Does it really not bother him what his parents think? Or is this exactly what he wants—to blur the lines until whatever this is between us becomes a reality?
Silas
Luca was the first to arrive, and as soon as his eyes landed on Lauren, a half-smile of disdain tugged at the corner of his mouth. Classic Luca—he can irritate you without even opening his mouth.
Oliver showed up next, his Texan charm all over the place. He greeted Lauren like he greets everyone he meets for the first time, warmly, but the three of us know that’s not how he really feels. He’s just thatgood at pretending.
And then there’s Killian … well, let’s just say he breezed in like he always does, not a care in the world. He doesn’t give a damn about who I bring home, or what’s happening in my life. To be fair, Lauren is thefirstwoman I’ve ever brought to a family Christmas, so I guess he’s not used to it.
During lunch, the group dynamic plays out exactly as I expect. My family, as always, zeroes in on Lauren, finding her the perfect source of entertainment. The questions start out light, but as soon as they edge toward the personal, I jump in and steer the conversation away, not giving them the chance to dig too deep. My father sits at the head of the table, watching everything like a hawk. My mother is on his left, and I’m on his right, with Lauren beside me. Oliver is next to her, while Luca sits across from Lauren, next to Mom. Killian, as usual, is wedged somewhere between amusement and indifference, sitting beside Luca.
What surprises me is how kind my mother is to Lauren. I chalk it up to appearances—Lauren looks like she could easily pass for the stereotypical daughter of a millionaire. Her blonde hair is glossy, her petite frame draped in a shirt that looks effortlessly expensive, fitting her perfectly.What’s shocking is that none of my siblings seem to be drooling over the table. For my brothers, that’s a first. But I know better. This is my mother’s world—appearances, prestigious zip codes, and fat bank accounts are all that matter. Lauren fits into her mold, and that’s likely why she’s acting so welcoming.
“How are you adjusting to the office, Lauren?” my father asks, cutting a piece of meat and taking a casual bite, his eyes fixed on her.
“Office? Are you an architect, Lauren?” my mother interrupts, not giving Lauren a second to answer.
“Mom,” I interject quickly, taking control of this conversation before it veers too far. “Lauren is my executive assistant.”
“Oh.” There it is—the disappointmentin Mary Walker’s voice. “But you said she was yourfriend.”
“She is,” I say, glancing at Lauren, curious to see how she handles this littletestmy family is putting her through. If she can survive this round, I might just end up marrying her.
“But she’s also my assistant. We’ve known each other for many years, and she’s covering for Stella.”
I catch Luca hiding a smirk behind his wineglass. Lauren gives a polite, albeit tense, smile and shifts her focus back to my father. “Well, thank you for asking,” she says, her tone graceful, despite my mother’s less-than-subtle display of disapproval.
“Is this your first time working in real estate?” my father asks, clearly intrigued.
“Oh, no,” Lauren says, placing her cutlery neatly on her plate, giving my father her full attention. “I’ve worked with several companies, like Johnson’s and Knox & Associates.”
That gets his attention. My father straightens in his chair as if this new information holds some significance. “Oh! I suppose Silas is picking your brain for information on the competition, right?” my father says with a chuckle, and my siblings join in with their usual forced laughter.
Luca leans in, barely hiding a smirk. “Among other things,I’m sure,” he mutters just loud enough for me to hear, his voice dripping with innuendo. I kick him hard under the table, but he just laughs.
“Yes.” Lauren laughs lightly, playing along. “We’re working hard on that.”
My father leans back, his posture relaxed, but his eyes sharp—always watching. He leans in slightly like he's about to share some profound wisdom, though we all know it’ll just be another lecture disguised as advice. “When I made the decision to step back, it wasn’t easy handing over the reins,” he starts, “but I have faith that Silas is heading in the right direction.”
Heading in the right direction?I’ve been busting my ass every day, running this empire, and all I get is “heading in the right direction”? I don’t wantthat—I want him to admit, right here, in front of everyone, that I’m?—
Oh no.
Thump, thump, thump.
My heart starts to pound, my breath quickens, and I can feel the heat rising in my chest. I unbutton the top three buttons of my shirt,hoping to cool off, but it only makes the sensation worse. It feels like the room is closing in on me.
Not now, calm down, you can’t lose it in front of everyone.
Then I feel it—Lauren’s hand on my leg, warm and steady. Her thumb strokes my thigh gently, and for a moment, I forget everything. My heartbeat starts to slow, and I focus on the comforting pressure of her touch. Memories flood back—her body against mine, the way she moaned into my mouth, the feeling of her wrapped in my arms. I lick my lips, remembering every heated moment, and the tension starts to ease. But then I feel Luca’s eyes on me. I glance up and find him watching me closely, his expression unreadable, but I know he’s piecing together what just happened.
“I don’t think it’s fair to say he’sheadingin the right direction,” Lauren begins, and immediately, all eyes shift to her. “I’d say he’s already crossed the finish line. In fact, theNew York Timesnamed him one of the top ten youngest CEOs in the United States. Honestly, sometimes I can’t even keep up with his work. He’s efficient and solves problems quickly. I’d even say he’s the best boss I’ve ever had.”
A heavy silence falls over the table as everyone stares at me, waiting for my reaction. I can feel my lips twitch, trying to suppress a smile, but I can’t help it. Lauren’s hand continues to move slowly over my leg, and I’m locked in, completely focused on her. I want to disappear with her right now and leave this whole scene behind.
Just her and me.
“Well, it’s good to hear the employees' opinions,” my dad says, clearing his throat, clearly caught off guard. “What do you want to specialize in for the future? I assume you don’t want to be an assistant forever.”
