"Don't be nervous," Brandon leaned in and whispered in my ear. I nodded.
Out of sheer nerves I straightened out my dress for the millionth time today and I tried to look confident, well as confident as I Ashley Hayes could possibly be.
Brandon held my arm and smiled at the couple heading toward us. Brandon's mother, as I assumed, was dressed in an elegant navy blue dress that swept the floor and the man to her right side whom I assumed was Brandon's father was dressed in a matching suit holding her by her arm. They looked so perfect and elegant next to each other that it was hard to believe that Brandon's mother was never a rich girl from the start. She looked like she belonged in the world of wealth, it was as though that world was made solely for her.
"Hello dear," she greeted me as I smiled at her in a shy manner. Mrs. Hawthorne seemed to have a friendly face and a nice smile that was inviting.
To be honest, she was the one I was dreading to meet. I had heard many stories of women who absolutely hate their monsters-in-law sorry... I meant mothers-in-law. I had expected the same from her but so far she has proved me wrong unless she was faking it because Brandon was standing right beside me.
"Good evening Mrs. Hawthorne," I greeted her, surprised at myself for not stuttering at all.
"Oh please dear, call me Evelyn," she said with a smile, one that seemed very genuine.
"Of course Mr- Evelyn," I corrected myself at the last minute as she gracefully sat. The man next to her didn't greet me but I did see her nudge him rather harshly. It looked as though Brandon's father and I would be the ones having a problem.
Dinner went past rather awkwardly and I managed to get through without spilling any liquids or choking on something like my usual clumsy self would always do. I was proud that I hadn't humiliated myself in front of his parents so far.
"Tell us about yourself dear," Evelyn suggested as she placed her hands on her lap and I followed suit. I cleared my throat.
"Uhh, my name is Ashley Hayes and I'm 24 years old. My parents died when I was 6 so I never got a chance to really bond with them. I stay in an apartment with my best friend Melanie Lanser. I work with Brandon here as his personal assistant," I said with one breath.
It was blatantly clear that his father didn't register what I said nor did he have the care to make me feel welcome at his home. All he did was eat his food and check his phone. Evelyn on the other hand seemed to be a genuinely kind human being, the total opposite of what I had been expecting. I was thankful that she was trying very hard to break the awkward silence that was floating in the room around us.
"That's sweet my Angel," Evelyn responded with a smile.
All her actions so far had been genuine which shocked me. I had myself believing that they wouldn't like me. I mean his dad and I had no progress after I had tried to greet him and he ignored me like I had said nothing but Evelyn... she was so nice. Better than what I expected. I expected her to be snobby or something like that. It was a big surprise but I'm certain that I do like Brandon's mom.
We had finished dinner when Evelyn suggested that we move to the living room where we all sat and drank some tea. Brandon and his dad caught up on business matters whilst Evelyn and I discussed my past which she was interested in. When both conversations ended and awkward silence had begun to dawn upon us Evelyn broke it again. I guess she was very intuitive like me.
"I hope you enjoyed your stay with us. Richard and I will be heading to bed," Evelyn said and I nodded with a small smile.
Evelyn and Richard escorted us to the gate and hugged us goodbye. Richard and Brandon had some hushed conversation while Evelyn fawned over my dress and hair once more.
"I had a lovely time. Thanks for having me Mr. Hawthorne and Evelyn," I added with a tiny smile.
"Oh, it was our pleasure! Please come by again soon!" She said and pulled me into a tight hug and I tensed at first but then relaxed into her hug.
"Bye mother, bye father!" Brandon called as we headed out to his car.
"Bye, son!" Evelyn and Richard called right before Brandon reversed out the driveway and began the trip to take me home.
***
"That was surprising!" I said and looked at Brandon to find him texting on his phone with a silly smile on his face and my jealousy rose.
I had invited Brandon to come in as soon as we arrived at my apartment and he had agreed. We were now sitting in the living room with the news softly playing in the background.
"Brandon!" I snapped and he looked up.
"Yeah?" He responded not bothered at all.
"Did you hear a word of what I just said?" I said and glared at him.
"I was listening," he protested.
"Really? Who were you texting just then?" I said mad.
He wasn't listening. He lied.
"No one," he insisted.
"Then why won't you show me?" I asked my eyes were now just narrow splits.
"You aren't my mother to check my phone Ashley," he grunted.
"How am I supposed to trust you when you won't let me go through your phone?" I crossed my arms against my chest and continued with my impressive death glares.
"You want me to gain your trust by letting you go through my phone?" He cocked his head to the side and laughed.
"Ashley...no! Our relationship is solely built on trust okay? I wasn't texting I was listening to you. Can't you quit being a goddamned drama queen for just one day? One day is all I ask, okay? Cut me some slack. I have to run an empire and I have to look after you! Do you even realize how much pressure I am under at the moment? HT is about to release a new phone and here you are biting my ear off about listening to you!" He burst out and left slamming the door to my apartment shut.
I pulled my knees up to my chest and leaned my head on them and began rocking myself.
"Calm down!" I chanted to myself before I lost my temper and did something I would regret.
Moments later Melanie came home and was surprised to see me curled like a ball on the couch with red fluffy eyes and a tear-stained face.
"What happened? Did his mother rip you apart?" She asked worried as she walked over to me and sat on the edge of the couch.
"Fight," I murmured.
"What?" She asked confused.
"Fight," I murmured beneath my breath again.
"Ashley, speak louder I can't pick up on what you're saying!" She insisted throwing me her best death glare.
"A fight!" I yelled, "Brandon and I got into a fight!"
"Again?" She responded in shock her mouth hanging open.
"He is acting weird. He doesn't listen when I talk and is overly sensitive lately," I said with venom dripping from my voice.
"What did you say?"
"I confronted him and then he called me a drama queen," I said and she sighed audibly.
"But you are a drama, Queen Ash!" Mel said.
"Great," I muttered turning around, "Even my own best friend thinks I'm a drama Queen now!"
"It's a fact. Embrace it, girl!" She encouraged but I shook my head.
"No, Brandon hates it when I'm a drama queen. Why would I embrace it?" I asked her slightly annoyed.
"Since when?" She yelled.
"Since when what?" I asked her.
"When do you Ashley Hayes change for a man? Since when?" Mel quirked an eyebrow.
"Maybe because I love Brandon and I'm terrified of losing him?" I shot back sarcastically.
"Really?" She said with a cocked eyebrow.
"Yes," I firmly said and she rolled her eyes.
"When you screw your head on properly tell me," Melanie said and left the room and left me with my misery as I leaned into the sofa, the only thing that had not upped and left me today thinking IÂ would actually think about what they told me to think about.
As if!
***
Hey, my peeps!
I hope you got my reference there at the end of the chapterðð if you don't well then oh well.
Ash: Why do you like making me suffer?
Author: I know nothing
Ash: *huffs*
Brandon: *rolls eyes* You're still a Drama Queen no matter what you do!
Author: Brandon I order you to silence
Brandon: Why? *looks hurt*
Mel: Well since the guys are super busy *rolls eyes* I'll do the honors. Do vote and leave your comments on the side! Thanks for reading all!