Ace's POV
Mom looked so happy.
I couldn't dare to speak and see the smile disappear from her face.
Why did she like Raya so much? She just met her.
"Why didn't you say anything?" Raya asks. "I was not here for this."
"She'll leave tomorrow, so just for today—"
"You want me to lie?" She sighs.
"She is happy if I tell her now—" I look around. "Just for a day."
"She'll find out someday in the future."
"I live in the present not past and future."
"But—"
"Please…?" I cut her off.
Her expression suddenly changed, she clearly was taken aback.
She kept thinking.
"Fine." She says after a long moment. "Just for today."
"Make sure to put up a nice act." I give her a thumbs up and walk towards the living room.
This is nothing serious for me, I want to see my mom smile even if I have to make my 'enemy' my fake girlfriend.
1 hour later
We are sitting in a table, my mom introduced Raya to my dad.
The air is kind of awkward.
"Raya, the first time I saw you that's when I knew how well your parents brought you up." Mom takes a bite of her breakfast. "I think you don't remember me."
Lia makes a confused expression with a polite smile on her face.
"I was in the elevator and couldn't find my asthma pump, you were besides me and took care of me until my husband was with me."
Hm. That's why.
"Oh, yeah I do remember." Raya smiles a slight awkwardness in her voice.
"Mom when did that happen?" I ask.
"It was when I visited your office 4 months ago."
"Yeah, I also do remember, she kept talking about you." My dad says to Raya.
"And I will always be thankful, Sweetie." Mom places her hand on hers with a geniune smile.
Lia smiles back in response.
"Looks like I won't be getting any attention today." I say.
"You are, I think she gives you enough attention, right?" She looks at Raya.
"Haha." Raya laughs awkwardly.
"Ace, I came here for a reason." My dad says.
"What reason?" I ask.
"I think it's time you handle our business." He continues.
"Really?"
"Yeah. I think you're more then ready."
"Alright dad."
"Raya why don't you also work in the company, that way you two will be always together." Mom smiles brightly. "I think you should as his personal manager and assistant, he'll listen to you no matter what."
Raya looks speechless.
"Right Ace?" Mom asks.
"Auntie, uh I like my job right—"
"First of all don't call me Auntie call me Mom second of all no excuses. I remember that day when you told me you didn't wanna work in there."
"Baby, Mom is right, after all I want you to be by my side 24/7." I place my hand on her shoulder.
This is fun.
Her expression right now is worth seeing.
She's definitely planning to murder me.
She slowly forces smile that shows the passive aggression.
"Amazing. Finally you'll be the boss…" Mom says looking at me. "And she'll be your boss."
"But he never listens to me." Raya says.
"He doesn't? Well if now he doesn't you should tell me or his Dad." Mom looks at me again squinting her eyes.
That was a good move Ms. Gray.
"Awe don't say that, darling. I will always listen to you." I go close to her, she slightly moves back.
"We have to do a meeting in the company to declare you as the new chairman." Dad says. "How about today?"
"Sounds good." I answer.
"Always work work work." Mom rolls her eyes at us. "How about we spend the day together, sweetie?" She asks Raya.
"Yeah, why not." She answers…very quickly.
I know why.
Smart but not smarter than me.
"But Mom, Raya and I had planned a candle light dinner." I make a 'sad' expression.
"Oh…really?" Mom looks at her than me. "Than you should plan the dinner." She looks at Raya.
"It's ok, we can do that some other day—"
"Baby, I planned everything already, the tables are booked, I even bought you a dress." I speak cutting her off.
"Yeah, we can spend the day together tomorrow." Mom says to her.
"Tomorrow?" Raya says.
"Yeah." Mom smiles. "Alright me and your Dad have to go to meet someone, we'll be back."
"Son, i'll tell you once the meeting is fixed for today." Dad says as he leaves.
They leave and the silence is loud.
I want to laugh, her expression is very—
"You said just today, do you even know for how long your parents are staying here?"
"I don't know."
"You expect me to act like this until they go?"
"Yup."
"I won't and I don't want to work with you—"
"You should be thankful, you're gonna be promoted, you are directly going to be my personal manager plus assistant."
"Does it look like I want that?"
"Yes, it does."
"You—"
phone ringing
She glares at me.
"You won't pick it up?" I say.
"It's your phone."
"I don't think so."
"It is—" She looks around and reaches for her phone. "Oh." She clears her throat and walks away to the other side.
"Cute."
"What?" She looks back.
"Stupid."
She scrunches her nose.
She can't even put on an angry expression on her face.
I get up and walk towards her with light steps.
I stand behind her.
She's so small.
"I know Mom but I don't even know him, how can I just-" She stops talking.
She looks stressed.
"I'll think about it." Saying that she cuts the call.
I am still standing behind her, can't she feel it?
She's deep in her thoughts.
She suddenly turns back, gasping she hits her back on the wall.
Why did she get that startled?
"I wasn't going to bite you." I chuckle.
She looks down, her breathing heavy.
Her expression says it all, she's scared.
But why?
"Raya?" I reach my hand out to touch her shoulder but she moves back.
"Don't touch me." Saying that she walks past me.
Is she that scared of being close to me?