Chapter 5

“Yes, my grandmother and uncle. I will send someone to you to pick you up tomorrow to get some dress and accessories that would look nice on you while I will pick you up myself on Saturday evening,” Alex said before he continued. “That being said, when you are ready to leave, my driver will drop you.”

Emily couldn't believe that she was about to meet the Sterling family one-on-one. She had only seen them from afar. She had heard a lot about Mrs Margaret and how strict and lovely she was at the same time. It had been so obvious to every staff member at Sterling Enterprise that Mrs. Margaret had always favored Alex over Max and she chose him as the heir to the company.

Whether she fit Margaret's taste or not wasn't her business but that of Alex and his family, since Alex had chosen her and for her to be compensated well enough, she needed to play her role well and that's her main priority.

***

Alex drove his shiny black car to Emily's small house. He waited while Emily came out, adjusting the hem of her dress. She wore a nice navy blue dress that showed her figure modestly with an elegant off-white wedge. Her hair was in a bun, with a few strands framing her face which complemented the light makeup she applied.

As Alex saw Emily, he was amazed by how beautiful she looked. For the past few years, she had been working with him, this was the first time he'd seen her differently and more beautiful. 

"Wow," he said, unable to stop looking at her. "You look beautiful, Emily."

“Your stylist knows the best outfit that suits me. All thanks to you.” Emily responded shyly.

Emily blushed as she sat next to him in the car. As they drove to his family's house, Alex couldn't help but admire Emily's calmness. She was unlike anyone he had ever met before. He wondered many times as he drove if Emily was the same Secretary who worked with him. Who was used to wearing a white blouse and black skirt, looking all nerdy?

When they arrived at the big gates of Alex's family's estate, Emily felt really nervous. She took a deep breath. The Sterling mansion stood tall at the end of a curvy driveway, surrounded by well-kept gardens and big trees. It looked fancy with vines on the walls and big pillars by the front door. The metal gates squeaked as they opened to a wide path lined with neat bushes and fancy fountains, leading to the big front doors.

Emily got out of the car with Alex and was amazed by how fancy everything looked. The mansion seemed huge, shining in the warm sunlight. Inside, the rooms were grand with shiny floors and fancy lights hanging from the ceiling. There was a big staircase going up, and old family pictures hung on the walls, watching her every step.

Everything in the mansion showed how rich the Sterlings were, from the soft sofas to the pretty tables with flowers. It was all very different from Emily's own simple life, and she felt a bit out of place.

Following Alex through the big house, Emily couldn't shake the feeling that she didn't belong there. But she knew that it was only for a year before they went their separate ways.

Alex directed her to where to sit as he went upstairs to bring Margaret. Emily sank into the soft sofa, feeling a bit overwhelmed by how fancy everything was. She squirmed nervously, looking around at the fancy decorations and old pictures hanging on the walls.

As she waited for Alex to come back with Margaret, Emily kept thinking about their deal. They were only pretending to be married for a year. But even knowing this, she still felt scared about meeting his family.

Finally, Alex returned with Margaret, who looked very important in her nice purple suit. Alex introduced Emily, sounding respectful but also confident.

Margaret looked at Emily up and down with a serious expression. Emily felt unsure if she was good enough for the Sterling family.

"So, this is the young lady you've been talking about," Margaret said calmly. 

“Yes, Margaret,” Alex responded.

Emily nodded, feeling her heart race as she tried to think of the right thing to say. Despite her nerves, she managed a smile, determined to make a good impression on Alex's grandma.

Margaret moved closer to Emily and greeted her warmly, making her feel comfortable despite her nerves. 

"Nice to meet you, Emily. Welcome to our home," Margaret said kindly, motioning for Emily to sit down.

As they talked, Margaret asked Emily what she did for work, showing real interest in getting to know her. Emily hesitated a bit, feeling unsure about being just Alex's secretary among such important people. 

"I... I work as Alex's secretary," she answered quietly.

But Margaret was supportive. "Ohh, I see. You must be a big help to Alex," she said encouragingly.

Feeling relieved by Margaret's kindness, Emily relaxed a bit and joined in the conversation. Margaret shared stories about Alex's childhood adventures, painting a lively picture of him growing up.

Listening to Margaret's stories, Emily began to admire Alex's family more and felt grateful for their welcoming attitude towards her. Margaret didn't look like a strict and scary woman but was like a loving grandma, always smiling and gentle. She had a lot of wisdom from her years of experience, and being around her felt like being at home. Emily thought Margaret would reject her since she wasn't from a rich background or so.

To Margaret, where someone came from or how much money they had didn't matter much. She knew what it was like to start with very little because she had once been in the same position. So, when she met Emily, she welcomed her into the family with open arms, just like she would welcome her own granddaughter. Margaret didn't judge Emily based on her background. 

For Margaret, what really mattered was love, acceptance, and family. Those things were more important than anything else. That's why she treated Emily like one of her own because she knew that being part of a caring family was what truly counted.

After a few chats with Emily and Alex, Margaret stood up to excuse herself but stopped in her tracks, turning around as Robert and his family came in with big smiles. Their happy greetings broke the silence.

"Margaret, dear, we're so happy to see you!" Robert said cheerfully, his voice filling the room. His son, Max, and his wife entered the room too.