3 The royalish dinner - I

While taking the tube home, Joyce could not stop thinking about the sad face George made when she said bye to him. Today they were supposed to have lunch and breakfast together, but she had built out of the last bit.

Even before she entered the estate, she could feel something different about her home. Something told her that it was a big shot coming in tonight.

Men were stationed around, some were doing something whereas the others were just guarding the premises.

Quickly making her way into the kitchen, where she knew she would find her mother overseeing chefs and other staff along with her sister, she stopped right next to them.

"What's going on? Joyce asked. "Who's coming tonight?"

"Adrian Murphy." Declan answered from behind her before taking a bottle of water from the fridge. "You don't want to do anything that passes that off tonight. Be a perfect little doll for him, yeah?"

Joyce frowned. "Why? What happened?" Not many would entertain her questions but not her brother. He was the one who would tell her everything he could from the surface, without giving her any of the important details.

Declan's expression was everything she needed to know who Adrian Murphy was. She had an idea, having heard his name here and there in conversations in her house but to have him in her home was something different.

"Control has been slipping from dad in our territories. He wants to secure my seat and Adrian has control over all of the UK. We need his help, Sister. So, my advice would be to be on your best behaviour tonight."

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Joyce noted before stepping away from his space. Declan left almost immediately.

"Imagine that," Aoife whispered from her side, "Control has been slipping away from daddy's fingers and he is desperate for it."

Joyce clicked her tongue in irritation before looking at her sister, "mind your business, eh? It won't take daddy a second before reminding you of your position."

"Like he does to you two?" Aoife casted a glance to their mother for emphasis before returning back to look at Joyce. She scoffed and left the kitchen.

What an absolute mindfucking girl she was. Joyce shook her head. If she did not get control of herself, she was going to find herself on the worst side of things.

"Get ready girl," Brianna came closer to her and kissed her temple. "I have a dress out for you. Take a bath, wash up and come downstairs at 7:30. Understood?"

"Yeah." She kissed her mother's cheek before doing just as told.

******

She was ready by six forty-five, but since she had not been asked to come down before 7:30, Joyce sneaked a call to Georgie.

Five minutes before the listed time, she hung up the call before moving down before anyone could come and get her.

Everything had been prepared, like the prime minister of the country coming inside their home. Maybe was, Adrian Murphy was quite powerful.

The dress that had been given to her was quite stuffy. Yet it looked like she was the one on display. The red silk against her skin made her feel like she was special and not someone that was going to be blended out with the rest of the woman.

Why though?

Exactly at 7:30, the gates opened, the screeching alerting everyone that someone had entered the grounds.

To her surprise, only one car came. She looked behind the car, thinking that the rest would be behind it but another game. Only one man came out, to open the door of someone sitting in the back seat.

And there he was, getting out of the car, Adrian Murphy in all his glory.