Frankie's point of view:
"Will you stop, you're making me nervous."
"I am nervous." I bite back, narrowing my eyes at Jason's relaxed posture. He rolls his eyes, smoothly turning his car into the much nicer and richer side of the city. Long driveways and high gates with tree blocking the view of the houses, I gape and continue to wipe my hands on my thighs. "How are you not?"
"Because they're my parents?" His words form more of a question than a answer. He chuckles, checking on me again. "Please stop biting your lip, you're going to either get lipstick on your teeth or pierce a hole. Calm down will you? It's only a small dinner, it's really nothing to get so worked up about."
I scoff, huffing back into the seat of his warm black Aston Martin. "Easy for you to say."
He laughs again, his hand moving to graze atop of my knee. My body stiffens, a strangled breath lurching in my throat. "You'll do great. I tried explaining to them what happened and I told them you're just my receptionist, but mother insisted to meet the girl who was making the headlines employee or not."
And just as quickly as the butterflies were released, they were captured back into the cage and sent barrelling into the pits of my stomach at the reminder. Just his receptionist. Of course. I give him a tight smile and he taps my knee, returning back to the steering wheel. I remain silent, to afraid of what may come out of my mouth next with the swarming thoughts that I had.
"We're here."
Just like the others, they had a high risen gates and a never-ending driveway. It was beautiful and this was just the grounds. The tyres scrape along the gravel, circling around the gorgeous fountain that acted like a mini roundabout outside their house - that's how rich they were. Jason's echoing laugh runs through my ears but I still stare with my mouth wide. I didn't even notice Jason had already let himself out until he opens the door for myself.
"Stop staring, it's weird."
Of course it was weird. I came from a tiny little two-story house in the lesser side of New Jersey with my father working two jobs just to keep us happy and safe whereas to him, this was just home - normal. I give him a forceful smile, staying tight by his side as he leads us up to the enchantingly beautiful carved doors with handles bigger than my fist. My fingers ached as I grip my clutch tighter. Much like the outside, the inside was just as beautiful.
High rise ceilings, incredibly sparkly chandelier with a double staircase curving up both sides of the foyer to the next floor. I gulp, clenching that little bit harder. Jason removes his coat, unravelling his scarf and hanging it by the door before reaching for the shoulders of mine. I blush, thanking him as he hangs it beside his own.
"My boy!"
The flash of blonde hair flew past my eyes and Jason grunts with a chuckle. She was no taller than his shoulder, in fact she was the same height as myself. He rolls his eyes dramatically over her shoulder and I bite back my giggle.
"You seen me last week, mom." He groans jokingly as she holds him at arm's length and sighs happily. "Mom, this is Frankie. Frankie, meet my mom - Rachel."
Brown eyes like her sons meet mine and she grins wide, her cheeks looking like they could pop. My eyes almost leave the sockets as I was huddled into a tight hug with the sweet, flowery scent filling my nostrils. Jason pulls at his lips to hide his smirk and amusing laugh. Her hands hold my shoulders and her grin is still prominent.
"It's so nice to finally meet you!" She beams excitedly. "I've been pestering this son of mine to bring you over for two weeks now! It's like he wanted to hide you away - I can't understand why."
Because I was his employee.
"We'll go as quickly as we came if you don't stop picking on me." He jokes, roping a arm around her shoulder. "So, what's for dinner?"
She smacks his arm and rolls her eyes at me. "Never changes, still has appetite to feed the five thousand. We're having beef stroganoff, I hope you don't mind that Frankie."
"Sounds good." I quietly reply with a smile.
"Great!" She announces. "I'm just about to dish it out. Jase take Frankie to the dining room please, will you?"
Jase. Cute.
He salutes her and we watch as she stalks of back down the endless hallway, her click heels distancing before it goes silent. Jason nudges my arm with his elbow, chuckling deeply under his breath as I narrow my eyes. "Calm down, will you? You're going to be sore if you stay stiff like that. My mom likes you, you don't need to be so nervous."
"You don't know that."
"Of course I do, she's my mother - I know her better than what my dad does. Believe me, she wouldn't hug you if she didn't like you. I don't think Natasha ever got a smile never mind a hug." He tells me. He motions his head and beckons me silently to follow him.
The walls were filled with family photos, the three of them together and ones of Jason on his own. It warms my heart and I hide my smile as I rush to catch up with his long strides. The dining table reminded me of the conference tables back at work, long and able to fit a tribe around it. Twelve seats, but only four place mats with cutlery sat out. Jason pulls out a chair and I mutter a shy thank you, he sits beside me and nudge my knee with his.
"Seriously. Calm down, you're too young for wrinkles."
I roll my eyes, the urge to stick my tongue out being pulled back quickly as a older gentleman sunders through the doors we entered. He was tall like Jason, brown eyes like Jason and every feature just looked like Jason.
If this is what Jason will look like when he's older - Lord save my soul.
"Dad." The elders smile widens and he holds out his arms warmly to embrace his son. I stumble to my feet, smiling timidly as Jason moves aside to introduce me. "Dad this is Frankie, Frankie this is my dad, Colin."
"Nice to meet you, Frankie." He grins, welcoming me into a warm hold.
"Thank you sir, likewise."
Jason chokes back a laugh and I shoot a nasty scowl. We take our seats again, Jason's hand brushing against mine as we pull our chairs in together. He clears his throat, resting his hand quickly into his lap like my touch burnt his skin with acid.
"So, Hong Kong then?"
Business. Already.
"Here's hoping." Jason replies with a firm nod. "We have a few meetings this week, then David and I are hoping to fly out beginning of next week and have the final meeting with the contractors. Hopefully we'll get the green light and building can begin just after Christmas."
"You should start it before." Colin tells him. I can see Jason hesitate to say something, but he quickly recovers. What was he going to say?
"I think after Christmas may be time enough. It'll be open Fall next year."
Colin hums. Their conversations turn into big worded jumbles of contracts and business contacts. While my head started to spin in wonder of whether this was the conversation all the time between the duo, Rachel interrupts by balancing two plates in each hand.
"Please, let's not talk about business tonight." She pleads, setting the plates in front of each of us before taking her own place facing us and beside her husband who sat at the head of the table. "I really want to know about why my son has been hiding Frankie here away from us while their pictures have been plastered everywhere."
"Wait - so you're the girl Jason missed Soho for?" Colin speaks, knife and fork freezing as he begins to tuck into his feast.
"Dad."
"Colin."
I felt winded. Every word erased from my mind and I was now a human puddle of nothing. Colin's eyes remain on mine and for some reason, a unknown feeling settled within my stomach giving me somewhat newfound confidence to reply.
"Yes sir, that's me." I reply. "In my defence, I didn't know Jason had a meeting."
"But you are his receptionist, no?"
"Dad, please." Jason's raspy but strong voice speaks out.
I nod, bringing a smile to my lips. "I am sir, but I only find out meeting's that happen within the office and not elsewhere."
Colin hums unconvinced, piercing his fork with a piece of beef as Jason's knee touches mine from beneath the table. I jerk my leg back, my trembling hands picking at the food on my plate as I purposely avoid the curious gaze.
"I didn't get my answer." Rachel interrupts the awkward atmosphere that was slowly building. "Why have you been hiding her away?"
Jason shifts uncomfortably and I stiffen. "I haven't been hiding her mom, there just isn't anything to tell. I told you, she's my receptionist. She invited me to her sister's Halloween party and I went, that's all. We just happened to be photographed in a wrong angle and everything was blew out of proportion."
"You missed your meeting for a Halloween party?" Colin asks.
Jason nods small. "Yes. The meeting in Soho wasn't important."
"And a Halloween party was?"
"That's enough Colin." Rachel pleas. My shoulders hurt with stiffness and my stomach was clenching that hard, I was afraid I wouldn't finish Rachel's dinner and I would seem rude. Colin drops his head, stabbing his food again with a fork and a grumble beneath his breath. Rachel smile was apologetic. "Does your sister always celebrate Halloween?"
I nod. "It's her favourite holiday. Our moms was Christmas - she passed away a few years back."
"Oh I'm so sorry, honey."
I wave my hand. "It's fine. But, uh - Mr Hayes, I apologise for Jason missing his meeting but I honestly didn't know about it. If I did, I probably wouldn't have invited him. I know how hard he works and how much his business means to him. I wouldn't jeopardise anything new and upcoming for him."
"Frankie." Jason warns firmly and lowly. He reaches his hand under the table and hesitantly rests it atop of my thigh, letting the heat burn through the thick material of my long-line dress. "You have nothing to apologise for. I made the decision to miss Soho and come to Flo's party - I don't regret it either."
My chest rattles with the flutter of my heart and I shyly blush, cheeks stinging with heat. While I anticipated him removing his hand just as quickly as he did earlier, he didn't. In fact - he left it. He let his hand rest there, not moving, not attempting to move.
Like he was comfortable.
"Jason tells me you have a niece." Rachel interrupts the thick tension between her husband and son. I nod, sipping at the water in the beautiful crystal glass to quench my throat that was drier than the Sahara. "That must be exciting with Christmas coming."
I nod with a small laugh. "Yeah. We usually all fit into my old home, my dad of course telling us every year it's the last time because there wasn't enough room but it never happens. It's our family tradition, I suppose."
"That's lovely." She replies softly. "When Jason was younger, we had all our family gather here for our own tradition. However everyone grows up and traditions fade, now Colin and I tend to go on vacation over the break. Switzerland we're trying for this year, right honey?"
Colin grunts in response, still not lifting his head from his dinner. I mask a frown for different reasons. One, Colin didn't seem to happy with my presence and two, it sounded like Jason would be spending Christmas alone. Was this the first year?
Rachel was a lovely woman, sweet and warm, and very curious about me and my life. Jason was answering when he needed too and Colin didn't speak for the rest of the meal. He was quick to leave once his phone rings and I could see slight disappointment etching its way onto Jason's features as he did. With my mother's manners ringing in my ears, I offer to help Rachel with the dishes.
"Don't be silly, sweetheart!" She waves, swatting her hand in the air. "But thank you so much for your offer - see Jason, manners."
He rolls his eyes jokingly as he leans against the open arch in the massive kitchen. With marble worktops and a fridge that was three times the size of mine, I was in awe - again.
"I'm taking Frankie to the garden." He tells her. I excuse both of us, watching as Rachel smiles wide and returns to the washing up in front of her. The patio doors to the right of the kitchen lead us out onto a spacious porch, I follow him down the stone steps that were lit with lanterns and down the brick path. "Sorry about my father."
His steps started to slow until I was by his side. Now I nudge him with my elbow and smile. "And you said your mom was the scary one."
He laughs. "She usually is. I don't know what's wrong with him, I'm sorry."
"You don't need to apologise." I tell him quietly although my inner conscious squealed to tell him what I was really thinking. "I understand where he's coming from."
He stops and looks at me with eyebrows furrowed and nose slightly wrinkled in a very confused but undoubtedly adorable way. He pushes his hands into his pockets and raises his shoulders slightly. "You understand?"
"Of course." I say. "Your dad is only looking out for you and your business that you have so successfully built. He doesn't want you slacking for some girl. He's afraid of you losing it all for me - or anyone in that matter. Your dad met Natasha, and your past girlfriends - correct?"
He nods.
"Then he's saw how they treat you, how they use you. He's probably also saw how much you try to impress them by taking them on vacations, missing workloads and possibly being a bit slack on the career front for your relationship and he doesn't want that to happen again. You did miss a important meeting in Soho just for a Halloween party - which you didn't tell me about or else I wouldn't have asked you to come. So yeah, I can understand why he's being cold to me."
Silence.
"But hey." I smile although my stomach was hurtling downwards. "I'm just your receptionist so he has nothing to worry about, right?"
And although I was so use to his smile, I wasn't used to his one.
"Sure." He replies. "Just my receptionist."
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I hate winter and all the germs it brings! Is anyone else sick at the minute? My whole household is down with the flu. So since we're all poorly and we currently have a weather warning for floods and strong winds of 65+MPH, I'm bulk writing chapters so I hope to post again within the next day or two!!
If you are sick, I'm sending lots of healing. If your not, I'm so jealous.
Please comment and vote xoxo