Heir of Deception | (for mature audience)

Chapter 10: Alexandria

Alexandria

—

I finished my hair and makeup, glancing nervously at the clock. Time was slipping away, and I still hadn’t chosen an outfit. I stepped into my closet, my heart racing as I rifled through my clothes. What if the outfit I chose was too formal? What if they thought I was just some snobby, spoiled brat? The last thing I wanted was for Christian’s family to think he had made a mistake in choosing me.

After a moment of hesitation, I pulled out a white tweed blazer dress that I had never worn before. It was elegant, reaching the middle of my thighs with long sleeves, but it felt too stiff, too polished. I paired it with my favorite Louboutin pumps, but as I looked in the mirror, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was trying too hard. This dress was more suited for my mother or sister than for me.

“Wow,” Christian said, looking me up and down as I emerged from my room. “You look… you know you don’t have to impress anyone, right?”

“Don’t you like it?” I asked, searching his eyes for reassurance.

“It’s beautiful, but it just doesn’t feel like you,” he replied, his tone gentle yet honest.

Because it’s not me, I thought, the weight of his words sinking in.

“I’m going to change,” I said, turning back toward my room, the blazer dress suddenly feeling suffocating.

After another fifteen minutes of searching, I finally settled on a corseted black satin halter neck maxi dress with an open back and a thigh-high slit. You can't go wrong with black, right? I would have preferred to be wearing one of my favorite oversized hoodies and sweatpants, but tonight was not the night for comfort. What harm could a little discomfort do?

I walked downstairs and found Christian sitting in the living room, casually sipping a glass of liquor. My breath caught in my throat as he got up, looking impossibly handsome in a fitted black suit and crisp white shirt. His eyes roamed over my body, a smile tugging at his lips.

“This is more like it, princess,” he said, his voice low and inviting.

“Thank you,” I smiled, feeling a rush of confidence at his words.

“Can we start practicing how to be a couple in love?” he asked, taking my hand and spinning me around playfully.

“Yes!” I giggled, the tension in my shoulders easing.

He pulled out his phone and started playing music, drawing me closer to him. I placed my hands on his shoulders, his hands resting on the small of my back. We stared into each other’s eyes, the world around us fading as we lost ourselves in the moment.

“I’m sorry for my outburst the other night,” I said calmly, breaking the comfortable silence.

“It’s okay; you had your reasons,” he smiled, his expression warm and understanding.

“You can kiss me now if you want to,” I said, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth, feeling a flutter of anticipation.

“Let’s get through the night first,” he replied, a teasing smile on his face before he kissed my forehead. “My family has arrived.”

We reluctantly unlocked our bodies from each other as he stopped the music. I turned around, suddenly feeling a wave of nerves wash over me as I saw his family waiting, their eyes fixed on us. With a nervous smile, we walked over to greet them, my heart pounding as the corset tightened around my waist, making it a little harder to breathe.

“Guys, this is Alexandria,” Christian said, placing a reassuring hand on my back. “Alexandria, this is my family.”

“Hi,” I said, forcing a cheerful smile as I shook hands with his father, Christopher Sr., an older-looking man with a head full of white hair. Next was his wife and Christian's stepmother, Rebecca Myers-Calloway, followed by his siblings, Leah-Jane and Christopher Jr., who everyone called Junior.

We toasted with glasses of wine before taking our seats for dinner. I settled into my place next to Christian, feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension as the family settled around the table. Dinner was served, and we began to eat, making small talk to get to know each other better.

“How did you guys meet?” Leah asked, looking between me and Christian, her curiosity evident.

“We met through a mutual friend. She was the shy girl who didn’t say a word to anyone unless they spoke to her. The rest is history,” he said, squeezing my hand and looking directly into my eyes, his smile making my heart flutter.

“That’s so cute. The opposite happened when Chris and I met,” Rebecca chimed in, her eyes sparkling with nostalgia. “Me and my lady friends were discussing the annual ball for the country club when I saw him staring out the window, drinking his scotch all alone. So, I went over, and we talked and talked.”

“That’s adorable,” I said, grinning at their sweet story.

“Did you know you’re the first woman that my big bro has introduced us to?” Junior said, looking over at me with a playful smirk. “You probably popped his cherry, Lex,” he laughed, causing my cheeks to flush with embarrassment.

“Shut up, Junior,” Christian said, his tone good-natured but firm. “Not all of us are like you, baby bro.”

---

After dinner, we moved to the living room, glasses of wine in hand, as his family continued to share stories about Christian’s childhood. It was a delightful mix of laughter and disbelief as they recounted tales of his adventurous spirit. His dad told us about the time they were on vacation in the Hamptons, and he had stolen a cup full of charred coal from the fireplace, thinking it was candy, and proceeded to eat it under the kitchen table.

“Did he ever play piano for you?” his dad asked, a twinkle of mischief in his eye.

“No, I didn’t even know he could play piano,” I replied, glancing over at Christian, whose expression shifted to one of playful embarrassment.

“You never asked. Plus, I’m a little rusty,” he said, his gaze locked on mine, an intensity sparking between us. “If they leave, I can show you.”

“Okay,” I said softly, my curiosity piqued.

“You guys are so in love, it’s sickening,” Leah chimed in, taking a sip of her wine with a teasing grin.

“Do you want me to show you just how sickening we can be, sis?” Christian asked with a cheeky smirk.

“Okay, I think we should be leaving,” Rebecca interjected, a knowing smile on her face. “Let’s give these lovebirds their alone time.”

“No, I want to hear more stories about little Christian before you leave,” I said, feeling a genuine desire to learn more about the man I was falling for.

“I’ll get you some wine,” Christian said, rising from his seat and heading toward the kitchen.

As I watched him go, I felt a wave of affection wash over me. I couldn’t help but smile at how genuine and warm his family was. They welcomed me into their circle with open arms, and I felt a sense of belonging that I hadn’t anticipated.

“Tell me more about Christian as a kid,” I prompted, eager to hear more stories.