Chapter 10 The family meeting 2

Gerald offered his arm, his eyes sparkling with a hint of mischief. "Now, shall we?"

Jojo hesitated, her mind racing with doubts. But Gerald's words were persuasive, and she couldn't help but be swept up in the excitement of it all. She took a deep breath, linked arms with him, and together they walked towards the front door.

As they entered the house, Jojo's eyes widened in shock. The room was filled with people, all of whom seemed to be staring at her with varying degrees of curiosity and suspicion. She felt like a specimen under a microscope, her every move scrutinized and analyzed.

Gerald's family was a formidable force, their presence commanding attention and respect. She clung to Gerald's arm, her fingers tightening around his as she faced the daunting task ahead.

"Come and take a seat," the elderly woman said, her warm smile enveloping Jojo in a sense of welcome. Her eyes twinkled with a hint of mischief, and Jojo couldn't help but feel a sense of ease in her presence.

"I didn't actually think you'd bring her," she continued, her gaze shifting to Gerald. Her voice was laced with a hint of surprise, but also a subtle hint of approval.

Gerald's response was swift, his eyes flashing with a hint of defiance. "And I actually didn't think you'd invite them over, Madam Helena," he shot back, his gaze locked on his father, stepmother, Aunt and step-siblings.

Madam Helena grasped Jojo's hand gently, guiding her toward the threshold of the living room. Gerald trailed closely behind them, his expression a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. As Jojo stepped into the room, her breath caught in her throat. There, seated gracefully on the couch, was the renowned model and actress Calista Anderson. The moment their eyes met, Calista offered her a warm smile, a beacon of charm that momentarily eased Jojo's nerves.

But Gerald's demeanor darkened. His brow furrowed as he fixated on Calista, the one person he had never wanted to encounter. "You called her here?" he asked, his voice laced with irritation as he turned to his grandmother.

"I did," Madam Helena replied, her tone calm and unwavering.

"She's also part of the family," Mr. Francis Sullivan, Gerald's father, interjected, his voice steady and authoritative. The words hung in the air, thick with unspoken tension.

"Welcome to the family!" Barbara Sullivan exclaimed, breaking the tension, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she turned to Jojo. "Gerald, won't you introduce us to your girlfriend?"

Gerald shot Barbara a sharp glare, a fleeting flicker of annoyance crossing his face. Just as he opened his mouth to respond, Jojo seized the moment.

"Hi, I'm Jojo Clinton," she said, offering a bright smile.

"I'm Barbara, Gerald's sister-in-law," she replied, extending her hand in a friendly gesture. Jojo accepted the handshake, feeling the warmth of Barbara's welcome.

As the introductions continued, Barbara enthusiastically introduced the rest of the family. "This is Gerald's father," she said, gesturing toward a distinguished man, then swiftly added, "and his mother," only for Gerald to interject, "Step-mother," his tone clipped.

Barbara continued, unfazed, moving on to Gerald's Aunt Francine, who regarded Jojo with a look of barely concealed disdain. "And this is Francine," Barbara said, her voice bright despite the tension.

Next came Barbara's husband, Alex Sullivan, Gerald's older step-brother. He bore little resemblance to Gerald, his features more rugged and weathered. Finally, Barbara introduced Gerald's younger step-sister, Mabel, who, much like Barbara, greeted Jojo with genuine kindness.

After the brief but warm introduction, Madame Helena gestured for everyone to move to the dining room. As she reached out to pull Jojo closer to her, Gerald swiftly intervened, taking Jojo's hand and guiding her to a seat he had pulled out just for her. A ripple of surprise coursed through the room as family members exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by the unexpected display of chivalry.

Jojo settled into the chair, her cheeks tinged with a flush of awkwardness as she offered a shy smile in Gerald's direction. He took his place beside her, radiating a sense of calm that she desperately tried to absorb. As the housemaids began serving an array of exquisite dishes, Jojo couldn't shake the flutter of nerves that danced in her stomach. Despite Gerald's reassurances that he would handle all the conversation, the weight of being surrounded by his family felt daunting.

Mr. Sullivan, Gerald's father, broke the silence, leaning slightly forward as he regarded Jojo with a curious expression. "So, Jojo, was it?" he began, his brow furrowed in concentration as he searched for her name. "I hear you're an actress."

Jojo turned to answer, her heart racing as she opened her mouth to respond. But before she could utter a word, Gerald's older brother, Alex, interjected with a smirk.

"A body double, actually," he quipped, a smirk playing on his lips. "You know, the one who steps in when the star needs a stand-in."

He said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. The comment elicited a chorus of mocking laughter from Francine and Calista, who exchanged gleeful glances, their amusement palpable.

Gerald's brows furrowed in displeasure, clearly provoked by the exchange. Jojo, however, maintained a forced smile, determined to keep the atmosphere light.

Francine, Gerald's aunt, leaned forward, her gaze locked onto Jojo. "So, Jojo, when did you and my nephew start dating?" she inquired, her tone both curious and invasive.

"Recently," Gerald interjected immediately, his low, husky voice laced with tension as he gritted his teeth in frustration.

Francine's eyes shifted to Gerald, a smirk playing on her lips. "Oh, dear nephew, when did you fall in love with her? The last time I checked, you weren't over Calista." Her words dripped with intent, aimed squarely at infuriating Gerald.

Jojo's mouth fell into an astonished 'O' at the shocking revelation. Mr. Perfect was in love with Calista Anderson? He seemed like the kind of man who had vowed never to surrender to love.

"Why the shocked reaction, darling?" Francine's voice sliced through the air like a knife as she turned her attention to Jojo. "Didn't he tell you about his relationship with Calista?" Her tone dripped with malice. "They were engaged and almost got married," she sneered, relishing the discomfort she was causing.

"Stop, Francine," Calista murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, trying to rein in her aunt's sharp tongue.

Jojo sensed Francine's intentions all too clearly. It was obvious she was trying to stir jealousy and insecurity within her regarding Calista, hoping to unravel her relationship with Gerald. She snorted softly to herself, amused by the irony. If only Francine knew that her dear nephew's relationship with Jojo was nothing more than a façade; her cheap ploy was utterly futile.

A sly smirk danced across Jojo's lips as she took hold of Gerald's hand, her fingers intertwining with his. "I'm not shocked by the news about Calista," she remarked, her tone dripping with confidence. "I'm just surprised that you brought up his past relationship at all." She leaned in slightly, her eyes sparkling. "Honestly, I don't care about his past. What matters is that we love each other." With that, she smiled warmly at Gerald, her fingers gently caressing his hand.

Madam Helena, Barbara, and Mabel exchanged knowing smiles at Jojo's bold response, clearly impressed by her poise.

Gerald couldn't help but smirk at the sight of Francine's immediate frown, a wave of satisfaction washing over him. Her attempts to undermine Jojo were failing spectacularly, and he felt a swell of pride for the woman beside him.

Mr. Sullivan cleared his throat, his curiosity evident. "So, Jojo, what does your father do?"

As the question hung in the air, Jojo felt her grip involuntarily tighten around Gerald's hand, a flicker of unease coursing through her. "My father... my father is-"

Before she could finish, Gerald interjected, his voice sharp and protective. "What her father does is none of your fucking business."

"Jesus, Gerald. Mind your language," Elora, Gerald's stepmother, admonished, her brow furrowing in disapproval.

"Why are you so worked up?" Mr. Sullivan asked, his tone laced with condescension.

Gerald's irritation simmered just below the surface, his deep, husky voice cutting through the air. "I know exactly what you're trying to do, and trust me, it's not going to work."

"Can you two just stop?" Madam Helena interjected, her voice tinged with exasperation. "I can't believe you're behaving like this in front of our guest."

The atmosphere grew thick with tension, a heavy silence settling over the room as no one dared to speak.

Jojo picked up her glass of wine, swirling the crimson liquid absently as she contemplated the chaotic family dynamic she had unwittingly become entangled in. What had she gotten herself into?

As the silence threatened to stretch into an uncomfortable void, Barbara, ever the cheerful spirit, seized the moment. "Anyways, I'm so happy Gerald finally found love again," she declared, her voice bright with enthusiasm. She searched for something more to say, but before she could continue, Francine scoffed, rolling her eyes dramatically.

"If they're so in love, why don't they just get married?" Francine sneered, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But I guess that's not going to happen, since we all know how this will end." Her laughter was mocking, piercing through the fragile atmosphere.

Jojo felt her irritation grow; Francine was beginning to grate on her nerves, and she couldn't fathom why the sharp-tongued Mr. Perfect remained silent in the face of such provocation. With a frustrated tut, she took a generous sip of her wine.

"That's enough, Aunt Francine," Mabel interjected, her voice firm but weary.

"What? Am I wrong?" Francine shot back, her defiance unwavering. "Am I-"

"I'm getting married." Gerald's deep, husky voice cut through the tension like a knife, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. He turned to Jojo, who was in the midst of spitting her wine back into her glass, her eyes wide with disbelief as they locked onto his.

Gerald gave her hand a gentle squeeze, a smirk playing on his lips. "We are getting married." The declaration hung in the air, a mixture of shock and anticipation swirling around them.