Frankie
We settle into the luxurious suite that Dylan reserved for us. I'm looking around in awe. I've never been anyplace this nice. The nicest place that I've ever been is the guy's house and I live there now. Life can't get any better than this.
We're sitting in the living room watching television, discussing dinner options, when there's a knock on the door. Cameron gets up and answers it, "Hey Ronnie." He gives her a hug.
She comes further into the room and all of us stand up and gives her a hug. "They know that Frankie is coming and they are not happy. Please tell me you have a plan."
"We can't leave her alone at all. Even if she goes to the bathroom, one of us have to go with her," Dylan states, "Sweetie, we really need you to stay with one of us. We don't know what they will try to say or do to you."
I have to ask, "I know that I wanted to meet your families, but why did you bring me if it was going to be this bad?"
"Two reasons, we want to show you how proud of you we are and to show them that we are not going to do what they expect us to. The only time that they ever paid any attention to us was when they wanted something from us. When we came into our inheritances, they decided to try other tactics. I was really hoping that we would have a peaceful holiday." Rand sighs.
"I'll be over in the morning to help you get dressed, okay?" Ronnie asks. I nod my head, more nervous than ever.
"It'll be okay sweetie, we'll try our best to keep you out of the line of fire," Cameron's arms come around me holding me to him. I really hope that they can.
Of course I don't sleep at all due to my nerves. "Sweetie, it'll be okay," Cameron mumbles in my hair after I flip-flop in his arms all night long. "Close your eyes and get a little sleep. They'll be easier to handle if you have some sleep." He rubs my back soothingly.
I finally close my eyes and start to drift off when the alarm to get up goes off. I start to get up when Cameron pulls me back down, "Lay here for a minute. We'll come and get you when it's time for you to wake up." I nod and try to drift off again.
"Come on Frankie, time to wake-up," I open my eyes and see Ronnie looking down at me.
I sigh, "It's time?"
"Unfortunately, yes," she grabs my arm and pulls me up out of the bed.
"What time is it?"
"Eleven a.m."
"What time do we have to be there?" I ask.
"One p.m. Cocktails first. Then opening gifts and then dinner. Hopefully, you all will be out by seven p.m." She grimaces, "Go take a shower and when you finish, we'll get you dressed." She pushes me towards the bathroom.
After I finish showering and getting dressed, we walk out into the living room. The guys stand up and look at my purple dress that goes with my purple hair. She styles my hair in waves down my back to my waist and puts a touch of make-up on my eyes and lips. I'm wearing a pair of purple and white low pumps.
"You look gorgeous, sweetie," Cameron says.
"You do," Dylan agrees. Rand doesn't say anything. He walks over and stands in front of me. His eyes are sad as he kisses me on the cheek. I'm really scared about what's going to happen today.
We head out to the SUV and Ronnie goes to her car. We follow her to the house and as we pull up to the gate, my eyes get wide. This house is humongous. I get even more nervous. Dylan is holding my hand and notice me shaking.
"Peach, please calm down. It's going to be okay. We'll take care of you," he squeezes my hand.
We pull up to the front door and it opens immediately. A very elegant woman steps out and looks at us while we get out of the car. Dylan gets out of the car and hurries around to open the door for me. He grabs my hand and helps me out of the car. We step up to the woman and Dylan says, "Hi mother. How are you?"
She kisses his cheek, "I'm doing well." Her eyes move to me, "Oh, who is this?"
"This is my girlfriend, Frances," His hand tightens in mine and pulls me closer. Her gaze flickers over me again.
"Get over it mom, he has a girlfriend and she's gorgeous," Ronnie steps in front of me and hugs her mother, "Where's Amy?" She turns her around and guides her into the house. We all follow.
We walk into a marble entryway with stairs descending on each side. There is a large table in the middle underneath the largest chandelier that I've ever seen. Sitting in the corner before we walk through is a suit of armor.
The hallway as we continue down it, has marbling on the floors. I think I start shaking again, because Dylan's hand tightens around mine. We follow them around a corner and there's a large living room. I look around and I see what I assume are the rest of their family.
His mother doesn't even introduce me, she just sits down by who I assume is her husband. Dylan speaks up instead, "Frances, you've met my mother, Mary, this is my father Marcus," He points at a man who looks like an older version of him, "That's Natalie and Daniel, Cameron's parents; Joe and Meredith, Rand's parents." He continues to point as he introduces everyone else in the room, "That's Rand's brother Lucas; Cameron's brother Rayne; and over there is Leah, Emma and Olivia. No relation."
"Hi Dylan," Olivia purrs.
He rolls his eyes and introduces me to everyone, "and this is my girlfriend, Frances." That earns me a dirty look from Olivia, Emma and Leah. Yep. This will be really pleasant.
He pulls me over to an empty seat and sits me down beside him. Rand and Cameron take a seat on the loveseat next to us. "So Frances, how do you know our boys here?" Natalie asks me through her nose.
"We go to school together," Dylan answers for me.
"I'm sure she can talk for herself. What's your major dear?" Natalie inquires.
"Mechanical engineering." I respond.
"Really? Isn't that a masculine profession?" She asks.
"Natalie, a woman can be a successful engineer," Ronnie defends me. The guys haven't said anything yet. I glance at them and they are looking around the room with blank faces. This is not good.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Marcus asks.
I shake my head, "No thank you." I look around and notice that everyone has a drink in their hand except for us. It's quiet. No one is talking amongst themselves and no one is talking to us. Does my presence make that much of a difference or is it like this always?
After a few more minutes of uncomfortable silence, Marcus speaks up, "Let's go in and open gifts." Everyone stands up and follows him into the next room.
This room is even bigger than the living room that we just came out of. It has a massively ginormous Christmas tree covering one wall. Dylan leads me over to another love seat and we settle in it, with Rand and Cameron sitting in the loveseat beside us. The girls park themselves in the loveseat on the other side of Rand and Cameron.
"So Cameron. What have you been up to?" Emma asks in a sultry voice.
"Going to school." Cameron answers curtly.
Finally, the conversation starts to buzz around us. The attention is moving away from us. Gifts are being handed out to everyone and I sit back observing the room and need to get away for a minute. I lean over to Dylan, "Where's the bathroom? I need to go."
"I'll take you," He takes my hand and leads me through the maze of this big house to a bathroom.
When we stop at the bathroom door I ask, "Why is everyone so quiet? What's going on?"
He sighs, "Since you are considered an outsider, they don't want to say anything around you. Don't be offended, they do that to everyone they don't know."
I don't respond, I just turn and go inside of the bathroom. I take care of business and look at myself in the mirror. The longer I'm here, the more I feel this isn't a good idea. I dab my lips with the towel and step outside. Dylan isn't here, but Cameron's brother is walking towards me.
"Hey Frances," he drawls out.
"Hi," I say quietly.
"I think you should come with me," he takes a step towards me.
I take a step back towards the bathroom, "Why?"
"Because I want some of what you are giving my brother and his friends."
"I'm not giving them anything. Dylan and I are dating," I step back again.
"I see the way they look at you when they think no one's looking. You have to be giving them something. I want a piece," He grabs my arm and starts to pull me away.
I have to think of something, so I say, "Hold on. Let's go over here." I lead him over to an alcove to the left of the bathroom. When we reach there, I get down on one knee.
"That's what I'm talking about," He starts to unbuckle his pants. I ball up my fist and give him an undercut to his balls. He freezes for a second and then falls over into the hall.
"It doesn't matter what I am or not giving them, you don't deserve any of it. I said no! Maybe next time you'll listen." I step over him as he squees trying to form a sentence.
When I step out of the alcove, Dylan is standing there waiting for me, "Awe Peach! I'm so proud of you. That's my girl!" He pulls me to him, kissing me on top of my head and taking my hand, leading me back downstairs. We're sitting down and getting comfortable when Rayne wobbles back into the room and plops down in his seat.
"Where have you been?" His father asks.
"Just went to the bathroom," he gives me a dirty look.
Both Rand and Cameron heads whip around looking at me. Dylan chuckles and tells them, "I'll tell you later.
They both nod and I watch everyone open gifts. All three of the guys get rolex watches and a few other things. After everyone thanks everyone else, we are all lead into dinner. The guys make sure they are all sitting by me. The girls are getting frustrated because they are trying to get the guys attention and they keep shooting dirty looks my way.
I just look down and eat dinner. There are so many courses, I end up only taking a bite of each one. By the time dessert is served, I'm too stuffed to enjoy it. I can't wait until dinner is over so we can leave.
Dylan
I can feel her nerves. This wasn't a good idea bringing her here at all. She gets attacked by Rayne. She getting dirty looks by the set up trio. Now, she's hardly eating. I'm ready to get her out of here. She is so stressed out.
"Dylan, may I have a word with you?" My father asks.
Fuck. "Of course," I follow him into the next room.
"Why did you bring her here? You are supposed to be dating and marrying Olivia," he attacks.
"Well dad, I told you the last time I was home and I'll tell you this time. I don't like Olivia. She is a pretentious bitch. She just wants me for what she can get out of me. My girlfriend in there will actually make a positive contribution to society. What will Olivia do? Reduce the national debt by shopping every day?"
"I have control over your trust fund. I will cut you off," he threatens.
"Dad, you don't have control over any of my accounts. Grandpa signed them all over to me when I turned eighteen." I tell him.
"There's one more for when you turn forty. I'll keep that one from you. I'll just give it to your sister."
"Sorry dad. I have control of that one also. Grandpa signed it over to me before he died. He told me that he did it to keep you from trying to hold it over my head and control me. But even if he didn't, I would let you give it away. I don't like Olivia and I'm not going to let you force me to be with her. I also will not come and work for you after graduation. You will not control my life."
I walk away from him as he sputters. I round the corner and see Rand and Cameron standing in the hall looking ready to kill. I hurry over to them, "Where's Frankie?"
They both look at me with panic in their eyes. Fuck.
QGwk>+T