Sunday Lunch

Virgínia

I knew that this visit to Murilo's grandmother's house could not be as pleasant as he confidently believed it would be. I already had this feeling from the first moment he suggested the idea of a family lunch. And the fact that it was a huge mansion ten times more luxurious than Murilo's apartment only served to confirm that initial impression.

But the greatest proof of all that I was really right had just materialized in front of us, with a huge fake smile on his face and wearing a stiletto heel that could easily become a powerful weapon, as thin as it was.

But I would not let myself be intimidated by that poisonous snake, and I cared little that we were in Murilo's family home. I would not allow her, or anyone else, to try to make me feel diminished in front of them.

If Murilo wanted me by his side, he needed to stay by my side as well, no matter what happened.

" You must be Virginia, right? " The man who had just arrived in the hall spoke in a mild tone.

I immediately understood that it was Aquiles, Murilo's cousin and, consequently, Lavinia's boyfriend, and I wasn't fooled by the friendliness he tried to convey when addressing me. The fact is that I didn't like him immediately, but I also couldn't tell if that dislike was only because he was the boyfriend of a woman like Lavinia, or if it was because of him as a person.

" Myself," I said in a dry tone, already raising my protective shield.

" It is a pleasure to meet the woman who stole my cousin's heart " He joked, but I didn't smile "Murilo finally managed to find you.”

Now he had caught my attention, and I looked at him curiously.

" I didn't know he was looking for me, " I said, looking for answers.

" I think we'd better go find Grandma because she must be waiting for us " Murilo quickly changed the subject, pulling me towards a corridor.

I was even more curious about Murilo's attitude, but he was walking quickly, and it was difficult even to follow his steps.

" Why did you leave so suddenly? " I asked, stopping him from continuing to walk down the long carpeted corridor.

" Because I'm certain that you wouldn't want him to explain it in front of Lavinia " He managed to make me even more curious.

" I don't understand, " I said, holding his arm so that he would stop walking and explain it to me "You were looking for me? When did this happen? At the mall?”

" Do you want to get into this now? " Murilo asked, looking in the direction from which we had left.

I looked at him carefully and concluded that he was right, indeed.

Lavinia and Aquiles could show up at any moment, and apparently, this was a matter only for us.

" Okay," I finally agreed. "When we get home, I'll want to know everything.”

Murilo smiled in agreement and after giving me a quick kiss on the lips, we walked back to a huge living room richly furnished with classic-style furniture, all beautiful.

" Hello, family, " Murilo said, greeting the two women in the room.

I looked from the older one, a very elegant lady, dressed in a beige dress with no details, only a printed scarf hanging from the collar brought some color to the outfit, to the younger one, apparently nice, who was dressed in the same style as the other woman, in a white dress with no details, and a necklace around her neck.

" You have Finally arrived, Murilo! " The younger woman spoke, she was beautiful and had a perfect smile.

Despite her words, she remained where she was, waiting for Murilo to come to her.

"I'm not late today, so let's stop the drama, Artemis.”

So, the beautiful young woman was Aquiles' sister and Murilo's cousin, and exactly for this reason, I wondered if there was some other feeling on her part for him because she seemed radiant at the sight of her cousin.

Three women to face would be too much for me, and I was not sure if it would be worth so many battles ahead!

Murilo walked over to where Artemis was standing, kissed her cheek quickly, and after ruffling the girl's hair, he walked over to the woman who could only be his grandmother. After hugging and kissing the lady, he then came back to my side and made the introductions.

" This is my girlfriend, Grandma " He spoke in a tone full of pride "And this is my grandmother and my sister, Artemis.”

I was apprehensive about how I would be received by the two women, who were the stereotype of wealth and elegance, and it just made me feel out of place in such luxury.

" I believe your girlfriend might want to know what Grandma's name is, Murilo. " The lady used a slightly reproachful tone when addressing her grandson " My name is Dinorá, and I believe you have a name too because I can't call you Murilo's girlfriend all the time.

Well, if I had any doubts about how I would be received in that house, they had just been answered.

" My name is Virginia, ma'am. " I spoke without being intimidated "And thank you for receiving me in your home.”

Despite everything, I was going to try to face it, and Murilo couldn't accuse me of giving up before the game started. Because clearly, that room was looking like a board, where each one was playing in some way.

Dinorá, as well as Ártemis, kept analyzing me attentively, without even disguising it, and I waited for Murilo to take some action to break the ice that had formed in that room.

" Being quite honest with you, young lady, I didn't have much choice, really, " the lady said.

I couldn't say who was more shocked by the lady's words, and it was either me or the two grandchildren present in the room, who seemed in shock at hearing their grandmother's words and even more so when she continued speaking.

" Whoever my grandson decides he wants as his girlfriend, I can only accept and nothing more " The lady spoke with coldness and clear disgust "Regardless of whether she is an honorable person or not, in the end, the final word is his and not mine.”

I couldn't hold back a sneering smile, for I was already more than prepared for what was happening at this very moment, and not at all surprised at the lack of enthusiasm of the Fernandes family matriarch.

" Well, I say that if you have no choice, I do, and right now, I choose to leave, " I said, without even a second thought "See you any day, ma'am.”

I didn't wait to hear anything more and simply turned my back and walked back down the hall, in the same direction I came with Murilo.

" Virginia! " Murilo called out, and soon I was hearing his footsteps right next to me "Virginia!”

He grabbed my arm as he got closer and pulled me into a hug that I didn't even know I wanted.

" Don't leave, " he said, pushing me into his chest. " My grandma's not like that. I don't know what happened to her.

I was trying to control the urge to cry because I would never let people like Murilo's grandmother know that they could get to me. I had always managed to escape from these situations, and now that I had put myself in one, I couldn't lower my head.

" I want to leave, and if you won't go with me, I'll go alone " I made my position clear.