Chapter 15
Alessa
Ishouldn’t be this nervous about meeting Julianna’s family. It’s not that serious, right? I mean, the relationship between her and me. I’m not her real girlfriend. I’m arm candy that blends into the background and gives her someone to sit next to.
So why am I sitting in the back of her Audi, shaking from head to toe as we cruise down I5 to wine country?
Wish I could blame the weather, but it’s sunny and warm today. I’m wearing a sweater over my springtime baby-pink dress, so I can’t blame the AC making me shake. I don’t even pay attention to Julianna, who is likewise ignoring me in favor of her tablet. Stocks from around the world, her PR adviser wanting more information about our relationship, and emails that can’t wait until later. I’m sure I could rub her thigh and get her attention focused back on me, but do I want to?
We’ve reached an impasse again. Our push-and-pull is mostly push right now. Julianna Marcon is smoking hot and continues to plague my nighttime fantasies, but the real-life woman gives me a bigger headache than she might be worth.
I’ll give her one more shot. I may have signed her stupid contract, but I made sure a clause was put in that I could exit the whole thing whenever I wanted. It should have bothered me that she didn’t put up more of a fight over that. For pretense, of course.
Come on, Julianna, show me that you give a flying fuck about me. Me. Not only the sex and “wonderful experiences” I might offer you. Me.
Whatever.
I can deal with Julianna, hilariously enough. What I might not be able to deal with is already meeting her parents.
But it’s one of those things that further proves we’re not a real couple, you know? No woman would take her real girlfriend to meet the family one week after hooking up. I’m as good as an escort. In fact, I’ve heard several murmurs around the office that it’s exactly what she did before. Escorts. Can you believe it? I can, now.
The Willamette Wine Club is one of the most exclusive wine venues in Oregon, despite the simple name. It’s nestled deep in the Willamette Valley, where even on the drizzliest day everything is lush, green, and rolling in agricultural prospects. The wine ain’t that bad, either.
This clubhouse is far away from the freeway, and even from a single highway cutting to the coast. Apple trees line the private road leading up to a Mediterranean mansion overlooking some of the most pristine parts of the Willamette Valley I’ve ever seen. Rows of expensive sports cars and safe, black vehicles like Julianna’s Audi have already beaten us to the party. Nevertheless, an elderly valet greets us. I give him a wave as we drive on. He nods toward me, and that’s the last I see of him.
“Did you read those dossiers I gave you?” Julianna asks.
I show her the bottom of my tote bag, which I’ll leave in the back of her car. I’ve got a change of clothing in there too because I know I’m staying the night at her place. Wish it made me even a little more excited. A part of me almost dreads it right now.
Not as much as I dread meeting her family, though.
The dossiers were full of information about her immediate relations. Her mother was the primary one Julianna wanted me to learn about since she makes most of the decisions about the clan behind the scenes. Her father is retired and doing whatever the hell he wants around the world. Her older brother Edwin (although I’m told “we” call him Ted) now runs the company.
But their mother. Wow.
Serena Marcon has her hand in almost every pot up and down the coast. While her husband does whatever he pleases with his retirement, Julianna’s mother co-runs a plethora of ladies’ organizations in the Pacific Northwest. The kind that has had to rebrand over the past few decades due to certain images no longer standing in society. I knew everything I needed to know about Serena Marcon when I read she was the main dissenter regarding Asian women joining one of her more “prestigious” housewife groups back in the ‘80s.
Julianna’s handwritten notes to me suggest that I don’t say anything to her mother other than my name. With any luck, she won’t acknowledge my existence while we are there.
I know what that means. She’ll see me as her daughter’s latest hussy who shouldn’t even exist. Well, at least I know it’s coming?
“Did I tell you I brought a gift for Ted and Jordan?” I ask Julianna as we ascend the front steps to the club. The gift is at the bottom of my handbag. “I read on an etiquette website that you’re supposed to give the engaged couple a gift when you first formally meet them. Since this is a wedding mixer…”
“I’m sure they’ll love it. They’re rather easy to please.”
Julianna wraps her arm around me the moment we enter the wide, open foyer of the main mansion. A woman in a white uniform offers to take her jacket and my sweater. Julianna refrains. I shrug out of my sweater and hand it over. A chill claims my shoulders. Julianna rubs my left one for me, yet before I appreciate the somewhat romantic gesture, she steps forward and flags down a man popping out of a nearby room.
“Jules!”
I recognize Ted’s voice even though I’ve never heard it before. How can anyone mistake Ted Marcon for someone else? The man oozes more charm than my boss!
Granted, I wouldn’t call Julianna charming, per se, but when compared to her big brother, all I can think is… sheesh, someone got all the romantic genes!
Julianna religiously plucks any chin hairs that have appeared on her face overnight. Ted, on the other hand, keeps a healthy amount of perfectly tended fuzz on his face. His sleek black hair is expertly styled, gleaming with the right amount of product, and he carries a scent so refined that it politely whispers luxury. I’m not ashamed of my smile as Ted strides over to us, extending a hand toward his sister. Julianna’s face remains composed, her polite expression betraying nothing as she exchanges greetings with her older brother.
Do I sense animosity?
“Who is this striking woman, Jules?” Pearly white teeth poke out from Ted’s lips when he speaks to me. Bright blue eyes look me up and down, a mixture of criticism and overflowing with admiration. “Do introduce me. She looks chomping at the bit to know your big brother.” He leans in toward me. “I’m bigger and better in every sense of the word, darling.”
I’m speechless. Like, really?
“This is Alessa Penrose, my new girlfriend.” Julianna puts her hand on the small of my back. At first, I think she intends to push me forward, but her fingers tug on my dress, keeping me close to her side. “We became official only earlier this week, so go easy on her. She’s not used to the circus we perform here.”
“Oh, I’m sure she must be a smart and bright young woman to convince you to get official, Jules.” Ted finally releases my hand. If I thought his sister’s skin was soft… “She doesn’t bother with the women she’s only interested in bedding and nothing more.”
I’m blushing. This time, Julianna intervenes. “Where’s Jordan? I’m sure Alessa would love to get more introductions going.”
“Jordan will be here shortly.” I’m so invested in this exchange that not even I miss the vexing flash on Ted’s chiseled face. “Held up at the airfield because of the weather back home.”
“They live in California,” Julianna tells me.
“Much sunnier than the crisp, gray fog here in Oregon. I keep telling this woman to move to LA, but she won’t have it. At least Seattle, woman.”
“Portland’s fine. Centrally located.”
“And full of beautiful women, it seems.”
“Forgive my brother. He’s an atrocious flirt.”
“Pleasure to meet you,” I finally get to say. “Julianna talks about you all the time.”
“You mean rants about me? Because that’s the version I’d believe.”
Ted says that with mirth in his voice, but Julianna tenses next to me. What kind of relationship do these siblings have, exactly? All I know is that Ted is six years older than Julianna. I suppose that age difference could be challenging, particularly in their kind of family.
“I brought you and Jordan a gift.” I grab the small package from the bottom of my bag, but Ted gestures for me to keep it for now.
“Jordan loves presents. Let’s wait so we can open it together. Thank you, by the way.”
Before an awkward silence settles over us, Julianna asks, “Are Mother and Father here?”
“Dad’s flirting with half the wait staff and mother’s already half-drunk on mimosas. Simply another day in the Marcon clan. Welcome to the fold, Alessa.”
“Must not be too terrible if you’ve snagged someone to marry.”
Ted does a double-take in my direction before completely turning away. “Ha! I like her, Jules.” He points to us on his way down the hall. “A billion dollars is excellent lubrication against the in-laws, sweet Alessa!”
Julianna and I continue to stand in the middle of the foyer while uniformed staff move around us. “So, that’s my brother. Mind that he doesn’t try to seduce you. That would void our agreement for exclusivity… and would require me punching him in the fucking jaw again.”
“Excuse me?”
Julianna doesn’t answer me. She walks ahead, and I follow.
Doesn’t… seduce me…? Punch him in the jaw? Again?
We find the rest of the attendees, including the wedding party and some of the couple’s closest friends, enjoying a round of billiards in a bright, sunny room complete with an open bar. A woman approaches with a tray covered in skinny champagne glasses. “Can I interest you, ma’am?” she asks.
“You might want to have one,” Julianna urges. “Meanwhile, I’m going to need something stronger. Scotch, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” As soon as I have a glass, the server takes the request for a Scotch to the bartender on duty.
A woman’s sharp and penetrating voice slices through the room before anyone has the chance to introduce themselves to me.
“Julianna? Is that you? Come over here!”
Sighing, my girlfriend silently informs me that the woman is her mother. I can’t see Serena Marcon through the group of people drinking champagne and playing billiards, but her voice alone, like Ted’s, is instantly recognizable.