Drake
IGLANCED AWAY FROMthe designs I’d been working on for the last three hours and rubbed my sore eyes with my thumb and forefinger. They were a last-minute request from an aristocrat family in London. While I had a floor full of designers that could’ve handled this task, the lady of the house who’d been impressed with the two sets I’d designed last year, specifically asked if I could personally oversee the design again. With the price they were paying, I saw no reason to decline. Princeton not only prided itself on value for money but a personal commitment when the need arose. It had always been my father’s highest priority. Something I’d continued with since taking over.
Rising to my feet, I stretched and headed for the kitchen. As opposed to my usual whiskey, a warm drink would go down nicely and maybe help me sleep. I entered to find my mother at the stove. “Can’t sleep?” I neared her and pulled myself up onto the kitchen counter.
“Making you hot chocolate.” She looked up at me, her smile warm. “You work too much.”
“I do what I can, mom.”
She let out a mirthless laugh. “It’s funny that you never wanted to follow in your father’s footsteps and run Princeton Corp, yet you’ve picked up his worth ethic.” She poured the hot drink into a mug and handed it to me.
“Thanks, mom.”
“That wasn’t meant as a compliment, son.”
I chuckled, understanding her subtle hint. If I could remember, she’d had one gripe with my father and didn’t hesitate to call him out on it every chance she got. The long hours, to the point he’d miss dinners and important events.
“That said, I’m just glad you’re home for Christmas this year. It’s been a while.” She rubbed my hand, resting on the counter.
“I know.” I’d spent the last four Christmas’ seasons in the city, working. The first two years, both kids visited to celebrate with me at my apartment. When Rayden left for Africa, it was just Kyra and I. While she wasn’t keen on leaving her friends behind during the holidays, she made sure it was her smiling face that I woke to on Christmas morning.
“It’s nice to have the house filled with people and Christmas cheer once again.” She sighed. “Having Rayden back as well makes it just perfect.”
I nodded. The entire family had respected his wishes to give him time, and I was thrilled with his return. If only it were under different circumstances. Just the thought of Sia and my heart took on a denser beat I struggled to tame. My fingers tightened around the mug.
“What do you think of his girlfriend?” My mother asked quietly.
Unable to speak, I sipped the drink to moisten my suddenly dry mouth. “Seems like a nice girl.” I finally managed without voicing my actual thoughts.She’s stunning, inside and out.
“Can I ask you a question?” At my nod, she hesitated for just a second. “You never told me what happened to that girl you met—you know, the elusive no one.”
I drank the hot chocolate to hide my dismal countenance, wondering why she’d asked that now, a whole two years later. My mother could pick up on expressions quickly. “She’s no longer elusive.”
“Why do I sense a but coming?” Her intelligent gray eyes searched my face.
“She’s now completely off-limits.” I stared at the floor, believing I wasn’t destined to feel love with someone.
“Married?” she asked. I let out a low laugh, shaking my head. “Then?”
“Let’s just say she belongs to someone I’d give my heart to protect.” Only when the words left my mouth did I realize how close I’d been to a confession. My gaze snapped to her face. “So, are you and dad still visiting aunt Mabel this week?” I tried to change the topic. Judging by her raised brow, I hadn’t succeeded in dissuading her thought process.
“You know, son, it doesn’t mean if you’ve been burned once, you can’t love again,” she said instead, surprising me. “You’d probably love harder the second time around, and I doubt anything would stop you from staking your claim on her, not even family.”
My mouth fell open, but she’d already turned away to go rinse the hot chocolate pan. Had I let the cat out of the bag? I sat there for another couple of seconds, debating whether to question her when she exited the washroom and approached me.
“Get some sleep, son.” She rubbed my arm and walked out of the kitchen.
Rubbing my jaw, I watched her leave, unsure what to make of her words. The last thing I needed was to have Sia uncomfortable around us if someone else knew about our relationship. Yet, apart from asking my mother straight out, there was nothing I could do but grin and bear the next couple of days. “What’s the worst that could happen?” I asked the silent kitchen. Nothing, if I kept my distance from Sia.
