I didn't wear something too relieving or too slutty.

I chose a dress that was both me and one of a kind. I was surfing eBay one rainy day and found this beautiful velvet blue number. It had a high neck, cinched in at the waist showing of my curves and flared out. It sat just above me knees, so not to relieving. I paired it with black mid heel suede heels and a black clutch. My make up as usual was minimal with foundation, mascara and cherry red lipstick.

A knock on my door.

"Come in," I yelled from the mirror, as I was just adjusting my hair.

Phillip walked into my room in a dark navy suite without a tie. He looked at me and just stared.

"What?" I look at him and smooth out my dress. "Do I need to change?"

Phillip smiled at me.

"Great, I need to change don't I?"

"No, you just..." He paused and looked up and down at me. "You just look beautiful Isla, like really beautiful."

I blushed a little and then realised what he had done to me in the kitchen.

"Right, ok." I walked over to my bed and grabbed my red coat and clutch, making sure my phone was in there and my lipstick for touchups. "Time to go,"

"Yes, little red riding hood!"

I slapped his stomach. He winced and we left the room.

We arrived downstairs to a car with my dad, Alannah and the boys standing and waiting for myself and Phillip.

Dad was wearing a black suite with no tie as like Phillip. The boys had matching charcoal suites. And Alannah wore a simple dark red number which was below her knees, v neckline and sleeveless. We all looked like one good looking family.

Dad kissed my cheek, grabbed my hand and twirled me around.

"You look beautiful Isla,"

I giggled at my dad. "Thanks dad,"

"You do look beautiful, a fine young lady," Alannah smiles at me and the boys just nod.

"Can we just get going now?" I try not to smile at them all complimenting me.

"We sure can," Dad finally lets go of my hand and we all gather into the towncar.

~~**~~

Wulfric and Clarisse Collins were exactly what you would expect to be a Lord and a Lady. Very proper, very polite and very scary.

The car pulled up just outside London, more specially, Windsor. And of course the house was like a castle, very big and very beautiful. It had pulled under a roof just outside the house, protecting it from snow or rain or wind.

Both Wulfric and Clarisse were standing outside, just in front of the door waiting for the family. My uncle, Geoffrey, with his wife and two children. Whom were similar age to myself, but of course I was the eldest.

They all looked elegant and beautiful and well mannered. And I'm just a girl from Australia with minimal training in the art of proper. Clarisse my grandmother wore a floor lenth evening gown, alittle too over the top for dinner, but it suited her. Wulfric, my grandfather wore a nice dark suit with a tie to match. My uncle and his wife were of course beautifully dressed with my cousins, who looked like twins, in matching outfits.

The towncar stopped and the driver let us out. My dad and Alannah obviously first out, followed by the twins. Phillip stood outside the door and waited for me. I took a deep breathe, slipped my coat off, gained my courage and stepped out of the car. One foot out, then swiftly turned on my butt and then I was out of the car.

"And this, mother and father, is my beautiful daughter Isla," My dad spoke to them as I exited the car.

I moved my eyes to see them staring at me, wondering what and whom I am. Their facial expressions explained it all; they were happy and excited for me to be here, but disappointed that I wasn't someone else.

I step forward and greeted them with a quick hand shake to both.

"Hello, it's so nice to finally meet you," I say nervously, "You have a beautiful house."

I don't know whether to call them by their first name, or mr and mrs collins or lord and lady or just simple grandpa and grandma.

"It's a pleasure Isla," My grandmother says sweetly, "You can call me grandmother"

Well that answers that question.

"You do get your fathers good looks my dear," My grandfather says. "come here."

My grandfather twirls me around just like my dad before. I started giggling.

"Oh Wulfric, stop embarrassing the young lady," My grandmother says politely.

My grandfather stops and gives me a hug. I hug him back.

"It's good to finally meet you Isla," My grandfather kisses my forehead lightly.

We let go of the hug and caught my breathe. I started to shake a little from the cold air. Phillip moved over to me and gave my arms a quick rub.

"And mother, father, this is Phillip Perkins," My dad tells them, "He and Isla work together at her fashion company."

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," Phillip moves and shakes my grandfathers hand and then moves to my grandmothers, give is a small kiss and a gentle shake.

"A true gentlemen," My grandmother says, "He's a keeper!"

I smile at her and then let out a short sigh.

"Shall we gather ourselves inside to the warmth?" My grandfather says.

We all nod and head inside, to the warmth.

~~**~~

We are currently sitting in the loungeroom. One very big and grand loungeroom. Couches, a few coffee tables and a floor to ceiling book selves.

My father and Alannah, with my uncle Geoffrey and his wife Natalie and my grandparents are sitting at one end of the lounge room, enjoying a drink and chatting. While I'm sitting with the boys, Phillip and my twin cousins Lilly and Harry.

Phillip hasn't left my side, which is slightly annoying actually.

"So Isla," Lilly, my cousin, ask "what's it like working in the fashion industry? Owning your own company and all."

"I enjoy it," I reply, "It's nice having my own company and not working for anyone else. Jonathon, my partner in crime and I started from scratch and worked our way up."

"Are you and Jonathon a couple?"

Phillip and I start to burst into laughter.

"No... No..." I say in between laughs. "Jonathon and I are best friends and have been since we were in high school. Jonathon is happily married and is expecting twins next year."

Lilly an Harry look at me slightly funny.

"Then you and Phillip?" Harry politely asks.

Phillip stops laughing, but I giggle alittle.

"No, just co workers." Thats my reply.

Phillip starts to look unhappy. I notice in his facial expressions that he didn't like my answer.

"Have you been offered any other jobs Isla?" Harry looks at me.

"Yeah, from Perkins International, but I turned it down." I take a sip of my drink and nervously wait for more questions.

There is some awkward silence before a conversation between the boys, Phillip, Lilly and Harry. I just sit there awkwardly sipping on my drink and listening.

Phillip and Lilly started to talk to each other, and it seems pretty heated. Lilly took Phillip away and Harry looked over at me.

"It's nothing. He just spilled something on her before. And now she's pretty upset."

I nod my head and just move passed it all.

********************************
Hello guys,
I'm crying, here. Almost 2000k reads. I love you guys!!!
The photo (above for phone and ipad.tablet readers) or (t the side for laptop/desktop readers) is the dress describe in the chapter. It's from my ex-boyfriends formal. It was the best picture I could find guys. And granted that was taken roughly 2 years ago, and I've changed a lot since then.

BUT anywho, I know it's a short chapter, trust me it's get better with age. Or Chapters in this case.
Remember to vote and comment and add to your lovely reading lists!

Ta,
Your amazingly crap author,
Krystal Waters