A/N: Hello again :D!

Before we start I want to thank everyone who reviewed, and especially my anonymous reviewers Balack88, vanilla, 123456 and Me. And yes, everyone's suspicions about the 'old man' are correct ;P...

A HUGE thank you to The Ashes Fan and XxxCherikxxX for their support =D!

So... ON WITH THE CHAPTER :D...

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN PotO nor the main plot of the story.

Judging by the cover

Chapter 8: Family meetings and... surprises

Christine looked at Erik. He was angry since they had met at the airport. He hadn't even asked her how she enjoyed the tour, in fact; they hadn't exchanged a single word.

It was clear that Erik's nervousness became bigger as the little private plane got closer to his grandfather's mansion. Christine couldn't take it anymore and asked politely if there was something wrong.

Erik only chuckled "I see you decided to practice the role of the caring fiancée." He told her cynically "If you are waiting to earn something more for this, then you are being mistaken."

His words had as a result the reappearance of their former hatred.

"Our biggest difference is that I do not count everything according to how much money I am going to get." Her indignation was rousing "I just got worried. I thought that your meeting with your grandfather didn't go well."

"You? Worried about me? Don't make me laugh. We both know why you are here."

"What the hell was I expecting? This guy is bonehead up to the hilt." Christine thought with rage. Why was she feeling compassion about him? He was thinking of her as a whore, without giving her the chance to explain. He and Carlotta definitely deserved each other.

But of course Christine didn't mean that. Despite her anger, deep inside, she knew that Carlotta's cold gaze was full of deceit and slyness. Whereas Erik, he may do and say things that hurt her, but he had such a passionate and warm character that moved her deeply.

The memory of their kiss made her shiver, because, although Erik had done it to get rid of Carlotta, she couldn't deny that it affected her very much. Even now, each time she closed her eyes, she could feel the pressure of his soft lips on hers.

"No, it didn't go well." Christine was caught off guard and opened her eyes.

"First of all, my grandfather didn't even appear. He said that he had something important to do, and unfortunately he didn't inform me." He closed his eyes. "I was waiting at his office for two hours before he decided to call. He made sure though, to let me know how angry he is with me this period."

"Because of me? I mean... because of us?" Christine dared to ask.

Erik shook his head. "My grandfather knew very well that I could never marry someone, unless I was in love with her. He was crazily in love when he married my grandmother. He even allowed to my... parents to marry... no matter what happened later..."

"What..." Christine stopped when Erik gave her a sharp look.

She stiffened at the beginning, but when Erik covered both her hands with his, she understood she had misjudged him.

"The point is that my grandparents' love was so strong that, at the end, I didn't care about what my parents had done to me."

"I know... I lost my parents too." She reminded him in a low voice.

Erik didn't pull his hand and continued holding hers protectively. Christine felt a shiver running down her spine as she lowered her gaze on his strong hand, with the long fingers that held hers. It was a sturdy male hand that offered security and trust...a hand capable of giving safety to the woman who would hold it tightly.

"What am I thinking about?" she wondered in panic and nervously moved on her seat only in order to pull her hands from his.

Erik was not in a good mood as they landed to his grandfather's mansion. What troubled him now the most; was the change in his feelings towards Christine. He wished to have remained stable at his beliefs when he had first met her...in this way his mind would be serene. Whereas now, the sensitivity he saw behind her pride and dignity attracted him as mush as Carlotta's coldness repulsed him.

In addition to his cousin, Christine had humanity, warmth, femininity and to these he reacted in the most primal way.

He tried to shove away the kiss he had given her. At first, he did it because he had guessed Carlotta's presence in his apartment. Her disgusting perfume is recognisable from miles away. He assumed she had got the key from his grandfather, since he had never given her one; he wanted to show her he is not available. And he had used Christine to achieve that. But the kiss proved to him something he stubbornly refused to admit.

He wanted Christine and he didn't like it at all. Moreover, he didn't like his desire to take care of her.

...

"My love, you forgot your sunglasses." He huskily told her and gave them to her.

Erik made her very nervous, as in front of the two people who were waiting for them he pulled her close to his chest murmuring into her ear that the sun-light was very strong for her delicate beautiful eyes.

Then, he took again the sunglasses from her trembling hands and wore them to her. They became her very much.

"I remembered we hadn't bought when we had been shopping and I was sure you would need them." He sweetly said as he continued hugging her.

"Whoever is watching us right now, will think that we are madly in love." Christine sighed sadly. And that was exactly what Erik wanted. But that game was played by two.

Without thinking why she was doing it, she slipped her hands around his neck and Erik bent his head.

Their lips met half-way in the most soft and delicate of kisses.

"Thank you my love." She said in a deep sensual voice "You are being so, so gentle." Then she hugged him and didn't lose the opportunity to nuzzle against his neck.

Erik was awed and Christine was very pleased with herself. She saw the surprise in his eyes and also something else...a dangerous, fiery sparkle that scared her and made her pull away. But he didn't let her... always keeping her hand in his; he guided her to the small group of people.

"Estelle, permit me to introduce you Christine" he said to the older woman.

"Christine, meet my aunt Estelle."

"It's really nice to meet you Miss Destler." She said politely, but Erik's aunt looked at her with a fake strictness and then gave her a genuine smile that reached her eyes.

"Oh, forget all the formalities! You'll become my niece soon. You can call me Estelle." Christine smiled at the older woman "Ah Erik, she's so beautiful." She said cheerfully while turning to her nephew.

"I know Estelle." He said.

"I mean also inside her." Estelle raised softly her voice.

"I mean the same thing, Estelle." They exchanged a smile.

Christine, once again, felt awed by Erik's acting skills.

"And she is Antoinette, my cousin." Erik introduced the group's younger person.

Christine smiled at her and the smile she got back made her immediately like Antoinette.

"You could wait for us into the mansion. It's too hot outside." Erik stated. "You could just send us Bob with a car to drive us home."

"Unfortunately this wouldn't be enough." Antoinette spitted and raised her shoulders as her mother gave her a strict look.

"What? We have to tell him, mum!" the girl objected.

"Tell me what?" Erik wrinkled his brow and instinctively pulled Christine to him.

"Carlotta is here..." Estelle exhaled "She arrived earlier today and..."

"WHAT!" Erik's voice in combination with the news made Christine stiffen, but he hugged her close to his strong chest and covered her quivering hands with his.

"She said that dad, your grandfather, invited her." the older woman continued.

"Oooh! Don't you know her, Erik?" Antoinette asked furiously. "She must have put such pressure on him that in the end he gave in. And if only this was the only thing..."

"Antoinette..." her mother pleaded, but the girl refused to stop.

"She has brought that reptile Joseph Buquet with her. She claims she has work to do, since he is her economical consultant, but WHOEVER BELIEVES HER?" Antoinette shouted. "He is her partner at her evil plans, they..."

"Antoinette!" this time Estelle's voice was firm and Antoinette stopped, but just for a second.

"I just can't understand why grandpa pays so much attention to her." the girl said in a trembling voice "Everyone is aware of the game she is playing. She uses him to reach you, Erik. Because she wants to marry you."

"I am sorry about all of these" Estelle Destler stated sadly. "These things may sound strange to you. But if you had met Carlotta..."

"She has..." Erik interrupted his aunt and then told them the whole story "What I fail to understand is where she found the key." He pursed his lips.

"She is awful, don't you agree?" Antoinette asked Christine "She's a venomous spider... THE BLACK WIDOW..."

"Antoinette! Please!" Estelle had gotten angry with her daughter.

But Erik's cousin kept talking "Mum still hasn't said everything to you." She announced to him. "Carlotta insisted on taking the room that we prepared for Christine. You know...the one next to yours."

"I tried to stop her, Erik!" his aunt told to him in a low voice "But you know her... when Carlotta puts something in her head... You have to talk to her, Erik!" the woman paused "It is important to make her understand that the room next to yours is for Christine and Christine alone."

"No. Not at all..." Erik said calmly and embraced Christine tightly "Because Christine is sleeping in my bed... with me..."

Christine felt the two women's shock. Now she understood why Erik had hugged her so tightly. He wanted to prevent his relatives from seeing her panicked expression, and listen to her protests while she was opening and closing her lips on Erik's shirt.

That was the last thing she expected. And, of course, she wasn't going to accept. But as she raised her head to tell it to Erik, he pulled her even harder on him. And when suddenly he bent his head, her lips accidentally caressed his chin.

Then she felt her knees giving up and a sweet warmth covered her body. She tried to put the blame on the hot weather and not at the feel of his flesh on her lips...not at the dangerous light in his eyes... not even at his hand which had moved from her waist to her stomach and slightly touched the bottom curve of her breast... She was feeling like... like...

"Christine is mine. And I am going to make everyone understand this." Christine shivered at his tone. He sounded so possessive...

"Yes! Especially Joseph!" Antoinette agreed "This man is a snake! He only misses the scales. With tiny cunning eyes and wet palms... I don't understand how Carlotta bears his company."

"They have exactly the same perverse in their minds! That is why." Erik said.

And with that; all of them moved to the car. Erik immediately started talking with the young driver about his grades at the university.

"Grandpa was not happy when Erik used money for helping the staff's children to study." Antoinette said to Christine while looking softly at her cousin.

"Is it possible for Erik to do something like that?" Christine wondered but stopped immediately since her main problem right now was sharing the bedroom with Erik.

...

"Our day was very exhausting. I imagine that Christine would like to lie down a little before dinner." Erik stated as the car stopped in front of the mansion.

"I'll make sure that no one disturbs her." Estelle smiled softly. "But perhaps she would like something to drink or eat before lying down."

And before Christine had the time to reply...

"I'll take care of everything." Erik announced and caught her gently by the hand and helped her out of the car.

"This way, my love..." he told her sweetly, but the hint of warning in his voice made Christine's smile fade...

A/N: so, how was it? just let me know :)...