THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 76: MAKE IT REAL

Chapter 76: MAKE IT REAL

"Oh," Fay said, an awkward smile on her face.

"Don’t let those heathens bother you," the matriarch patted her back lovingly. "It’s good to know there’s someone else that takes prayers as seriously as I do."

"No jokes. Grandma once took us all to a ten hour church program. I think I had hearing loss five hours in," Colin joked.

Fay chuckled, and the sound sent electrical shocks towards Ace. She looked so at ease with his family. Now that the elephant in the room had stormed out, she was definitely more comfortable.

"That’s enough. Everyone, eat up."

The mumblings stopped, and only the sound of metal scraping against metal as they devoured their food could be heard.

In-between eating, someone would make a joke that would send them reeling from laughter.

The matriarch could only swallow her tongue and watched the newest generation of the Atticus’, mingle.

She was super proud of the unity she had been able to achieve, despite her husband’s death.

He definitely would be looking down on them right now, a proud smile on his face.

They sure weren’t perfect. The road ahead would be stormy. But with time, everything good would even out, and the rest, well the rest would have to sort itself out.

Dinner was over, and everyone rose to go to the living room.

"Dinner was really lovely," Fay said to the matriarch.

"Really? I’m glad you enjoyed it. Chef Alice is a great cook, so I’m certain you’re in good hands. After all, she single handedly taught the cooks we have now everything they know."

"Yeah, chef Alice is the coolest!"

"Hey man, let’s catch up," Colin came over to Ace.

"No," he simply said, comfortable with eavesdropping into Fay’s discussion with his grandmother.

"Why? You’re married now and no one else can get your attention?" He jested.

"Exactly!" Ace agreed with a nod of his head.

Colin scoffed. "You know, I haven’t been properly introduced to your wife. I think we should correct that."

Before Ace could reach out a hand to stop him, he walked over to his grandmother.

"Grandma?" He leaned, and gave her a kiss on her cheeks.

"My beautiful boy. Why do you rarely come visit?" She asked, cupping his face in her palms.

"Because I leave faraway, grandma. I also work, you know?"

She snorted. "I told you to go open a branch of Spades in France, but you blatantly refused to do it."

"That’s Ace’s job. Some of us have a different path carved for us."

Fay liked that outlook of life a lot. Not everyone was going to be billionaire’s, millionaires, or even rich. Same way not everyone could be a doctor or lawyer.

Everyone had something unique designed for them. Colin could easily decide to hold on to his family wealth, and do whatever he wanted with it.

The fact he was carving out a path for himself, made her really like him.

"You’re right. But if I ever hear that you’re struggling for money, I’ll send someone to give you a slap. You know what that means," she warned with a pointed finger.

He smiled. "I do, grandma," turning to Fay, he shook his head. "She’s quite the drama, ain’t she?"

"I think she’s adorable, and really strong. Having such a big family has to be really tough."

"Empathetic. Nice." He nodded.

"Isn’t she the perfect match for Ace? She’s everything he’s not," she raised her voice to ensure Ace heard her.

He did, but pretended not to, as he rolled his eyes to the side.

"You’re such a real grandma. I’m Colin."

"Fay," she said.

"Hey, go talk with your cousins. I want to talk to Fay alone," she said before he could converse further with Fay.

"Common grandma. I just want to know Ace’s wife," he groaned.

"A grown ass man, by the way," Ace hissed.

"You too. Both of you leave. In fact, please come with me, Fay." She rose to her feet, and grabbed her cane.

"Let me help–"

"That won’t be necessary. Just take my hands."

Fay nodded, and accepted her free hand.

"Where are you taking her?" Ace asked.

"None of your business."

"Yeah, your grandma is right," Gabrielle said, coming out of nowhere. "Come with me. We need to talk."

"About?"

"Ace?!"

"Fine! No need to yell," he mumbled grudgingly, and rose to his feet.

"I’m sorry that you have to deal with that all day," Gabrielle said to Fay.

"He’s the sweetest," she said, quick to defend him.

Ace hated how his heart jumped pleasantly. He liked her coming to his defense a little too much.

"I need a girlfriend," Colin said, and excused himself.

"You’re not getting any!" Ace raised his voice after him.

"Hey, don’t be mean." The matriarch raised her cane, ready to hit him.

"Grandma!" He dodged.

"Maybe we should go now," Fay said, leading the older woman ranting about how it was a sign of disrespect to dodge her cane, away.

She turned back to see Ace mouth her a thank you. A blush crept up her face, and she didn’t bother to hide it.

"Where are you headed, ma?" Her last was coming into the dinning room, as they were heading out.

"None of your business. Go tell one of the cooks to ensure they serve your eldest sister in her room. Now shoo!" She pursued him with her cane.

"Okay." He shrugged.

But as Fay moved past him, she felt a heavy uneasiness. He looked normal, but also not entirely normal. He was a walking contradiction, and that description scared her.

They arrived at a door, and the matriarch came to a stop.

"This is my office. Let’s go in," she said.

She pulled out of Fay’s hold, and headed in first. Fay followed after her.

Her eyes roamed round the room, as she stepped in. She didn’t know what she had expected it to look like. Maybe that explained why she was so overwhelmed.

The room looked more like an ancient library than any other thing. Rolls and rolls of books lined across the many shelves.

On the walls were ancient paintings that probably cost her life.

Smell of ancient books, mixed with mahogany wood filtered into her nose. She found herself inhaling.

"Take a seat, Fay."

She whirled and found the matriarch already seated across her desk.

In that position, she looked every definition of old money.

The kind of money that was so powerful, it bought the strongest of wills.

A shudder ran through her as she moved forward, and sat on the chair.

"In case you were wondering, I asked one of the cooks to take the perfume you made for me to my room. It’s really lovely, and I want to appreciate you once more."

Fay’s face flushed as she averted her gaze shyly. "You’re welcome," she said.

"Good. Because I want you not to feel a kind of way when I tell you that I’m no fool, and I cannot be easily deceived."

Her head shot up at that statement. The light in her eyes was gone. In replacement was a fierceness that made Fay want to run away.

"Relax. If you have a clear conscience, there’s no need to be jumpy."

"Ye–yeah," she stuttered.

"What is your relationship with my grandson?" She asked, reclining into her seat.

Fay’s brow furrowed. In her head, she wondered if it was a trick question. Suddenly, the walls of the room, at least the visible parts, were looking more like an entrapment camp than actual walls.

In that story about the filthy rich and the extremely poor, she was representing the latter, and as such, was being put to test.

"He’s– he’s my hus-band," she stumbled on her words.

"I know he’s your husband. But who is he to you?" She pressed.

When she was met with a blank, confused stare, she smiled.

Her hand reached into her drawer, and she pulled out a folder.

"Here, go through it," she said, passing the documents to Fay.

With shaky fingers, Fay accepted it. Slowly, she began to skim through it.

The first thing she saw were distorted pictures of herself. Her eyes bulged when she saw what date it was.

"It’s—" her voice trailed, as she snapped her mouth shut.

"The day you and Ace met. Do you know I’ve known from the start about your contract marriage?" The matriarch echoed what was in her head.

Suddenly, her lips felt perched and her tongue dried. She couldn’t speak, neither could she move. She closed the folder, too much of a coward to look further, and lowered her gaze.

"You don’t need to be scared. I understand you were not in any position to reject a man with that kind of money. I’ll ask you again, who is Ace to you?"

"My— my benefactor," she said, as shame washed through her entire body.

"No."

"What?" She looked up. Surely she had heard wrong. Wasn’t that the answer she wanted to hear?

"You heard me. He is not your benefactor. We don’t use such disgusting lowly words in this family. You’re part of us now, Fay Atticus. Between you and I, we’re going to get Ace to fall for you, and make this marriage real."

Fay’s heart lurched, and she grabbed her chest as the weight of the matriarch’s words almost knocked her off her seat.