Chapter 11

Natalia POV

Friday is finally here and my nerves are all over the place. Tonight is the night that I will be revealed as the heir to the Anderson Family Fortune as well as the new CEO of the company. There is so much that could happen tonight that could make the night go sour. For one, Christopher will be here as well as his mistress. Then two, I am not sure if I want anyone to know about Tucker just yet. Both of my parents told me that having him announced is up to me to decide.

A knock on my door draws my attention from my thoughts. "Come in," I call out to the person on the other side.

My door opens to show my parents standing in the hallway before they come into the room. "Hey sweetheart. We just wanted to come and see how everything is going." My mother comes to sit beside me on the love seat as dad takes the chair.

"I'm a little nervous but that will go away," I say with confidence.

"Have you made a decision on Tucker? We don't want you to feel pressured when you aren't," dad asks as he puts his foot on his knee.

"I have. At this point in time, I feel like it is not necessary to announce his existence to the world just yet. I want him to be able to be a normal kid for a bit until he is thrust into the spotlight," I announce. "Zara is coming over with Hendricks to watch him while we are at the event."

Mom looks at me with understanding on my decision. When My brothers and I were young, she had the same choice. We were able to be normal kids when we were out of the house for a while and was able enjoy the world before we were put in private schools for our protection. By the time we were able to go to a public school, we were well trained on holding our own. Mom wanted to announce us when we were still kids but decided to wait until we were ready.

"I agree with you fully on that. Let him enjoy his privacy because as soon as he is announced to the world, everyone will be trying to follow him and take his picture. A kid his age should not have to worry about running from paparazzi this early in life," dad says with a nod.

Looking at my mom, I ask my mother the same question that all of her kids have been bugging her with. "So, still won't tell me which song you wanted us to make our entrance to?" My mother loves dramatics. She has apparently made it to where all of her kids will walk out one at a time when they are announced. The only thing she hasn't told us is what song she has picked. I was completely fine with just being called to the stage.

"Not a chance, missy. But just know this... The song I have chosen describes what I want for all of you to do. Just don't cry when you hear it or your Aunt Gracie might come for me ruining her work," mom says as she hugs me.

My door opens again to reveal Aunt Gracie and her prep team. She has brought a make-up artist, professional hair stylist, and a nail tech with her to help me get ready. Walking into the room, she glances at dad before turning to mom. "You're damn straight that would happen. Now you two go start getting ready while I get my girl ready."

Dad looks at her as he got up and goes for the door before she says, "Don't go at it like rabbits again. We do have somewhere we need to be tonight." The look on my dads face was priceless. His cheeks turn bright red as he almost runs out of the room mumbling something about getting a supply of duct tape with Aunt Gracie's name on it.

"Always seizing the opportunity, huh?" I ask her with a laugh.

"He is easily embarrassed when it comes to intimacy," she says with a wink. "Now we need to get started so please sit your tiny ass in the chair for us to start."

A few hours of having my face beat with make-up brushes and my hair pulled every which way, I am getting into my dress for the evening. I look at myself in the mirror and I don't recognize the person looking back at me. The person in the mirror is this beautiful woman that looks poise and elegant. A total contrast to my normal self.

The sound of little feet head towards us in the hall before my door open. Tucker runs in and stops in his tracks when he sees me. "Wow, momma! You look beautiful," he says in awe and makes everyone do the same to him.

I do a little spin as I ask him, "Do I? You don't think it's to much?"

"No ma'am. You were beautiful before and this just adds to that beautiful," he says as he comes over to hug me. "I'm lucky that I have the best beautiful momma."

His words warm my heart as I try to not tear up from his words. I pull back and kiss his cheek before he can stop me. "Thank you, little prince. That makes me happy that you think that."

"Always momma. Oh, I was coming to tell you that Zara and Hendricks are here. I am going to the game room to play with Hendricks. No boys momma or I will have to deal with them," he says and dashes out as we laugh. Zara knows that I live here, just not that I am the daughter of the owner. She assumed that I was either dating one of the boys or a distant relative.

"Are you ready to go sis? The limo is wai..." Huxley says as he enters the room but stops when he sees me. "Damn sis. You clean up good. No wonder Tucker said to keep an eye on you for him tonight," he laughs out.

"Thanks bro, but it was this team of amazing people who get all of the credit," I say as I motion to the team.

"Well if they turned the ugly duckling beautiful then they do. That would be a mira..." Jaxon says as he comes in to but does the same as Huxley. "Holy shit, Nat. You look beautiful. Definitely no boys tonight."

With a roll of my eyes, I walk to the door to head downstairs. With a smack to the back of Jaxon's head, I half sprint to the stairs so that I don't mess up my hair. I round the corner to hear gasps and a whistle come from below. At the bottom of the stairs is the rest of our group as well as Adam and Everett.

I hear a few swears and "if only I was straight" from both Adam and Everett. Starting to get uncomfortable with all of the stares, I descend the stairs to the group. Acting like this is normal, I walk out of the door and get into the limo where Draco is holding the door open. The others follow me to the car with my parents getting into their own limo. Our driver for the night puts the limo in drive as we head to the Bedford Event Center with Draco sitting in the front passenger seat.

"Were any of you guys successful in getting the song out of mom," Grayson asks as we ride.

"Not a fraction of a hint," Huxley states from beside me.

"She just walked off from me," Jaxon states defensively. We all chuckle at his reaction to our mother just brushing him off. The fact of the matter is that he is the youngest so she has a soft spot for him and would have most likely caved to telling him. There is also the fact that he will bug her until she gets fed up with it and just tells him what he wants to know.

"We all know the reason for that," I tell him as he acts like he is offended by our mother.

"Did she at least tell anyone the order? I know that Megan is entering with Jaxon but other than that, I have no idea how this is going to go," Huxley asks the group.

"It will probably be from youngest to oldest. if that is the case, then it will be Jaxon first with Megan. Then Grayson will enter after him with Huxley going after him. Then I will be last since I am the oldest out of the four of us," I tell the group. Everyone contemplates this as the most obvious choice.

"Good point. So we just walk in the door as our names are called?" Jaxon asks as he takes Megan's hand in his.

"As far as I know, that is the plan. We all know how mom likes an entrance," Huxley says.

Our conversation is cut short by us pulling into the venue. Thankfully, our dad got a limo that has dark tint so no one can see inside the back. Ahead of us, our parents limo pulls around to the front door for them to get out on the red carpet like entrance full of photographers. Our limo pulls around back so we can get in without being seen.

We are all escorted through the kitchens to a room where we are to wait until it's time for the announcement. The local news channel is here to cover the event for the night so Grayson turns the TV on so we can see what's happening out there.

Huxley walks over to me and hands me a earpiece. "What's this for?" I ask him as I put the small device in my right ear.

"This is for us to chat when we are bored or in the middle of something. This also helps you know that we are here for you and you're not alone in this," Huxley says with a loving smile.

I hug him tightly for his consideration of how this could be for me. "Thank you. You don't know how grateful I am to have you three as my brothers. I love you guys," I tell them.

"We love you too," they say at the same time.

Turning back to the tv, we watch as our parents mingle with the guests for twenty minutes before the start to make their way to the stage. A knock sounds at the door before Draco peeps his head in. "It's time."

As we walk to the doors that lead to the main hall where the party is held, Draco lines us up against the wall in order from youngest to oldest.

"Your parents wanted to go in order for the reveal. Please stay against the wall until the door shuts behind the one in front of you. Mrs. Isabella asked for it to be done this way," Draco says to us with a little fear in my eyes at the thought of mom being angry. We all nod our heads as we see relief appear in his eyes.

Draco pulls Jaxon and Megan to the doors and places them into position before stepping back out of sight. From the other side of the door, my fathers voice sounds out and I look at Huxley as my heart starts to beat faster. Giving me a quick hug, the nerves start to disappear as I remember his words from a little bit ago.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to this wonderful occasion. Tonight we are celebrating family and also the 35th anniversary of Anderson Records and Company. Speaking of family, my wife and I would like to formally introduce you all to our beautiful family," dads voice calls out. Music begins to play and I am taken back to my childhood with my mom singing to us as we went to sleep. The song 'I Hope You Dance' by Lee Ann Womack starts playing from the other side of the door. "Please join me in welcoming our youngest child, Jaxon Anderson, and his beautiful wife, Megan Anderson." As soon as he says this, the doors open for them to enter the hall.

As soon as the doors close, Grayson moves to position as he waits for his name to be called next.

"Next we have our next child, Grayson Anderson," dads voice sounds out again. Once again the doors open and Grayson enters the hall.

Huxley goes to where Grayson just stood and gives me a wink as well as a smile as he waits for his turn. By now the song is about three quarters of the way through and I realized that my mother planned this out perfectly.

"Next we have our second oldest child, Huxley Anderson." The doors open as Hux steps into the hall before the doors shut again.

As soon as the doors shut, Draco walks over to me and gets me into position. "Remember: chin up, eyes forward, and show them who the boss is," Draco says with an encouraging smile. "You can do this."

My dads voice sounds out from the other side of the door again, but this time he says something different. "Ladies and Gentlemen, next is our oldest child and the my heir to the company. Help me welcome my daughter, Natalia Anderson," he almost yells as the doors open before me. Everyone is looking at me but I pin my focus on my family who is standing on stage. With a smile, I enter the room to make my way to the stage.

I get halfway down when Grayson's voice fills my ear. "Douche canoe at 11 o'clock."

I use my peripheral vision to see what he is talking about. Sure enough, there stands Christopher Lane and his jaw is basically on the ground in shock. Chelsea is standing by him with a look of shock and jealousy. Ignoring them, I continue towards the stage with a smile on my face still.

As soon as I get to the steps, dads hand appears to help me up on stage. He leads me to the podium he was previously at and motions for the crowd to quiet down.

"I am sure that you all are shocked at this news tonight. Natalia wanted to make sure she was ready to take over before we made a formal announcement. Now I will hand the microphone over to her to say a few words," dad says then steps to the side.

I step up to the podium and look at the crowd. "Hello everyone and good evening. Tonight is a special night for two reasons. Tonight, is the celebration of 35 wonderful years of business for Anderson Records and Company. It is also the night that I formally announce that I am now the new CEO and owner of the company. I look forward to working with you all and I am excited to see what the future brings. Tonight I make a promise to all employees and partners of our record label. That promise is that I will strive for not only successful leadership but also a great, fun, and safe work environment. Thank you all for attending tonight and also enjoy the rest of your night." As soon as I'm done, the room erupts in cheers. Looking around the room, I feel a sense of completeness at the fact this day finally came. My eyes find a pair of blue/green ones that are staring at me in disbelief in the crowd.

Be careful who you mistreat. They might one day have the power to take everything away from you.