Meeting the Family 1

Meeting the Family 1

~Jamal's POV

"My uncle—my godfather, really—wants to meet you."

Anna blinked. "Your uncle?"

"Yeah. Sebastian." I was suddenly nervous in a way I hadn't been in years. Not since my first title fight. "He's been asking about you since those photos of us went online. And next week, there's this family thing I can't get out of."

"What kind of family thing?"

"My cousin got married last week. Private ceremony in São Paulo, I didn't go, we're not close, but now there's this massive reception in New York. Black tie, press, the whole deal." I squeezed her hand. "My uncle is making it mandatory for the entire family to attend. Which means I need to be there."

Anna was quiet for a moment, processing. "And you want me to come with you."

"I need you to come with me." I turned to face her fully. "Look, I know it's fast. I know we haven't even really defined what we are yet. But my uncle... his opinion matters to me. More than my own father's, honestly. He practically raised me."

"When is this reception?"

"Next Wednesday." I watched her face carefully. "I know the timing is terrible with your tour, but—"

"I'll be in Chicago by then," she said. "We have shows Tuesday and Wednesday night."

"I know. But I'll make it work. I'll fly you back to New York just for the evening, then get you back to Chicago for your Thursday show. Private jet, car service, whatever you need." I took both her hands. "Please, Anna. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important."

She looked at me for a long moment, those dark eyes searching mine. "What's your uncle's name?"

"Sebastian Santos." I studied her face for any reaction. "Why?"

"No reason. Just... you talk about him so much. I should know his name." She pulled one hand away to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "This reception—it's really that important?"

"To my family, yeah. It's not just a celebration. It's business too."

"It's fine." She managed a small smile. "So, next Wednesday. New York. Black tie. Meeting your family."

"Is that a yes?"

"It's a yes." She squeezed my hand. "But Jamal... I can't pretend to be your fiancée. Not yet. Can we just say girlfriend?"

Relief flooded through me. "Whatever you're comfortable with. The important thing is that you'll be there." I pulled her into my arms, breathing in the scent of her hair, the lingering smell of stage makeup and hairspray. "Thank you. This means everything to me."

She wrapped her arms around my waist, holding on tight. "

We stayed like that for a moment, just holding each other. Then my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out to see my manager's name flashing on the screen for the third time.

"I need to take this," I said apologetically. "Prague situation. He's been calling nonstop since I told him I was postponing."

"Go. Handle it."

"You hungry? I could grab us some food after. There's a Thai place down the street that's supposed to be amazing."

"That sounds perfect."

I stepped out into the hallway, answering my manager's call as I walked. His voice exploded in my ear immediately.

"Jamal! Finally! Do you have any idea what kind of chaos you've created? The promoters are furious, the network is threatening breach of contract—"

"I know, I know. But I told you, it's a family emergency."

"A family emergency Jamal I know you're in DC, it's that girl right."

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Can we just reschedule Prague for two weeks out? After the family thing?"

"Two weeks? The contract stipulated—"

"I don't care what the contract stipulated. Tell them two weeks or I walk."

Silence. Then: "You're serious."

"Dead serious."

"This girl must be something special."

"She is." I leaned against the wall, suddenly exhausted. "Just make it happen, okay? I'll deal with whatever penalties they want to throw at me."

After another ten minutes of negotiation and threats, I finally hung up. My manager would handle it. He always did.

I was heading toward the exit to grab food when I spotted Mark sitting on the steps outside the theater, still in his Prince George costume, staring at his phone.

I should have kept walking. Should have left well enough alone.

But Anna's disappointed face when I'd made that joke earlier kept flashing in my mind.

I sat down beside him.

"Hey."

He didn't look up. "Come to make another joke?"

"No. I came to apologize." I leaned forward, elbows on my knees. "That boyfriend thing back there—that was out of line. I was being an ass."

"Yeah. You were."

Silence stretched between us. I let it sit, not trying to fill it with excuses.

"Look," I finally continued. "Anna told me what really happened at the preview. That was decent of you."

Mark finally looked at me. His eyes were tired, but there was something sharp there too. Assessing. "You love her?"

"Yeah. I do."

"Then don't fuck it up." He stood, brushing off his costume. "She's been through enough already.

The words hit me strange.

He walked back inside before I could ask what the hell that meant.

I sat there on the steps, his words echoing in my head.

She's been through enough already.

Is he worried or in love.

My phone buzzed.

Elena's name lit up the screen.

Three years of not speaking, and she calls now?

I almost let it go to voicemail. Almost.

But curiosity, and years of family training about never ignoring family, made me answer.

"What do you want, Elena?"

"Is that any way to greet your favorite cousin?" Her voice was soft, exactly like I remembered. "I heard congratulations are in order."

"For what?"

"Uncle Sebastian told me you're bringing someone to the reception. A girlfriend. That's serious, primo."

My jaw tightened. "How is that your business?"

"Family is always my business. You know that." A pause, perfectly calculated. "What's her name?"

Every instinct I had screamed not to answer that question. "Why?"

"I'm just curious about the woman who has my cousin heart."

"Thanks, but no thanks."

"Does she knows what she's getting into? Meeting the family? Uncle Sebastian can be... intense with outsiders. Especially when they're not in our class."

"Anna is worth it and can handle it."

The pause that followed was too long.

"Anna," Elena repeated slowly. "Pretty name. What does she do?"

"She's an actress."

"How lovely. Theater? Film?"

"Theater. Why the interrogation, Elena?"

"Not an interrogation. Just family interest." Her tone shifted. "I want to make sure she feels welcome."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just that I like to know who's joining our family circle. Make sure there are no surprises. No skeletons in closets that could embarrass us." She laughed."You've been away from the family for so long, Jamal. You might not understand how careful we have to be now. Especially with the merger, with everything changing."

"Elena—"

"I'm just looking out for you. That's what family does." She stopped again. "See you next week, primo. I'm looking forward to meeting your Anna. I'm sure we'll have so much to talk about."

She hung up before I could respond.

I stared at my phone, her words circling in my head like vultures.

Elena is always on her bullshit but doesn't joke with her words. She sounds like she already knew exactly who Anna was?