Chapter 25 - Family Dinner

Once Kelsey and Mason arrived home, the amazing scent of food reached their noses. Georgia had prepared for dinner and was almost finished cooking once they were home. They both decided to wash up since Georgia kicked them out of the kitchen and refused their help.

Kelsey strolled to her room only to find it completely empty. She pulled the drawers open and went inside the walk-in-closet but all her stuff were gone. With furrowed eyebrows, she went out of her room and started screaming Georgia's name. Mason heard Kelsey's voice booming around the house and he figured that she must have realized that her stuff were all gone.

Mason came out of his room and saw Kelsey making her way downstairs. He followed suit in hurry and tried to stop her to explain but she was too fast. "Georgia!" She once again called out as Georgia came out of the kitchen.

"What's wrong, sweetheart? Is there an emergency?" Georgia asked in oblivion.

"My clothes, they're all gone. Where are they?" She questioned with confusion written all over her face.

"I thought Mason had discussed this with you."

"Discussed what with me?"

"I asked Georgia to move everything in my room." Mason announced as she whipped her head around to faced him. She eyed him in total bewilderment before she started talking.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because we have to make this believable." He nonchalantly answered. "I know my mom, she's gonna doubt me if we're not sleeping in the same room. Besides, don't you remember the contract? Rule number two states that whenever there are guests at home, both have to sleep in the same room to prevent the talks." He reminded her and Kelsey couldn't do anything but sigh in defeat.

"Fine." She complied with gritted teeth. "But I'm going to shower first." She stated as she hurried upstairs and locked the door of Mason's room. His scent wafted around the room and everything looked dark. The walls were painted plain white, the floor was covered in wooden tiles but the bed was resting under a black carpet, the curtains were black in the middle and white on the sides, and his bedsheets were dark grey and black as well. Every furniture seemed to be either black, white or dark grey. He was a really mysterious and dark man.

Kelsey decided to make her way to the bathroom. The bathroom was definitely bigger than the one in her room. It had two sinks, a square jacuzzi fit for two people, and a glass shower stall. She strolled towards the shower stall and quickly washed up. Once she was done, she took a towel from one of the drawers in the bathroom and wrapped it tightly around her body.

She then opened the sliding doors attached to the bathroom with mirrors on them and flicked the switched on. The light illuminated the walk-in-closet and it was extravagantly huge. Her mouth was slightly agape as she passed the clothes neatly arranged in the closet. On her left, Mason's shoes were neatly placed in rows and his some of his shirts and some of his pants were folded and arranged according to its colour and shade. While his business wears and formal clothes were all hanged up in the same manner.

Kelsey then glanced at the white wooden table with a glass top in the middle of the room and in there were neckties and bowties rolled up neatly and were placed in each individual boxes. They were also different sorts of watches and some pens that some were still placed in its box. She then glanced to her right and saw all of her old clothes mixed with many new ones. It was arranged in the same way as Mason's clothes and she was amazed to see a lot of new shoes and heels that were lined up in her side of the room.

She ran her hand on the clothes that were hanged and couldn't helped but feel astounded. She couldn't even comprehend how Mason knew her sizes in clothes and in shoes. She opened the top drawer on her side and there were undergarments lined up, most of them were new. She felt her cheeks grew hot in embarrassment knowing that Mason may have picked them out for her.

She quickly got dressed and picked a simple sky blue dress that reached before her knees. She sat on the chair by the vanity table and started working on her face. She place her hair in a messy bun and lightly dabbed some powder and applied a light pink lipstick on her lips. Once she was done, she took a pair of black flats and made her way downstairs to help Georgia set the table.

Mason was sitting on the couch scrolling through his phone when he heard Kelsey's light footsteps going down the stairs. He glanced up from his phone and studied her outfit. Even though it was simply, she still looked stunning. Kelsey didn't acknowledged him and just kept walking towards the kitchen. Mason sighed and strolled towards his room to start freshening up.

Kelsey and Georgia were almost done setting the table when the bell suddenly rang. Kelsey felt the blood rushing rapidly through her veins. She felt nervous and she felt her stomach churning. She gulped audibly as Georgia eyed her in confusion. "Are you okay, Kelsey?" She asked worriedly. Kelsey looked a bit pale and Georgia was afraid that she was going to faint. "Do you want me to get the door?"

"No!" Kelsey hurriedly replied. "I mean, it's fine. I'll go get it." She announced as she took a deep breath and made her way towards the door. She took another deep breath before she opened the door and let out a forceful smile.

Victoria's beaming face greeted her and a tall, good-looking man was standing behind her. He had the same features as Ella, but he looked less friendly. He studied her for a moment before he shifted his eyes away.

"Good evening, sweetheart." Victoria greeted as she pulled Kelsey into a hug.

"Good evening, ma'am." She politely replied as they pulled away. "Good evening, sir." She added, turning her attention to Mason's father. She stick a hand out for him to shake and he grabbed it and shook it firmly.

"Good evening, young lady." He stern voice responded. "May we come in?" He asked with a raised eyebrow as Kelsey's eyes widened in panic.

"Yes, of course." She quickly widen the door open and let them in. A bellboy, which Kelsey didn't noticed before, came to her view and pushed a baggage cart inside the penthouse.

"You can just leave it there. We'll take care of it." Victoria ordered the bellhop as he nodded in understanding. He placed the cart to the side and left without uttering a word. He simply bowed before leaving and shut the door closed.

"So." Victoria started as she shot Kelsey a warm smile. "Where's my son?" She asked.

"Um...He's just getting ready. He should be done soon." Kelsey politely responded and gestured towards the dinning room which had access to the living room where they currently were. Victoria and Edward followed Kelsey in the dinning room and they took their seats. Edward sat at the head of the table while Victoria took a seat by his right.

"Do you want some tea, coffee, wine?" Kelsey offered them as Georgia placed the last plate of food on the table.

"Wine would be nice, sweetheart." Victoria answered. Kelsey went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of wine from the wine rack. She was about to make her way back when the doorbell rang once more.

"I'll take that. Go and grab the door, will you?" Georgia ordered as she took the bottle of wine and strolled towards the dinning room. Kelsey obeyed and was halfway towards the door when Ella came to her sight. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion but her question was answered when Mason came to sight as well with Lance. Mason must have opened the door for them.

"Good evening." Kelsey greeted them and they both gave her a friendly hug. Mason didn't quite like the hug that Kelsey had received from Lance. He just really wished that Lance wasn't cheating on his sister or he might just kill him with his bare hands.

"Has the evil witch arrived?" Ella whispered to Kelsey in humour.

"Heard that! I'm cutting your allowance for the month." Victoria mentioned and smiled innocently at Ella.

"Mom!" Ella screamed with sarcastic joy. "It's been a long time. I miss you so much!" She exaggerated, opening her arms wide for a hug.

Victoria beamed and opened her arms as well but walked passed Ella. "Lance, how are you, dear?" She greeted pulling him into a hug.

"I've been well, Mrs. King. How was your flight?" He asked in politeness as Ella scoffed at them. She then decided to leave and made her way to the dinning room to greet her father.

"It was fine, thanks for asking. I hope Ella is not much of a headache to you." She could be a handful at times." Victoria commented as they all started heading to the dinning room. Kelsey listened to the two and it seemed that they were pretty close. Kelsey just really hoped that she would one day be able to talk to Victoria in such a friendly matter.

"Of course not, Mrs. King. She's been very behave lately." He kidded earning a chuckle from Victoria.

"That's good to hear then." She said as she took her seat.

Ella sat beside her mother and Lance sat beside her. Mason then sat to the left of his father and Kelsey took the seat beside him. "Mom." Ella said with a warning tone. "Stop questioning Lance about me."

"I was just making sure that you are not a pain in the ass." Victoria commented earning a scoff from Ella. She glared at her mother and hissed aloud.

"Ysabella, not in front of the food." Edward warned her as she pouted while placing the napkin on her lap.

"Sorry, dad." She muttered under her breath.

They all started eating and had small conversations here and there. Edward and Mason were talking to Lance about the new movie that he produced lately while Ella and her mother were talking about the fashion show coming up. Mason glanced at Kelsey and could see her uneasiness. She was mostly playing around with her food and kept her head down most of the dinner.

"What about you, Kelsey?" Victoria suddenly asked, making Kelsey glanced up from her plate. Her whole body stiffened as if she was casted a frozen spell.

"Sorry?" She nervously uttered.

Victoria shot her a warm smile. Victoria could tell that the girl was anxious since she had been quiet the entire dinner and hadn't utter a word. She also noticed that she hadn't been eating since her plate consisted the same food she had since dinner had started. "I asked if you are currently working." She repeated nicely.

"Y-yes." Kelsey stuttered then cleared her throat to swallow the lumped that had formed. "I just recently started working at La Mille." She responded.

"Really?" Ella asked in surprise since she didn't know that Kelsey started working there.

"Isn't that your friend's restaurant, Mason?" Victoria asked him.

"Yes." He simply replied as Victoria nodded in comprehension.

"Are you a chef there, sweetheart?" She questioned Kelsey once again.

"I'm still training at the moment. But I hope to be one someday." Kelsey sincerely answered.

"I see. You are, indeed, a hard worker." Victoria claimed as she shot her husband a knowing look.

"When did the two of you meet again?" Edward pipped in as he studied Mason and Kelsey with scrutinizing eyes. The atmosphere seemed to have thickened with the mention of their so-called relationship. Kelsey gulped in anxiousness and glanced at Mason for help.

"We met at Ricky's dinner party, dad." Mason responded nonchalantly.

"And when did you start dating?" He questioned and Mason knew that his father was up to something. Mason knew that his father had probably done a background check on Kelsey already and was waiting for him to slip up and tell them the truth.

"Dad..." Ella butted in when she sensed the tension between her father and her brother starting to arise.

"What? I'm just curious." Edward shrugged. "Wasn't it a few weeks ago that you were in a tabloid with another woman you met at a bar?" He added which only infuriated Mason more. Mason tightened his fist into ball under the table and he could feel his jaw locking in anger.

"Darling..." Victoria warned him as she rubbed his arm in comfort and to calm his nerves down.

"And didn't you tell me and that you're not interested in getting married anytime soon?" Edward kept going which only fed into Mason's anger.

"Dad!" "Edward!" Ella and Victoria yelled in unison as Mason abruptly stood from his chair making a loud noise.

"What is it that you want me to say, dad?" Mason asked with gritted teeth as he glared at his father. Kelsey suddenly couldn't breathed with the tensed atmosphere and she found herself standing next to Mason, rubbing his back soothingly while keeping her other hand on her chest.

"I wanna know the truth. I'm not too convince that the two of you are actually in love." Edward stated in a calmly matter.

Mason laughed humourlessly and scoffed at his father. "Are you questioning my capability to love?"

"Mason, honey. Please stop." Victoria pipped in before the event turned into a chaos.

"You know nothing about love, dad. That's why you have no right to question how and what I'm feeling." Mason simply said as he left the table and made his way to his room.

"Mason!" Victoria called out and was about to follow him but Kelsey interfered.

"It's okay, ma'am. I'll take it from here. Please, enjoy the desserts." She announced as she excused herself to follow after Mason.