Since Natasha had no much work to do at the office, she left in the early afternoon to welcome her family. She had not seen them in almost a year and this was the first time they had come to visit her. All thanks to Brandon, who had also arranged for them to sleep at one of the best hotels in the City. By three o'clock in the afternoon, the Benjamin family landed in BB City and were directed to the City View International Hotel in the middle of the city. Brandon had even organized for their pick up and drop at the hotel. As soon as they freshened up, they went down to the hotel's restaurant for their dinner. It was already almost six o'clock when they were well rested and settled for dinner. Within a few minutes, Natasha had joined them and the family was complete. Her parents were thrilled to set their eyes on her and her brothers were even more exited to dine in such a luxurious hotel.
"How have you been, mother? Father? Annoying brothers?" Natasha asked as the waiters walked to their table one by one placing all sorts of delicacies on the table. All others, except Natasha, were surprised at the overflowing table.
"We are doing well dear one. As for your brothers…" Benjamin trailed off and looked at Ronald to continue.
"Well sister, my poultry business is beginning to get ground. I may have a problem with finances but I hope it will be well. As for him," Immanuel pointed to their youngest brother, "He is in his last year of high school and so we hope he does not let us down!"
"All will be well brother. As for your business, just tell me how much you need. I have a better job now. I am sure I can handle it."
"Wow! Really sister!" Immanuel leaped with joy and embraced his sister who had sat to his left. Her father, on her right, slightly patted her on her shoulder and nodded in satisfaction. Her younger brother had his face stuffed with chicken. She looked towards her mother, who was seated coldly, forcing her smile, eating slowly.
"Mother?" Natasha called out. Sandra looked at her daughter and forced and even bigger smile. "Do you have anything to say to me? Your daughter?" Benjamin looked at his wife, concerned.
"I am proud of you my dear." Sandra said the first thing that came to her mouth though the sweetness in the words and the coldness of how they were said were quite ironical. "We tried to reach you over the past few weeks, did your boyfriend tell you that?" Sandra added with a negative tone at the words 'your boyfriend'. Everyone at the table heard it, apart from Ronald, who had his face stuffed with rice.
"Yes, Mama. I was away on a business trip. For two weeks or so."
"Ever since the party?" Sandra highlighted.
"Ever since the party." Natasha affirmed firmly.
"Where?" Sandra asked taking a spoonful of rice.
"Sandra…" Benjamin interjected.
"RR City, mother. And no, I was not with my boyfriend. Maybe I should take you there so that you can see it for yourself."
"Tasha…" Benjamin interjected.
"No, papa. The first thing I did once I came back, is to organize this wonderful family reunion but as always, there is always a joy killer." Natasha spat.
"Tasha!" Benjamin cautioned.
"No. No my dear. Let her. It seems she has things to get off her chest." Sandra encouraged.
"Not at all. It seems you are the one with a problem mama. Please, tell us what is it this time. Is it my boyfriend? But, how can you not like a man you have not met and interacted with. Is it my success in my career? But that cannot be either for is not a mother supposed to be happy when her child succeeds in life? Hmm. Father, any idea why mother is so on edge?" Natasha questioned. Benjamin looked at his daughter then at his wife. Immanuel looked at his food the whole time. Ever since his sister became famous, their mother had been rather strange. He looked at his innocent brother who was now trying to gulp down his glass of juice. He envied him. Unaffected by all events happening at the table.
"My dear, I think your mother is just worn out from her flight. You know how grumpy she gets when she is tired." Benjamin comforted her daughter as he rubbed her back. "Is he going to join us for dinner?"
"No. Not at all. He is held up, at work." Natasha replied uncertainly. She had not thought about Brandon meeting her family yet. And she had not asked him either. But neither did she think their relationship had become that serious.
"Well, I wish he could join us. We would be honored to meet our daughter's extremely wealthy boyfriend." Sandra joined in sarcastically. Everyone ignored her and proceeded to take their meals. The father and his children talked about random things while the mother seemed uninterested in many things, in everything.
"Ronald, have you thought about what you are going to do when you complete your high school?" Natasha asked biting a piece of chicken.
"Well, Sis. I do not think I will continue with studies and stuff. So maybe join the army?" Ronald answered quietly. He knew the consequences of his answer.
"Wow. That is great. Really!" Natasha applauded.
"I'll be damned if I let you!" Sandra said sharply. Immanuel sank deeper in his seat.
"Mother!" Natasha and Immanuel called out.
"Sandra!" Benjamin hissed, having had enough. "Ronald," he managed to hold his temper in check, "your mother and I shall discuss this later on. First finish your last year then the rest will follow. Okay?"
"Yes father." Ronald managed a reply without looking at his mother. The dinner mood was ruined. And so was everyone's evening.
It was a little bit past eight when Natasha got back to The Palace. She stopped the jeep at the entrance of the house and handed the keys over to one of the bodyguard to park the heavy machine. As she took the four steps of stairs to the house, she felt alone. She turned around and sat at the top most last stair. Taking of her heels, she covered her face in her hands for a while reliving the disaster of a dinner she had just had with her family. She had not seen them for over a year now and her mother clearly reminded her why. Sandra had always been a difficult woman to please but today was a bit too much than how she remembered her mother to be. She seemed excessively acrimonious. More than she usually was, to her specifically. Natasha sulked even more, rubbing her face harder.
"Rough night?" Brandon asked from behind her. Natasha turned around quickly, startled and saw him leaning on the door with his shirt unbuttoned halfway exposing his chest, the sleeves folded halfway. He looked like a dark prince under the moonlight.
"You should stop doing that!" Natasha almost shouted, holding her rapidly beating heart.
"What? Making you cry?"
"No. I mean yes, that too. But always startling me. Where do you come from and how come I do not ever hear you?" Natasha turned around and took deep breaths. "Wait, is it eleven already? Am I that late?"
"No. Not at all." Brandon said as he sat next to her on the stair. "I got home early today."
"Why? Are you tired?"
"No. My GM is back so I shall not have too much on my plate now. Now I just want to spend time with my woman. So she can tell me how her family reunion was." Brandon said sweetly, taking her right hand in to his left and slowly placing a kiss on its back.
"It was… I don't know. My father and brothers are okay. But my mother, she is acting weird. Too defensive even, ever since I became a 'celebrity' and…" She trailed off.
"And met me?" Brandon helped smiling.
"Yes. Ever since you and I hit the spotlight, she has been too…"
"Paranoid?" He helped out again. Natasha looked at him and nodded. Then she looked at the sky. It was a clear night with small pokes that seemed to let in light and a large moon at its center.
"It is beautiful." Natasha commented as she smiled at the sky.
"Indeed she is." Brandon agreed with eyes fixed on the beautiful woman next to him. He could feel the warmth and desire burning up in his chest. As soon as Natasha turned to look at the man who had been quiet for a while, her lips were met with a hot passionate kiss, which seemed to go on forever before she managed to push him away to get her breath. As soon as she recovered, the man had already carried her off the ground and was taking her inside the house.
"Brandon! Stop! My shoes!" Natasha complained trying to wiggle free of the man. "And my purse!"
"Mrs. Gilbert!" Brandon called out headed for the stairs. Mrs. Gilbert came running out from the kitchen and did not seem at all surprised at what was happening. "Get her shoes and purse outside." Brandon advised as he proceeded to take the embarrassed woman up the stairs. Mrs. Gilbert smiled and did as was told. Brandon kicked the door to his room open and kicked it shut behind him. Placing the woman in his arms gently on his bed, he paused to study her face.
"What?" She asked hiding herself behind the white duvet. The man just stood at the edge of the bed looking at her. "What?" She asked again, getting rid of the duvet when she noticed the man did not move nor say anything for a while.
"Is it not obvious?" He answered, unbuttoning the rest of his shirt slowly.
"Is not what obvious?"
"I am in love with you, Ms. Natasha Claire. You, are my heart."