She and Nate were married. They shared a last name. They had come out and told friends and family. People knew they were a couple, but they might as well have been perfect strangers. They did not live together. They knew precious little about each other, and since that day at the park, they had not been alone together for a prolonged period of time.
For people who wanted their marriage to pass as legit, it was a massive oversight. But Rose had no idea what to do. And judging by the way he was acting, neither did Nate. In the month since their marriage, he had taken her to a few formal events. Often telling her a few days in advance and then pitching up with a dress so expensive, Rose would never have bought it for herself. They would then spend the night schmoozing and she'd help him land deals, and make new connections.
It turned out, rich people worked even when they were pretending to have a party.
She had even met his mother-somewhat. Lady Kiriakis looking down on her through a screen, and uncharacteristically nervous Nate sitting next to her.
"You started late son. When I was your age, I was already on my fourth husband," She'd said once introductions had been made, and Rose had felt her brows rise.
"We are not getting divorced, mother," Nate had bitten out, but his mother had just seemed bored.
"Good for you," She'd picked up a colourful drink, sucking on the straw before speaking again.
"It has been lovely hearing from you darling, but I have to go, Sergio is rather impatient, See you, Rachel," She'd said, calling Rose the wrong name for the umpteenth time before ending the call. Rose had found herself pulling Nate into a side hug, but he had just given her a confused look and that had made her even sadder.
He had gotten married and his mother did not care. More worried about a 'Sergio' than her own son. She had not even bothered to learn her daughter-in-law's name. But it was from that phone call that their current troubles had begun. Rose had mentioned meeting Nate's mother to her mother, and her mom had immediately demanded they visit Vasilio at once.
Which was why Nate was currently driving down a winding road. The two of them reciting facts about each other like they were memorizing the periodic table. Marie Adamos, was as sharp as a blade. They could not afford to let their guard down.
So as the car drew closer and closer to Vasilio. They learned each other's favourite colour( red for him, yellow for her). The list went on and from movies to books, to songs, food and even animals.
It felt like they had barely scratched the surface of getting to know each other, when bright white buildings of Vasilio began to take form. Standing out against the green forest around them and the deep blue sea where the land ended. The last kilometer before the entering Vasilio was nothing but a sea of flowers as far as the eye could see.
Rolling down the window, Rose leaned her head out. Enjoying the sweet smell and the explosion of colours.
"Beautiful isn't it?" Nate hummed his agreement, but when he turned to him he was not looking at the flowers. In fact it almost seemed like he had been looking at her…strange.
Shrugging off the weird moment, she went back to flower watching.
"It's why I became a florist. When I was a child, my dad used to take me out here all the time. We'd spend hours taking pictures and he'd let me run until I was too tired to move," She smiled softly, lost in memory. This time, she did not feel Nate's eyes on her.
Soon enough, they were he was no longer following his GPS. Relying on her to give directions to a place so familiar she could find it in her sleep.
The Adamos home was painted white, just like all the others. But its door was different, painted in rainbow colours instead of just one solid colour. Rose was out of the car before it stopped moving, the rainbow door opening soon after.
Mother and daughter embracing like they had not seen each other in years. Once Rose had been kissed until her cheeks were red, she stepped back. Having to go over to Nate, who was taking their luggage out of the car. She took one of the bags from him, and led him around the car to where her mother was waiting.
"Mom," She said, scuffing her sandal on pavement
"This is my husband, Nathaniel Kiriakis, " He was holding her hand so tight, she would have worried he'd break her fingers if she hadn't been holding him just as tightly.
Why was she suddenly so nervous? She had been as cool as a cucumber when introducing Rex, but with Nate, things were different.
Rose needed her mother to like him.
She watched her mom sizing him up. Barely coming up to his lower chest but staring at him like she could down him with a single blow. And Nate, bless him, he looked like he would pass out if she so much as huffed.
The same man who had stalemates with Sheiks and negotiated with top politicians and tycoons on the regular.
But whatever her mom was looking for she found it. Patting him lightly on the cheek, she began walking into the house.
"Come you two, stay out there any longer and you'll grow roots," Following her mother, Rose turned back once, giving him a thumbs up. The small pat might not have seemed like much, but her mom only did that when she found herself liking someone despite herself. With any luck, by the end of their weekend in Vasilio, her mother would be trying to stop him from leaving by plying him with her famous tyropita.