Being a Colton.

021.

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THE PAST.

Irene's POV.
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I was shocked when I got into my house and found Frederick and his bodyguards.

My father was the happiest. He seemed to love Frederick so much. I think it was partly due to the fact that I have not officially dated anyone since Cole. Besides, now that Emily was dating Cole, they didn't want to address it outrightly so they pretended like everything was okay. So now that Frederick was in the picture, they would not have to worry about everything.

"Where are you planning to stay, we didn't know you were coming so we didn't prepare anything." my mom glanced at Frederick and at me.

"We can just use the spare bedroom in the upstairs left." My father said happily.

"Where are your friends going to stay?" My mom glanced at Frederick's bodyguard.

"They will find a hotel to stay," he answered.

"A hotel?!" my mom screamed horrified. She glanced at me as if she couldn't believe Frederick would even suggest that.

"They are his bodyguard," I explained.

My parents glanced at each other. I knew that look, they were silently communicating.

"Are there any hotels around here? They could stay, or fly back for Christmas for their family." Frederick finally said. That's smarter. Julius and Sawyer were staying all around the year. They deserved to spend their holidays at home.

"It will be nice for them to go back," I urged. Frederick nodded, "if they take the jet, it might not be in time to take us home." Frederick muttered.

"Jet?" My father glanced at me. He was picking up on all our conversations. "I will talk to them, don't worry," Frederick said, he stood, nodded, and walked toward them.

My mom sat next to me, she grinned and smiled happily. She hugged me tightly and she shook her head at her antics.

"Mom, what are you doing?" I muttered, trying to shake her off.

"He is so handsome! Why didn't you tell us about him Irene?" Frederick questioned.

"Mom!" I frowned. My father was watching us. Frederick walked back to us. He smiled at us, and my mom awwed again.

After that, my mother and I set up the spare room. It was not necessary for a spare bedroom but we used it when family came to visit from family members.

The room was small, smaller than what Frederick was used to for sure but this was my family's house and there was nothing I could do.

My mom and I cleaned the room up, while my dad went grocery shopping. Frederick followed Julius and Sawyer out of time, while they found a motel, they were going to sleep in town and then leave the next day.

"Why didn't you tell us you had a boyfriend?" my mom asked. I knew it was coming. "Irene, you are my daughter. Since you left you have been distant and I wondered if it had something to do with Cole." I sighed and shook my head.

"Mom, it's had nothing to do with Cole. I just want my relationship to be quiet." I answered.

"Even from us? Scratch that, even from me Folashade?" she asked, horrified and I sighed.

"Mom, I love you but... I just wanted to keep things with Frederick and me under wraps." I tried to explain.

"Under wraps? I have a feeling that not about us anymore." My mother stopped putting the curtains on. One thing my mother would, do is check me.

"Frederick... He is..." I stopped. I didn't know how to tell my mom he was a billionaire without telling her that. "He is... very famous in New York and him... we agreed that we would enjoy this year without anyone knowing before we. Tell anyone."