Chapter 2 Meeting his family.

MIREILLE’S POV

Something was making noise in the background.

I grunted as I reached for my cellphone at the bedstand, ready to blast whoever was disturbing my sweet sleep. The search came up futile as my hand grabbed nothing. Thankfully, the noise stopped, bringing peace back. I turned on my side and collided with a warm body. I smiled softly as I nuzzled closer to the body. A strong, protective arm looped around me, cuddling me closer.

I frowned, knowing how much Kian hated to cuddle. Heck, he never stayed on the bed with me five minutes after we had sex. One of the agreements for the marriage preparation was that we had separate bedrooms so I wouldn't disturb his billion dollar ideas. Knowing that he was the managing director of the S.A.S Groups, and was indeed a busy man, i didnt hesitate to agree with him. I inched close to him, knowing this was a rare chance I wouldn't be getting again so soon.

My phone began to ring again, sounding distant even now. I shot up in bed and scrambled to the edge of the bed where my phone laid. I picked it up, frowning when Kian’s name popped on the screen.

“Hey, baby,” he said softly the second I packed the call.

“Hi,” I answered as I stiffened back a yawn.

“Don’t tell me you are still in bed.” his disapproval shined through the speaker. “Even after knowing how important today is?”

I blinked back the sleep threatening to take over me and frowned. What game was he playing at? I turned back to the bed where a body lay sprawled, the duvet covering their entire figure. I peeled back the cover, wanting to laugh at Kian. Instead, a face so beautiful, it looked ethereal, stared back at me. His long lashes fluttered as if he could feel my stare of confusion washing over him.

“Mirielle!” I heard Kian yell into my ears.

I stiffened back a shout and jumped to my feet.

“Be ready in an hour or we can forget meeting my family today,” kian issued his warning. Without waiting for a response, he hung up on me.

I stood there, perplexed by the images rushimg through my head. My phone rang again. This tine, it was from Janet. I pucked it up without hesitation.

“Janet!” I cried into the phone.

“Babes, you need to get back here now!” she issued. Again, she also didn't wait for my response before hanging up on me. 

The man on the bed stared, his black curls covering half of his face. I quickly grabbed my gown and shoved it over my head. I grabbed my shoes, and after looking around to make sure I left nothing, I rushed out of the room. There were a few people at the bar who stared at me as I rushed out like a thief but I paid them no heed.

When I got back to the house, Janet and Jacenta were waiting for me right outside the door.

“You can tell us about the details of last night later,” jacenta said, beating me to the first words. “But right now, you need to get ready. Kian called and was fuming in the hair, threatening us.”

At my questioning gaze, Janet waved her hand in the air, dismissing my worries.

“As usual, J showed him his place.” she said, pointing to Jacinta.

“But you really need to get ready now.”

Within thirty minutes, the girls made sure I was dressed to the teeth.

“Can’t I just wear my jeans and top?” I protested. My fingers adjusted the thin straps that were barely holding the purple flared gown in place.

Jancita rolled her eyes at me but said nothing. I clasped my mouth shut, knowing that nothing would sway the girls. I compiled with them as they debated whether the gold heels or the white one fitted better. I was barely putting on the pink they both agreed on when Kian honked his car outside, indicating his arrival. I sighed, pushing the last of my nerves down my stomach.

The ride to the Shane’s mansion was a quiet one between Kian and I. After his outburst on the phone, threatening my friends and I, I expected him to give me hell through the ride. It wasn't until the car pulled into the driveway that he turned to me.

“Today is a big day.” He began. “You know my father, Shane, has high expectations of me. So whatever you do, do not embarrass me.”

I lowered my gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

“You look like a princess today.” He tilted my jawline up.

The memory of that beautiful stranger doing the same thing - but more tenderly - assaulted me. I cleared my throat and shuffled out of kian’s reach. 

“Be a good girl for daddy.” he said, leaned down, and brushed his lips against mine.

The servants at the mansion clamored around us, offering their services. I dropped out of the car and nearly fumbled on the heels the girls had forced me to wear. Kian held my arm before anyone could notice the blunder, but not before he eyed me wearily like I was a pest. I winced and smiled at him apologetically.

A man that looked like the older version of Kian was seated on the two seater, his legs crossed, his arms lounging lazily across the arms of the sofa. His blonde hair was finely tinted by streaks of silver and his blue eyes had lost a bit of their color but none of that diminished his handsomeness.

“Dad, this is my fiance, the love of my life that ive been tellimg you about,” Kian said instantly, wrapping his arms around me.

The older man ran his eyes all over me for the whole of three seconds before he nodded grimly in what I felt was somewhat an approval. He sat upright, and the light I thought was out of his blue eyes returned with full force. He smiled then. A slow, hazy smile that would have stolen away the breath of anyone who lowered their guard.

“What’s your name, dear?” he asked, his gaze solely focused on me.

“Mirielle,” I said simply, my throat suddenly feeling dry. Despite that I was dressed to the teeth, I felt inadequate then. While I was not on the big, bold, and beautiful side, I wasn't exactly on the model figure sideline either. While most people wouldn't consider a size 12 on the larger side, some people had said hurtful words to me. Hurtful enough to make me subconsciously aware of my own fault. Now under the scrutinating gaze of her future father-in-law, she felt like she didn't measure up to the standard of being their family's daughter-in-law.

“Mirielle, what do your parents do?” the man asked, the smile still plastered across his face. 

I turned to look at Kian for help. My dad was late and mum was just an old school teacher. Kian had assured me that his family was wealthy enough no one would care about my lack of wealth. 

“Dear?” Mr. Shane called when I said nothing.

I opened my mouth to say something but no words came out. Kian released his hold on me and stood beside me.

“Her family are not in the same line of business as us.” he said dismissively, waving his hand in the air.

“But I still need to know what they do.” his father protested, the hard glint back on his face.

Kian shuffled from foot to foot, clearly uncomfortable. I looked at him once, disbelief clouding my eyes. I shifted away from him slightly and turned to face the older man.

“My dad is late, and my mum is-”

The loud opening and banging og the door cut me short. I heard Kian swore under his breath, and his father grimaced as he stared at the door.

“Now, what's got that boy in a foul mood again?” the older man asked, leaning back in his chair again.

Before my curiosity could get the best of me, a man stepped into the room. I could have sworn the aura in the air changed instantly.

“Heard you are bringing some lowlife today as your intended.” A deep, yet angelic voice arrested the room.

I blinked once, then twice as the implication of his words sank into my brain. Lowlife? Who? Because I was pretty certain he couldn't have been talking about me. Wealthy or not, no one was using me to mop the floor and just expected me to keep quiet.

“Well, hello, future brother-in-law to a lowlife,” I said in a sweet but deadly voice.

Kian held me by the wrist, silently warning me away. I brushed his hand away and swung back to face his brother. I’ve heard tales about the man, including how he has no regards for anyone, not even his own father. 

“For a lowlife, you've got a lot to say!” he growled. His animalistic growl should have been enough to warm me off him, but I wasn't one to give up halfway into the battlefield.

“If you think you can just-” the rest of the words died in my throat as I looked up. I blinked repeatedly, praying earnestly that the enchanting green eyes that were staring at me were not. But no matter how hard I tried to will them away, they burned into my soul, brandishing me.

A smug smile crested the corners of his lips then, almost as if he knew who I was even before he saw me.

“Well, hello there.” he greeted sweetly. “Have you told my brother and father that we met already, Mirielle?”