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The last week had been hectic on work with stabilizing and organizing meetings for Xavier with star entertainment. Me and Catherine were working like a dying dodo on fire in office while Xavier was having time of his life watching us dying over and over again. I swear I wanted to snap him in half!!

'I will have the lower half. Thank you.' My inner voice said smirking.

You have leveled up I see.

Of course! I had a ample of time on my hands.

Dare I say everything was back to normal except the sea of paparazzi still camping outside the KING INC. And the new company added to my pile of work.

Right now I'm rummaging through my closet for a decent and sophisticated dress, my hands are literally shaking since morning due to nervousness and I think I would pass out till the time of meeting them, keeping aside a formal black dress I picked up a green one and turned...

"That is absolutely trash. Try something different!" Oh did I mentioned Diya is on the phone right now. I turned to her and pouted in annoyance before rummaging through my closet once again.

"Hold up!!" Diya yelled through the phone and I stopped my movements at once. What happened??

"That printed dress! Yep! That one!" She yelled so I took out the dress hesitantly not sure if the dress would even go with the occasion. But at this point I wasn't sure about anything at all that's why Diya is shouting through the phone for the last past hour.

"Are you sure?" I asked her, hesitantly looking myself in the mirror with the dress.

"Yes. I'm sure. You have to pretend that you're the most purest and innocent women she ever met. Mother-in-laws love innocence. Understood?" She said and I nodded somewhat moved by her calculating words. Not that I need to pretend, I'm actually very innocent. Deciding that I was going to wear the dress I turned to my phone once again.

"Thanks Diya. I don't know what I'd do without you." I said smiling.

"I know. I practically raised you!" She snickered from the other side making me raise my eyebrow in amusement.

"I'm a year older than you." I said amusingly.

"Yeah put everything here and bring me a cup of coffee..." I heard her say to someone else. " So what?!" She replied making me grin.

"Don't call me! I'm busy unlike you!" She yelled before hanging the call, a chuckle slipped through my lips at her. She is really something. I'm so hyped about her arrival here and I'm very excited to spend time with her after so long.

I glanced at the wall clock to see it showing 9 am in the morning so I hastily dressed into the blue printed bohemian styled dress for the required 'innocence' and did my natural makeup to go with the look.

Xavier will be here at 10 to pick me up and then it is half hour drive to his parent's mansion. I don't have much time left so I decided to slip into my heels and wait for him downstairs.

I was checking my clutch contents when I heard the the bell, grinning I sprinted into the direction of front door, opening it I found Xavier standing there in his casuals looking much younger than his formal ones. He smiled upon seeing me.

I did a little twirl and looked expectantly at him for his reaction. This was a first for me and I really wanted them to like me. "How do I look?" I asked.

I squealed when I felt him literally sweeping me off the ground and into the air with his hands on my waist. I clutched his shoulders tightly to avoid landing face first on the floor. He placed his lips onto mine quieting and calming down both my nerves and squeals. I don't how many times we had kissed but the experience was always new and heart thumping for me. His hands were firm on my waist and I was sure we were recreating some cliché kissing scene. His tongue stroked every inch of my mouth making me moan in content.

Finally he placed me down and stared at me adoringly. "You look absolutely stunning baby...." he said huskily sending shivers of delight down my spine. I cleared my throat to avoid going back inside, turning and locking the front door I rushed into the elevator's direction which only caused him to chuckle.

"Wait for me!" I heard him yell and rush into the elevator with me. It shut with a ding and I stood there trying to avoid getting caught with this much blush prominent on my face.

"Shana?"

"Hmm.." I hummed in response not trusting my voice, glaring into my clutch to find something. Anything.

"Are you shy?" I could literally feel his smirk through his voice.

"No! Why would I be shy?!" I said all defensive suddenly while staring at him with a confused expression. His smirk only widened causing me to groan inwardly.

"I think you are lying Ms. Rajput." he said bringing his face nearer to mine.

"Lying my ass! I'm not shy! We kissed like what? A thousand times!" I said focusing back into my clutch and I finally found my lip balm. Thank the father who art in heaven!!

"Right." He said again.

"Xavier?"

"Yep."

"Wipe that smirk off of your face right now!" I said applying lipbalm, with my face away from him.

"As you wish......sexy." he whispered into my ear making me sigh in fulfillment. The elevator opened and he dragged me out with him. I silently followed him to his Buggati la Voiture noire. He opened the door for me and I settled inside thanking him, but instead he leaned down towards me, my breadth hitched into my throat.

"Even if it is your blush I want to devour and remember it. Next time don't hide. You're mine remember." He said just mere centimeters away from me, my body shuddered in response which made him smirk knowingly. I wanted to deny him and tell him that I belonged to myself but my throat was constricted painfully. Pulling back he closed my door and slipped into the driver's seat swiftly.

God my makeup will sweat out if he goes on like this. I turned the A.C. on, making him chuckle and me to frown. Why am I the only one getting needy. I really need to stop acting like a hormonal teenager if I want to get through this family lunch sophisticatedly.

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The iron gates opened letting us in while I wiped my sweaty hands for the hundredth time in nervousness, I haven't said a word the whole ride. staring at the huge mansion at front, I should be accoustemed by the size of the mansion by now but I wasn't and today it was looking more intimidating than ever.

The car came to halt infront of mansion as Xavier got out and threw his keys to the valet. I was still sitting inside. Can't I just go back? Like answering my questions Xavier opened the door for me and extended his hand to me. Exhaling heavily I took his hand in mine instantly feeling sparks igniting in my body. I don't know if it was due to his touch or my nerves.

I tried to smile at him but he saw right through my soul. He pulled me closer to him lightly and whispered soothingly into my ear for only us to hear.

"Don't worry. Mom and Dad are going to love you." I felt his hand rubbing my back softly to calm me down. Maybe I was just over reacting. This was eventually going to happen so what's the point in being scared. I softly nodded and advanced towards the porch with Xavier's hand still in mine.

Before he could ring the bell, the maids opened the heavy front doors and both his parents stepped out, Marissa was literally flying from joy, she grinned upon seeing our entwined hands.

"Sweetheart finally you are here." She said while stepping towards me with her arms wide open. She hugged me just like my mom and I relaxed into her arms letting some of my nervousness and worry to fly away.

"Thank you for inviting us Marissa." I said between the hug.

"What type of Mother-in-law would I be if I didn't met such lovely daughter-in-law of mine." She said separating from the hug and keeping her frail hands on my shoulders softly. I didn't know how to react to the whole daughter-in-law situation since Xavier hadn't proposed me yet and I wasn't in hurry too. But from the looks on Marissa face, she looked like she had even planned what would she gift her grandchildren on their birthdays, so I just smiled politely in return.

"Mom I'm also here." I heard Xavier whine from beside me making me smile and Marissa to snicker.

"No hugs for you boy! I'm still going to disown you." She said sternly but there was a tint of mischief pooling in her hazel eyes.

I saw Xavier smirk mischievously beside me before he said." Mom, if you would disown me then I don't think Shana will be your daughter-in-law, now would she?" I glanced in his direction amusingly, he just winked at me in return. This manipulating blasted jerk. His mom was in debate with herself for sometime.

"So I guess I would have to withstand you too." She said thoughtfully which made all three of us chuckle, he stepped forward and enveloped Marissa in a bone crushing hug.

I glanced at Robert to see him just the same as he was that day, with the same fire glinting in his eyes as Xavier's. He stepped towards me and enveloped me in a short hug in a fatherly manner.

"I'm happy, Xavier chose you." I smiled heartily at his words. Looks like I was already approved by both of them.

We separated as Marissa literally dragged me inside with her.

Now that wasn't bad at all.

We were in a indoor garden room, I wondered if there was anything that wasn't in this mansion. I stared mesmerizingly at the garden just outside, it was covered with all type of plants and flowers, I even saw the black rose in there.

"This is...........beautiful Marissa." I said mesmerizingly. It was so ethereally beautiful. The land was trailing long covered with all type of flowers, non ending meadows. I was just staring, not believing my own eyes. The fountain giving the unknown peace to my heart, sunlight peaking through the canopy of the trees and I inhaled sharply.

"Robert bought this mansion while I was still pregnant with Xavier." She said from beside me and I saw her looking at the garden with so much love. I was speechless from the beauty of this place.

"I instantly fell in love with this place and we decided to welcome our baby here in this mansion. I couldn't have asked for it any differently." I swear if she kept talking like this I would cry. This was just aesthetic, so out of this world.

I turned to her with my swelled heart, She was so raw, so vulnerable, so open at this moment that I wanted to soothe her anyhow, I gently took her hands in my, she smiled at me."I'm glad it's you." She said and showed me a ring, a man's ring to be precise. She handed me the ring gently.

"This was the ring I gifted Robert when he proposed me, he wasn't expecting this at all....." she laughed probably remembering the memory, and at that moment I saw a women so in love with her husband, I just wish someday I could also have something so precious in my life.".........sweetheart...Robert and I have decided to give this you. I know you would cherish it."

My eyes widened a little." Marissa I can't take this. This is too much. Not only this is expensive, this is something with so much sentimental value. How can I take this from you?" I said hesitantly staring at the ring in my palm.

"It would make me happy to know that someone is loving my son as much as me." She said closing my fingers over the ring softly, I felt so much-loved with her trust to actually hand me over something so valuable.

"Thank you." I said humbly, sniffling and chuckling together with my overwhelming emotions.

"No thank you. I wouldn't have anyone else for Xavier's. " her sentence only made me remind Xavier. There wasn't even a little doubt now that Xavier was just like her mother when comes to claiming anything.

"Let's go back. We wouldn't want them to start looking for us like lost puppies. " she said smiling at me which made me amused at her.

"I highly doubt Xavier would do that." I said remembering Xavier's mindset, he wouldn't look for anyone.

"I beg to differ." She said smirking at me and I was just about to reply when I heard Xavier's faint voice from the entrance of the garden room. I stared slightly shocked that he was actually looking for me.

"Told you." I heard Marissa brag beside me. She glanced at the clock and said again." 20 minutes, took him long enough." She said before dragging me with her and into the main hallway where I saw Robert sneaking around the corner.

"Oh you're here! I was looking for you." I looked amused between the two while Marissa just rolled her eyes at her husband, Robert came near us and smiled adoringly at me. I smiled back at him.

"You got the ring I see. I hope we could actually get to give our blessings to you two." He said looking at the ring in my hand, at the mention of it I carefully placed the ring into my clutch to avoid losing it. I smiled at Robert's words before I heard Xavier's voice around the hallway.

"Dad did you found...oh you're here!" He said before coming beside me making Marissa smirk at him and Robert to sniker, I just blushed knowing what Marissa is thinking.

"What?" He asked confusedly to Marissa, later just avoiding him and dragging me to the dining room, lunch was ready to be served as maids were literally lined up to start serving with plates full of food in their hands.

I was slight awkward, not used to this type of environment. Whom was I kidding? I was the type to eat food straight out of the microwave. I wasn't worthy enough of be served.

Hell right! You aren't. My inner voice quirked.

Yes. That's what I'm saying.

No I'm telling you-wait. Did you just agreed with me? Oh hell no!? Ain't nobody get to discourage you but me! Not even you yourself! Understood! You are the most worthy one here!

When my inner voice was done giving a fit, I stepped closer to the seats, Xavier pulled the seat for me and I thanked him before settling down comfortably, once all of us was seated Marissa clinked her glass in a gesture for the maids to start serving and not even 10 seconds later my plate was full of all type of delicacies.

I was troubled between which one to taste first. But hesitantly I picked the fork and knife and started going for the juicy steak infront of me first. I placed it into my mouth and moaned in delight at the meat meltimg into my mouth. It was delicious. I turned to Marissa when I heard her directing a question to me.

"Does your parents know about this Shana?" She asked worriedly. She's was probably worried over the scandal.

"Yes. They know. Papa was furious when he saw the news and was threatening to murder Xavier." I answered not really paying attention to what I was saying. When my brain wrapped the fact around that my tongue just slipped I looked up to see Xavier in uncomfortable silence and Marissa in a worried expression, but on the other side there was Robert trying to stiffle his laugh by gulping down water.

"Sorry......I didn't mean it like that but you don't need to worry. I have somewhat done the damage control. He won't be that mad anymore since he considered Xavier's punishment significantly and settled to a shot to his leg." I said vibrantly and this time Robert literally cracked into a full blown laugh while Marissa glared at him in return. And Xavier....I could tell he was trying to figure out how much it will hurt to get shot. I grinned at their reaction, knowing that till papa and Xavier would meet, his anger will calm down significantly.

"Wasn't your father in army? What was his rank again?" Robert asked wiping his tear and smirking at Xavier who was now literally holding a look of terror, I wanted to calm him down but this was too much fun.

"He's retired general but they are persuading him to join again to train the new ones." I said smiling evilly back at Robert, who was having lifetime of fun watching his wife and son worrying over something that doesn't even going to happen.

"What about your mother dear?" Marissa asked hopefully.