Chapter Nine

"Can't you just wait until we see?" Julia said on the phone talking to Kristen. She had just entered the car after lunch with Nicholas when Kristen called.

Kristen was bombarding her with questions about her engagement and she had answered few but she kept on asking.

They already agreed to meet later on but Kristen couldn't contain her excitement. It was as if she was the one getting engaged.

Julia was going home to change because the clothes she was wearing wasn't suitable for where they were going.

"Okay, I will try and be patient" Kristen responded. " Before I forget, Mike is coming with us, right?" Every day, Kristen acts as if she cannot stand Mike but she makes sure to never exclude him from anything they are doing.

"Of course" Julia responded and got off the car. She was already at home.

"Young Miss, your grandfather is here" That was what the butler told her once she entered the house.

"Okay, thanks uncle" Julia told him back.

The butler has been with them since she was born so she was quite close to him.

The butler always informs her of her grandfather's arrival whenever he comes so she will be mentally prepared. The man was always criticizing and annoying whenever they met. He complains about everything and expects everyone to jump at his command.

She took out her phone and texted Kristen first. "Sorry, can't make it. The old man is here" .

She knew it was impossible to go out again with the old man here and Kristen will understand. It wasn't the first time they canceled their appointment because of him.

"Good luck" The phone chimed indicating a message from Kristen and Julia laughed when she read it.

She entered the house and saw the senior patriarch sitting down with her mother and father. He was sitting like a king who owned the house. He seemed to have aged considerable from the last time they saw him.

"Good day," She said bowing like a proper lady as expected from her grandfather.

"Why are you coming back this late" He asked her without even bothering to answer her greetings . What a loving grandfather. They have not seen each other for five months.

"I am in college not high school so I don't think it is really your business" Well, she didn't say that. She wasn't so stupid to incur the wrath of this man.

"I was with Nicholas, my fiance" Julia answered instead.

"Okay, good girl," He said smiling. Her grandfather wasn't a bad person but he was very strict and nags like an old woman. He was a very traditional person. Once you follow his rules, he doesn't mind giving you a compliment or even rewards.

"I will go and freshen up," Julia said leaving them.

During dinner.

"You seem to already have a good relationship with Nicholas" Everyone was seated and her grandfather began his opening speech. She knew he must have come for this reason.

" Yes, They are making good progress", Julia's mother said answering instead.

"I wasn't talking to you" He answered rudely.

Julia's mother was always trying to butter him so he could like her. Julia has seen her mother take a lot of rubbish from him especially when her dad wasn't around.

"Don't talk to my wife like that" Andrew told his father. His father always had a problem with his wife. She wasn't from the upper class and was a waitress without any wealthy family or education background.

His father actually arranged a wedding for him but he refused and instead promised that he would lead the company to a position that he wouldn't need to marry for connections.

He already fulfilled that promise but his father still won't let his dislike of his wife left. He also wanted to argue with his father about his daughter's engagement but his father wouldn't hear a word of it. He threatened the company he had put all his sweat on but he actually liked his future son-in-law and his daughter didn't have a boyfriend they knew of so he allowed it.

"About your fiance, you will be having your engagement party next week" Julia's grandfather continued not saying anything again to his son and his wife but talking to his granddaughter instead. He knew his son hated him talking to his wife anyhow. That was the only time his calm son got provoked and that was one of the reasons he didn't like her.

She was the reason his son talked back at him and didn't obey him for the first time in his life.

"Isn't that too soon" Julia didn't know that her thoughts were words that she had said.

" How is this soon" Her grandfather answered getting infuriated already. "And you don't talk back when you are not asked, young lady" "What have you guys been teaching your daughter" He said as if reprimanding her parents but he was only staring at her mother. The question was obviously for her.

"You also need to set the date for your wedding soon and I will like to see your fiance before the engagement," He said firmly leaving no room for arguments. Julia just nodded because she knew it was a lost case trying to talk to him.

The dinner went by smoothly after that mostly with a business discussion between her father and grandfather.

"Andrew, let's talk in your stu,dy" Her grandfather said standing up.

"I will be right bac,k" Her father said kissing her mother on the lips not caring that their innocent daughter was watching and leaving the dining room. Her parents were proof that true love existed. They have been so into themselves since they got married. They never got tired of themselves like other old married couples but keep on waxing stronger daily.

" So, you were with Nicholas" Her mother asked once they were alone. "Do you like him already"

"He is okay and not like I have much choice" Julia said. In front of her mother, she doesn't need to hide anything.

"Baby, I'm sorry Mom can't do anything to give you a choice" Her mom said.

"It's okay. I can handle myself and it's not your fault" Julia said comforting her. " Good night, mom"

"Good night, baby" Grace said to her daughter.

"What did he want to see you for" Grace asked her husband once he came back. He sat on the bed and she went to his back massaging his shoulder.

It was something that she does everyday. He was always so stressed from work.

"Just the normal thing" He said holding her hands. "Don't worry about it"

"Now Love, I need more than a massage" He said pulling her down to the bed.