'Where Roses Grow' - 𝙍𝙃𝙊𝘿𝙀𝙎
Never mix business with pleasure, they say.
Never date a rich man, they say.
Never date a man with a fiancé, they say.
Never give your virginity to a CEO, they say.
It all began when she landed the coveted position...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
"I crave her like the air I breathe-selfishly"
.
There was a visible tension in the air, a feeling I couldn't quite shake off. Eleanor hadn't answered my call, and instead of pressing her, I decided to let it go. Here I was with Athena, about to meet her parents for the first time at a small gathering. It seemed a bit unusual that she had chosen this moment, just before our wedding, for our introduction.
I remembered Athena mentioning her mother's recent illness, and I had offered financial support. Scanning the room, I spotted her: a middle-aged woman in a flowing sunflower dress, her hair a mix of golden and gray strands, and warm brown eyes.
The scene was lively, soft music playing in the background, people chatting and enjoying the buffet spread. Athena gently hooked her arm through mine, bringing me back to the present. "You haven't met my mom before. She can be a bit... well, you'll see," she whispered with a hint of caution.
"Well, a little crankiness won't faze me," I replied softly, trying to lighten the mood.
Athena's mother noticed us and a small smile softened her face. She cleared her throat gently. "Athena, it's been too long," she greeted warmly, reaching out to hug her daughter.
"Mum, come on. I visited you just last month at the hospital," Athena gently reminded her.
"Oh yes, that's right," her mom chuckled softly, glancing at me. "You know how it is, getting older. Sometimes the memory slips," she added, her laughter tinged with a hint of skepticism.
Athena squeezed my hand and led me over to her mom. "You haven't met my fiancé yet, and since we're getting married soon, I thought it was about time," she began, her voice slightly nervous. "This is Amir, and this is my mom, Carla," she introduced us, though there was a subtle tension lingering in the air.
I took Carla's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Pleasure to meet you, Miss Carla," I greeted warmly, hoping to ease any discomfort.
"Miss Carla?" She chuckled softly. "Just Carla. Isn't he such a catch," she remarked to Athena, who joined in with a laugh.
"Definitely a catch," Athena agreed, trying to maintain a light tone. "So, the wedding's coming up fast. I haven't seen Dad around. I hope he'll be there to walk me down the aisle."
Carla's expression shifted slightly. "About your dad... he left. Haven't heard from him in two years. He just... left," she admitted with a hint of regret. "I called him about the wedding, but he said he couldn't make it."
"I'm used to it. He was never really there, and I can't make him be," Athena replied matter-of-factly, though there was a hint of underlying emotion that she seemed to suppress.
