Mark opened the plates and dishes his food into his plate, it was almost like a miracle that he was able to eat in the midst of the clan. He noticed the sour look on his mother In-law's face as he dug into his food and he pretended to be concerned.
" Do you have any problem with the food?" He inquired softly
Mrs. Richard rolled her eyes at his fake concern, " I can't stand leeches on the table, it sets my stomach rubbing." She said, obviously referring to him, she stared at him as if she was referring to a vermin.
Mark cocked his head and shrugged, " Quite understandable." He played along as though he didn't understand what she meant but he wasn't going to give her the satisfaction of ridiculing him before everyone.
" Do you feel better now?"
" Not until it's removed from the table." She said, faking a shudder as she rolled her eyes simultaneously.
" Stacey..." Mr. Richard called in warning.
" Andrew, " She fired back sweetly with a warning look in her eyes, ' don't interrupt me.'
" May we eat, it's impolite to talk while eating." Mr. Richard said refusing to bake down, his wife was ready to make things worse than they already were.
" I guess if the roaches can be taken out of this table, then and only then can I eat in peace." She insisted, and shot him another glare.
Lacey, who was tired of having to face the same thing all the time, sighed, " Mom, may we just eat in peace, I've had a long day at work."
" Okay, dear."
'Yeah, peace.' Mark remarked snidely and Mrs. Richard's eyes flew to his, not believing her eyes. When did Mark become so annoying? When did he begin to counter her words? This must be the day.
Mr. Richard snickered into his hand as he ate the delicious food. If he were Mark, his wife would have been frustrated at this point, but that was one of the reasons he liked this boy, he didn't possess any atom of pride.
He would take him over that stupid boss of hers that wanted to get into her pants.
Mrs. Richard finished eating, wiped her napkin against her mouth and smirked evilly."What of Mr. Alistair? The rich man who promised to take you out on a date? I've not seen him around in a while."
That question dredged up anger inside of Mark as he stared at the woman before him, she was doing it on purpose, trying to rile him and get him to react but he smiled, he was going to show them that he could stand his ground.
"Mom, he's not been to our home before." Lacey said, she was really tired and wanted to knock out but these people were trying to unalive her.
"We should invite him then, what do you think, baby?" Mrs. Richard turns to her beloved husband. "it can be a double date. I'm sorry that some people will have to miss the presence of a real rich man.
" I don't think that's a good idea, I wouldn't want to mix business and pleasure."
" Oh, trust me you will be given what you deserve.... not these ones that will make you question your self worth and reduce you to nothing, leeches." She spat.
Lacey rose abruptly from her chair, " This is it, I can't deal anymore, I need to retire to bed very early. Thank you so much for the meal."
" Your husband made it."
Oh? She had completely forgotten that it had become his responsibility and she would have to make sure that he did it well. She would have sworn that the meat loaf tasted impeccable.
What if he began a food business? They couldn't just be enjoying these goodies alone.. at least they would make more money, that would make Mark more productive instead of waiting for customers to come buy his painting.
Observing everyone's eyes on her, she smiled and merely nodded before walking away.
" Do you think anything is wrong with her?" Mr. Richard inquired and her mother shrugged.
" I don't know, why don't you ask the husband for a few days before we expose you." Mrs. Richard refused the documents to release it to her.
"When did all of these begin please? I'm sure that you have been tolerating him for the longest but sometimes you get a break, you don't need to air your opinions everytime." Mr. Richard chided his wife.
Stacey's eyes narrowed with anger as she stared at the culprit, Mark who was busy wiping his hands with a towel to get the sauce that dropped onto his shirt.
He was the one who allowed her husband to slightly raise his voice at her, which had never happened in all the years they had gotten married and that was one of the criteria in which she used in making sure that she got married.
" I don't want to talk about this man, Andrew." She said and rose, before taking a second look at Mark and finally exiting the dining room.
Mark and Mr. Richard were plunged into deep silence and he rose to clear the plates when Mr. Richard raised his hands. " What plans do you have for your investments?"
He might have said he had retired, but he was surely referring to if and when things were better, or if things were put in place. Like me having so much money and I don't have to work an extra day in my life. He added carefully.
" I don't have a job, neither do I have a plan." He needed the money first before the plan, that was the order he wanted. Whenever he became rich, he was going to make sure that he took care of his father-in-law, for he had been there for him from the inception.
Mark sighed, " I don't think I want the he reminded about my current situation." He thought, but he smiled instead, " Thank you for your time."
" It's late, won't you come to bed?" Lacey thundered from the top of the stairs.