The next couple of days Grell spent organising her flat to fit her liking. She looked around seeing the red and black colours that filled her home. Helen and Troy stayed in her room, still not used to their new home.
A knock came at the door, taking her away from her exercise. She groaned getting out of beginning stretches. She answered the door seeing a delivery man. She opened the door more seeing the box in his arms.
"Excuse me, is this the residence of Ms. Sutcliffe?" She smiled giving a nod, still confused on who would know here new address. "That would be me."
He handed her the box having her sign the paperwork. He smiled walking away. She went back inside opening the box with caution. Inside was flowers and a green vase. Red roses and spider lilies.
She looked at it oddly seeing a letter among them. She fixed everything together placing the vase as the centerpiece. She opened up the letter looking over it.
'My dearest Crimson Beauty,
From the moment I saw you, I knew you were the one. You're smile is as beautiful as the stars. I miss it when I no longer see it, but more breathtaking when I see it again. If I could caress your face with all my love, I would die happy. Please, would join me for a night out this Friday? I'll be awaiting for your presence at sunset on the ground floor. Please wait for me my darling.
Your Knight'
She stared at it thinking of who it could be from. She sighed placing the letter down going back to her yoga. She took a shower afterwards setting a casual outfit to explore her area.
She went out a lace dress in black. She let hair down going to the nearest area that caught her interest. Standing in front of the Gallery of Modern Art, she lit up going inside. She instantly silenced her phone going throughout the galleries.
She spent a couple of hours out going through the pieces and going back and forth between the library and the café. Her time was peaceful making sure to keep an eye on the time. She soon arrived home carrying bags of groceries.
Her parents would be arriving in the city in a handful of hours. She sat down staring vase once more. 'Who could've possibly sent it?' She caressed the petals of the roses. She knew Eric or William would've called her or placed their names on the card.
Meowing caught her attention. Helen stared at her with her tail giving a small twitch. She smiled scratching behind her ears. "Hello princess. Not getting enough love?"
The tiny cat purred rubbing her face on her hands. Troy appeared giving a more hushed meow. She reached out petting then both of them. This was all she could ask for. A knock at the door startling them all.
She got up making her way to the door. She searched the peephole seeing the familiar face standing there. She smiled brightly opening the door to Eric. "Look who decided to stop by!"
He pulled her into a tight hug. "Sorry to drop by uninvited. I came to give you something." He pulled out a set of keys handing them to her. "These are the spares for your flat."
She stared at them handing them back to him. "I feel like they'd be better off with you. If I need help, you'll have them."
He smiled seeing the set of cats staring at him intensely. "Seems to me they don't like me very much." She turned to them giving her motherly stare to get them to stop. He watched as they made their way farther into the flat.
"Do you have any plans for this evening Grell?" She nodded resting on the door way. "My parents are coming for a visit. They're so excited to see Scotland, you have no idea."
"Sounds like quite an evening. I hope I can meet them. It'll be nice to see the two that made such a talent." His voice seemed to carry a flirtatious vibe with it make her heart flutter. "Maybe you could join us for dinner?"
He chuckled giving a light nod. "That would be lovely. I'll make sure I have nothing planned. What time do you want me to arrive?" He pulled out his phone checking on his schedule.
"How about at seven? I'll have enough time to make dinner and have my parents here by then." She clapped her hands together happily thinking of their smiling faces. "They'll love to meet my boss."
"I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure your parents are as sweet as you are." He couldn't help but feel as if she got all of her attitude and style from her parents. He wondered who she inherited her hair from?
He checked his phone giving a slight nod. "It looks like I'm completely available today. I'll be more than happy to show up. I'm sure your parents are going to want some time with you before I even arrive. Should I bring some wine or some pastry?"
"Oh you don't have to do any of that Eric. Already bought some wine and I'll be making the dessert actually. I'm making my father's favourite, custard tart to be exact." She looked so giddy thinking about her father stuffing his face full of the dessert.
He took her hand in his once more giving it to firm shake. "Then I'll be looking forward to seeing you this evening and meeting them." He bowed his head giving her hand a chaste kiss before he left the property. He typed into his phone letting those who always bothered him with his work, that he would be busy this evening.
Grell shut the door making her way back into the kitchen. She placed the wines into her fridge making sure they were nice and cold when they were to drink them. She began to lay out her prep ready to begin making the meal.
The hours passed with her table set. She placed the eggplant lasagna in the centre, surrounded by wild rice, salad and rolls with the vase in the center. She smiled having just placed the tarts on the rack to cool.
Her doorbell ran making her hurry off to answer the door. Her mother crashed onto her, pulling her into a tight hug. "My sweetest darling! How have you been?!" She squeezed harder laughing loudly in her ear.
Her father sighed walking in passed her hanging up his coat and hat. "It's good to see you living in such a nice place." Once his wife let her go, he hugged his daughter with a more gentle approach. His kissed the top of her head petting her hair.
"Daddy, you and mummy look good. I'm glad to see you made it here without a phone call about being lost." She hugged them both leading them into the living room. "I was wondering when you two would show up."
He laughed pointing at her mother. "You know she can't help herself to sightseeing a new place. I had to keep telling her where we needed to go." He sat down looking over at the table. "That looks scrumptious. Did you make all that lovely?"
Grell turned to the food, a little bit of pride highlighting her features. "That I did. I wanted to show you both that I haven't been starving myself. I want you to try a new recipe I wanted to try out."
He gave her a thumbs up cracking his usual laugh. "That's my girl. Always trying to making something new." He smiled happily letting his pride for her show.
Her mother moved to the food studying it. "I don't see any meat in any of the dishes dear, why not?" She lifted the plates looking at them more closely.
"Well mummy, I have been not eating meat. I kind of want stop eating it and move to a healthier diet. Something to help me feel better about myself." The nervousness coming through on her words.
"You're not going vegan are you dear?! You love pastries and chocolate too much." Her mother looking almost offended in her dramatic pose.
"No. I haven't gone vegan. I just want to move to the vegetarian option. It's healthy, it's good on my skin...it's something I've been wanting to do." She twiddled with her fingers making her nervousness worse.
Her father stood up placing his hand on her shoulder. "I'm proud of you either way love. If you want to eat healthy than fine. As long as you think of your health." The long coffin nails tapping at her body.
"Thank you daddy. Mummy, I just to live differently. I started taking yoga and started up my ballet again. I want to look amazing when I get on stage again."
Her mother moved closed grabbing her hands. She clasped them tightly kissing the top of her head. "You look amazing already dear. Not too thin. Not too tall. Natural hair and eyes that catch attention. My beautiful girl."
She smiled having tears beginning to form. She took a deep breath leaning her head back. "I can't let my mascara run. This brand is expensive." She laughed making them laugh too.
Her father moved towards the table staring at the vase. "Darling, did you pick these out yourself?" He hand running along the petals of the lilies. His nails lift the flower up to face him.
She moved closer to the table biting her bottom lip. "I got them as a gift. It seems a secret admirer sent them." Her father straightening up as she mother clasped her hands together.
The doorbell rang catching her attention. "Oh good. Mummy, daddy, I invited my boss to meet you." She ran to the door glad something was moving away from the subject, opening it wide. Eric stood there in a sharp black suit holding gift boxes and wine.
Her mother's eyes widened staring his form. A huge grin spreading across her face as she hurried towards him. She looked at the gifts, looking at him once more. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Angelina."
He shook her hand firmly giving a bright smile. "It's a pleasure Mrs. Sutcliffe." He brought his attention to the older man approaching him. "And you must be Mr. Sutcliffe."
Her father stared him down before grabbing his hand tightly. "Pleasure I'm sure. You must've seen how talented my daughter is." He shot a quick wink at her giving a huge smile.
"She is quite the talent. She definitely has the singing style of older music like lounge music. She can really do the vintage vocals."
Angelina handed off the gifts to her husband taking the blonde's arm. "So tell me about yourself. Starting off with your name and are you single?"
He laughed walking with her to the table. "Name's Eric Slingby, and I am. However, it looks like you're taken." He pulled out her chair letting her sit down.
Grell rolled her eyes seeing her mother acting like a school girl. She was about to grab her chair when Eric pulled it out for her. She sat down patting his hand lightly. "Thank you. "
"Such a gentleman. I hope my daughter hasn't been too much of a diva. She can be quite the controlling one." Her eyes followed their body language thinking of them as a couple.
Her husband nudged her slightly sitting next to her. He leaned closer to her making sure not to be heard. "Stop it. You need to let her find love on her own."
Eric sat next to Grell staring at her tenderly before looking back at her parents. "I did bring those gifts for you two. I wanted to make sure your stay was welcomed." He kept his focus to not look nervous around them. Pure charisma as always.
The dinner was fantastic, small talk and all. Grell got out of her seat going to grab the desserts. Her mother followed her in making sure to leave the others to talk.
Grell turned around looking at her mother as her arms crossed. "I know that smile on your face. You want tell me what you're thinking mummy?" Her eyebrow raised looking rather curious.
Her mother sighed moving closer to her. "Look darling, you know all I want is for you to be happy. He looks like a real gentleman."
"Mum...I can't date my boss. You know how that looks?" She played with her hair looking into her mother's eyes. "I also have had some moves put on me by someone else."
Angelina smiled hugging her tightly. "My sweet little girl can attract the most attractive men! So, what does this one look like? Is he as handsome as this one?"
She groaned hiding her face in her shoulder. "Mummy...I need to keep in mind I work with both of them...I don't need to make things complicated."
"That's fine dear. I just want you to pick the right gentleman. You know, your father was quite the handsome one. He used to make every girl fall in love with him. I sure did." Her smile more modest than normal.
"Do you really think I should go for it mummy? I don't want to be a heartbreaking woman. They're both sweet and handsome...and I'm rambling." She grabbed the plate of tarts when her mother stopped her.
"Darling please. You need to realise that you won't end up to be like that. You've always been one to have a big heart. It's okay to fall for one of them. Which do you like more?" She rubbed her arm trying to sooth her. She took the plate moving it back to the counter.
"The thing is, they're both great for the time I've known them. I've just..." She definitely didn't want her mother to knowing about the night before. Her twiddling becoming worse than earlier. "I just don't know."
She grabbed her hands holding them tight. "It's fine dear. Just make sure you choose the right one. Now...how about we get these to the table. The more your father waits, the more I fear for your boss."
Grell nodded grabbing the tray and handing it to her mother. "You're right. Take these and I'll grab the wine. I know you like looking out for me mum."
She caressed her cheek kissing the top of her head. "Of course. I'm your mother. It's my job to make sure your loved and taken care of." She smiled softly lifting the tray up as she walked out.
She took in a deep breath holding the bottles in her hands. She looked at her reflection from the glass on the cabinets. She forced a smile and a wink heading back to the table.