Good night, guys. I'm really sorry for the delay. I have an excuse though. I've been working at weekends too, so when I got home I wasn't in the mood to write, I just preferred to rest or hang out. :D Anyway, thank you so much for your support, you're adorable even if my updates have been a mess.

I know I said this was the last chapter, but it's really short and I wanted to publish it already, so there's another one coming. I guess you deserve it. :) I won't answer your reviews, but I promise that I will try to do that next time, even if I have to send you a pm. ;)

Thank you to all the people who are reading previous chapters and take some time to write a review and make me happy too. You're awesome. ;) Have a nice day, buddies! ;)

Enjoy!

MEANT TO BE

Chapter 50: Meeting the Family (Part 1)

Emily's POV

"So… you entered private property and you want to meet Mr. McCullers. Am I correct?" the woman that opened the door says a little bit annoyed. I understand that I burst in here and asked for something that is practically unviable. I mean, I want to speak with one of the richest man in the country. Now that I think about it, she must be freaking out because I had the guts to come here and turn up on the door. Suddenly a thought comes to my mind. Am I talking to her mother? I stare at the woman that's standing in front of me thoroughly. She doesn't look like her, but anything is possible. I realize that she's getting angrier because she realized I was analyzing her and didn't answer her question.

"Yes, I do need to speak with Mr. Mc Cullers," I insist firmly. I summoned up the courage to drive here, I don't want to leave until I have the opportunity to tell him a few things that have been flowing in my head.

"And who are you exactly?" She frowns at me. I'd love to tell her I'm Paige's girlfriend, but I don't think that's up to me.

"I'm Emily…" I pause so I can take a breath. She's waiting for more details, I can see it in her look. "Fields," I specify. She doesn't show a flicker of emotion. She obviously doesn't know me. That's good.

"I don't know who you are, but Mr. McCullers is a very busy man. He cannot meet with a random girl just because," she adds harshly. She's putting it really hard for me to achieve my goal. Besides, it is not necessary to be rude.

"Are you Mrs. McCullers?" I know this question won't help, but I need to know if the Grinch is her mom. I hope I'm wrong, I don't want things to be even more difficult to us.

"I'm not. But I shouldn't be answering that question. You can leave now, Miss Fields." I shake my head disappointingly. It doesn't make any sense to argue with this woman anymore. I guess I will have to leave, but I won't quit until I face him. The rage I feel inside of me won't go away till I look him in the eye and vent.

"Just tell him I came, please." And just like that I turn around and head to my car. I open the door and get inside. I sigh heavily, this wasn't supposed to happen. I hate when things don't go my way. I leave my handbag on the copilot's seat and put my hand inside so I can get my phone.

"The woman that works in your house is not very nice. You should fire her", I write. Then I press the 'Send' button. I know she will get angry when she realizes that I came here to talk to him, but this is something I've been meaning to do since I found out about his tricks to avoid her daughter to be with me. I know I need to do this even if it will mean that she'll not be happy at all.

I buckle the safety belt and just when I'm about to start the engine I hear a knock on the window. My heart starts pounding when I see his face. The man I've come to hate him in the last few days, even If I haven't met him in person. I've seen him on TV a lot, but seeing him so close to me makes an impact on me and I suddenly get really nervous. I roll the window down, there's no point in ignoring him now that I'm here and this is what I came for.

"Emily Fields?" he asks doubtfully. For a moment a thought crosses my mind, he seems more nervous than I do. Maybe I'm imagining things, but that would make sense if he has the decency to realize that he was evil.

"Are you going to pretend you don't know me? I know everything you did. I'm not stupid, you know," I add harshly. I feel like his apparent weakness made me stronger. All the rage I was feeling starts to show, and Nick McCullers is the victim, like I had intended.

"Can we talk this somewhere private? Maybe my office?" I didn't expect him to be so polite after everything he's been doing to break us up. I don't know if he's making fun of me or he's trying to apologize, he's really confusing.

I open the door and get out of the car. I expected him to be taller. I mean, he's only a few inches taller than me, in case I need to punch him. That's what my resentful mind thinks, although I know I wouldn't do that. However, thinking about it makes me feel better.

"Follow me," he adds once we go through the fence and then the entrance door. The hall of the house blows me away. It looks like a palace, a place a princess would live in. My princess. I don't picture her surrounded by this luxury. She's not like that, she's way more natural. I follow him until we get to a huge living room with a piano. I wonder who knows how to play the instrument. I don't imagine Paige or Jess playing the piano, but who knows, it may be decorative. They have enough money to buy a whole orchestra even if they have no intention in playing. That's how rich people act. The 'nice' woman that I met minutes ago is cleaning a huge wooden table that seems like it's worth more than my parents' house.

"Hi," I add ironically.

She looks up and stares at me. "Good afternoon, Emily," she adds with a huge smile on her face. I don't know if she's a bipolar person or she's only teasing me. Her smile seems sincere. I feel like this is a parallel world or a dream. Is this really happening?

Paige's POV

"You can't imagine how happy I am to have you back, Paige." I can definitely see my mom's happiness just looking at the sparkle in her eyes. It's satisfying that she feels this way, but I'm not here to do that. I need to come clean. I can't continue living a lie. "Paige, what is bothering you? Paige?", she asks again after not hearing any answer.

"What? I'm sorry, I was…"

"You weren't here, you were somewhere else. I feel like the whole family is hiding something from me. Jess won't answer my calls, you're not paying attention and Nick… well, he won't say what is wrong with him." I can't help but shake my head when I hear his name. My mom frowns at me.

"Everything is wrong with him," I add, unable to hide my anger.

"I'm sick of it. What is going on?" She seems preoccupied. I hate watching my mom suffer when she has nothing to do with this. She's always been a victim and I won't let that happen again. She suffered a lot when my dad went to prison. I'd even go so far as saying that she suffered because of all the lies my dad told her more than the jail matter. Anyway, this has to stop.

"Mom, I need to tell you something I've been meaning to say for a long time." I look away and I try to focus on the words that will come out of my mouth.

"What's happening, honey?" I look her in the eye and I suddenly feel weak. I fear about her reaction. She's the most important person in my life and her acceptance is really important to me. "You're scaring me, Paige." I take a deep breath and try to open my mouth, but it's like my whole body shut down. She squeezes my shaky hands and that gives me strength. I know this will be really tough, so I just break the silence.

"I'm gay," I say almost whispering. I just wait, but she doesn't say a word, so I decide to raise my head and look at her. I can't figure out what the expression on her face is trying to tell me. I think this is the most difficult time in my life.

Be patient, the second part is coming… :D

To be continued…