EPISODE 13: The Meeting the Salazar Family

Even Veronica was a bit upset, her trembling hands indicating her nervousness over meeting Sebastian's family - his entire family. Realizing that she was not calming down even for just a bit, a strong and protective hand secured the trembling hands of Veronica. She glanced over him and an assuring charming smile of a man that captivated the cold heart of the lady since the day they met.

"You don't have to be nervous." A gentle voice escaped from Sebastian's smiling lips. It was a nice and encouraging message but the latter part made her day worthwhile. "I'm here to annoy you."

To others, it was a bit offensive but to Veronica, it was the right word that she needed to hear from him. "You perfectly did."

"Sure you do." Sebastian chuckled and held Veronica's hand securely. He loves holding her hand. "Shall we?"

Veronica took a deep breath before releasing. "Let's get it done." She sounded cold but confident enough to face another client - rather say, her in-laws.

They both readied themselves but they opened the door and were greeted by their old family butler. "Welcome, young master, my lady." their old butler let them in and assisted them to the meeting area. "They're waiting for your arrival at the living area."

Sebastian nodded and took Veronica to the living area. But as they got closer to the area, lively noises could be heard already at the hall. There was some music playing in the background and arguments from the ladies which confused them both.

"What are they doing?" he wondered since he knew that his family only made such noises whenever there was a family celebration like Christmas, New Year, or birthday party.

"Surprising us, maybe?" Veronica guessed because she could hear it too and it was getting louder the closer they got.

Then as soon as their feet stepped on the area, a sudden loud popping sound and confetti caught their attention. "SURPRISE!" they all greeted them but the couple didn't have any reaction since they were sensitive to their surroundings.

Maliyah, the second sibling of Sebastian noticed their flat reaction. "You're no fun, baby brother." She was shaking her head with a sigh.

"Should I fake it then?" Sebastian countered making Maliyah glare until Veronica tugged his arm.

"We're surprised but more on wonder about the meaning of this." Veronica saved their arse from not having any surprised reaction.

"Well, we feel like doing it since you're the first lady that he's willing to introduce to us." Enrich cleared their reason for surprising them.

Veronica looked puzzled. "Never? Even his clients at work?" she wondered as she sounded in disbelief.

"He never did," Syriana answered on their behalf. "I'm Syriana, the fourth child. That's Enrich, she's the third and the second one is Maliyah." she introduced since Sebastian was not planning on doing so. "I bet you already knew our eldest, Ashley."

Veronica nodded. "She's quite interested in giving me ideas for El Fregamo and I'm glad she's my partner and investor there." Her nervousness flew away to their welcoming presence.

Sebastian tugged her to divert Veronica's attention from his siblings to her soon-to-be in-laws. "Meeting my parents. My mother, Sabrina, and my father Cristian."

Veronica politely smiled. "Nice meeting you, Aunt, Uncle."

They hugged her. "Call us, Mom and Dad from now on." Sabrina insisted making Veronica slightly blush.

"And these are my…" he was about to introduce Veronica to his grandparents when his grandma beat him to it.

Sebastian's grandmother quickly went to hug Veronica. "Welcome, Dear." She even cupped Veronica's face delicately while her tears were falling from her face. "This will be your home."

Veronica felt familiar as soon as the old lady cupped her face. It reminded her grandmother causing her eyes to swell up as well. "It will be, Grams." She smiled then she received a kiss on her cheek.

Sebastian's grandfather stood up from his seat and opened his arms to Veronica. "Give this old man a hug as well, little one." something struck Veronica upon hearing the nickname that he mentioned and went to him.

"Thanks for welcoming me here, D." Veronica embraced the old man with familiarity and it was making her cry.

Sebastian might left dumbfounded at how his grandparents welcomed Veronica with such familiarity when they don't do that to the others. They don't touch them but with Veronica, they do. It might confused him but, he loved the scene that was happening before him. It was warm.

As Sebastian loved the sight, Maliyah nudged his side. "Don't let her go this time." He nodded without realizing how it sounded.

Sebastian snapped. "What do you mean?" he wondered but his sister already left as the rest followed the adults in the dining room. "Maliyah." he jogged after his elder sister.

Laughter filled the dining table as they shared some old stories about the younger years of the siblings especially about Sebastian. They were making fun of him and Veronica was adding fuel to that. Sebastian might whined and softened but it was great that Veronica felt relaxed around them. But somewhere along the line of their happiness, Veronica felt the warmth of their family bond that she missed from her grandmother. With her thoughts slipping away from the present, Sebastian caught her silence.

"Are you okay?" Sebastian worriedly asked as his hand was on hers under the table.

Veronica smiled. "I am." But it was not reaching her eyes and it didn't slip from Sebastian. 

"Don't lie." Sebastian lowly said so his family can't hear. "You can tell me, I'm here to help."

Veronica smiled over the kindness that Sebastian only showed to his family and her. "You can't help me every time, Seb. But it was enough knowing that you care."

Sebastian is about to say something when his grandmother speaks directly to Veronica. "Dear, after this can you come with me?" the old lady asked nicely. "There's something I would like to show you."

"I hope it's not my baby pictures." Sebastian sighed and Veronica giggled.

"I would love to see that." Veronica teased. "I will, Grams since I don't have any schedule till three." She agreed after she glanced at her watch.

"Then I will take my son to my office to talk some business." Cristian smiled and it was making Sebastian give them a scrutinizing look. His father just shrugged his shoulders.

"If I ever caught you doing something terrible to my fiance, I'll be mad," Sebastian warned no one in particular.

Veronica arched her eyebrow and her hand automatically slipped to pinch his ears. "I can take care of myself, so, save it till I'm dying." Sebastian was feeling the pain but his glare was not subsiding. "Plus, I'm just gonna be with Grams, no need to be overly protective we're not married yet."

Sebastian was easing the pain in his ears. "Oh, I will be even more protective when we are." but he firmly admitted that he'll be very protective of her.

Veronica felt challenged. "Are you threatening me?" 

Sebastian smirked since he annoyed her again. "Warning, babe. Just a heads-up in case you forget." he winked at her.

"Remind me again what did I see in you and accept your proposal?" Veronica sighed as she rolled her eyes.

"It's my charming annoyance for you." He wiggled his eyebrows at her causing her family to chuckle at their sweet but natural banter.

Veronica didn't want to back down. "It never failed to annoy me even in front of your family."

Sebastian smirked. "Well, I'm being me around you and you're being you around me, so, it's fair." He shrugged his shoulders before sipping on his wine.

"You think you won?" Veronica grinned making Sebastian shiver. "I can do better that will either leave you outraged or frightened when you see blood in my hands."

Sebastian smirked. "That will be more daring, don't you think, Babe?"

"Oh, it will be, honey." Veronica wiped Sebastian's lips and leaned as if they were going to kiss. "So, be prepared when I'm in the mood to torment you."

"Can it be in our bed after our wedding?" he grinned making Veronica think for a second.

Then she grinned again. "Maybe or maybe in your wet dreams of me." she kissed Sebastian's nose before turning to his grandmother. "Shall we, Grams?" she asked as if she did nothing there and assisted the old lady before heading somewhere in the mansion.

"HEY!" Sebastian exclaimed.

Cristian was holding his laughter by coughing. "Sebastian, stop flirting."

"I'm not…" He defended lowly.

His family began bursting into their laughter. "You are, baby brother." Ashley began teasing.

"And she was right, she won." Enrich agreed with Veronica's words earlier.

"How?" he was confused.

"You flirt back and it's hilarious." Syriana chuckled.

"Damn, I should have video it so my hubby will have a reference for his romantic film," Maliyah added making Sebastian blush so red.

"SHUT UP!" he reacted before shoving harshly the chocolate ice cream in his mouth causing him a brain freeze. His family laughed at his newly found reaction.

Meanwhile, on their tracks toward a certain area in the mansion, Veronica was well-guarded since she was in a different territory. She just needed to be cautious. But as soon as her feet landed in the music room that had access to the garden, she felt at ease all of a sudden, and a flash came out of the blue.

'Little one, do you love music?'

'Of course, D. Grammama thought me well.'

'Let me guess, piano or violin…'

'It's both, Grams.'

"Veronica." Veronica heard an elderly voice calling her name. "Veronica, dear, are you okay?" a caring voice like her grandmother asked her.

Veronica quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, I spaced out but I'm fine."

"Okay if you say so." the old woman proceeded on her tracks somewhere within the room until they stopped.

Veronica was confused as she watched the old lady take out something among the collectible records. "Grams, what is it?"

The old lady of the Salazar family smiled at her. "This is for you." She handed a record plaque that Veronica confusedly accepted. "Don't be confused, dear. My husband and I were looking for you."

"What are you talking about?" Veronica was a bit agitated upon hearing it. "I don't get it." she wondered.

The old lady smiled. "We might be old but we're not a fool."

"I already can see that but I still don't get it." She was honestly confused about what the old woman was telling her. "I'm confused."

"Don't be, dear." the old woman said and looked over the piano. "That's a gift from an old friend of ours. She gave that to us as a wedding gift." 

Veronica looked over the black grand piano in the music room and touched it. She had a young memory of playing it before but was not quite sure until her fingertips began playing a melody she used to play.

"Mozart…" the old woman of the Salazar family listened carefully. "Lacrismosa."