The Sinclair Chaos

Damon stood in the foyer of his mansion, his jaw clenched tight in anticipation. He checked his watch for the third time.

5:12 PM.

It was almost time for the family dinner, one he should have turned down now that he thinks about it. Jordan had tried to reason with him, he really should have listened.

This would be the third family d9nner he would attend after leaving that house, the place he grew up in. He was used to the fake pleasantries between him and his siblings and Rosie's controlling tendencies. He could deal with that but this time was different.

He was anxious, nervous even. Naomi would be there.

He tried his best to avoid running his temple in frustration, he didn't want her anywhere near his cracked family.

“I'm ready.”

Damon looked up at the stairs and his breath caught. Naomi moved down the staircase in a black dress that clung to her curves without revealing too much. Long, fitted sleeves ended at her wrists, and the dress flowed into a gentle A-line skirt that grazed her ankles, hinting at the subtle, barely concealing the sway of her hips with each step.

Damon's eyes took in every inch of her in silence, his gaze seemed to linger longer than he would have wanted it to.

He tried to compose himself but a faint flush crept up his neck. He failed. Miserably.

She was beautiful, there was no denying that truth.

Naomi reached the bottom step, an almost shy smile playing on her lips.

"Ready?"

Damon cleared his throat, his voice rougher than intended. "Yes. The car is waiting." He avoided her gaze, focusing instead on opening the front door.

He stepped aside and allowed her to head out the door. She gave him a slight nod of appreciation as she walked past, filling the air with her perfume. His grip on the knob tightened as she walked past, refusing the urge to reach for her.

The car was already waiting for them and soon, they were on their way out of the mansion.

The ride to Rosie's estate was filled with silence. Damon glanced at his wristwatch more times than necessary and he seemed very uneasy. He was doing everything except staring at her…not when he could barely stop himself from thinking about the most unholy things..

None of this escaped Naomi's watchful eyes, she exhaled, leaning back in her seat.

"You really didn't want to go, did you?"

Damon glanced at her, then quickly away, his eyes catching the passing streetlights. All she did was sit there, looking pretty, he had no clue how to calm the thoughts in his head.

He knew that tattoo was just below her back and if the drape on the back was a bit lower…he'd see it again.

Those words that would forever haunt his dreams. He swallowed hard.

“No.” He managed without sounding like he had a lump in his throat.

“But she's your mother. And it's just for dinner.”

Damon met her gaze but his eyes went down to her lips instead. He opened his mouth to explain but words seemed to be far away from him.

“There's a reason why I told Jordan was the only family of mine you need to meet.” He said simply.

“Or you're just trying to hide me away in your mansion.”

“No. I couldn't even if I tried.” He said calmly. “I'm trying to keep you away from my family.”

He met her gaze again and his eyes took on more details of her face; the line of her jaw and the soft curve of her lips, the words caught in his throat.

He looked away immediately, trying to steady his breath. “Just stick to me. Just for tonight.”

The silence continued until they finally arrived at Damon's childhood home. The car pulled up to Rosie's estate. To Naomi's surprise, the dinner wasn't inside the house.

The garden, decorated with countless fairy lights strung through the trees, had been transformed into a dining space. White linen covered long tables, and the air hummed with hushed conversation and the clinking of glasses.

As they stepped from the car, Damon’s hand laced through Naomi's surprisingly, his gaze fixed on the garden.

“Stick with me. Always.” Damon said, his grip on her hands seem to tighten protectively.

His gaze met Naomi's, she was confused. Eyes staring up at him in question but now is not the time for that.

“Just for tonight.” He adds.

He led Naomi through the garden in silence. Naomi then noticed them: three men and two women, all with striking features like Damon's, sitting by the dining table.

They all looked like they wanted to be anywhere else but here tonight.

Seraphina, Damon's elder sister , locked eyes with Damon and Naomi as they approached the table. Her eyes widened with disbelief.

“Fuck me. He showed up.” She said, making the rest of her siblings turn towards Damon and Naomi.

Damon approached them, his grip remaining firm on Naomi. All he needed to do was get through the night and that would be it! The first and the last for certain.

Rosie was at the furthest end of the garden with some maid, instructing them on what wine to put on the table.

Jordan shook his head, mouthing an apology to Naomi whose smile faltered. Why was he apologising?

“It's really true.” Victor started studying Naomi in silence. “You got married without telling any of us.”

His gaze turned to Damon who ignored him.

"Naomi, these are my siblings," Damon began, his voice formal, introducing them one by one. "My older brother, Victor."

Victor, with Damon's strong build but a warmer gaze, offered a genuine smile.

“Nice to meet you, Naomi.”

"My younger brothers, Jordan and Caleb."

Caleb was quieter than Jordan, with intelligent eyes that seemed to take everything in, nods

Then came the sisters. "And my sisters, Seraphina," Damon said, indicating a woman with striking features and a defiant glint in her eyes.

Seraphina smirks. “Welcome to this hotshot we call a family dinner.”

“Seraphina.” Victor cautioned her. She raises her hands in surrender. “What? She has to know what she's getting herself into!”

Victor turns to Naomi with a smile. “Ignore her. She's a bit…weird.”

“If weird means getting the fuck out of here before mother ruins my life, well. Fuck yeah.” Seraphina pours herself a glass of wine.

Naomi keeps her smile in place. “Its nice to finally meet you.”

“Trust me, you'll regret it later.” Seraphina winked.

"And this is Elara."

Elara, the youngest, had a delicate beauty that seemed almost fragile, smiled.

“Pleasure to meet you. I would have loved to be at your wedding, big brother.” She said, a weak smile on her face.

“I'm really sorry…” Naomi started slowly.

“You should be.” Elara said, a smile still in place.

Naomi wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or not but she kept her smile in place regardless.

Damon pulls a seat out for Naomi, next to Jordan and he takes the seat after hers.

“So, since when have you been married?” Elara asked.

“Long enough.” Damon replied before Naomi could open her mouth.

“I thought mum said six years or something.” Seraphina said, leaning back in her seat.

She has always been seen as the crazy daughter, the rogue but seeing Damon keep a whole wife away from his mother for years was remarkable to say the least.

“You didn't think it was important to invite us? Even if you wanted to leave mother out.” Victor asked

“Is that possible?” Seraphina asked with a chuckle.

“Why would you leave mother out?” Elara asked, her expression now replaced with a frown.

Seraphina leans back. “Oops. Mum's lapdog is here.” She whistles.

“Seraphina!” Caleb cautioned. “Act your age would you?”

Seraphina slammed her wine glass on the table, eyes filled with rage as she glanced Caleb's way. “Hey! I'm dying to mark your pretty face up with a broken glass you know? We could give it a go now.”

“Enough!” Victor cuts in. He exhales, rubbing his temples in frustration. This is the exact reason why he hates coming for these so-called family dinners. It was such a hassle.

“Why? Is your blood sugar going to shoot up again?” Seraphina asked.

Victor shook his head, he's had enough already. “I'll be in the foyer. Elara, call me when it's dinner time.”

Victor gets up, ready to leave.

“Where are you going? Dinner is about to start..”

It was Rosie and soon her eyes landed on Naomi in disdain. Victor returns back to his seat almost immediately.

“Oh. It's Damon and his employee wife.”

Damon met her gaze, jaw clenched at Rosie. She had a slight smirk on her face.

“Her name is Naomi. I don't believe you're at that age yet, to forget things.” He said calmly.

Seraphina bursts into laughter! “Now it's starting to make sense! She's your employee? Damn! You know Rosie has issues with things like this..”

“Can we just have dinner and welcome Damon's wife to the family?” Victor asked.

“Did she marry you for money?” Caleb started, his eyes fixed on Naomi in suspicion. “If she's your employee, that would be a strong motive.”

Naomi's eyes flickered from each person at the table, dinner was yet to be served but it seems she's the roast for the time being..