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AN:
Longer chapter this week, cause school is FINALLY out, and I'm a finalist in the INTERRACIAL AWARDS!!🙌👏🎉🎉. Thank you guys so much for nominating me. I'm nominated in 3 categories: Best Writing, Best Plot, and Best Title. It would mean the world to me if you guys could please, please vote. Thank you sooo much! Enjoy the chapter.
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Krystina.

Calvin looks over the room, seemingly taking everything in, before turning to me and walking in my direction.

"Krystina. So lovely to see you again." He says as he pulls me in for an, extremely awkward, half hug. The way the greeting rolls off of his lips doesn't do much to reveal his true emotions. There's no guilt, no anger, and not even the slightest hint of happiness.

He says it's "lovely to see me again", but mentally, he probably wishes I was dead for all I know.

A tense silence fills the air as I search for an adequate and appropriate response to his greeting.

Do I respond honestly and tell him that's it's not all that good to see him, given the circumstances?

Or, do I do the more polite thing and, regardless of how I feel towards him, pretend as if it's actually good to see him again?

Honesty is the best policy.......................or so they say.

Let's go with that.

"If I'm being honest, which I am, it's actually not all that great to see you again, Mr. Sims." For a moment, just for a moment, my statements unveils a chink in his armor. He's mildly taken by surprise, as is evident my the slight widening of his eyes and raising of his eyebrows.

The surprise expression quickly gives way to that same signature smirk that Stephen, and probably all the Sims men, possess. "Well," he begins, "Given the, uh, circumstances, I can definitely respect that statement Krystina. And since we're on the topic, I'd really appreciate it if I were able to speak to you before dinner. Privately."

Damn.

I was hoping that I wouldn't have to deal with Calvin one-on-one until after we finished the movie.

"Yeah, sure. That's fine." I tell him, barely squashing down the anxiety I suddenly start to feel.

Stephen, sensing it, hurriedly comes up next to me and starts to suggests that he accompany me to this "private" meeting with his father.

"No need, son." Calvin tells him, holding out a hand to halt any further movement or talking. "This is a conversation that Krystina and I need to have. Just us, no one else." Seeing the expression on Stephen's face, he adds "Don't worry, I'll bring her back in one piece."

Before anything else can be said, he turns and heads in the direction of what I assume is a private office of some sort.

Logically, I follow.

Once were both in the room, he turns and closes the door softly. Not looking in my direction once, he walks over to what looks like a small liquor cabinet standing to the left of the large oak desk. Grabbing two small coaster, two tumblers, and a large bottle of brown liquid, no doubt whiskey, he begins to pour us each a drink.

He finally looks up at me after he's done, and motions me over to the desk. He hands me my drink whilst taking a large gulp of his.

He sets the glass down on top of the coaster, takes a seat in the leather chair behind the desk, and starts to speak. "I'm not going to apologize for what I did, let's start there."

I drop into the seat opposite him, and gingerly sip the whiskey, trying not to let my shock show through my facade.

"What you have to understand is," he continues, "when I made the decision to separate the two of you, I thought I was doing what was best for my son. Now, could I have gone about it a different way? Maybe, but I didn't. Being in this industry is cutthroat. People will use any, and every little piece of information they get, to discredit you or your empire. Don't get me wrong, I think you're an incredible woman. You're beautiful, educated, driven, hardworking, and you've got a good head on your shoulders."

"But I wasn't good enough for your son? According to you, at least." I cut in. "You just described me as an incredible, educated woman, so what was the problem? My race?" I question.

"That's ludicrous. Your race had nothing to do with it. To put it simply, you weren't rich enough. You didn't have the status, or the poise. You still don't. You came from a broken family" He says, pouring himself another glass.

"Look at it this way, I saved you from ridicule and humiliation. The women in this circle would've eaten you alive, Krystina. I really was looking out for the both of you."

In some twisted way, I can understand his reasoning. Especially given what Stephen used to tell me about his grandfather, Calvin's father. 'All these people care about is image', he used to tell me.

His grandfather, if you can imagine it, was more ruthless than Calvin himself. He wanted control over every facet of his son's life. You want to play high school soccer? No. Golf will look better. You want to join the band? No. Debate team will look better. You want to take Angelina Ramirez, whose father owns a couple hardware stores, to the prom? No. Tiffany Waters, whose father works on Wall Street, will look better.

It's all he's ever known.

I pity him.

"I think Stephen and I would've been just fine, honestly. But, enough about the past. I just want you to tell me whether or not you're willing to put this entire thing behind us. Whether you like it or not, Stephen and I are going to be permanent fixtures in each others lives. I need to know if you're going to be respectful to me, and to my son. I need to know if you're willing to accept us into your life. At this point, that's all I really care about." I say, heaving a deep sigh.

He stares at me over his now folded hands, as if he's trying to figure out my angle, or discern any hidden agendas. Seemingly finding none, he gives me a small smile, one that I can't tell is real or fake. "Of course."

When we emerge from the study and walk into the kitchen, Bryan and Stephen are helping Larissa set the table for dinner. Noticing our arrival, and deciding that introductions are in order, Stephen gently takes the silverware out of Bryans hands and guides him over to us.

Hoisting him up so that they're both eye level with his father, Bryan makes the introductions.

"Dad, this is Bryan Marvolo Green. My son." The wide smile that encompasses his handsome face when he says it, steals my breath.

He's showing full on teeth, girlies. Such a beautiful man.

"Bry," he continues, "This is my dad, Calvin, your grandfather."

Bryan decides to be shy, as usual when meeting new people, but manages to give Calvin a tight smile and quick handshake.

Afterwards, we all take our seats at the table. Larissa and Calvin at the head and end. Bryan and I, side by side, while Stephen sits across from me.

We're in the middle of a relatively peaceful and uneventful meal, until Mrs. Sims decides to make shit weird.

"So, Tina," she says, using the nickname only her and Stephen call me by, "Are you seeing anyone right now?" She asks, her eyes focussed on me.

What. The. Hell.

I want to tell her it's none of her business, cause I know exactly where she's going with this. I've seen her do it a number of times with her other sons.

She looks at me with such maternal affection, that I can't hep but answer her honestly. "Uh, no. Not really."

The smile that lights up her face, immediately tells me that I'm in trouble.

"Really? How wonderful. You know, Stephen's not seeing anyone either, hasn't for a long time." She says, eyes shining with slight mischief.

My eyes go wide, and Stephen, upon hearing his mother's statement, begins to choke on his food.

When he calls down he glances towards me, before turning to his mother and giving her a stern "Mother."

"What?" She asks, raising her eyebrows and schooling her expression into one of faux innocence. "I'm just saying. You're both young, attractive, successful people who are both coincidentally single at the moment. Not to mention you did have a longstanding romantic relationship that resulted in my beautiful little grandson."

She continues her soliloquy as if she doesn't see us all gaping at her. "I mean, maybe you two should go out and get to know each other again. You know, rediscover each oth-"

"Oookay." I cut her off. I stand, grabbing mine and Bryans empty plates. "Uhh, since everyone's finished with dinner, how about we, uh, start on that movie, yeah?"

Stephen stuffs the rest of his food down his throat, before standing with his clean plate. "I, uh, I second that notion." He says, before escaping and following me in the kitchen.

It only takes a few seconds, and a few glances at each other, for us to burst into laughter.

"Wow. Your mom hasn't changed a bit. Still no filter." I say, sending us both into another fit.

"No she hasn't." He agrees, chuckling. "But she is right about something."

I pause, my eyes meeting his. "Really? What about?"

"I think we should go out, and get to know each other again. We were friends before. I think we could be friends again." He says, coming to stand in front of me.

I don't what compelled me to say it.

Maybe the nervousness I suddenly feel with him standing so close to me. Maybe the the things Kyisha and Rory talked to me about earlier. Whatever the reason, the words fall from my mouth before my brain can intervene.

"Just friends?"

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Oh word, Krys? That's how you feeling?

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