LAKE
“Hey, Mom.” I just entered the entrance of her house, and she was already dashing in my direction to welcome me. Her blue eyes were bright.
“Bunny.” She pulled me into her arms, hugging me tight. “I miss you, honey.”
“I miss you, too, Mom.” One of her modern architectural houses was situated in her 12. 6-hectare estate in Massachusetts, and she has always felt it was her home.
“Tell me how you have been for the past weeks.”
“Do you realize we just had dinner two weeks ago?” You could say I was a mama’s boy. Mom was also my best friend.
“It feels like an eternity.” Her arm was still around me as we went directly to the dining room. I was a little bit late. It took over three hours to get here, and I left the office late because I had to help our IT department fix some code issues.
“Well, I am here now.”
We began dinner right away. The salad was delicious, topped with grilled prawns. One thing I remembered on Maverick’s file was that she had allergies to shells and walnuts.
“If you don’t want to tell me about your personal life, at least tell me about IMI.” I knew she wouldn’t ask about the job at Winston Holdings Inc., as COO, because it was her previous position in the first place. She used to run Reighs Confectionery until she married my father. Now now ran one of the Hover Subsidiaries, Hover Motor.
“Profiting, growing, and improving.”
Mom gave me that look when she was not satisfied with my answer.
I couldn’t help but smile. “I was busy at the IMI, upgrading software and programs. At WHI, you know the job. I attended the board meeting at Hover, which you missed, by the way. And then I met some friends.”
“Are you seeing someone?”
My reaction was instant.
Mom caught it right away, making her smile. “Tell me about her.”
“Maybe it’s a him.”
She laughed as she dabbed her lips with the napkin. “I doubt that. What’s she like? I want to meet her.”
“You know this is just a temporary arrangement to meet my father’s demand, right?” It coiled a knot in my stomach when discussing my arrangement with Maverick. Honestly, that was the most sincere and genuine relationship I have had for the longest time. And it was getting complicated.
Despite the contract that proved this marriage a sham and real at the same time, she made my life easy, and it was uncommon to have the kind of chemistry we had. It was more profound, more than how it looked. It was like our souls were melded together to form a beautiful eternal bond.
The scent of her shampoo and body still lingered in my head, and I could still feel the softness of her body against mine. She seemed small and vulnerable in my arms, but she was also feisty, opinionated, and argumentative, and that was what I liked about her. She never tried to pretend to be somebody else to impress me.
Maverick was beautiful, and I doubted she was even aware of it. Her ex, who had never appreciated a beauty like that, was the sole loser, and I was glad they were over.
“I’d never seen that smile before.” Mom pulled me out of my little reverie.
“Sorry.” I took a bite of the prawn and chewed it pleasantly.
“Are you going to tell me, or should I find it myself?”
“Her life hasn’t been easy. Her grandmother raised her, and she’s still a college senior.”
“Poor girl. What about her parents?”
“Mother left her at a young age. No father in the picture ever since.” I knew there was a missing page in her story, but I was willing to wait until she opened up.
“Do you like her?” What was not to like?
“It’s not about liking her, Mom. You know that. This is just an arrangement. She needs money, and I need a wife for just a year or so. When I get what I want from my father, and then-”
“And then what, honey?” I instantly saw the pain in her eyes and hated that I was causing it. She gave me a slight shake of her head in disappointment. “Once you enter a relationship, you know it’s a commitment. Forget about the arrangement. How do you feel about her? You can act like a happy married couple before everyone but would be miserable beyond that curtain. Do you want that for yourself? I know what your father wants, but what about what you want? We already talked about this, Lake.”
“Well, it is what it is. If this won’t work out, then that’s why we signed a contract.”
“Wait a second. You already did without consulting me?” Mom put her silverware down and drank her wine. “What the hell did you just do? Why didn’t you get me involved, Lake?”
“Don’t worry, Mom. She signed an agreement, an NDA and a prenup. It’s ironclad. Would you believe it if I told you she hates gifts and dressing up?”
“At least she sounds like she’s not after your inheritance. And I’m involved in enforcing that agreement.”
“No, she’s not. I don’t think so. I gave her my credit card, and she hasn’t used it. I don’t know what to feel, relieved or insulted.”
“When do you plan an engagement party?”
I drew a deep breath. I wasn’t supposed to tell her about my marriage right now, but it seemed that I was out of options. “It’s done. We got married last Monday in the city hall.”
Well, that went well. Mom just rose from her chair and walked out of the dining room. Watching her disappointed and affected by my foolish mistakes broke my heart.
“Mom, please?” I followed her to the backyard. The cool air blew my face. I stood next to her, guilt constricting in my chest, and I was feeling like shit. “I’m so sorry for being a disappointment, Mom.”
She sighed and held my arm as she leaned her head against my shoulder. “I love you so much, bunny, and you will never be a disappointment. Whatever your decisions, I will support them as long as you won’t get hurt. I’m pretty sure you thought through about this before getting married.”
“OB and I filed a list of women, and we came up with at least eight suitable candidates, but I didn’t find them a good match. She’s the least I expected. OB just dropped the last file on my desk, and the rest is history.”
“When can I meet her?”
“What about dinner next weekend?”
“That would be great.”
“Thank you, Mom.” I pulled her into a tight hug. “I love you, and you will always come first above anything else.”
Mom pulled away and stared at me for a moment. “That should change. Your wife should come first above anything else now, Lake. Don’t be like your father. Be your own person.”
I stared back, searching for the truth in her eyes, but Mom was dead serious until my phone vibrated, interrupting my thoughts.
“Answer that. Maybe it’s your wife.”
I chuckled as I checked the caller ID. “I doubt that. She never called me. It’s Homer.”
“Answer the call, and let’s head back to the dining room.” Mom left, and I answered the call.
“Boss, we have a problem.”