He’d been an exceptional father. He’d never placed work ahead of his family and he was always the first one any of the kids came to with a problem, or with good news. That’s why he’d been notified so quickly of Amy’s situation. The family always told him everything.
Lucas didn’t speak to Amy on the ride to the family mansion. He knew that she needed time to compose herself. She’d been through a lot during the last few hours. And he was happy to think he wasn’t the bad guy in the current situation.
Amy needed the time because she was about to be thrust into the chaos of his family. Everyone was up at the manor this weekend for his mother’s birthday. Any holiday was cause for the family to celebrate together but his mother’s birthday was definitely a huge bash.
His father always said that his wife’s birth was a great cause for celebration. She was the light of his life and his world would’ve been empty without her. He felt her birthday should be a national holiday.
“Mr. Anderson, it looks like you have company right now. This is probably not the best time for me to be here. Will you please just let me use your phone so I can call a cab and get out of your hands?” she spoke barely above a whisper.
“Not a chance,” was his only reply.
Amy looked down at herself and then back up at him. “I’m wearing old jeans,” she pleaded with him. “Please don’t make me go in there looking like this.” He just laughed at the panicked look on her face and her horrified voice.
“Amy, you act like we’re all a bunch of snobs. We’re normal people too. So what if we like fancy things. You’re the one being a snob right now, judging my family on what we have,” he said accusingly.
His words worked like a charm. She hung her head down in shame and just nodded at him. It was almost enough to give him a pinch of guilt but at least he was getting what he wanted. And one thing that Amy needed to learn about him was that he always got what he wanted.
Lucas came around the car and helped her out. He placed her arm in his and half pulled her up the large staircase. She’d come to the mansion for her job interview so at least she didn’t have to be quite as intimidated.
Even though she’d been there before her breath was still taken away by the beauty of it all. She was sure that kings would be impressed with the house. You couldn’t even call it a house. It was grander than a castle.
Lucas led her through the foyer and into the back. She heard laughter even before they opened up some massive doors somewhere in the middle of the place.
“You finally made it here. What did you do, take the scenic route? I’ve been here for a half hour already and I wasn’t the one driving the race car.” Alex came up and nudged his brother in the ribs.
“All is forgiven though since you brought my beautiful future bride. How you doing gorgeous?
We’ve been apart far too long already. Do you want to run away with me to Vegas and get married?” he joked with her. He threw his arm around her and dragged her over for a drink.
Lucas shook his head and rolled his eyes. He knew his brother was even more afraid of marriage than he was himself. He was still going to keep an eye on her though because if anyone could change his brother from committed playboy to a happily married man, it would be Amy.
He was going to make sure and stake his claim, so that both his brothers knew that Amy wasn’t on the market. He was amazed at the jealousy coursing through him. He’d never felt that way with any other woman he’d dated. If a woman he was dating wanted to run off with one of his brothers he would have gladly said goodbye.
Not that it would’ve been an issue, as neither of his brothers would ever trespass on the others’
woman. They had a code among them and would never break it. You just didn’t try and steal your brother’s girl. Now, on the other hand making one of said brothers jealous was a whole other issue and each of the guys loved to push buttons.
He started to walk over to take his woman, umm, employee back when Esther saved him from doing just that.
“Now Alex you leave this girl alone. You’re flirting shamelessly and embarrassing her. How are you doing hunny?” she asked kindly.
“I’m doing just great. I’m really getting that computer program down and I don’t think I will have to call you at all on Monday. Today is just another speed bump. Nothing to worry about,” Amy told Esther with a brave face.
Lucas could see she wasn’t used to having people worry about her, or love her for that matter.
She would have to get used to both. Employees of the Andersons were considered family. They took care of their own. Her days of bearing the weight of the world on her own shoulders had ended.
“I know you’re doing great at work. I meant how are you doing with your life? I heard about your place,” she said sympathetically. Before Amy knew what was happening she was engulfed in a hug.
“Now don’t you be afraid to ask for help once in a while. We’ll be getting to know each other well and this family takes care of the people they love,” she said. She visited a bit and then stepped away to talk with some other people in the room.
“Amy, I’m so glad you’re here. We have much to talk about but that will come later. I’m sure you’ve noticed all these people milling around.” Joseph’s enthusiasm made Amy jump a bit. He continued on before she had a chance to say one word.
“Today’s my amazing wife’s birthday and we all come together to celebrate this beautiful woman’s entrance into the world. Come, come, I want you to meet her, along with some others.
I’ve told her all about our newest employee,” he finished.
He placed her arm in his and she had to jog a little bit to keep up with him. He may have retired from being president, but he’d built the company and was still very much invested and she noticed he spoke with affection when bringing the business up. For the next twenty minutes Joseph dragged her all over the room, making so many introductions that she knew she would never remember all the people.
No one was dressed in tuxes or anything but she was still very uncomfortable standing in the beautiful room wearing only her old jeans and a sweatshirt. No one was looking at her in disgust, at least not that she’d noticed but she was still self-conscious about her appearance.
There was a stir in the room and suddenly she was standing in front of another Greek God.