Layla POV
"Hi Mia, it's a pleasure to meet you," I say, and I honestly mean it. It is a pleasure the meet the girl that came from the man I love, she is part of him, and that makes me like her straight away. She looks at me, then at her dad, and shakes her head in disapproval. Well, I should've seen that coming.
"I can't believe you are doing this. How could you, dad? Now you're fucking some lowlife?" Mia says, and I am taken aback by her words. Lowlife? How entitled can this girl be? How can she speak to people like that? Richard's mother follows her without another word, and I can tell Richard is about to explode.
"Well, that went great," I say, trying to fake a smile, but it's too hard. I feel humiliated; I feel like I shouldn't even be breathing the same air as Richard, let alone spending time with him, being in a couple with him.
Richard POVIt's been a hell of a long day, and I am looking forward to having a shower and a nice dinner. I hope Angie made something pleasant. At the end of the day, she always makes Mia's favorites, that girl managed to get into Angie's heart, and she does everything and anything for Mia. All she has to do is ask, and Angie is there.I open the door, immediately smell lasagne, and smile. I love Angie's lasagne. I look around, and Mia is nowhere to be seen. I sure hope she is in her room, but before I check, I walk into the kitchen to find Angie making a salad."Oh My God, you scared me," she says, taking her shaky hand to her chest. I smile softly."Sorry, Angie, didn't mean to," I say, and she nods, "Is Mia in her room?" I ask, and all I get is a frown. Why is she frowning? Mia has to be home, right? She should be home, and she left my office hours ago.
Richard POV"Have a seat, son," My dad says, and I frown, watching as my mother sits next to him, crossing her legs. I take a deep breath, undo the buttons from my jacket, and sit next to Pamela. She looks at me and then focuses her eyes back on my parents, and I can tell she is uncomfortable."Okay, can someone please tell me what the hell is going on?" I ask, and my mother clears her throat and looks at me, raising her head high."Mia will stay here with us for the next foreseeing time," she says, and I rest back on the couch and laugh. I can't control myself, and when I stop, I look around the room. All three of them are looking at me with wide eyes and open mouths."Is this some sort of sick joke?" I ask, and my father clears his throat as he stands up and walks to the bar.
Layla POVWork was a nightmare today. And I can't wait to get home and sleep. As I open the door, I see Jo grabbing her jacket, and I frown. She's going somewhere. Jo starts shaking her head as if trying to ask me not to say anything. "Where are you going?""I'm going to see my parents for a couple of weeks. Mom wants me to spend Thanksgiving with them," Jo says. I look down at my shoes, and I just start walking away."Have fun," I say. I know it sounds more venomous than it should. But we always spend those dates together. And I guess I am jealous because she has loving parents, and I don't. She has people that want to be around her for her."Layla?" Jo calls for me, and I stop walking, turning to face her."I know we had plans for Thanksgiving, but you have a boyfriend now, a man that kisses the floor
Layla POV"Come in," Richard says, and I nod slightly. His house is impressive, simple, all in dark wooden colors and white. The floor is laminated, and it even shines oil, how polished it looks. I look around as he guides me to the living room gayer taking my jacket off and placing it near the door."This way is the kitchen, he says, pointing to his right. I look but can't really see inside through the double doors, and he guides me to the living room. Where a big tv hangs on the wall, and the couch is massive and dark brown. I smile at the sight of it. I love a good couch. I can imagine cuddling up to Richard under a blanket and watching a film here.In the middle of the coffee table is a big flower vase. Fresh flowers. I can smell them, and I have to say I am surprised. I wouldn't take him as a natural fresh flowers kind of guy."You're very quiet," Richard whispers in my ear as he pulls me into an embra
Layla POV"Mia, can I come in?" I ask in the hope she will let me in. I hold my breath. Waiting for her response, but instead of words, I watch as she moves the curtains and she stands in front of me with her arms crossed in front of her chest in a contained kind of way."What do you want?" She asks, and I nod slightly. I look into her eyes, and they are just like Richard's. She looks so much like him that it is overwhelming. The way her eyes hurt looks just like his downstairs."I would like to talk to you, woman to woman," I say, and her eyes change. She doesn't look as upset. She looks respected. She nods slightly, moving away from the doorframe and allowing me into her room. It's every girl's dream room, and it looks like a princess lives here."Wow, your room is beautiful," I say, and she ignores my comment sitting on her bed watching me. She is still no
Richard POVHaving Layla here makes sense. It makes everything perfect. I could get used to having her around. I never brought anyone home except Pamela. Layla is the only woman I have dated in all these years that I flew like bringing home, and I decided to show my personal space.I have to keep my private life very private because everywhere I go, I have cameras following me, I have cameras trying to get something out of me, and this is my secret space. This is where I am, and no one has any access.Angie says that dinner is served, and now I have to go face my teenage daughter. That is becoming worse with every breath she takes. I don’t know what I have done wrong for her to hate me like that.“I’ll go get Mia for dinner,” I say, and Layla rests one hand on my arm, stopping me. I find
Layla POV "Why don't you spend the night?" Richard asks, and I shake my head. I don't want to push the limits. We were lucky that Mia gave us her blessing, and I don't want to make her uncomfortable by invading her space and spending the night here as soon as she tells us she is okay with us being together. "I can't, I need to go home, and you need to spend some time with your daughter, without me, just the two of you, watch a movie, have some ice cream, actually listen to her," I say, and Richard nods. We had a serious conversation about his relationship with Mia, and it's so broken that is going to take a lot of effort on his part to make it right. "I'll get Nando to drive you," Richard says, and I shake my head again. "I have an Uber on the way. Let the man rest, " I say, kissing his nose, and he smiles.
Layla POV I open my eyes and close them almost immediately. The sun passing through the windows almost blinds me. I hear a door opening, and I move to feel like I am lying in a cloud. Everything is soft and feels so good. “Breakfast in bed,” I hear Richard’s voice, and I smile, sitting up in bed while he puts a massive tray in front of me. There’s everything you can think of, fruit salad, orange juice, croissants and toast, and the most important thing, coffee with creamer. “This smells and looks amazing,” I say, and he nods, kissing me softly on the top of the head before he walks through the bathroom door. I start drinking my juice and smile. It’s really fresh squeezed orange juice. Who has the time to do this in the morning? “What time do you have to go to work?” Richard asks as he walks back into the room. I look at him wearing tracksuit pants and a T