Sharks in the water

Chapter 11: Sharks in the Water

The stress in the room was thick enough to cut with a knife. Adrian's mother, a statuesque lady with neatly coiffed silver hair, stared at me like I was something she'd scraped off her Gucci shoe.

"Adrian, darling," she began, her voice dripping with scorn, "surely you can't be serious about this... arrangement."

I held the blankets closer, feeling uncovered and vulnerable. Adrian's jaw tensed, a muscle moving in his cheek.

"Mother, Father," he continued, his voice calm but with an edge of steel, "I'd appreciate it if you'd give Vianne and me a minute to get dressed. We can address this civilly over breakfast."

His father, a distinguished-looking guy with hard eyes, mocked. "Civilly? There's nothing polite about this situation, son. You've made a joke of our family name!"

Adrian's eyes flared dangerously. "I replied, we'll handle this over breakfast. Now, if you'll pardon us."

He nearly rushed his parents out of the room, locking the door firmly behind