I am switching the story from third to first person so there will be instances of the two points of view.  

I dressed in a sleeveless floral top and black shorts which I matched with a pair of heeled open toe ankle boots. I had decided that if my parents wanted me to meet a guy then why not. Maybe I needed a distraction after all. Work had been too stressful ever since the O'Connor incident. I had visited the salon earlier that day and now I stared at my new pixie cut. It made me feel very chic. I had decided to lighten my shade of red and for once my unruly red curls looked good even if they were still messy.

My mother was not ready when I arrived so I sat with my dad on the sofa as he watched a rerun of "Steptoe and Son".

"Rhee will you pack the muffins in a bag and the bottle of wine as well!" my mother shouted from her bedroom.

"Sure mom!" I responded getting up to go to the kitchen.

My mother had made three boxes of her famous blueberry muffins. Wow, this person had really made an impression for these muffins were only made for special people. I packed the muffins carefully and placed them in a bag with the bottle of vintage wine. My parents appeared to want to make a big impression on these people. Whoever they were I hope I would have a good time.

The drive to the'new neighbour' was a talkative one. My father had smartly turned the radio to his favourite frequency as he entered the front seat of the car. My mother in the backseat had engaged me in conversation for the past 10 minutes.

"So Mom what is this lady's name?" I asked curious to know more about my hosts.

Take the first turn at the roundabout to exit onto the M11 motorway. The GPS tracker said. 

My dad had put in the address and I had not really paid attention to the destination until now. I looked at the GPS screen we were heading to Surrey!

"Mom, why are we using the motorway, I thought this 'new home' was in your neighbourhood." My mother looked at my dad and I noticed her look in the rear view mirror. Something was up?

"Oh her name is Olivia. She is just so friendly." My mother responded.

Keep left then take the exit to Surrey. The GPS continued.

"Mom why are we heading to Surrey? Where are we going? This is definitely not in your neighbourhood." I questioned my curiosity piquing towards annoyance. What were they keeping from me?

"Well, technically it is the same country so it is in the same neighbourhood." My mother replied cautiously.

"Mom, where did you meet her?" I then asked. Again my mother glanced at my father who was listening to the radio and staring out of the window. It seemed he had left the explaining to her and he was not helping to get her out of the hole she had built for herself.

"We met through her son, it was quite accidental. We were shopping at that new DIY outlet. The one in Kent and we bumped into her and her son. It was a total surprise. Since then we have met for tea and coffee even played some cricket. Her son even came over last Saturday with his mother for a visit." My mother rambled on. I was very curious now as to who this 'woman and her son' could be.

"Is that it? What is her son's name?" my mother leaned back in her seat. She fiddled with her bag.

"Mom? Dad?" My father looked at me and smiled shyly.

"Ask your mother, I told her this was a bad idea but she insisted it was the only way." He said turning to look at my mother disapprovingly, who had suddenly become silent.

"Yeah I thought it would be good idea, knowing the situation." My mother finally responded to my dad who waiting for my mother to enlighten me.

"Situation?" I asked still clueless as to what was going on.

"Yes honey with you and Chris." What was my mother talking about?

"What? Chris who?" I asked not really believing what I was hearing.

"Oh honey no need to sound so shocked he told us all about it and we clarified everything, he really is an outstanding young man." My mother continued. "You must give him a second chance."

"Mom do you mean Chris as in Chris O' Connor?" I asked in disbelief.

"Of course, he is such a lovely young man and his mother is so sweet." My mother had recovered her speech and her words were making me angry.

"Mom, why are you seeing Chris behind my back after everything he has done... how could you two?" I said quite furious with my parents. I could not believe this my parents had ambushed me. Now Chris on the other hand, he was capable of any duplicity but to rake in my parents, I was out for blood.

"I can't believe this!" I was exasperated. I felt totally betrayed by my family. How could they let Chris manipulate them like this and my parents who I thought would stick by me the most!!!

"Yes your dad and I have been over to his place a few times."

"Over? Mom, you and dad? Why?" What in the blazes was going on, what was Chris trying now and why did I feel that everyone was on his side?

"Honey, Chris wants to end this little spat and I think you should too, it's time you two were back together." Chris had told my parents that we were having a spat?

"Mom." I said through clenched teeth. "Chris and I never had a relationship. It was, you know what it was and well, how could you betray me like this, my own parents then ambush me with this farce of a barbecue!" I was fuming my blood pressure was rising past my eyes. I was so angry I just wanted to scream!

You have reached your destination.    You have reached your destination. The GPS tracker highlighted.

"Ahhh!" I screamed braking sharply as I turned into the driveway of the stone mansion.

"He cares about you and I know you feel the same way you admitted it to us. So come on give him another chance. Start afresh. Use today to meet his family and see how sorry he is about this small misunderstanding." My mother was firmly on Team Chris.

"Mom." I took a deep breath. " Just remember that I am here because you two, my supposedly loving and trusting parents tricked me but do not expect anything and I mean anything to happen between me and that jerk, he almost cost me my job and frankly I no longer feel anything for him." I stated firmly looking at my parents. My dad looked amused and my mother was horrified.

She recovered easily, "Don't forget to name your first child after Nan!"

I could not win. We got out of the car and I handed the keys to the valet. I was extremely annoyed. I was unsure if I was ready to see Chris.... much less meet his family? Was he that desperate to make me suffer! I would teach him to mess with me!

Chris' mother's house was located in an affluent neighbourhood. The entrance was smartly carved with a huge automatic fence and a large lawn which led to a beautiful stone house. The three storey structure was made of red brick with a small arch entrance and several bay windows which brought character to the house. It was bold yet traditional which gave it a very family feel.

The front door opened and a butler escorted us to the back porch where the festivities were in full swing. There were quite a number of people already there. It seems the whole family had turned out.

A lady around my mother's age came towards us,

"Hello. " The petite framed lady greeted. She gave my mother a hug and my dad and turned to me then she burst into a smile. She framed my face in between her hands.

"It is so great to meet you finally, I'm Olivia, and you are just so adorable." She then enveloped me in a hug. I was too stunned to speak but returned the hug out of respect.

"Isn't she?" My mother quipped in and I glared at her. My dad giggled.

"Here are some things we brought. Hope your family will like it." My mother offered her bag of goodies. Olivia graciously took them.

"Oh my, your muffins always taste so good. Thank you so much for bringing them." Olivia cooed. "Henry could you plate this and put them outside." She ordered the butler giving him the bag. He bowed and then left.

"Oh Rhysa," Olivia O' Connor sighed still looking at me.

"It is such a pleasure to have you here finally, you must meet everyone."

There were several people scattered across the lawn that was attractively landscaped with flowers, trees and walkways. The huge back yard seemed to spread out for miles. To the eastern side there was a large concrete atrium that housed the barbecue pit which was already abuzz with activity. The opposite side encased the kidney shaped swimming pool which had guests lounged on chairs around it. There was a small fish pond which flowed into a naturally shaped low sloped waterfall. The place was exquisite full of character, imagination with a rustic country feel.

I was shepherded around the garden and introduced to the forty or so people present. I met Chris' uncles, aunts, cousins and friends. It seemed to be a large and well-knit family. I was being bombarded with questions about Chris and myself to which I said very little because Olivia and my mother furnished all the answers.

After what seemed like a marathon of interviews, I was finally alone by a table of food. I was munching on a sausage roll when I felt a shadow come to stand near me.

"Your hair is beautiful, it suits you. You look very adorable today." Chris drawled near my ear. I turned to look at him, my anger seething just below my skin.

"A pity, I can't say the same about you." I stated trying to ignore him while I put another roll onto my plate.

He laughed as he eyed me from head to toes. "Those legs are begging to be caressed."

I elbowed him in the chest.

"Why the ruse? Manipulating my parents? Making everyone believe something that isn't true?" I asked quietly choosing my finger foods while moving along the table. Chris followed closely putting extras onto my plate and into his mouth.

I looked at his leg deliberately,

"Your leg seems to be healed, you're not even limping." I looked at his beige chino clad legs .

"Yeah thanks to the great hospital staff." He looked at me for a moment.

"Ha." I said turning away from him.

"I can't let you go Rhysa, you have marked me and no matter how angry you have made me I still think of you all the time." He whispered against my neck. His warm breath sending sparks straight to my core.

"Are you denying whatever we have between us..." he whispered in my ear as he held my waist and squeezed me as he pulled me to him. I felt chills up my spine as his breath lingered on my neck.

"Denying? There is nothing between us because there is no us!" I emphasised trying to release myself.

"Isn't there?" he stepped closer and tightening his grip; putting his hands on my stomach. I stood mesmerized by him, and the sexual attraction was like a gravitating force pulling me to him. I was stuck feeling his hard member against me. I remembered holding it in my hands and .... I closed my eyes and pulled away from him. This had to stop now!

"Why me?" I finally uttered softly almost to myself.

He was smiling like a cat that had cornered a goldfish in a bowl.

"You have been very naughty Rhysa, lying to me about Gary."

"I didn't lie, he is special to me!" I countered, my body still heated from his touch.

"Oh no, you made me think he was your lover, how could you do that to me Rhysa, you ripped out my heart." He continued to follow me as I continued along the food table.

"Your heart should be ripped out because I want this conspiracy to end!" I was trying to keep my voice down. Several of Chris' relatives were looking at us curiously.

"Your mother explained who Gary was and I realised I had been very foolish." He continued.

"You have always been foolish!" I said getting exasperated by his closeness. My body was starting to remember his touch and my mind was fighting my hormones. This was not a good war. I was starting to sweat in places I didn't want to.

I came to the end of the table and he dragged me to the side of the gazebo. It was semi private. I held my plate and popped a popcorn chicken into my mouth.

He tipped my chin, "I am sorry for hurting you but I want you Rhysa, I want us." His voice was husky and filled with emotion.

I looked away and released myself from his hands. I must stay strong I reminded myself.

"I do not accept your apology, you could have simply said 'Thank you' in spite of your supposed jealousy. Then to top it off you go behind my back and lie to everyone and rope in my parents to assist you."

I was cold and he knew it.

"I am only staying out of respect for your mother but do not expect me to treat you any different than a client Mr. O'Connor."

I put down my plate. "We agreed to remain as business associates and I never violated that but you. You have created this whole scenario and expect me to just forget everything and fall into your arms!"

"Rhysa---" I cut him off.

"Chris, no. I. Do. Not. Want. You!" I said then stalked off running up the stairs. I did not care if anyone was watching.

"Rhysa, Rhysa wait!" Chris shouted but I was already heading through the patio doors.

Who did he think he was to manipulate this meeting after the hell he put me through? He thinks a lame apology would make things better...as if!

I bumped into Henry, "Excuse me, could you tell me where the bathroom is?" I asked.

"This way." He said and turned down a corridor. He opened a door and I entered. The bathroom smelt like roses and ginger. I splashed my face with water and took a couple of deep breaths. I was not going to let Chris manipulate me.

I exited the bathroom and looked cautiously for Olivia and my parents. I stood behind a plant and started to scan the back garden. I noticed my Dad speaking to Chris outside by the pool. That was a bust. I continued to scan for my mother who was animatedly in discussion with another lady around her age.

"Hello, nice to see you again." Came a voice from behind me.

I jumped and turned around. Megan was looking at me smiling. I guess I did look suspicious staring out from behind a potted fern.

"Hi." I said flicking an invisible speck off my shorts.

"So who are you hiding from? Chris by any chance?" she said with a smile.

"Um... well," I stumbled unsure what to say still feeling rather embarrassed.

"It's okay, I know some of the story and frankly I am a bit confused especially after the scene in the hospital?" she said.

"I am even more confused than you? I was brought here under false pretences and by my own parents no less." I supplied.

"So you and Chris?" she asked.

I shook my head vigorously, "No we are not in any relationship, and he infuriates me and makes my blood boil." I said strongly.

Megan looked a bit but taken aback, I continued. "I know he is your brother but he continues to push my buttons the wrong way."

"So you have no feelings for him?" She asked looking at me.

"Feelings, of course, a good dose of hate!" I supplied easily.

"Really you mean you don't like him, not even a little bit?" She asked smoothly.

"How can you like someone who insists on getting their own way all the time. Imagine having a one way relationship? He insists on making me angry and trying to control everything. I mean I almost lost my job over the cottage incident after he wrote to my boss about my apparent negligence in  not helping him." I was happy to unleash my O'Connor woes.

"Oh my, it seems my little brother messed up badly." She said smiling and taking a sip of her drink.

"Mega bad, I don't want to upset your mom but I am leaving. I can't be part of this farce that he has created."

She held my hand as I turned to go, "Don't leave, enjoy the party a little."

"Sorry Megan but just being around Chris makes my blood boil. I would rather keep his head under in that pool than be here a minute longer. I still can't believe he would go so far as to hijack my own parents into his scheme." I tried to turn and she held me again.

"I know Chris can be a bit full on but he means no harm. He likes you and maybe you could give him a chance?" she pleaded.

"Ha, a what? Never, no way, no how no, no no." I gesticulated with my hands to punctuate my point.

I turned around and noticed Chris standing there. He appeared to have heard a lot of the conversation by the look on his face. He was not happy.

"Chris just what is going on here?" Megan looked at him squarely in the eyes and without a pause he responded,

"A barbecue. What else is it?"

"Stop being snide. I mean this... our mother, her parents, I must say that you really seem to like her but you have a lot of work on your hands there convincing her about you?" Megan commented looking at me. "I must say brother dear; my vote is in her corner."