Calista was all ready for the dinner. A maid had already informed her that dinner was ready and so she was quite sure,the other family members were already at the table. She finished applying the lip gloss then stood from the table.
She was wearing a white dress that hardly covered her knees. She let her hair down and pulled it all to the left side and wore white flip flops. The light make up did her more than justice. She looked beautiful.
She stepped into the room and was greeted by a presence she did not expect. She thought Maverick was already downstairs since he left the closet almost a half an hour ago.
Maverick looked up when he heard the door close.
"Finally!"he muttered silently. He looked up and didn't not help wondering what she was doing at the closet for so long.
He sighed not refusing his mind to admit that she looked beautiful though.
Calista began studying him. A white short that looked a bit baggy...just a bit and a black t-shirt that was really struggling to be free from his rich chest and biceps. He was in a black adidas sandals. Her eyes caught his black hair that looked abit rough.
He stood and dropped his phone in his pocket then began walking towards the door and Calista's eyes followed him intently.He opened it and was almost stepping out when he realized that she was still standing where she had been.
"Are you planning on standing there for the night?"he asked calmly then walked out.
Calista landed back to reality when she had his words. She had been admiring his beauty the whole time without even realizing it.
She quickly followed him out of the room. Her eyes caught the two guards at the door. She could have stood to wonder why someone would need guards even in thier house but she was late for that. She walked towards the elevator and stood beside Maverick who was already there.
The two stood silently in the elevator,not even one of them saying anything to the other.
Ding!
The elevator dinged open when they reached the second floor. That was where the dinning room was located.
"Here they are finally,"Dianna spoke happily when she saw the couple walking towards the huge table. In a second,Calista took in the faces of everyone at the table but one face was very new to her.
It was a woman with blonde hair which was hardly reaching the shoulder. She was in green dress that clung tightly to her body and she wore a red lipstick. Her eyes were moss green in color and they looked so fierce as they peered at Calista.
Without a word, Maverick took a seat at the other head side of the table, opposite Mr Atlas's seat.
"Mum,dad...Casey,"Calista acknowledged them as she took a seat close to Maverick. She then flashed a smile at Sage and Taylor.
Casey faked a smile, wishing she could chop off that killer smile of hers for sitting close to 'her man' as she called him.
Little Jayden was sitted opposite Calista now,eying her like some awesome bird he had always wished to see.
"My dear..."Dianna's voice made all eyes travel to her as they checked who she was calling so endearly. It was Calista and they should have guessed that.
"I want you to meet Melinda Johns,she is Casey's mom."
Calista's eyes followed the introduction and looked at the woman.Calista smiled at her and it was returned.
"Nice to meet you Mrs Johns,"that was too formal but Calista felt it to be better. Moreso when she dictated mockery and something else she did not wrap her fingers around too well in Melinda's smile.
"The pleasure is your Calista Serenity Ishaani," was Melinda's response. Calista thought maybe she was the only one who felt that that response was odd but seeing how everyone looked at Mrs John's side,she knew the rest did too.
Without a word, she simply smiled at turned back to her meal not minding the wierd looks.
Maverick was silent. He did not even care to rise his eyes to see the hostility from Melinda to Calista. He already knew that Melinda hates his wife,with a reason best known to him.
Everybody had now turned their attention to their plates when Melinda threw another unwanted bomblast.
"And why do I hear the sound of feminity all through your name?"
This really pissed Calista off. She hated the topic of her unknown father with everything she had in her and she knew that the question pointed indirectly at that. Remembering how everyone back in her high school and college kept on asking questions familiar to Melinda's,she could not understand why they could not mind their own business.
"Because that how it should be..."
Even she herself did not expect her response to be so curt but ofcourse that's how her name had always been and that's how it should always be.
Maverick who was eating his food silently,dropped his fork when he heard Melinda's question but he dared not to say anything. He simply shifted his deadly glare from Melinda to her mom and to Casey. Whoever had invited the Johns Lady should have known what would happen after.
His eyes shifted to Calista and he saw how annoyed she was but her concealer smile was of a good deal.
"That means you don't have a father, do you? Or was your mother also a gold digger who stepped foot in somebody else's marriage and gave birth to a little cursed you?"Melinda's words were soft unlike the dagger they threw inside Calista's chest. She too wished to know why her father never was a father to her. Why he was never there for her but calling her mother a gold digger,that brought tears to her eyes which she could not hold back.
Calista swallowed hard and remained silent as she fought more tears from falling off her eyelids.
"Melinda this is supposed to be a family dinner. To get to know each other and you knowing my daughter,not a battling field,"Dianna's words were calm as well but no one could miss the sternness in her voice.
"And that's what I am trying to do Anna. With only female names in her name,that would be an interesting topic to discuss about,"Melinda defended herself.
"So miss Ishaani..you must feel so lucky to have such a rich and handsome husband wrapped around your little finger!"Melinda spoke again looking at Calista and grinning hard at her.
'Wrapped around my little finger!' those words repeated themselves in Calista's mind. Who would be lucky by getting married to a man they never loved or knew until the day of their wedding. Even our real Indian weddings do not happen in that manner!' Calista thought but her lips were still sealed.
"Mother,stop it,"Casey tried to rebuke her mother though she was really enjoying the little drama. Atleast her mother was doing what she wanted to do since long.
"Shut that mouth little brat,"Melinda snapped at her daughter and Casey was quite before she even finished her statement.
Mr Atlas saw how this was going to change from a peaceful dinner to a heated argument. He looked at Sage then at Jayden and she understood what he was saying. Sage stood from her seat and went to where Jayden sat.
"Hey baby,why don't you have dinner at your room with aunt here and play some games?"she spoke then took him in her arms and went upstairs after asking the maid to take their food upstairs.
Eddy was also at the table and he regretted having persuaded him to stay for the night.
"I know that everyone would throw themselves at his feet but I did not expect a stinky lowly musician to..."that was too much and before she could finish her statement, Maverick hit the table with his fist and looked Melinda who was now silent and looked intimidated by his glare.More tears were now shedding off Calista's eyes,she was hurt.
"Keep your stinky opinions and unwanted nonsense to yourself and put my wife off your dirty mouth or I will be glad to help you do that,"Maverick growled.
"My son..."Melinda began again but she was made to stop before she could say anything more.
"Shut..your..mouth!"he stressed the word shut more and the table fell silent. Taylor and Eddy smiled at the turn of events. They could not understand why he kept silent with that woman insulting their sister in law.
Calista looked at her husband and she was glad that he stood up for her. She wanted to smile at him but the hurt from Melinda's words still ached.
"This woman is an annoying bitch!"Taylor muttered silently but Eddy was close enough to hear her.
"Find another name to call her. That's not even close to satisfactory!"he muttered back and they smiled again.
"Get up!"they heard Maverick's voice getting smooth the next second and Calista obeyed the order. The next second, Maverick grabbed her hand and led her out of the dinning room.
None of them had ever seen Maverick bulge from home as he did.As he strode towards the main door,they were sure he was leaving the house. They all turned to look at Melinda who was not even abit remorseful.
"You can now enjoy your dinner,wrecker!"Taylor cursed her then stomped to her room.
"Excuse me!"Eddy spoke and took his plate and walked to his room as well.