Lunch with the Kings

Linda had been excitedly waiting for Friday, but unlike Linda, Jeremy had been anxious about meeting her grandparents. Jeremy and Linda had not seen each other since the interview on Wednesday, while she had her hands full with work, he was bouncing between his restaurant and John's place, absorbing everything he could about 'the evil' Linda. By Friday, his hatred and prejudice against her had reached a new high, a beautiful queen with an ugly heart. John filled Jeremy in on everything King, well, everything based on his point of view.

On that Friday afternoon, Linda went to pick Jeremy up from his place which was an apartment right above his restaurant. The place was located in one of the most expensive parts of the city with most of the buildings being a mixture of contemporary and modern Victorian architecture. Jeremy looked dashingly handsome with his hair combed back revealing his masculine jawline, he was wearing a black designer suit that perfectly hugged his broad shoulders. He had with him an expensive bottle of Scotch as a gift to his future in-laws. The driver got out to open the backseat door to the black C-class Mercedes with black tinted windows. When the door opened, Jeremy was surprised to see Linda in a more laidback, outdoor outfit, a simple yellow Picnic dress paired with white flat gladiator sandals. Unlike most days in the office where she straightens her hair, she decided to leave her hair in its natural form, a bouncy curly afro, Jeremy instantly thought, 'emphasis on the beautiful'. 

Seeing her in such an outfit, he felt even more anxious, "Linda am I overdressed? Why didn't you tell me that it was going to be a more laidback lunch?",

she calmly said, "I would have if you had asked, but you seemed eager to leave, and since you didn't ask me anything, I assumed you would figure it out. We can wait for you to go change though", she signaled her drive to stop the engine.

He had asked John for advice, but what he didn't know was that John was not on good terms with his parents, that was the little crucial information John omitted during his briefing. He contemplated changing his outfit, but then remembered John's words, "My parents want Linda to get married for business purposes, so the best way to impress them, is to show your business side, from your walk to your speech",. He looked at the driver and instructed him to start the car, then turned to Linda, "It's okay since it is my first time meeting them, I think looking formal is the best way to go. Maybe on our second visit, I will be more laid back,"

The driver did not start the engine though, instead, he turned to Linda waiting for her instructions, leaving Jeremy feeling disrespected, but proving what John said about the staff being loyal to Linda, 'I guess it is best to be on their good side if we want to take Linda down', Jeremy thought.

Linda looked at Jeremy one more time, "Are you sure about this?", Jeremy nodded, she then passed the nod to her driver who started the engine. She already knew that Jeremy had been spending too much time with her uncle and all his decisions were mostly influenced by her uncle. The first phase of her plan was simple, and Jeremy was making it too easy for her.

When they got to the white-Spanish-inspired mansion, while in the car, Jeremy took out the bottle of expensive Scotch they brought as a gift, Linda gently held his arm and said, "I would suggest you don't bring that with you, my grandparents don't drink that anymore, too many painful memories. Take this instead, they love their vintage wine.", Linda showed him a bottle of 1984 red wine.

Jeremy tightened his face and furrowed his eyebrows, "Why didn't you tell me this before we left? Better yet, on Wednesday?! After the lunch invite?!",

Linda slightly brushed her hair back, and took a deep breath, "Again, Jeremy, you never asked me, I thought you had everything figured out. See, I did expect you to call and ask me about my grandparents' likes and dislikes, so when you didn't, I assumed you had everyt-",

"Fine, Fine, I get it! But still, I would like to give them the scotch anyway,". Jeremy trusted John more than Linda, in his head, Linda was trying to sabotage him and there was no way that a grandchild could know more about Lilly and Joseph than their own son. 'John already told me everything I need to know', Jeremy silently mumbled.

Linda shook her head and said, "Well, suit yourself." She already knew that he was stubborn and it would take a lot of effort to undo years of manipulation from his own family and now her uncle.

She gently knocked on the car window with her fingernail alerting her driver who was outside, patiently waiting for them.

The moment the car door opened and Linda stepped out, her grandmother was already waiting at the front door, "Joseph! They're here!", she said in excitement while running to give her granddaughter a big hug. Just behind Linda was Jeremy holding a bottle of Scotch, "This is for you ma'am," he said smiling politely, Lilly gave Linda a displeased look, "Why didn't you tell your fiancé that we don't allow such drinks into the house,"

She gave her grandmother a pleading look, "I am sorry Grammy, I got caught up with work, I forgot about briefing him on all the dos and don'ts, it is my fault!", she said with a gentle smile.

Lilly playfully flickered her granddaughter's forehead, "You silly girl! The whole reason for you getting a husband is so you can have someone to go home to, Sharon will get married soon and your grandfather and I will not be around forever. You know I am doing this because I don't want you to be alone right?? So you need to give time to your fiance.", 

Linda squeezed her grandmother's arm, "I will never be alone, my grandparents will live forever! God owes me at least that much after taking my parents so early." 

Lilly ran her eyes over to Jeremy one more time and then turned to Linda with a sad look, "And You made the poor boy overdress, I am worried about him marrying such a busy woman.", she looked at Jeremy again, "Son, please give that bottle to Jackson, I am sure he will enjoy it more than us".

She then led her granddaughter inside the house. Jeremy was astonished by the interaction between Lilly and Linda, it was nothing like John described. It just sounded like an old woman worried about her granddaughter being alone when they die, 'But why would she be alone if she already has John and her aunty?'. That interaction alone left Jeremy with a lot of questions, 'Could it also be part of Linda's manipulation? To make her grandparents believe that she will have no one? so they can leave her with all the inheritance? She is good! I need to be careful not to fall for her act. John was right about her.