Killing Me Softly: A Billionaire's Temptation

Chapter seven

∆Clear.

"Good to know, I trust you on that," she commends, her voice laced with sincerity.

"Where exactly were you last night?" she probes, her gaze fixed intently on me.

"I already told you, Mom; I was at a friend's house," I reply, carefully masking my emotions.

"Ah, the friend who gifted you that exquisite dress and those dazzling diamond accessories, I presume," she emphasizes, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"What!" I exclaim, astonished at her perceptiveness. How could she see right through me?

"Oh, come off it! You seem to forget that I can read you like an open book. You’re my child; I know you better than you think," she quips.

Her insight leaves me momentarily speechless, as she has deftly neutralized any objection I might muster. The best course of action is to simply remain silent, as she has effectively outmaneuvered me.

"Oh my gosh, really? He said that?" I exclaim, brimming with excitement at the thought of my dearest friend coming over.

"Yes, he did! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d love to return to the kitchen and whip us up some dinner," she replies, planting a sweet peck on my cheek before heading back to her culinary domain.

"What are you preparing?" I inquire, trailing behind her into the kitchen.

"Pasta and sauce," she responds, her enthusiasm palpable.

Having neglected to savor my mother’s cooking for far too long, I place the groceries on the counter. Impatience gets the best of me, and I dip a finger into the sauce, reveling in the explosion of flavors that leaves me yearning for more.

"Hey!" she chides playfully, her smile radiating the unconditional love of a mother.

With my finger still in my mouth, I wish I could indulge in more of that delicious sauce.

"I know you’ve missed this, but you just have to be patient; it’s almost ready," she explains, stirring the sauce with practiced ease. We share a hearty laugh, the kitchen filled with warmth.

"I wonder why you bothered to get the groceries," I remark, grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

"Because of this," she replies, expertly chopping garlic leaves like a seasoned chef.

"And my eyes caught other ingredients you didn’t have," she adds, tossing in the freshly chopped garlic.

"Alright... If you say so," I concede, seizing the moment to sneak a taste of the sauce from the spatula she’s about to use.

"Clear?" she warns, grinning mischievously.

"Sorry, but I can’t get enough," I admit, dashing out of the kitchen before I can get caught.

"You’re such a big baby," she giggles, her laughter filling the air.

"I heard that!" I call back, making my way to my room, her laughter trailing behind me like a comforting melody.