RIP Nipsey Hustle! 💔

"The real ones is dying
The fake ones is lit. "
-J. Cole

NATALIE MADDEN

The walk from Terrence's car to the door leading to the lavish Madden mansion seemed to take forever for Nat.

Finally, as they approached the doors, hand in hand, it was pulled open for them by one of the household servants in a uniform suit that Nat knew her mother had insisted on them wearing.

At the door, he collected their coats and walked away to store them.

Nat could see Terrence survey the massive house and watched as his eyes took an appreciative gleam. It wasn't a surprise. The mansion was a three storey building minus the other detached buildings in the same compound. It had an entirely gold and white themed decor, from the white mahogany table in the middle of the foyer which had been imported specially from Milan, to the grand two way stairs with gold rims and white tiles.

"Darling!" Alyssa Madden exclaimed walking out of the white grand door at the left corner of the room which Natalie knew led to the kitchen.

Behind her mother, her father trailed. Gerald Madden was a slightly muscular man with a little hair on his head and a fierce face. But Nat knew better. Her father was the most jovial person she knew outside of his business and she loved how he could switch it up when needed.

He had on a white polo shirt and some black coperate slacks which he pulled off nicely. For a man his age, unlike his contemporaries, Gerald was still fit and looking good and this was all thanks to his wife.

"Mom." Nat said pulling her mother in for a tight hug.

Alyssa looked as young as ever. The skin on her face ever so tight but surprisingly not from botox or any chemicals but from good genes and a strict skincare routine. Tonight, she had on a fitted blue versace silk dress that hugged her curves appreciatively and a black pair of Jimmy Choo stilletto on her feet along with a diamond studded earring on her ears.

After hugging her mother, Nat moved in to give her father an equally tight hug. She really couldn't remember the last time she had seen him and she was glad.

All through the greeting of parent and child, Terrence remained quiet. He just watched the interaction silently. They were obviously close and he suddenly wished that he and his parents had been like this. At least to have gotten a hug from his father every once in a while would have been good and encouraging but rather he got the exact opposite.

Alyssa looked Terrence from up to down, right from his neat, fly haircut to his black Italian loafers. "And who might you be, young man?" She finally asked. Terrence could hear the thick British accent and briefly wondered about it.

"Terrence Ross, ma'am. I'm Natalie's boyfriend."

Gerald equally eyed the young man who looked slightly familiar to him before bringing out his hand to shake his. "Gerald Madden."

Terrence grip was firm and manly. "Pleased to meet you. And you must be Alyssa, Nat's mom. I've heard so much about you."

Instead of giving her a hand shake like he did Gerald, he moved in to hug her which surprised her a bit but she didn't object.

Nat could tell that this earned a few points with her mother.

After the hug the air was a bit tense and awkward so Nat was oh so grateful when she heard the loud squeal of her cousin Camilla as she ran towards her.

Nat was pulled into a bone crushing hug by her over ethusiastic cousin.

"Let me see that ring, girl." Nat said pulling away as Camilla displayed a diamond ring so bright, it was blinding.

"Damn." Nat muttered.

"I know right!" Cam looked so happy that Nat drew her into another hug equally as happy for her.

They had practically grown up together and had created a strong bond that couldn't be broken.

"Is Kaylene here yet?" Nat asked Camilla.

"Nope. Haven't seen her." Cam replied and Nat made a mental note to send her best friend a text to know where she is.

A moment after a tall handsome man walked out of the dinning room area. He had a muscular physique and walked with an aura of confidence around him.

As he came closer, Nat could make out his features clearer and she was amazed at his beauty. Although he wasn't as handsome as Terrence to her, she had to admit that he is handsome.

Terrence.

Why am I suddenly comparing him to Terrence? Nat wondered stunned by her line of thinking.

Taking in his sharp Arabian features, Nat knew, immediately, that this was the prince charming that Cam had so often spoken about.

"I'm not interrupting anything I hope, but the chef has just announced that dinner is served." He said with a slight Arabic accent.

"Oh dear. That was quick. Please excuse me." Alyssa said, walking off with her husband trailing behind her once again.

"Babe, this is my cousin, Natalie. Nat, meet Khalid, my fiance." Camilla introduced taking ahold of Khalid's arm.

"Hello.It's nice to meet you." Nat said, as his firm grip engulfed her hand. "This is my boyfriend, Terrence."

The two men, both oozing of testerone, shook hands.

Terrence had seen the momentary admiration on Natalie's face and had mistaken it for lust which for reasons unknown to him instantly filled him with jealousy and a need to stake his claim on the unassuming woman.

Unable to sense the tense atmosphere, Camilla says, "Well we better go eat before Aunt Alyssa gets pissed. Trust me, we really do not want that happening."

"Definitely not." Nat concurs as the two ladies then walk off hand in hand leaving the men behind them.

Entering into the dinning room, greeting are exchanged with Camilla's parents and her younger sister Paris.

Paris is a young woman in her final year of high school and is Cam's only sister. Her elder brother, Caden couldn't make it, too busy working to take over his father's company as Arti, Camilla's father so gladly pointed out obviously proud of that his only son was following his footsteps.

In this aspect, Arti and Gerald differed as Natalie was an only child of her father and had never had an intrest in taking of over his company so he hadn't anyone to groom.

Surprisingly, though, no one had really asked any question about Nat and Terrence's 'relationship'.

Maybe I didn't need him afterall. Nat thought.

But another part, a larger part, of her disagreed. It's better safe than sorry. But was that really the only reason for wanting him with her?

A few minutes after, they are all seated on the elegant, equally gold themed dinning table with several dishes before them.

Apparently, the chefs had finished making the food earlier than presumed so Alyssa had made them all wait a few minutes for the arrival of everyone.

And by everyone she really meant the ever so 'fashionably late' Aunt Lisa and her daughter, Jasmine.

After waiting for what seemed like ages but really was all but five minutes, the two made their entrance.

And what an entrance it was indeed.

Aunt Lisa wasn't the star of the show tonight though, rather it was Jasmine who looked more ready for a night of extreme clubbing, in a short and revealing satin dress, than a family dinner with well mannered adults as she walked into the room with a ragged looking young man on her arm.

Camilla's sister, Paris, couldn't prevent the laughter that she released at the sight of the dress.

Of course. No one was actually suprise that Jasmine would do such.

She truly dressed how she wanted to be addressed and more often than not, this dressing resulted in guys ogling at the body parts the scraps of clothing exposed and being flirty or plain crude. Which ever, she didn't mind. She lived for that shit.

But it seemed this time she got her venues mixed up but still she walked into the room confidently with the young man and took a seat next to her mother.

Jasmime had brought the young man because she wanted to parade her new man before her family or more like Natalie who she always had considered to be competition even though Nat hardly paid her any mind. Rather she had been surprised to see her seated with a ravishingly handsome man beside her.

Although why she chose him they didn't understand. The guy looked so skinny and wasn't even dressed nicely. More like he was there for the free food. Mabel shook her head disappointedly at Jasmine.

The look of sheer mortification on Alyssa's face was almost comical. It was like that emoji of an angry red face with steam coming out of its ears. Her husband put his hand atop hers to attempt calm her down because if she looked any longer, Jasmine would have probably melted.

"I don't remember extending a plus one in your invitation, Jasmine." Alyssa bit out. "This is a family dinner."

"Well from what I see we are not all family here so cut it out, Alyssa." Lisa said immediately coming to her daughters defense giving Terrence a glance.

For peace sake, Alyssa decided to let this go knowing that if she replied it would escalate to the full on argument as usual.

Soon, they were all settled, Arti said grace and everyone began dishing their meals.

Cam was more of amused than upset that Jasmine had momentarily taken away the spotlight from her and she and Nat kept sneaking glances at each other, sharing smiles.

Terrence on the other hand was bored. After the dinner began it was just small talk between Gerald and Camilla's father Arti, which soon switched to business talk and hearing these wise men discuss was insightful for him. Soon, he was engaged in their conversation, speaking with them all the while sounding wise beyond his years which impressed Gerald and intrigued Nat.

How did an escort know so much about business and speak so intelligently?

As intrigued as she was, Nat couldn't help but stare at Terrence in that moment. He was in his zone and he looked so freaking sexy. From his fresh haircut to his long lashes, the kind that girls spent tens of dollars on, to the way his full pink lips moved whenever he spoke Nat was absolutely enraptured.

She was so focused on him that she didn't hear her mother speak to her the first time until Terrence's eyes moved to hers. When they met hers, he had an amused smile on his lips and a glint in his eye that made her quickly look away. Nat felt the heat rising up her neck at having been caught staring.

Then she's brought back to the dinning room, and away from the place in her head where only she and Terrence existed.

She blinked at her mother. "I'm sorry what did you say?"

Alyssa pursed her lips at her daughter. She didn't like to repeat herself. "I asked how long you two have been seeing each other."

Suddenly she felt like a bucket of water had been poured over her.

Right, Nat thought. The script.

Nat cleared her throat and got ready to answer a well practiced lie before she was interrupted by Terrence. "Exactly two months now." He then stared at her with such a delicate look in his eyes that made Nat think things. "The best two months of my life."

Nat heard her cousin utter a quiet/not-so-quiet "awww" from across the dinning table.

"Intresting. And what is it that you do Terrence? " Alyssa asked.

This night was supposed to be about Camilla but here her mom goes trying to make it about her.

"Mom." Nat chided.

"What?" Alyssa asked defensively.

Terrence just smiled at the both of them who looked to be having a while conversation with their eyes. "It's fine. I actually own an internationally known company so most times I travel." Terrence said, cautiously so as not too give too much information although he actually didn't straight up lie.

He does own an internationally recognised company.

Gerald was about to speak up and ask the name of the company when Alyssa cut him of. "Like that of today?"

"Yes." Terrence took a sip of his wine. "I actually just flew in a few hours ago from Houston, where my business headquarters is."

From across the table, Jasmine was staring longingly at Terrence with dollar signs practically in her eyes. Although her family were not poor, compared to their other relatives, they were. Paris noticed this and soon they were having a stare off.

"I'm quite surprised, Natalie dear, that you have moved on so quickly from that old fella; what was his name, Jack?" Aunt Lisa asked.

"Jason." Nat replied with an irritated bite in her words. "And yes I have. It's been months though and unlike some I don't jump into meaningless relationships." This jab was directed at Jasmine who gave Nat a mean look although she knew it was true.

"It's not my fault all the men want me." Jasmine said shamelessly.

"I didn't expect you to stoop this low." Mabel suddenly said. "Tell me, where did you pick this poor lad. A homeless shelter?"

Aunt Lisa was about to speak up and defend her daughter but she knew better and bit her tongue instead.

The poor lad named Ian looked a bit offended and Jasmine looked to her mother, who aptly looked away, for support. It was one thing for Jasmine to be rude to her cousin and it was quite another to be rude to an adult.

"Tell us about your family, Terrence. Maybe I'll know them." Alyssa said trying to change the topic.

Terrence laughed softly. "I highly doubt you would." He didn't want to disclose information about his family so he was vague in his response. "We Ross' are very low-key people. Besides they live all the way in Houston."

Some part of this was true. But Nat couldn't help but notice just how smooth Terrence was in what she knew were lies. Almost too smooth and definitely too good to be true.

The night went on and the conversation shifted to the couple of the night, Camilla and Khalid and thankfully Aunt Lisa didn't say much on this. Probably because, they all knew, if there was one person she feared at that table it was Camilla's mother, Mabel so she kept shut. Soon, after all the eating and non stop chatter, the night came to an end and it was time to say goodbye.

A/n:
Hello beautiful readers! I'm soo super duper sorry for the long wait. I've been soo busy with school that I haven't really been motivated to write much on this book but I am back and I'll try my best to update more often.

In this chapter, I tried to introduce the Madden family a bit more for you to get a better glimpse at what they are really like.

So, what do you think of Alyssa and Gerald?

Also, what do you think of Terrence and his current status with Nat?

Please comment your thoughts I would love to hear them.

The next chapter I will be updating will have a little more action Sexually than this, not too much YET, just a little so be on the look out. Trust me this book gets better.

Did you like this chapter? If you did, please consider clicking on that little star at the bottom🌟 it will totally make my day. And don't forget to comment your thoughts and follow me for update notifications.

Till next time.

~ love, Chisom.