Louis' POV
She flinches beneath my hand. I can feel the tension ripple through her body. We really should have gone over details like this beforehand.
I squeeze her thighs a bit, a secret motion for her to relax and breathe. She just had to go with her instincts.
"It's been… a few months," she says timidly. She looks at me, trying to figure out what I was going to say, but then after a beat, more confidently, "Three months, and counting."
With a new found confidence, she continues, the stress line that formed between her brows finally loosening, "I am indeed still his secretary so it's kind of awkward. I wanted it to be kept secret just so I'm not thrust into unwanted attention and gossip from the other employees."
I smile, perfectly pleased at how well she handled this. I wouldn't have been any better. She was a very smart woman indeed. I felt even prouder to know that this was the woman I'd decided to do this with.
Silence follows.
My shoulders tense as I studied my grandparents' reaction. Nothing.
They were pros at masking their emotions. You just never fully know when it comes to them.
Until Grandma cuts through the deafening silence, "It's alright, dear," she interjects gently. "Don't mind him, you don't have to explain anything. He can be a bit intimidating and untrusting. I believe you, you both look perfectly fine from where I stand."
Claire nods, still obviously uncomfortable. I, on the other hand, felt nothing but relief, we definitely sold it. 'We made a very good pair,' I thought inwardly.
Gramps exhales. "Very well," he says at last. "That's good to hear. I'll be expecting news of your engagement soon."
"So," I cut in, seizing the moment, "what brings you here this early? I wasn't expecting a visit. Is something wrong?"
They rarely come by unannounced, certainly not at this hour. Normally, I'm just summoned to the estate.
"Oh, it doesn't matter now," Grandma says breezily. "We were actually reviewing potential matches for you. Since we hadn't heard anything, we assumed you needed a little push."
I stared blankly at them, of course they did. I hope Claire isn't too uncomfortable by this whole thing.
"We were going over the final list Cordelia prepared," Grandpa adds, angling his tablet toward me. "Young women from respectable families. We had already narrowed down our choice and were going to let you decide from the list."
Cordelia is my grandparents' trusted assistant, she's been with them for so long. She is almost like family to me, over 20 years of service, and Cordelia is still as sharp as ever.
So that's what he was looking at earlier.
Thank God. At least it wasn't gossip or worse, something about our stock market.
From the corner of my eye, I notice Claire fidgeting. She still looks uncomfortable. I squeeze her thigh gently, offering silent reassurance.
Grandma notices too.
"But you've done well for yourself, we do not need any intervention," she says. "Now don't we, Lucas?," glancing towards my grandfather who still sits with his assessing gaze.
He just grunts in response.
"A girlfriend you didn't even think to tell us about and she is pretty too," Grams continues.
Claire turns red hearing a sudden compliment from my grandma.
"Do your parents know?", she questions. That was directed at me. I stiffen, my hands unconsciously tightening around Claire's thigh before I realize what I'm doing and release her at once.
Why would I inform them? They don't care.
My parents are probably on opposite ends of the continent, blissfully unconcerned. Of course they don't know.
"No," I answer curtly. "They aren't aware."
Grandpa's expression softens slightly.
"Alright then," he says, rising to his feet and helping Grandma up. "We should be going."
Yeah, I'm glad that topic is over.
"We'd love for you to visit us soon, dear," Grandma says to Claire.
Claire stands instantly. "Y-yes. Of course," she replies nervously. "We'll definitely come."
"We'll be expecting you," Grandma says, walking towards Claire with a beaming smile on her face.
"Walk us out, boy," Gramps orders.
"I'll be right back," I murmur to Claire as I move past her.
She nods.
"Goodbye, Mr. and Mrs. Smith," she says politely. "It was a pleasure meeting you."
"Oh, please," Grandma says warmly, taking Claire's hands. "Call me Cecilia. And he is Lucas. You'll soon be part of the family."
"Yes ma'am.. I mean, yes Cecilia. Thank you", Claire rambles nervously.
Grandma only shakes her head, a fond smile tugging at her lips, clearly finding Claire's flustered state just as endearing as I do.
We exit the house with Claire standing behind me, looking out of sorts. I better get back soon and try to get her to feel more comfortable.
Claire's POV
I stare at the retreating figures of the Smith family until the door clicks shut behind them. I have to say, they're a very intimidating couple.
I see where Louis gets it from.
It might have also been his parents but it's quite impossible to confirm that. The moment his grandmother mentioned his parents, something in him shifted. It was subtle, but sharp.
His shoulders stiffened at the mention of their names, like it was a bad memory.
If my memory serves me right, he has never mentioned his parents. I've also never even seen them at the company. Not since I'd started working for him.
I'd like to hear about them, maybe he might be up to it.
I exhale and shake the thought away, just as the door shuts behind their retreating figures.
The only thing I hated about this arrangement after lying to my parents is lying in his grandparents' face.
They looked so happy to know that their grandson found a wife for himself. The genuine joy in their faces, the quiet relief. Some parts of me even thought they might poke into my background.
Maybe they would ask what family I was from and how financially stable we were. I mean that was the case for many wealthy families.
A sick part of me thought they might not even accept me, maybe throw some money at me just so I could leave their precious grandson.
But that wasn't the case. They looked genuinely happy, even though that was all a facade. A carefully curated lie, One I was the center of.
With a sigh, I drift absentmindedly towards the kitchen, maybe I could fix myself a little something before Louis gets back.
I try to keep my mind off whatever they could be discussing outside right now.
Lost in my head, the thoughts follow me as I wander farther than intended, past the patio and into the stretch of land behind the house, the back yard of Louis' home until I come to meet Betty tending to the very vibrant vegetable garden.
"Oh, hello there Mrs Smith," she greets cheerily. I was startled at the name. That was going to take some getting used to.
"You can just call me Claire, please," I pressed, "I insist."
For a brief second, something resembling surprise flickers across her face, maybe disappointment before she schools back her expression.
"Alright, Claire," She says smoothly, "What do you need? Are you hungry?"
"No..no," I shake my head, moving close to her. "I..I just came here to get some air and clear my head."
I glanced around, I hadn't even realised how far I'd walked in the large stretch of the back yard. " I just met with Mr. Smith's grandparents and they seem….pleasant."
She lets out a small laugh, warm but knowing. I stare in confusion.
"Oh dear, so we've seen. But I believe the word you're looking for is— intimidating," she says chuckling as she continues to prune the buds of the peppers.
Taken aback by her brutal honesty, I gasp. "No, I just meant I didn't expect to see them. They were quite lovely."
Betty laughs, " You know, they like you," she states simply with a smile,
"They do?" I ask, tucking a loose star and of hair behind my ears, nervous. "How would you know?"
She nods, "Trust me, I just do," A small knowing smile blooms across her face as she gathers vegetables into her basket. "It's the first time for them to see their grandson with a woman. Not to mention seeing one he willingly brought to his home."
"What does that mean?" Louis is a wealthy man in his own right. He wouldn't have had women issues in the past. I'm sure he had plenty of options. Women flock to him like bees to a blooming flower.
Betty glances at me, something unreadable in her eyes. "I'm saying you're the first woman he has ever brought home."
Ive accompanied him to some events to know that much. He is very well known and sought after.
She packs up her harvest in the basket, ready to leave, she adds," And I speak as someone who has been with him since he was a child in diapers."
She leaves me to my own devices and I'm left pondering.
With my whole thoughts revolving around one man.
Louis Smith.