Chapter 24

After last night’s event with Azrael’s mother, she went back home leaving Azrael and Samaira. It was a bit of an intense experience for just one day. Samaira didn’t quite understand it, everything was good between them before and now because of a personal opinion that changed drastically.

Azrael and Samaira ate their cookies, brushed their teeth, and went straight to bed. Early in the morning after the two had gotten ready Azrael had gotten a call from his mother asking him and Samaira to come over.

“Man, I’m scared to go over now,” Samaira fixed her earrings and looked at her boyfriend through the mirror.

“Maybe she’ll apologize,” Azrael figured and finished up with his tie and went to get the car keys.

“Maybe yeah,” She muttered, walking to the garage door.

“We’ll stop by mom first then we’ll head to work after,” He handed her her shoes.

“Sounds good, breakfast?” She then asked, realizing how hungry she was.

“On the go,” He muttered and went to the car.

Samaira nodded and put on her shoes then followed him out to the car. The two drove over to his childhood home and of course, they got their breakfast on the way there. When they arrived they got out of the car and went into the house, only to see Ashley much more pissed than before. It didn’t seem like they were invited for an apology now.

“Good morning,” Samaira greeted and noticed it was just the three of them there.

“Finally you two decided to show up,” Ashley huffed and crossed her leg over the others as she looked up at the two.

“We were invited and on time, are we not?” Azrael snarked as he sat down.

“Indeed,” She narrowed her eyes on her eldest and watched him and his girlfriend sit down. “You know at first I thought Samaira was a great girl for you. Now I come and find this,” She commented, looking at the brunette before slamming down an envelope. With a frown on his face, he reached over for the envelope and tore through it to see what it was.

“What’s-” Samaira asked but was cut off by Azrael.

“Where did you get these?” He asked when he realized it was the payment check he made to Samaira and such large amounts were very suspicious, he knew that.

“Doesn’t matter. What matters is that you’re being used for your money. Is she blackmailing you? Is that why you gave her so much money?” Ashley accused her slim finger pointing at Samaira. “Imagine if your father got a hold of this before I did,” She took the papers from his hand. “You’re such a fucking shame, you dare to try and wiggle yourself-” Ashley glared at Samaira as she spoke.

“Mother, stop,” Azrael warned, getting up as well as he looked down at his mother.

“Don’t make me lose any more respect for you,” He added and watched as his mother took a step back from Samaira.

“Is this how it is? You’ll choose her over me?” Ashley scoffed, shaking her head in disappointment.

“I’m not choosing anyone here. Samaira would never use me for money, everything I’ve given her is what /I/ wanted to give her,” He cleared up. “She had a slight disadvantage, I decided to help out and used /my/ money which you have no business sticking your nose into,” He spoke without a filter which bothered Samaira a little, she didn’t want to cause any troubles.

“So you just give people hundreds of thousands?” Ashley laughed.

“It’s not like my mother’s medical bill was only a mere fifty bucks, it was a fucking lot. And you just want to hate me, you keep searching for reasons to do so. I never asked Azrael to do this, but he offered to and refused to not do it,” Samaira sadly couldn’t keep still anymore. She hated to be accused of things she hadn’t done. Sure she accepted the money, but she was begged to help Azrael and sign the first contract.

“Pft,” Ashley scoffed.

“Do you have a problem with me spending my money as I please?” Azrael finally asked.

“Yes! We helped you get where you are,” She yelled, throwing her hands up in the air.

“Excuse me?” Azrael laughed dryly. “You and dad /never/ helped me. Everything I did I had to figure out myself, I had asked to present during one of his events, but he didn’t want me to. When things blew up /you and him/ ran to me for a deal. There were other options, but I chose to work with you two because it would help our family. So don’t you dare say you made me,” Each word of his anger the woman more and more.

“You were barely millionaires, I made you richer and I made myself a billionaire,” He scoffed a proud smirk on his lips.

“Azrael, that’s enough,” Samaira rested her hands on his biceps, clearly the relationship between him and his mother was now affected.

“She wanted to talk about facts, I gave her the facts,” He shrugged innocently.

“She’s still your mother,” She reminded him, frowning a little.

“Whatever, we’re leaving,” He walked off.

“Just like that?” She frowned and looked over to see Ashley steaming.

“What else do you want to do, Samaira?” He managed to ask in a calm tone.

“Get out of my house now, both of you,” Ashley finally spoke up and sent them off.

“See,” He opened the front door.

The two got in the car and were both quite silent. They went through the breakfast spot and ordered the usual. The car ride there was too quiet for Samaira's liking. She pondered the question of whether to say something or not. Ashley did cross the line, but she was also just looking out for her son. Samaira had a feeling there was something else at play, there was another reason Ashley was treating her this way, she just had to figure out why.

“You know it was wrong to talk to her that way right?” She spoke up without thinking twice about it, instantly regretting it but it was out now.

“I’m just fed up with her behavior,” He sighed frustratedly.

“Was she always like that?” Samaira frowned, sipping the tea slowly.

“She had always been pushy. My father was raised in a house where the kids don’t get help from their parents, they have to struggle through everything even when the parents could help. She and he adapted the same mentality but only with me. My sisters have it far better, which I’m happy for, they deserve it,” He explained, his eyes focused on the road mainly.

“That must’ve sucked, sorry,” She pouted and patted his back.

“It did. No matter what I did I wasn’t as great as my father because he was a self-made millionaire,” He admitted, reaching over for his sandwich.

“But you did far better now, right?” She thought for a moment. If they had to compare accomplishments then surely he was surpassed, right? It was a very messed up way to compare yourself, but it seems like that’s how Ashley was.

“Mhm, by nineteen I reached a lot. He was what? Almost 25 when he made the biggest accomplishment of his life?” He thought for a moment then shrugged. He never truly cared to compare until now. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate the push they gave me, I do. It got me this far, but I have a feeling there were much easier ways to do so,” Azrael cleared up.

“Very true. But what bothers you?” She wondered, clearly it ran deeper than just that. It’s like he had been waiting to finally let go, but that wasn’t the tipping point. Something else was.

“I guess the way mom treats you and says she basically made me,” He put the car in park and looked at her for a moment.

“Azrael, I don’t want you to be in trouble with your mother, she’s your mom, you have to understand that,” Samaira tried to reason with him, watching as he reached for his drink.

“I do and it’s fine, trust me,” He mumbled and sipped his drink very slowly.

“I don’t want to ruin things between you and your family,” Samaira said in an honest tone, watching as he nodded and looked over at her.

“You’re not, trust me, you’re the best thing that happened to me- besides when I sold my first computer,” He brought the back of her hand to his lip.

Samaira just sighed and let go of the conversation. The two finished up their breakfast then headed into the office. Once again it would be a long day for them both. Azrael had a few strategic decisions to present to the board. He saw his father around the office and noticed by the way he acted that his mother hadn’t told his father anything. Which was good. Samaira too had lots to do, she offered to help one of the ladies who just returned from her maternity leave. It was safe to say she grew a bit rusty, but Samaira helped her pick up the pace quickly. Once work was over for Samaira she went over to Azrael’s office.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Azrael put down his pen and watched as Samaira walked over to him.

“Hey, babe, how is work?” She asked, leaning over his desk and noticed he still had some papers scattered around on the table.

“Uh, great. I have to stay longer though,” He sighed and looked at her with puppy eyes.

“Oh that’s ok, I planned on stopping at the bakery for Akira then I’d go home,” She informed him and leaned over to peck his lips.

“Okay, call you tonight then,” He muttered and pulled her closer for a deeper kiss, his hand gently caressing the skin of her neck.

“Mhm, bye,” She smiled, looking into his dreamy eyes.

Samaira gathered her things then left, slowly driving her way over to the bakery. She and Akira loved the little cherry pie cups they sold there which was actually why she was willing to drive that far after such a long day at work. Samaira parked the car and got out, following the scent of freshly baked goods. When she walked through the doors she noticed it wasn’t as busy as usual then heard a burst of familiar laughter and turned around to see Rae and Hendro sitting very closely- and- oh my god are they kissing?!