The car pulled over on the drive way of the Gordon Mansion. No matter how many times he has to be to this house, the memories were still fresh in his mind. He had been locked inside every small area inside that house.
He forced the memoriss out and focused on the woman besides him.
"Are you ready?" he asked her.
"Yes." He entwined their hands and pretended not to hear her sharp inhale. He led them to the huge double doors where Max, one of the house butlers, opened for them.
"I thought this was a family dinner." Claire whispered and he tried to ignore the tingling sensation on his ear.
"I thought so too. George said..." Ryan groaned in frustration. Of cause that bastard had lied to him. Honestly he was surprised why he was surprised. Those idiots will always be bastards.
"This is different, Ryan. Ten people I can handle. There are more than thirty people here." He sensed the panic in her voice.
"Hey, look at me," he took her face into his hands and continued, "you will be fine. Just like we practiced, okay?"
After a full minute of breathing exercises, Claire entwined their hands again, plastered her most charming smile and said to him, "Okay, let's go meet the family."
"That's my girl." Ryan returned her smile.
Relax Claire. He doesn't mean anything by that.
Claire ignored all the stares she was getting from everyone in the room. From the males, he couldn't stop undressing her with their eyes, to the females, for drawing the attention of their dates to her.
Every person in here was high social elite. Even the Minister of state was present at this party. The air smelt of money and power. Suddenly Claire began to feel small. She didn't belong with these people. These were the kind of people who made people like her feel less human, like they were just beggars waiting at their feet for crumbs. She felt Ryan squeeze her hand.
"For what it's worth, you're the most beautiful in this room." He continued to walk like he hadn't just said what he just said. She was about to say something when she felt a chill behind her back. If looks could kill, she would be six feet under right now because the cold glance, Vanessa was giving her now, it was enough to freeze the Pacific Ocean. The room went quiet as people expected to see drama unfold. It was no secret that Ryan and Vanessa had been the 'It' couple of New York city and when they divorced, the people were very disappointed. Nobody really knows the story -not even her- why the divorced happened. The media just said the family wanted to keep it in the family.
Claire had never seen Vanessa face to face until she was divorced to Ryan and she had started stalking him at work. One time she had found her sitting inside Ryan's office wearing nothing but a red lingerie, laying on his desk. Apparently she had wanted to surprise Ryan and thought he was the one who had entered. It had not gone according to plan. As soon as Ryan entered the office, screaming and crying were heard from his office and a few minutes later, Vanessa ran to the elevator with one hand on her coat and the other holding a pair of red stilletos.
Vanessa was beautiful then and she was beautiful now in her short red dress that looked two sizes too small. Her breasts were practically splilling out of it.
Jesus, could she breathe in that thing?
Claire watched Vanessa sashaying towards them, bringing every male towards her hips. She definitely knew what she was doing and it was working. Ryan put his hand on Claire's waste and pulled her closer.
"Well, well, well." Her bloody red lips stretched in a smile which didn't reach her eyes and said loud enough for everyone to hear, " If it isn't the secretary." Small gasps and quiet murmers filled the room. Proud that her little stance was working, she continued,
"Yes everyone, this is the secretary who seduced my husband." More gasps. This was the typical rich people. They thought everyone was out for their stupid money. Okay maybe she was, but her case was different. She didn't need the money for herself. If situations at home were better, she would be in her pjamas right now, a glass of red wine on the table and a bloody horror movie on the TV. But instead she was here, dealing with entitled bitches like Vanessa who thought the world belonged to them just because they had a few dollars to their name.
"Are you done?" Claire asked casually then she turned to the crowd. "Hi, everyone. I'm Claire, the secretary and also the wife." She raised her hand to reveal the sparkling stone. More gasps were heard. She looked around the crowd. Some people had admiration on their faces that she hadn't cowered away from Vanessa while others were angry that she had dared to show her face.
"I for one, am so happy to meet you." Claire looked for the owner of the voice and saw a young woman -probably a few years younger than her- skip towards her. "Hi!" She shrieked before throwing herself into her arms. Claire didn't know what to do so she just hugged her back. " I'm so happy you're here."
"I'm sorry, who are you?" The woman gasped and punched Ryan on the arm.
"You idiot! You didn't tell her who I am." Another punch.
Ryan rubbed his shoulder pretending to hurt. Claire couldn't help but find him adorable. "Babe, this is my favourite sister..."
"Your only sister." she interjected and Ryan laughed.
"Babe, this is my only sister, Rachel. Rachel, Claire, my wife." He kissed her forehead and Claire smiled at Rachel.
"I see it now, you have the same eyes." She noticed the grey-blue eyes except hers were big and innocent compared to Ryan's which were dark and mysterious and held so much danger and secrets.
Rachel had began to practically drag Claire when Vanessa cleared her throat. They had literally forgot she was there.
"Rachel? Aren't you gonna greet your sister in law?"
"Come, let's meet grandma." Rachel took Claire's hand and they walked away from Vanessa.
***
By dinner time, Claire had been introduced to almost everyone including the family. George was the second eldest and she instantly disliked him especially when he was trying to touch her. Grant was the third and just like his brother, total asshole. Then there was Graham, the baby brother. It didn't take much to notice that he was one of those mama's boy. Well, truth be told, they all looked like mama's boys except Ryan. Next was his father and mother. Now she knew where the strong jaw line all the brothers possessed came from. She noticed his eyes which were black just like the other three brothers. Ryan and Rachel must've gotten their eyes from their mother then.
Nope.
They didn't.
Claire remembered when Ryan had introduced her as his wife, she had literally scoffed before asking,
"What about Vanessa?"
"What about her?"
"She's your wife."
"Ex-wife." he said through gritted teeth.
"I will never accept this," she looked Claire from head to toe in disgust, "gold digger in my house."
"Well, good thing it isn't your house, now is it Alice?" Everyone looked at the old woman who was standing behind them.
"Grandma!" Ryan walked past Alice, who Claire learnt she was actually his stepmother, and went to give his grandmother a hug.
"You've grown, grandson." she pinched his cheeks like he was a baby. It still amazed her to see this side of Ryan. She saw him gesture her to come to him.
"Grandma," he took her hand, "this is my beautiful wife, Claire. Babe, this is grandma."
"What's that you holding?"
"I- it's a present for you." Claire handed her the box. Her heart was beating rapidly as his grandmother unwrapped the box.
"Candles?" Alice said in disbelief. "She brought candles?"
"These are lovely, my dear. I love lillies." Claire let out a sigh of relief. She was glad the woman liked her because she didn't want to disappoint Ryan. She ignored the butterflies in her stomach when Ryan kissed her temple as if he was proud of her for winning his grandma's approval. " Every year it's always some china, jewelery. I'm eighty years old for fuck's sake! What am I going to do with some tea cups?"
Claire didn't want to laugh but damn, did grandma had a mouth on her. She could imagine that she hand been a handful in her days.
"Grandma, we have talked about your language."
"Sue me." Ryan shook his head but she knew was laughing inside. " Are ever going to eat today?"
Claire and Ryan found their table which were accompanied by all the siblings with their respective partners except for Rachel. Since no one knew Claire was coming, Mr Gordon had given up his chair for her. Alice and Vanessa were clearly not happy about it. Things were bound to get interesting.
Dinner was served and Claire was absolutely famished. Vanessa waved to a waiter who came and placed a plate in front of Ryan.
"Ryan, I made this myself because I know how much you love fish." The whole table went silent with only the sound of cutlery clinking on the plates.
"It's absolutely delicious, Ryan. Try it." Alice chimed in.
Claire mentally banged her head on the imaginary wall in her mind. She didn't understand why these people were trying to provoke her. Ryan never liked fish. She learnt that on her second day of work when she had ordered him food. Even though he never said it himself, whenever someone ordered lunch with fish for him, he ate everything but. Now she knew that he didn't say anything because he didn't want to be rude. Good God, this man was perfect.
She noticed the look on his face when he was staring at the fried bream with a salad on the side. "Here. Take this." she swapped their plates, giving him the steak and roasted potatoes.
"What do you think you're doing?" Vanessa was breathing fire now. She just stared at her and replied casually,
"My husband doesn't like fish, Vanessa." She popped a little piece into her mouth. "Mmm. A little dry, but good."
Anyone who looked at their table would just see normal people who were having a normal dinner but that was far from the truth. If Claire wasn't sitting four people away, she was sure Vanessa would have stabbed her by now.
"Let's eat together then." Ryan cut a piece with his fork and brought it to her mouth. She stared at him for a second before the meat disappeared in her mouth. She closed her eyes as the juices hit her taste buds. Now that was some steak. When she opened her eyes, another piece was in front her and she gratefully took it.
Not wanting to be the only one eating, she rinsed fork with her tongue, cut a piece and brought it to his mouth. He smiled at her before wrapping his gorgeous lips around the fork and that's how they spent the rest of the dinner, feeding each other steak and potatoes completely ignoring envious and death glances from some where at the table.