All Rights Reserved

Chapter 20-The Dinner

Raphael Doukas' POV

"Ready?"

Katerina glared at me. "Of course. I'm not nervous. Stop looking at me like that." she snapped and I shrugged in response.

Obviously, my girlfriend was lying. She was nervous. Not many people could figure out her little telltale signs for her different moods but I could.

When Katerina was mad or nervous, she would be more abrasive than usual. That meant that she was more inclined to yell and snap at people even more than she usually would. And right now, that was how she was behaving.

We were still in my car and I waited for her to straighten up and to calm down so that we could have dinner with my parents and my siblings. Honestly, I had no idea why was Katerina so freaked out about this. She was like an unofficial part of the Doukas family already.

But hearing her explain her worries to me on Monday made me sigh at those ridiculous thoughts. After today, Katerina shouldn't have any worries of that sort. My parents were delighted to have her over and to be part of the family.

I didn't know why my girlfriend thought that she wouldn't be welcomed because of her character. In my opinion, she would fit right in. No one had really seen how uncivilised my parents were when things didn't go their way. Thus, Katerina would definitely fit in.

I had a rough suspicion that my mother knew what I was really feeling towards Katerina. And it alarmed me. I wasn't too sure about what I felt about Katerina yet. But I had a slight inkling about it.

My mother had demanded for me to have Katerina over for dinner with the whole family because she had found out that I already had met the whole Kolosov family officially.

"Any day now." I commented dryly and received a sharp glare from my hot headed girlfriend.

She gritted her teeth and snapped at me. "Fine! Let's go now!" With that, she got out of the car and slammed the door shut furiously. I on the other hand couldn't help but notice (again) the skirt she wore.

It hugged her ass invitingly and I couldn't decide if she bought it in a smaller size or if it was designed that way. Whatever it was, that piece of cloth was driving me crazy. I had a slight suspicion that this was how Katerina was torturing me.

Sighing heavily, I got out of the car and followed Katerina who hesitated to enter my family home. I could see the indecision on her face and I sighed and cupped her face and gave her a comforting smile. "Relax, it'll be fine."

She narrowed her eyes and gave a short nod and straightened her stance. Letting go of her face, I interlaced our fingers and I could feel her surprised stare on me but I ignored it and we entered the house together.

"Raphael! There you are!" My mother greeted and she beamed widely at Katerina. "Kat! Finally good to see you here with Raphael. Come on along quickly, everyone is already here." She spoke and led us to the dining room.

I could hear Katerina exhale deeply before we entered said dining room. Immediately all eyes were on us and I rolled my eyes at my family. Lexi was shooting cheeky grins at Katerina. My parents were watching us with knowing smiles on their face. My twin was watching me with a smirk and Henry was playing around with his phone. This was a little ridiculous.

I led Katerina to sit in between Lexi and I to make her feel more comfortable. And immediately, the manners that my girlfriend had appeared as she greeted my parents politely and a casual conversation started.

My mother beamed and she gestured for the help to start serving dinner. And dinner started.

"So," my mother started and I watched her warily as she turned to Katerina. "How long have the both of you been together?"

Katerina paused as she thought back. "About three months. Maybe four." she answered and I think I was the only one who caught the barely there - tremor in her voice as she spoke.

"Hmmm." my mother hummed and grinned with a sly smirk accompanying it. "How is working with Raphael? I hope he has not been giving you any trouble. We all know how stubborn and problematic he is."

I glared at my mother while Katerina stifled a laugh. "He's fine. And the restaurant is going pretty well. It's expected to open in two months time."

My father nodded, pleased and he smirked. "How did your old man react when he found out that my son was dating you?"

Katerina smirked. "He was not really pleased. That's all I can say."

My father laughed, his eyes gleaming with delight. "That's good. I'll be able to have some fun with this-"

"Damien!" my mother said sharply with a disapprovingly stare on her face. But the small grin on her lips showed that she wasn't too upset with him.

"What? After all the numerous taunts and annoyance I had received from him. It's bound to be fair is it not?" he smirked and turned to Katerina. "I do hope you wouldn't mind Kat, but your father has quite a character." He grinned and Katerina laughed.

"That's quite true sir." she replied with an amused laugh. Already I can see that she was picturing her father being teased and taunted by my father for me dating her.

My father waved his hand dismissively. "Enough of that. You're supposed to call us Damien and Adrianna. You are unofficially part of the Doukas family already."

My eyes swung to Katerina who blinked in surprise at the easy acceptance from my parents. Lexi laughed and engulfed Katerina into a hug while Roman grinned while Henry is still playing around with his phone.

"You can not be that surprised dear, you have been like the other daughter I wanted. And besides, I have been hoping for both you and Raphael to be together ever since you were kids." My mother announced with a bright grin on her face.

Katerina and I both coloured up, obviously knowing what my mother was referring to. It was the colourful past I had with Katerina where I bullied her and she'll hit me.

Good lord, were we really that ridiculous as kids?

I took the wine glass in front of me and took a sip so that I wouldn't have to say anything. Truthfully the things that Katerina and I had done to each other as children could be slightly insane.

Looking at the red wine in my hand, I could feel a slight flush on my cheeks as I recalled a particular incident where I had ruined Katerina's dates by 'accidentally' splashing red wine on her grey dress. That was something I truly regretted when I received a slap that bruised.

Feeling a knowing grin accompanied with a stare directed at me, I looked up to see my mother with that smile on her face that almost bordered on being maniacal. I did the only thing I could do.

I took another sip of wine.

Once everyone had finished their pumpkin soup, my mother nodded towards one of the servers to serve the main course.

"Everything okay?" I questioned softly and Katerina turned to me and nodded in response. "Yeah. It's strange." She mumbled the last part and I snorted.

"Kat," My mother started with a sly grin on her face. "Are you and Raphael planning to-"

"Mother!" I snapped and glared at her. No. Not that question. No. No. No. Fuck no!

My mom grinned and raised an eyebrow. "What? I just wanted to know if the both of you would be having special reservations to check out that restaurant project." She finished with an innocent grin.

"Mom!" Lexi laughed and my father seemed proud of my mother's antics.

Looking at Katerina, she had a hint of a smile on her face as she delicately cut into her steak. "Alright, how many-" My mother started and the moment those words left her mouth, I knew what she was going to ask.

"Mother!" I hissed and I could tell that my father knew as well as he chuckled before taking a bite into his steak to prevent him from saying anything.

My mother pouted. "Fine."

From then on, the conversation at the dinner table turned to casual ones instead of questions that would make both Katerina and I uncomfortable and feeling all awkward.

Dessert soon came and went as my family asked Katerina about her work and school life. It went pretty well like it would for any dinner that involved Katerina over. Nothing was different.

Once the dinner table was cleared, all of us left to the living room. Henry left and went back to his bedroom and all of us sat about. Normally, all of would sit around and talk but this time, my mother beamed at Katerina and gestured for her to join her in the other living room to talk privately.

I raised my eyes in surprise and Katerina stood up and joined her. And I was left alone with my twin and father. Lexi had given some silly excuse and left.

"Well, all I have to say: great choice." My father commented and flashed me a grin before running his fingers through his brown hair that was streaked a little with grey hair.

I nodded awkwardly, Roman and I do not really talk about girls to my father, we just discussed it between us. Beside me Roman chuckled and snorted. "That is if she doesn't kill him."

I rolled my eyes while both my twin and my father exchanged amused glances before bursting into laughter. As Roman and my father started to poke fun at me, my mind wondered what my mother wanted to say to Katerina in private.

***

Katerina Kolosov's POV

I sat down cautiously as Adrianna sat opposite me with a bright grin on her face. If my dad had one like that, he would probably explode.

"Kat, I would like to tell you personally that I'm really pleased that you and Raphael are together." Adrianna clasped her hands together and beamed at me like a proud mother (which she was).

I nodded, my head was still in a daze from how well this dinner with the Doukas family turned out. Never had I thought that I would be accepted this easily. Raphael was right - damn it - about the fact that his family would accept me.

I offered Adrianna a small smile. "Well, thank you for accepting me so easily into your family." I said quietly and a tad bit awkwardly.

Adrianna laughed and waved her hand dismissively. "All of us already consider you part of the family even though unofficially. But now that you're dating Raphael, you're officially part of the Doukas family." She announced and abruptly pulled me into a hug.

I tensed a little at first due to the sudden movement before hugging her back. Adrianna beamed before pulling away and sat closer to me. "Now do tell me and be honest! Is Raphael behaving like a gentleman?"

I nodded and assured her. "Yes. He is. But maybe sometimes too much like one." I grumbled under my breath and Adrianna burst into delicate laughter.

"Well, Roman is the other twin who takes that more seriously. I am just waiting to see which girl is going to charm him off his feet. Even though he is more discreet with those women he hangs out." Adrianna scoffed and frowned.

I raised an eyebrow at that and Adrianna continued. "Obviously, Raphael was more...flashy with them but ever since you agreed to go out with him. He became better."

I could feel my cheeks flushing from that compliment and Adrianna muttered, "Now if only Roman could find a nice girl like you."

At that, I couldn't help but let out an un-lady like snort and I shook my head. "I'm not that nice." I protested with a short laugh.

Adrianna watched me with a knowing grin on her face. "Well, I bet to differ. After all, I heard from Lexi that you got rid of that awful girl that Trevor was dating." She answered with a sly smirk on her face.

My eyes widened. "Wait, you knew?" I questioned and again, I could feel my cheeks turning red from that. Truth to be told, starting a fight in a club wasn't something anyone would be proud of and it was biting me in the ass right about...now.

"Of course. Lexi told me. And I have to say, I am really impressed by it because you did it for Lexi. And again, I would like to warmly welcome you into the family even though you are already part of it."

I nodded awkwardly and Adrianna continued. "I am just really pleased that you are with Raphael. You would never believe all the complaints and grumbles about you when you were younger. But I had a rough guess of what he felt for you when I found out that he had one of your dolls in his room."

"What? Really!" I exclaimed in shock. Huh no wonder one of my old dolls were missing up to this day. I had thought that Sebastian was behind the disappearance of it.

Adrianna nodded, her blue eyes gleaming with amusement and laughter. Oh I could really use this as blackmail. I thought with a grin on my face.

Talking with Adrianna was fun and easy. She had spilled so many of Raphael's childhood stories that made me burst into laughter and disbelief. Soon enough, Raphael entered and eyed his mother warily.

"I've come to take Katerina back home. I trust that you have been behaving yourself mother?"

Adrianna smirked and nodded. "Oh yes."

With that two words, Raphael paled before sighing heavily and gestured for me to go with him. Adrianna stood up and pulled me into a hug. "It is nice having you over for dinner. Do come again soon." She ordered with a warm smile on her face.

I nodded. "Thank you for having me over for dinner. And if that is okay with Raphael and not a trouble for you. I'll be delighted." I answered with a smile on my face.

Adrianna beamed in response before walking Raphael and I out. Now that I was back in Raphael's car and on the way home. I shut my eyes in relief that everything had turned out okay.

"I told you there was nothing to worry about." Raphael spoke and gave me a crooked grin. I shot him a playful scowl. "Yes of course. You've been rubbing that in my face for what seemed like a hundred times."

Raphael let out a laugh and intertwined our hands and we sat in comfortable silence. The only thoughts plaguing my mind was the only worry I had left.

Was I falling in love with Raphael?  

***

A/N: Hi guys! Here is the next update! I hope you guys love it! And please vote and comment to let me know your thoughts and whatnot! Thank you so much for reading and I love you all! <3