Chapter Seven

Trisha drove into the gates which led to their huge duplex, as she drove towards the garage, she slowed down to appreciate the beautiful house she had grown up.

She soaked in the beautiful memories she had made since she was born, 'master construction!' she thought, wondering how the house could still stand after so many years.

She planned to move out soon, even if she didn't want to admit it as she was a little shy, she had been searching through some properties, looking for the ideal house for her new family to build a future together.

She switched off the engines and waled into the house through the back door, all the excitement she had channeled since that morning had drained her.

"We don't need to wait any longer! She's already here!", Paula exclaimed as she left the banana she was munching to welcome Trisha.

Even at that, she didn't seem to escape the constant eye roll that Adriana directed at her.

That was a very sore topic in the house, Paula and her daughter had the beleif that that factor was the sole reason why their nuclear family isn't so close yet, even after so many years.

When Dave had married Paula, Trisha had readily agreed as she was open hearted and accepting, especially after the man provided the love and support they needed at such a veulnerable time.

Adriana on the other hand didn't accept them, she couldn't, she was just too hard hearted and greedy! She didn't want to share her dad's love with such 'pitiful people!', in her terms!

She had only agreed to put on a show because of her dad's plan and her immediate hatred for Trisha.

In life, they say some people just hate you because you're doing great with their life, and there's no denial that Adriana is one of them. Her jealousy and hatred only got deeper and deeper as Trisha progressed in her life.

Poor Collin, he didn't even know that he was just satisfying Adriana's ego.

Adriana would constantly ignore Paula, she didn't even feel the need to create a step mom/ step daughter relationship. The thought always made Paula sad, but that didn't mean she gave up.

"Why don't we start the family meeting now that Trisha is here!", Paula said as she showed Trisha where to sit.

As Trisha sat, she noticed that the sitting had formed a circle, 'oh mom!', Trisha sighed at her mother's weird antics.

"Can we wrap this up quick, I have somewhere to be soon!", Adriana asked as she really had to attend a party later that night.

"Oh no, not yet, we are still waiting for one more person! She should be here any …", Paula was suddenly cut off by the sound of the door being pulled by someone.

"Sorry, my bad, I'm late! I know! I know! I'm always late!!", Elle said as she came into the room.

Adriana was shocked for a minute, her shock soon turned to nervousness and then to guilt. She didnt know Elle was going to be at the family meeting, she wasn't even related.

'This stupid woman!', Elle cursed.

"But you said family meeting!", Adriana said, her voice slightly trembling as she was antsy.

"Yes, Elle is family too, and this meeting involves her, so she has to be here!", Paula said.

Elle had always been a apart of the Callister family meeting, it was just that they hadn't had one for so long, and the last two times they did, Elle was abroad with her family.

Dave who had no clue that Adriana and Collin had publicly gone out on a date,and not just that, they were all over each other, even on the streets.

Not only were they all over each other, kissing and stuff, Elle, Trisha's best friend had seen them.

Adriana who experienced the whole thing was very antsy throughout the meeting, she was worried Elle would confront her or tell Trisha that she saw her and Collin earlier.

Elle noticed her panic stricken face, but she couldn't care less, what she cared the most about was how to tell Trisha without breaking her heart.

Elle knew she loved Collin with all of her heart, the news would definitely break her.

The meeting ended after Trisha announced her promotion, temporarily distracting Elle from telling her the bad news, and making Adrian's hatred and jealousy run even deeper.

The family meeting was held because Paula planned on doing soms charity work and she needed everybody's input.

It wasn't that she necessarily needed their input, she just wanted everybody to gather under one roof for one evening, without worrying about their corporate life, their princess syndrome or the demanding lifestyle of a police officer.

~~~~~

In a Downton pub, Collin and some of his pals had gathered together to celebrate the birthday of one of his friends, Josh.

They were college buddies, so everyone ahd to attend the get together, they were all adults with their own life, things like that were inevitable as it was also considered a get together.

They danced and had liquor to drink. Slightly tipsy, the men sat down to discuss and catch up with their lives.

The men conversed with each other, engaging in heartwarming laughter and when it was finally Collin's turn to speak after he was asked a question, the next words he said shocked everybody.

"Hey Collin, what about your hot, curvy girlfriend!", One of his friends, Brent asked.

"Oh you mean the dark skinned beauty from that restaurant!?", Another one of his friends, Mark asked just to be sure.

Brent nodded, all their heads turning to Collin expecting an answer.

"She's the side piece now…", Collin drawled, the guy's jaws dropping to the floor.

"What why?", Mark asked.

"She didn't want to go further!", Collin replied curtly, the guys didn't need a crash course on what he meant as they already understood.

"I got her sister instead! And she's even more than willing!", Collin concluded, a huge grin plastered on his face as he remembered the previous night with Adriana.

The guys laughed excitedly, the festivities going on as if nothing happened.