Love on the Dotted Line

Chapter 9: Meet the Fam

Grace hops out of the Uber, her peepers taking in the sight of the Hotel Regal Crest. This place is straight-up posh, like something out of a fairytale! It's got a grand entrance with big ol' arches and fancy stonework that screams, "I'm dripping with old-school luxury!" The joint looks like it's been holding it down for a hundred years, oozing class from every brick. Warm, glowing lights are spilling out from the windows and entrance, practically begging Grace to come on in and join the party.

The concierge, a real stand-up guy, opens the door for Grace, giving her a warm welcome that makes her feel at home. Grace scurries inside, feeling like she just stepped into a dream. Her heart's pounding like a drum, but she's mighty relieved that one part of this whole shebang is in the bag. She's scanning the room, looking for any familiar mugs, when someone in a snazzy uniform moseys on up to her.

"Pardon me, miss, but are you Grace Monroe?" the guy asks, all polite-like.

"Yup, that's me," Grace says, letting out a sigh of relief.

"Follow me, miss," the guy says, motioning for Grace to come along.

"Now hold up, where are we headed?" Grace asks 'cause the last thing she wants is to get snatched up or tossed in some room.

"Oh, they just want to have a little chat with you, all private-like," the guy says, giving Grace a reassuring smile.

"Okie dokie," Grace says, following the guy to the lift. The lift takes them to the 2nd floor, and the guy leads her to a room, giving the door a knock. Maria opens up the door.

"Grace, darling, come on in," she says. Maria's all dolled up in a red dress, like she's headed to some fancy shindig. Grace feels a bit embarrassed about her threads.

Maria sizes up Grace and can't help but think they might've picked the wrong gal. Grace looks normal, but she's a real bombshell. Even with just a smidge of makeup, she's a bombshell. Maria's worried that Dion might fall head over heels for Grace's good looks. Grace is broke as a joke, and Maria and Antonios aren't looking to have no poor girl be part of their family. Grace reckons Maria's giving her a funny look because she might be ugly as a sin.

"So, Grace, meet your temporary future hubby, Dion. And Dion, this here's the lucky lady who's gonna play the role of your girlfriend and wifey," Maria says to the young stud in the room with Antonios. Grace sneaks a peek at him and realizes she recognizes this hombre.

"Alright, we'll give you two a few minutes to get your story straight for the old man. But remember, no falling head over heels. We ain't paying you to catch feelings," Antonios says, serious as a heart attack. Like, gravely serious.

"Me? Fall for her? Ha! She ain't even my type," the guy scoffs, his voice smooth as honey. His stunning dark blue eyes, the color of a midnight sky, zero in on Grace, and it's like time just stops. He's drop-dead gorgeous, with chiseled features that could make any gal weak in the knees. There's a twinkle in his eye like he's got the secret recipe for making ladies swoon tucked in his back pocket.

Dion sizes up the girl standing in front of him. He's peeved at his Bro-Dad and Maria for sticking him with some plain Jane. 'This is how she dolls up to meet a guy for the first time?' Dion thinks, eyeing Grace's nothing-special outfit. 'What kind of snooze-fest gold digger did they saddle me with?' Dion's disappointed. When Maria and Antonios told him Grace was after his dough, he figured he could at least have a little fun with her. But Grace looks like she's never even held hands with a guy, let alone anything else.