Chapter 21: Chapter 21

Son? Maya thought realizing she was in the presence of the infamous Mr. Dominic Salvador... Xavier's father.

The familiarity of the later features now makes absolute sense to her. He was just an older version of Xavier physically.

The same striking blue eyes, the schooled poker face, the sharp jawline and dimples, the same aura of respect and intimidating presence they possess.

Though the only difference was that when Xavier stare at her the way Mr. Salvador was now, the former made her feel hot and bothered. While the latter made her sick in the stomach but yet she couldn't deny that Xavier was a splitting image of the man, who going by the rumors he hated.

He grinned at Xavier Making him frown.

He knew that look in his father's face and he will be damned if he allowed that bastard anywhere close to Maya.

"Nice to see you too after five years in person, never knew you as the type interested in fundraisers." He mockingly commented grabbing a champagne flute off the tray of one of the waiters.

Xavier rolled his eyes at him.

"Oh, the same way I never thought you capable of lusting after a woman who is younger than your last seed...." He trailed off, walking closer to Maya and putting his arm around her waist protectively, he continued. "Oh wait... I know. I discovered when I was fucking 13. When I saw you fucking the helper's daughter who was only 16."

Mr. Dominic eyed Xavier's hand around Maya, now curious about the girl who just talking to her was able to make his son ditch his cold invincible demeanor.

"Nice piece of ass. You are hitting that?" He asked, his choice of words making Maya wince.

He mockingly stared at Xavier who was trying to control the anger he knew his father was trying to purposely fuel.

He could see it in the bastard's challenging gaze, he was daring him to do what he had always wanted to do. To punch him so hard in the gut and create a scene, to tell the whole world that the Salvador's picture-perfect family was just a charade, a sham.

And he wanted to so badly that it scared him.

"Xavier."

He sighed surprised that her whisper was still able to have a calming effect on him. The voice of his mother.

Her Auburn hair was pinned tightly to the side and on her face was a big smile, with her petite figure and graceful never aging steps she walked towards him, and even though her hair was adorned with a streak or two of silver hair, his mother still looked the same.

Same as the fragile woman his father has bullied for years, disrespected, and lied to and yet she had made him a god figure in her life.

His little sister was behind his mother, a striking replica of the former as her brown eyes a feature she had taken from her mother amongst other genes, while he was left to look like a man he despised, brimmed with tears, tears of Joy.

He knew how long they had longed to see him, and seeing them he couldn't deny that he had missed them so terribly.

"Mom." He whispered and almost immediately was attacked with a tight hug that temporarily caught him off guard but soon he was mimicking the action, his arms encircling his mother's petite frame, realizing just how much he had missed being in her arms, inhaling the familiar scent of her rose body wash that reminded him of his childhood.

"Brother.." his sister whispered her eyes still bright with tears.

Maya watched the little family reunion confused, as to what was going on.

She knew he didn't share a normal relationship with his family, she had witnessed the heated stand-off between himself and his father, he hated his brother, never wanted to speak with his mother and sister, but now hugs them like he was being separated from them.

She felt like a thousand insects were crawling on her arm as Mr. Salvador grabbed her hand, she was about to free her hand from his grasp but Xavier beat her to it.

"Stay away from her." He warned, his eyes harboring murderous intent.

Mr. Dominic chuckled to himself Making a mental note to find out what was going on between his son and the woman in front of him.

Mrs. Salvador turned towards Maya with interest ignoring the fact that her husband had openly made advances on her just a few seconds ago not minding she was present.

"What is your name?" she asked, her voice laced with so much kindness and her eyes shining with genuine curiosity void of bitterness that shocked Maya.

She seemed nothing like the cold bitchy woman she had visualized a woman like herself to be.

A proud wife to one of the most successful business moguls and housed a son in her womb who was turning the business world to his advantage and imprinting his legacy there.

"Maya ma'am." She politely whispered.

"Nonsense. Call me Sophia." She smiled at Maya and Maya smiled back at her, at a loss of what to do.

She turned towards Xavier.

"I like her. She is different from the girls I see you with on TV and social media." Maya stared at the woman in front of her who had to turn to the tabloids to have a glance at her son, feeling pity for her.

Melissa smiled at Maya approvingly. She was nothing like the vain beanstalk she usually see around her brother with little or no manners, but ready to bend backward just to please her immediately they heard her surname.

"And she is so beautiful. I know that you hate that we are staring at you like an object to be studied and talking about you like you are not here but pardon us this once. I am seeing my brother in years and with a woman.. so I am sorry if I am coming a bit too strong."

Maya nodded, overwhelmed by the events of the evening. Xavier's mother was an angel who had no problem with her husband making advances at other women and his sister was a too sugary soul who was all smiles and love emojis.

"So let me introduce myself. I am Melissa, Xavier's only sister and you are?" She asked curiously starring at Maya.

Maya looked at Xavier confused, not understanding why his sister was looking at her with an eager look on her face and his mother had this hope on her face, staring at her like she was a savior of some sort.

Mr. Dominic huffed.

"You and I Know your brother sucks at keeping a relationship. He barely sees his family members. So what are you expecting by probing this woman with that expectant question?" He was already nauseated with the whole family reunion happening in front of him.

Xavier tightly held Maya's hand cursing under his breath.

"She is my fiancée." He blurted out.

His father choked on the champagne flute on his hand he was leisurely sipping from and his sister and Mom had the biggest, brightest smile on their faces.

"What?" Maya asked turning towards him, her face completely drained of blood as a thousand reasons why he will say something so absurd crossed her mind but no one made sense.

Xavier laughed nervously.

"Babe I Know we never wanted anyone to know, but this is family, we are safe with them.."

Maya shook her head about voicing her opinion and telling him to stop the bullshit right away.

Already sensing what she was about doing, he shook his head at her, the genuine plea in his eyes stopping her.

He smiled at his family, behind them.

"I need to discuss with my fiancee if you don't mind alone." He commented hastily and without waiting for their response, he grabbed her by her wrist and hurled her to a corner.

"What in the fucking name of Luke are you doing?" She shouted immediately they were out of earshot.

He sighed closing his eyes.

"I am sorry okay I am sorry. The old man pushed my buttons with that statement and I lost it. Immediately the words left my mouth I realized how fucked up it sounded and I don't even know what I am doing pulling such a..."

"But we can fix it, right? We can go back there and tell them it was a lie that slipped out of your tongue in the spur of the moment, a prank, Anything! I will do the talking." Maya frantically ranted about making her way to the duo curiously staring at them but he held her back.

"You can't do that. Did you see the shock on that bastard's face? You admitting I lied will replace it with a smug grin." He tried to explain.

"So this is about your ego? Some sick father and son clash? In case you didn't notice, your sister also had a look on her face, and judging by that look I bet she is already thinking of exchanging contacts with me and just wants to go shopping with me next week and be BFFs and your mother? Did you notice the way she looked at me? The woman was just a step away from sobbing and you care about your fucking male ego?" She stared at him in disbelief not believing her ears.

Xavier sighed his hands over his face.

"I know I have been a total scumbag and an asshole to you. Rude, annoying, and 100 reasons why you should leave me hanging up and dry but, please do not do this to me. This has nothing to do with my ego. This is me proving to my father that he didn't break me, that he didn't win. That I can still fall in love, that I am still capable of human feelings. Please Maya, please." He pleaded his eyes full of desperation.

She paused.

"Let us say I am a fool and go on with this faux. What next huh? What do we fucking do next?" She asked confused.

"We will break up... I will think of something, just for now please in everything you hold dear I beg, please help me."

"Why can't you pick among millions of women you go out with who will be willing to play fiancée with you?" She asked.

"Because those women can go public about this, threaten me and no matter how much you hate me and how fucked up this may sound, you are the only one I trust to do this with me. Besides, I never planned this. It just happened."

She sighed not believing the words she was about uttering.

"Fine."

He breathed a sigh of relief.

"But on one condition." She added immediately.

"Anything."

"This is purely a charade. If you touch me at work or make advances at me the deal is off." She started looking at him.