect to someone older than me. Someone who is going to be my father-in-law," I replied back quietly.

I looked up, and his mother was watching me closely. She smiled as soon as our eyes met. There was something in that smile. Something knowing. Something that made my skin prickle.

"Honey, come seat here," she said, not looking away from me.

I had to turn, and there was Mr. Victor Ashford coming down the stairs. He was huge and tall, a splitting image of Sebastian. I wanted to stand up to show respect, but the man beside me wouldn't let me do that. He kept his hand firm on my hand, keeping me seated.

"It seems Sebastian wouldn't allow his wife even to show some respect," Victor said suddenly, after seconds of silence. His voice was deep. Authoritative. The kind of voice that made people listen.