Chapter 84

RICHARD POV.

“It’s only been a week, Mom,” I said with a chuckle, though her enthusiasm warmed me.

“A week is too long when it comes to you,” she replied, pecking my cheek repeatedly. “You’re all I have, Richard. You know that.”

I smiled at her affection, but out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alisha standing awkwardly near the entrance. She looked out of place, her posture stiff as she tried to stay unnoticed.

“Lunch is ready,” my mother said, looping her arm through mine. “Come, sit down and eat. You must be starving after all that work.”

She started to guide me toward the dining room, completely unaware of Alisha’s presence.

I glanced back at her, hoping she wouldn’t take offense, but she just gave me a small, hesitant smile as I signal to her to come over to the dining room.

“Mom,” I began as we walked, “there’s someone…”

“Oh, Richard,” she interrupted, her eyes full of concern. “You look tired. Have you been eating properly? You know you work too hard. You need to take better care of yourself.”

“I’m fine, Mom,” I assured her, though I knew there was no point in arguing.

As we entered the dining room, my mother finally turned to look at me again. But this time, her gaze shifted, and she froze mid-step. Her eyes landed on Alisha, who had quietly followed us into the room.

“And who is this?” she asked, her tone cool and her expression guarded.

“This is Alisha,” I said, gesturing toward her. “She’s… staying with me for a while.”

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” Alisha said politely, offering a small smile.

My mother’s response was a curt nod, her lips pressing into a thin line. She didn’t say a word to Alisha, instead turning back to me with a look that said everything.

I sighed inwardly. I had seen this reaction before. My mother had always been protective of me, but her attitude toward anyone she deemed “unworthy” of my time was painfully obvious.

“Shall we sit?” I said, trying to ease the tension.

We took our seats at the dining table, a long, polished piece of mahogany that could easily accommodate twenty people.

My mother sat at the head, as always, while I took the seat to her right. Alisha hesitated for a moment before sitting across from me.

The meal was already laid out…roast chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and freshly baked bread. It smelled amazing, but the atmosphere was anything but inviting.

“So, how was work today?” my mother asked, her voice bright but her eyes flickering toward Alisha every so often.

“Busy, as usual,” I said, picking up my fork. “But productive.”

“And your meetings? Did everything go as planned?”

“Yes, everything went smoothly,” I replied, though I could feel the unspoken questions hanging in the air.

The silence stretched as we ate, each of us lost in our thoughts. I could tell my mother was scrutinizing Alisha, even if she was trying to be subtle about it. And Alisha, for her part, kept her eyes on her plate, eating quietly.

Finally, I decided to break the silence. “Mom, you mentioned a surprise earlier. What’s that about?”

My mother paused, dabbing her lips with a napkin. She cleared her throat, her gaze flickering between me and Alisha.

“Well,” she began, her tone careful, “I thought it was time we had a serious conversation about your future, Richard.”

I frowned, setting down my fork. “What do you mean?”

She hesitated, her hands folding neatly in her lap. “I think it’s best if we discuss this privately,” she said, her eyes briefly darting toward Alisha.

“Mom,” I said, my tone firm. “Just tell me.”

She took a deep breath, clearly preparing herself to say something significant. But before she could continue, the tension in the room became almost so noticeable.

I glanced at Alisha, who looked like she wanted to disappear.

“Mom,” I said again, my patience thinning. “What is it?”

She met my eyes, and for the first time that afternoon, her confidence seemed to falter. Whatever she was about to say, I knew it was going to change everything.

ALISHA POV

The house was even grander on the inside than it had appeared from the outside. Every corner of it screamed wealth…gold accents on the furniture, pristine marble floors, and chandeliers that sparkled like diamonds.

I trailed behind Richard, unsure of where to look or how to act. This was a world I had only ever seen in movies, and now I was standing in it, trying to act as if I belonged.

We walked into the living room, a massive space with floor-to-ceiling windows and artwork that probably cost more than my entire existence. Before I could take in all the details, a voice called out.

“Richard!”

A woman…elegant, graceful, and radiating an aura of authority…came rushing toward him. She had the same sharp features as Richard, her dark hair perfectly styled and not a single strand out of place.

“My darling boy,” she said, wrapping her arms around him.

“Mom,” Richard replied with a warm smile.

I stood there awkwardly, watching their reunion. She hugged him tightly, kissed his cheek repeatedly, and spoke to him in a tone so affectionate it almost made me feel like an intruder.

“You’ve been gone too long,” she said, holding his face in her hands as if he were a child.

“It’s only been a week, Mom,” he said, chuckling.

“A week feels like forever when it comes to you,” she replied, her voice soft but full of emotion.

I stayed rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do. Should I step forward and introduce myself? Or would that make things worse? Before I could decide, she looped her arm through his and started leading him away.

“Lunch is ready,” she said. “Come, let’s eat. You must be starving.”

I hesitated for a moment before following them, keeping a small distance. Richard glanced back at me, offering a reassuring smile as he gave me a signal to join in the dining room, but his mother didn’t even notice I was there.