Chapter 20
Dylan sat up straight.
“Any problem? Are you okay? Did you forget something?”
He bombarded her with questions.
“I should have gotten gifts for your parents”
He sighed and rested his back. He had thought she was hurt somewhere.
“There’s no need for that. They do not need anything”
“Yes, I know, but it is the right thing to do, meeting them for the first time”
Dylan gave in, and they took a paused at a store. She got a tie and a bracelet for his father and mother respectively.
He didn’t tell her there was his grandfather too. He doubted if his grandfather was going to appreciate.
They arrived at the mansion. At the gate, there were two giant lion statues and heavily harmed men. They let them in when they realized who was seated at the back.
The chauffeur parked the car and opened the door for Dylan, who in turn did the same for Sandy.
She mouthed a thank you. Her hands were becoming clammy from nervous. Her insides were shaking.
“Welcome, young master” Dylan nodded as he handed the old butler his coat.
He walked forward but stopped when he felt a hand, holding his shirt.
He turned to look at her.
Sandy shook her head.
“I…I don’t think I can do this”
Powerful families were scary.
Dylan smiled inwardly, she looked cute.
He took the hand that was rumpling his shirt, patted it, and covered it with his.
“It’s okay. They won’t bite” The butler raised a brow.
In his fifty-five years of experience as a butler for the Smith family, he had never seen Dylan act warm with any woman. Jared too. The only woman they cared about was their sister and they became even colder after her death. So, his care towards this lady was a first.
He held her hand as they walked towards the living room. Whatever they were discussing immediately stopped as soon as they saw the couple.
His parents, grandfather, and Jane were the only ones there.
“Father, mother, grandfather, this is my girlfriend, Sandy” he announced.
“Hello Mr and Mrs Smith. Hello….. grandfather”
These were big shots. She suddenly felt like peeing.
Mr Smith only nodded. Old Smith’s face remained impassive, while Mrs Smith offered a kind smile. She patted the empty space on her left. Jane was seated on her right side.
She knew Jane. A very popular and wealthy socialite, a role model for many girls.
“Come here, dear”
Sandy turned to look at Dylan, who nodded. She sat beside her cautiously. She remembered the gifts, reached for it and gave it to them.
“Oh dear. You got me such a nice bracelet. Thank you” She wore it on the spot, checking it out on her hand.
Sandy, however, felt awkward. She had excluded the old man. Most of all, she was angry with Dylan for not informing her earlier. Her cheeks became red in embarrassment.
“I am sorry, grandfather, I didn’t know that…”
“It’s okay dear” Mrs Smith interrupted. “He definitely wouldn’t mind, right, dad?”
She knew the old man. He might put the poor girl in a tight spot.
Old Smith glared at her, and she returned it with a smile. At this stage of her life, there was nothing he could do to her.
Sandy nodded and sat down.
They heard strong footsteps coming towards them.
“Hey bro” Jared patted Dylan’s back. Sandy turned to see who it was. Her eyes widened in astonishment.
How was that poss…. wait! Dylan Smith…. Jared Smith, president of Smith Industries. Crap! How did she fail to connect the dots before now? So, she was going to be in-laws with Valerie’s boss?
Jared recognized her immediately and was surprised to see her, but he didn’t let it show.
“Meet my girlfriend, Sandy Cornell”
“Nice to meet you” He said.
“Same here”
“Master, the table is ready” The butler announced. They all arose to have dinner. Mrs Smith held her hand to the dinner table and made sure to seat beside her. Jane’s face was flushed with jealousy, though she tried not to let it show, but when Jared ditched the seat beside her to sit on the other side with Dylan again, her mask almost fell off.
Mrs Smith and Sandy exchanged small talks over dinner and slowly, she began to feel at ease but not completely. The man at the head of the table scared her. Jane felt sour. The conversation between the two women annoyed her greatly. She glared daggers at Sandy, who was oblivious. But someone saw her.
Mr Smith shook his head and sighed inwardly. After dinner, before anyone could say Jack, Mrs Smith was already dragging Sandy away to her room in the mansion.
The men went to play chess.
Jane was left alone. She bit her lips so much that it drew blood. The servants knew better than to go near her. They steered clear.
She stormed upstairs, angrily. The sound of laughter coming from inside made her blood boil.
Jared’s mum had acted so distant when they had first met. Though, they were considered close now, they were not this close. She had hoped to cement her relationship with Jared by clinging to his mother. He listened to her most of the time. Now this lady came out of nowhere and won her over with a piece of cheap bracelet. She hated Sandy even more.
She knocked softly.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me auntie. Can I come in?”
There was silence on the other hand for some time. Jane gritted her teeth.
“Come in”
There was just a bit of a smile on their faces, and it looked fake, like she had interrupted something important.
“Er…. I was wondering if I could join you” She said.
“Of course, dear. Have a seat. I was just about to tell your sister-in-law to help you with your engagement plans”
‘Sister-in-law? They were not even married yet’ she thought, forgetting that she was completely part of the family yet.
“Sure auntie” she plastered a smile on her face. They talked more into the night but were interrupted when Dylan knocked on the door.
“We are about to leave, mum” he said.
“Oh” she said, disappointed. “Then you should bring her to the house often” she turned to Sandy. “If he doesn’t, just call me, okay honey?”
“Yes auntie”
They were already at the entrance of the room when Mrs Smith stopped them again.
“One more thing. She reached into her bag and brought out what looked like a folder.
She stuffed it into her hands.
“Open it when you get home”
Sandy was curious.
“Thank you auntie”
She nodded, and they proceeded to leave. They encountered the butler.Material © NôvelDrama.Org.
“Where is grandfather?” He had hoped to find him in the living room.
“Master had gone to bed. He says he doesn’t want to be disturbed” the butler said respectfully.
Dylan raised a brow. He could feel his grandfather didn’t like Sandy, but that wasn’t going to stop him.
“We are leaving then”
They walked towards their car when they heard someone’s call.
“Dylan” he turned in the direction of the voice.
“Dad” Mr Smith walked towards them. He was a reclusive man who only said little. He had even refused when his father wanted to pass the chairmanship of the company to him.
He reached into his pocket and brought out an envelope.
“This is for you” he said to Sandy, who collected it, confused why they were giving her gifts, meeting her for the first time.
“Thanks uncle” he nodded.
“Goodnight Dad” Mr Smith nodded again and walked into the house.
While they drove towards her house, she could not contain her curiosity. She was dying to know what the stuff was.
Reading her mind, Dylan said, “You can open it, if you want”
“Really”
He nodded. She reached for the one she received from his mother. As she had guessed, it was a document. The more she read it, the more her heart rate accelerated.
“Holy shit”