Chapter 17 Chapter 16:
Arya:
I planned the whole day to spend with Vera, but then Devon arrived earlier than expected. He also said we were having dinner with his parents; the way he said it sounded strained. I wondered what’s going on, thankfully. Wanda was free tonight and she offered to look after Vera.
So here we are, in front of Devon’s parents’ house. It’s a white coastal villa located in an estate, my hands are trembling. How do you meet your fake billionaire boyfriend’s parents, should I smile and wave or go for a simple hug instead?
Devon told me to dress casual, and of course. I don’t know his version of casual, so I am wearing a Zara blouse tucked into pants. I am also holding a bottle of pinot noir because at least, let me make a good impression.
Devon, for some unknown reasons, does not look interested to even be here, which I find very surprising because I will give everything to have dinner with my family together, as one.
“Is there anything I need to know about your family?” I ask Devon, while smiling. He rings the doorbell and fixes his eyes on me.
“Nothing.” He says coolly, I want to ask what he means, but the door swings open revealing a woman in her late fifties. She’s the epitome of beauty with thick blonde hair that cascades down her shoulder, her skin is flawless, which I am guessing is from regular appointments at the dermatologist.
She’s wearing a designer dress, one that costs more than my yearly income. Her eyes are sharp and her lips, painted in a shade of red, are curled up into a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Devon!” Even her voice is elegant. “You made it, for a second there. Your father and I were worried you wouldn’t, isn’t she beautiful?” Her eyes sweep over me, taking me in a single glance.
I raise the bottle of pinot noir. “Lovely to meet you, Mrs. Brookes.”
“Nonsense.” She waves her hand, gesturing us inside. “Call me Barbara.”
The inside is even better; she leads us straight into the dining room. Suddenly, I feel foolish for bringing a bottle of pinot noir, when there’s a whole display of champagne in a glass cabinet behind the chairs.
“Please sit.” Barbara says with a smile, Devon pulls out a chair for me and I sit down, since we have gotten here- I haven’t heard him say a word to his step-mother, when I was researching on the internet, he lost his mother at the age of twelve and his father married Barbara. “Devon’s father will join us soon.”
I nod as the chef fills the table with western food, we soon begin eating and Devon’s father joins us, like Devon, he has some sort of confidence in him. With sharp cheekbones and a cold stare, father and son stares at each other without saying a word.
The room is quiet as everyone begins digging in; it has never been this tense in a family gathering. Mine is always filled with laughter and teasing, it’s uncomfortable to eat without saying a word, so I say. “So, it’s only Devon?”
Barbara and her husband exchange a look, and then his father says stiffly. “Yes, just Devon.”
“Devon, dear. Why aren’t you eating your food?” Barbara bats her lashes and I look at Devon, true to her words, he hasn’t touched his food one bit. I swallow, is this even normal?
Devon pushes the plate aside. “Not hungry, Barb.”
Despite her bright smile, she gives him a cold hard glare and I can’t help but feel a shiver down my spine.
“Arya, I am shopping for clothes on Tuesday, do you want to come along? Perhaps, we could have some girl time.” Barb asks and Devon snaps his eyes over to her. They both look at each other hard. I am wondering what’s going on, why is he so stiff around his parents?
“Arya and I are busy on Tuesday.” Devon says, meanwhile, Devon’s father hasn’t said a word.
“It’s okay.” I say hurriedly. “I can free my schedule; I will love to hang out with you on Tuesday.”
Devon and his step-mother both look at me.
“Lovely, darling. I will text you with the details.” The dinner carries on smoothly without anyone saying a word, Devon doesn’t eat nor did he drink out of their champagne. After dinner, Devon’s father and I huddle together in the fireplace.
“Take care of my son, Arya,” he says warmly. “He has been stiff around me ever since his mother died; it was hard on me too. I didn’t know how to cope, so I haven’t been the best father.”
I nod, looking around the house. I do notice that there’s no family photos hanging around, I furrow my brows slightly. “It’s getting late; Devon and I should leave soon.” I say, standing up from the couch, he gives me an awkward hug.
I go to the kitchen to inform Devon that we are leaving but he’s talking to Barbara. She’s leaning against the marble kitchen island, smirking.
“What stunt are you trying to pull on Arya?” Devon asks coldly, hands in his pocket. “Manipulating people? I won’t let you manipulate her like you did with my father.”
“I don’t have any idea what you are saying, I just want to bond with Arya.”
I keep quiet, just standing at the entrance. What’s going on with them?
“Quit the crap.” Devon frowns, “whatever you do, don’t play mind games with her, I am not the type to forgive and forget.” They both whip their heads and turn to look at me standing there, feeling embarrassed for being caught, I manage to smile.
“It’s getting late.” Mainly because we have to tuck Vera into bed and read her a bedtime story.
“Goodnight, love.” Barbara says as Devon joins me, I tell her goodnight and we walk out of the house, with my heart pounding so hard. What was that? Was that a friendly display of affection or power?
The moment we step into Devon’s house, the familiar scent wraps around me like a warm embrace, before I have time to think, I hear tiny, hurried footsteps coming from the bathroom, my heart skips and I can feel the day’s stress washing away.
Vera is here, stretching out her tiny arms to me before throwing herself to me with a soft giggle. “Mommy! Daddy!” I crouch to my knees, just in time to catch her, breathing in her hair- it is still a little wet, which I am guessing Wanda already gave her a bath.
There’s this immense joy that I have whenever I am holding my two and the half year old daughter, her innocent eyes filled with so much love, courage and excitement.
Vera recoils back, placing her tiny hands on my cheeks; her face is lit in a big smile as she babbles about her day, though the details are jumbled in half-formed words and gestures. Devon steps closer and Vera reaches for him too. I stand up as he embraces her tightly.
This moment, just the three of us feels so intimate; I really don’t want to let it go.
Wanda emerges from the kitchen, holding a white towel, a bit of sweat lingers on her forehead, glistening against her brown skin.
“Thanks for tonight, Wanda.” I tell her.
“Of course, I will do anything for my Vera. Right love? Will you miss Aunty Wanda?”
Vera nods excitedly and Wanda raises her hand, giving her a forehead kiss. “She threw a fit during bath time. I had soap in my mouth after the bath!” Wanda exclaims.
“Thank you for your help tonight,” Devon says behind me and Wanda stares at me with widened eyes, dazing on. I have to elbow her in the shoulder before she blinks her eyes.
“Right. Of course, no problem at all, if you need me, I am just a phone call away. Well, goodbye now,” she saunters through the door and I can’t help but smile.
“Story time!” Vera says to me. “I want story time!”
“Who should read your story?” I ask softly. “Daddy or me?”
“Daddy and Mommy!” She blinks her lashes at me, Devon and I exchange a look and I smile. Well that was unexpected, before. I used to read Vera stories alone, but it seems that with Devon here, she wants us to read it together.
“Devon, please tuck her into bed and I will hurriedly get changed.” Devon nods and I dash upstairs, putting on a comfortable gray sweatshirt and sweatpant. I am not a fan of reading, but when I pick out a children’s novel with illustrations, my phone pings with a text from Wanda when I am in the hallway.
Wanda: Devon is hot as fuck...can you ask if he has any siblings? I don’t mind if he has a younger brother though.
I keep smiling as I type.
Me: Do you still want to marry a rich man?
Wanda: Girl! Forget about marrying rich, I also need someone like Devon, rich, hot and great in bed. Are you sure you guys are just co-parenting and nothing else? Kiss that dude any chance you get, Arya. Thousands of women want to be in your spot!
Me: Whatever, gotta go now, goodnight!
I take a deep breath and walk into Vera’s bedroom. The room is painted in soft pink colors, with glow in the dark stars on the ceiling to help her fall asleep. There’s a kids bookshelves by the side and Vera’s on the toddler bed, tucked in and ready for story time.
Devon’s slumped on the tiny chair beside her bed, it feels weird to see him like this- no suit, no intimidating frown, just a father ready for story time with his daughter, I don’t know why my heart tugs so achingly.
Devon looks at me with some sort of warm gaze that makes heat rise to my face, I sit down on the side of the bed and Vera’s chubby hands reach for the book, smiling. I open the first page, revealing the pictures that Vera loves to see so much.
“Bear! Princess!” She points at the book, grinning from ear to ear.
“Once upon a time...” I start and Vera listens on eagerly, as I read, I feel some sort of comforting feeling and I don’t know if it’s because of Devon’s closeness, one of his hands is placed on the bed, inches from mine.
The atmosphere changes, and my heart beats more rapidly than usual. Halfway through the story, I stop to let Vera laugh and giggle, glancing up at Devon, there’s a rare genuine smile on his lips. It’s different how he’s this stoic CEO that everyone fears, and then when he’s at home, he is...soft.
Finally, when I am done with the story, I close the book. Vera’s eyes are exhausted as she lies on the bed; Devon reaches out and tucks her dark brown curls behind her ear.
We come out of the bedroom, lingering in the dim hallway, the air is rigid and my body is tensing up from a sudden thrum of energy. Fuck Wanda’s text, now my body is getting all tingly.
To the left of Vera’s bedroom is mine and to the right is Devon’s, making it easier for us to quickly attend to Vera if she needs us.
“What’s that door for?” I point to the door at the end of the hallway. The knob is sealed shut and locked.
“It’s off-limits.” He says coolly, hands in his pocket.
“What? Do you have dead bodies in there?” I ask, and regret it the moment it leaves my lips because Devon furrows his brows in concern.
“I am not a serial killer.” He says calmly.
“I know, gosh! I was just kidding.” I want to ask if no one actually jokes with him, but I snap my mouth shut, thinking of the consequences, Devon really needs some good jokes in his life.
“Well, goodnight.” I say awkwardly.
“Yeah. Goodnight.” His voice is softer, calmer.
My heart skips a bit at his word and there’s that tingly feeling again, I don’t like it, it makes me feel weird. Devon stands there, watching me as I enter the bedroom, leaning on the door, feeling my chest.
Please let this strange mysterious feeling wash away.