The Forbidden Passion

Chapter nine

The day went by pretty fast and night fell. Why does time goes by fast when you need it to go slow. 6:30pm everyone was in their room getting dressed for the dinner at the Anderson’s. Cole and Brie had arrived early that morning. Cole was against coming because the whole idea of the dinner annoying the hell out of him but Ariana called and begged him to go with her, she needed the one person she loves the most right now at the most dreadful dinner she’ll ever attend while Brie had promised her parents she’ll be there.

Even if they’re no longer a unified family like they used to be, they still have to look United enough to the Anderson’s. And the dinner has to go perfectly because the success of the dinner determines on the continuation of their deal.

Ariana put on the short-blue sparkling sequined V necked dress that hugged her figure perfectly. The dress reached just mid thigh, exposing the rest of her golden skinned long legs. On her feet was a pair of gorgeous silver heels that added three inches to her 5ft7 height making her look even more elegant. Her shiny dark brown hair styled into a flat wave. She completed her dressing with a silver sequined clutch.

Looking at herself once more in the mirror she smiled. “No matter the situation you always have to look beautiful.” She said to herself before leaving the room to joined the rest of the family in the living room.

“How come you still look beautiful in a moment of crises” Cole compliment as he gave Ariana a light peck on her right cheeks.

“Thanks brother.” She smiled. “Like the saying goes, Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.” She quoted. “Being beautiful is me being myself” she completed.

“I hope this dinner ends quickly” Brie rolled her eyes.

“You look beautiful darling” Carla said and Ariana ignored her compliment, turning to Cole she stretched her hands out “Shall we?” She said and Cole took her hands then they left for the garage. She followed in Cole’s Toyota Prius limited and Brie and Carla followed in Peter’s Roewe RX5.

They arrived at the Anderson’s mansion garage and Samuel’s P.A walker them to the entrance of the house where they stood. Nina, Benjamin, Samuel and Gisele-the kids nanny who’s also their late mom best friend. Peter and Samuel shared a handshake hug as they laughed and walked inside the house.

“Welcome to our house” Gisele smiled sweetly.

“Thank you for having us. You’re so kind.” Carla smiled back.

“Aren’t you going to welcome them Nina. They are your guests” Gisele said to Nina and the annoyed nineteen year old who was forced to attend the dinner by her dad shot them an irritated look and walked away.

“Nina!” Gisele yelled but Nina just slammed the door at their faces. “ Pardon her pls. She’s not always like that” Gisele pleaded on Nina’s behalf.

“Oh it’s fine. I understand” Carla said, brushing Nina’s rudeness off.

If she could handle Ariana’s tantrums then she could definitely handle Nina’s.

“Welcome to our house Ariana” Benjamin said as he smiled cutely at Ariana.

“Thank you for having me over” she replied as she smiled back at the nine year old then patted his cheeks. A gesture that made Benjamin happy.

“Let’s go inside” Gisele and Benjamin walked them into the living room.

The six of them walked into the living room and Ariana took in the luxurious chandelier in the center of the room, the luxurious brown chateau-dax-Garda leather couch sitting in the four angles of the room and series of paintings on the walls. A spiral staircase that leads upstairs to the bedrooms probably at the end of the room. She found the interior of the mansion beautiful.

They proceeded to the dining room where Samuel and Peter were seated already. Everyone took their seats. Ariana ended up sitting Samuel and opposite her father, Carla sat beside her husband, Brie, Benjamin, Nina and Cole sat opposite themselves.

“You have a really beautiful house Mr Samuel” Brie complimented.

“Thank you. It’s all thanks to Gisele. She’s the one behind this beautiful house.” Samuel said, he turned to Gisele and flashed her a small smile. “If it were up to me this house wouldn’t even have furnitures.” He added and they all laughed, everyone except Cole, Ariana and Nina. The trio against the sham of a wedding.

Ariana stared at the man beside her, taking in his appearance. He wore a black body hug Tshirt underneath his tailored-fit green velvet dress jacket together with fitted black pants and shoes. His hair slicked back neatly and his neatly shaved beards and eyebrows. He looked nice. Nice for a fifty four year old.

What the fudge are you saying Ariana??

“You look really stunning Ariana” Samuel complimented and Ariana flashed him a small smile which caught him and every other person by surprise “Thank you” she said and everywhere went quiet and awkward.

Nina cleared her throat and spoke “Nana will you please tell them to serve us already. I have a party to attend”

“I already said you would not be going to the party and that is final. Don’t test my patience young lady” Samuel shot threateningly.

“Whatever! Let’s just get over this dinner quickly. I really don’t wanna be here with her” she shot Ariana a disdainful look.

Ariana scoffed “And you think I wanna be here with you or anyone here. Fvck no! Just like you, I’m being forced to attend this dinner and even get married so you have no fvckin’ right to be hate me. If you’re gonna hate or get mad at anyone then it should be your father not me okay.” She retorted in annoyance as she looked at Nina with an expression no one could decipher.

Everywhere went quiet once again and Nina looked down at her laps, probably thinking about what Ariana had said. The outburst really caught Nina by surprise, she was probably expecting Ariana to be one of those step-mother who’ll suck up to their stepchildren shits not someone who’ll talk back at them. She looked at Ariana again and just couldn’t take it so she stood up and ran to her bedroom.

“Nina get back here!” Samuel yelled.

“I’ll go talk to her” Gisele said to Samuel then walked up the stairs to meet Nina.

She found her in her room, her face buried into her pillow as she cried bitterly.

“Nana can’t you tell dad not to get married.” She said into her pillow and Gisele raised her up and Nina hurriedly hugged her tightly. “We don’t need a step-mom Nana. We have you already. You’re all we need. Please convince dad not to marry her” she pleaded.

“Honey but you know that I can’t do that” Gisele said.

“But you can Nana. Dad listens to you and you know that. Only you can convince him”

Gisele patted her head as Nina cried into the crook of her neck. “Nina you need to understand that you and your brother needs a mother figure in your life. I won’t always be here but she will. I’m just your nanny and your dad is doing this for you not for himself.” Gisele lectured.

“No! You’re not just a nanny to us. You’re like our mom. You’re our family and you know that. And NO! Dad is doing this for himself not for us.” She yelled.

“Nina he’s doing this for the both of you. Besides she’s actually a really nice lady” she teased.

“I don’t like her. Didn’t you see how she talked to me back there.” Nina said.

“Yeah well you were really rude to her back there too so I can’t blame her talking to you like that” Gisele shrugged and Nina raised her head up and stared at her.

“Nana!” She yelled and Gisele smiled as she wiped her tears. “Let’s go back downstairs. You don’t want them thinking you’re a spoilt rich kid”

“Yeah well they can think whatever they want.” She stood up from the bed and wiped her tears before fixing her make up. ”I’m only going down there because I’m hungry not because of what you said” She said and Gisele laughed.

“Yeah sure” she stretched her hands out and Nina smiled then engulfed Gisele In a tight hug. “I love you Nana. You always know how to make me feel better” she said.

“I love you too chipmunk” Gisele said back and then they left her room for the dining room.

Nina arrived and all eyes turned to her which made her uncomfortable so she walked to her seat and sat down.

Silence. Demeaning silence.

“Nina don’t you have anything to say” Gisele said, raising her eyebrow at Nina.

Nina awkwardly cleared her throat and looked at her dad “I’m sorry for walking out dad” she apologized and Samuel flashed a small smile indicating she was forgiving at her.

Food was served eventually and everyone ate quietly till Samuel spoke, directing his question to the one person nobody expected.

“So your father told me you’re into imports of furnitures”.

“Yes I am” Cole answered coldly.

“That’s really nice. Maybe I could get some new furniture for the house.” He said again as he tried to keep the conversation going.

“If it’s business related then you’re welcome to come whenever you want” Cole replied a little less colder.

They all went back to eating in silence again. The whole silence bother Brie so she talked. “Why don’t we try to get to know one another. I mean, if we’re going to be a family that’s the first thing we should do right”

“You’re totally right Brie” Samuel nodded in agreement. “So you work with your dad”

“Yes I do. I’m the one in charge of the arrangements and decorations of the launches and events” she answered.

“That’s nice” he said.

He turned to Ariana who was twirling her fork around the pasta in from of and said “I heard you have an organization for homeless kids and abused girls.”

“Yes I do” Ariana dropped her fork and answered.

“That’s really impressive” Samuel replied back. “So what was the drive towards it” he asked seeming interested in the story behind Ariana’s good deeds.

It made Brie angry and jealous, he had only drop a nice compliment when she told him about her job, he didn’t seem interested in knowing about her job her like he did towards Ariana’s. It’s totally normal for him to be interested in Ariana since she’ll be his wife very soon but still. It still made her jealous of her sister, the perfect daughter and sister.