The Dinner - Annoyance! - 2

Aubrianne Ivanov

Aubrianne had scanned the group with a warm smile as her eyelashes fluttered, disturbed by the light cool breeze, and her keen eyes remained trained on Christen and Tobias's features.

The atmosphere was thick around them, as dark clouds dominated the sky, where the only light seen from it was the distant flashes of lightning that lit up those gloomy and terrible clouds.

Aubrianne's father, Theo, was all smiles in his expensive, tailored Armani blue dress pants, white shirt with silver cufflinks, and square-tip shoes.

Aubrianne's eyes took the opportunity to scan Christen's features. She was tall, slim to medium build, with dazzling hazel eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips.

She also had short blonde hair that she wore down and parted in the middle. She was clad in a blue dress matching her husband's pants, with white heels that matched the many delicate white flowers scattered about her dress.

While Tobias wore blue pants similar to his father's, with a short-sleeved version of the long-sleeve shirt Theo wore and sneakers.

As for Tobias, he was skinny and tall, not the typical build for a werewolf. Tobias had auburn-colored hair cut low, a straight nose, and his hazel eyes gleamed. He has his mother's eyes and his father's perfect lips.

"Oh, my baby girl, and hello again, Jada!" Theo said. He was the first to approach Aubrianne with open arms and a warm and welcoming smile.

Aubrianne smiled from ear to ear, happy to see her father again walking into his open arms. She hugged him tightly. "You're nervous, baby girl, don't be." He whispered into her mind or spoke it into her ear.

She was unsure, as she did not miss how Christen's nose was pointed down at her with her lips set in a certain twitch.

And she had rolled her eyes at 'baby girl.' Well, sadly for her, Aubrianne was in agreement with that, "Baby girl? Dad? Seriously, you keep calling me baby girl. I am grown!" Aubrianne took a quick breath to settle her nerves.

Pulling back slightly to look up at him, she felt like a child. She was an adult but would not stop him if he wanted to keep calling her baby girl. She simply made it known how she felt about it and also secretly hoped he would not do it in front of guests.

"What? But you are my baby girl," he protested, with Aubrianne back in his arms, snuggled closely. He kissed the top of her head and rubbed her arm.

Christen then folded her arms while eighteen-year-old Tobias fidgeted with his pants and shirt at her side when, suddenly, "Sorry, sorry, I am so sorry, I am here, I am here now."

Timothy came barreling through the mountain-sized double doors, tucking his shirt into his pants and doing up the last two buttons on top.

Only then did Aubrianne notice the staff closer to the doorway.

"Well, now that my eldest son is here, late as usual, but most important here, let me introduce you all," Theo states.

Timothy was tall and slender, almost as tall as their father. He had dark brown hair, cut low and skillfully marked. A defined jawline, a Roman nose, and medium-sized lips. You can see that he had some muscles, not much but some.

"Ok, guys, first, let me introduce you all to my daughter's friend, Jada," he gestured to Jada. With a hand swept over to his family, "And Jada, this is my family...wife and two sons."

Jada did a slight head dip, a show of respect, and waved as she said, "Hi, everyone. It's a pleasure to be here!" Then he smiled sweetly.

Which, to Aubrianne, looked weird on Jada.

Theo wanted to introduce Aubrianne to every member of his family one by one. So he thought he should get Jada's introduction out of the way.

"Aubrianne," Theo stepped back while gesturing towards his wife, one arm still around Aubrianne.

"This is my lovely wife, Christen," Aubrianne immediately extended a hand to greet Christen. "Hi, so nice to meet you. I have heard a lot about you." Aubrianne lied, she heard about her, but it was not a lot.

There she went again, getting away with her half-truths. Theo had only mentioned the details the night they met for the second time. But isn't that what people say?

However, Christen gave her a surprised look in response to 'her husband talking about her' but quickly recovered and said, "Likewise, dear, we have not stopped hearing about you since the day he met you."

Aubrianne couldn't contain the smile threatening to attack her features at Christen's words, and she glanced up at her father as he looked down at her, and they shared a sweet moment.

It solidified what he told her. He did not turn his back. He was giving her the time she needed for her last year in college while he was over here gushing and putting his plan in motion.

Theo quickly kissed the top of her head, sensing Aubrianne's emotions, then said, "This is my youngest boy, Tobias." He gives Tobias a gentle pat on his shoulders with his free hand, then closes his hand into a fist, turning it into a nice squeeze of acknowledgment.

Tobias looked down at his feet and blushed profusely as Aubrianne reached out her hand to him. Tobias shook it quickly and nervously, shying away the entire time, unable to look at Aubrianne.

"His wolf recognizes your power," Theo leaned in and whispered at the nervous grip he felt from Aubrianne.

Aubrianne visibly relaxed even though she tried not to let the fact that her brother kept shying away from her bother her, wondering why.

Maybe he was nervous like she was, or he simply did not even want to look at her. That's how far she had gotten before her father had said anything.

"And this young man right here is my eldest son Timothy, who's always late!" Theo said, patting him on the back and squeezing his shoulders in acknowledgment, only this time, the slap resonated much harder, and the squeeze looked painful.

Theo silently reprimanded his son for being late for such an auspicious occasion!

Timothy's features changed to one of annoyance that quickly changed back. If you had not been looking directly at his face at that second, you would have missed it, and of course, dear old Aubrianne was the one to notice.

Along with her father because he was also staring daggers at Timothy while Aubrianne was observing her brother, then wondering what the annoyance was about.

"Oh, it's fine!" Aubrianne quickly offers, waving it away with a cheery smile and a flick of her wrist. "It's lovely to meet you, Timothy." She briskly shook his hand

At the same time, Christen, coming to her son's defense or simply trying to move things along, said, "Well, let's all head in, shall we?" Encompassing the group with a light and elegant gesture of her hands with a gentle smile.

Theo was almost up to here with these boys, especially Timothy, his eldest. He was the instigator. Tobias had always followed him around like a lost poodle.

Christen then gazed around the group for any objections. Turning, she said, "Timothy, come help me with the final preparations."

Aubrianne thought it was strange, as she believed a house like this would surely come with a staff, who Aubrianne obviously saw at the entrance door, waiting to meet her as she headed inside.

Christen smiled sweetly again at Aubrianne and asked, "See you on the inside?"

Aubrianne let go of the breath she did not even know she was holding and answered while shaking her head positively. She said, "Yes...see you on the inside." Aubrianne smiled while Christen turned on her heels and slipped inside gracefully, Timothy in tow.

"Come, sweetie, Jada," Theo said to Aubrianne and called over his shoulder to Jada. Then looking at Tobias, he called him, "Tobi!"

He trailed the group.

Theo led Aubrianne to the house staff lined up at the side, comprising twenty-five members. He had told her she would meet the groundsmen when she moved in, hopefully before the ball.

Nevertheless, Aubrianne had shaken twenty-five hands as her father had introduced her to each of them.

Not that she could or would remember all of their names right now. Only a few had stuck. However, she smiled and shook each hand as she descended the line.

The color of their clothing was a little different from the traditional black and white uniforms staff members usually wear. The staff in front of her wore dark gray trousers, a royal purple long-sleeved shirt, and a dark gray bow tie, with white gloves for the few men among them.

And the women wore dark gray knee-length skirts, a pleat in the center from mid-thigh heading down to the knee, giving a flare effect that provided a little room to move, and royal purple fitted short-sleeved shirts, white gloves, and a dark gray scarf around their necks.

They looked crisped and well put together. Aubrianne loved it.