Off Limits

Chapter 1- Melanie

I'm a long way from finishing my research on a new case my father sent over, when my phone buzzes on my desk.
I pick it up and slide my finger across the glass and hold it up to my ear "Hello mother" I say into the speaker. I hear something like a vacuum, which cuts out as soon as she speaks.
"Hello dear, how are you settling into your new position?" I roll my eyes as I lean back in my chair, crossing my legs. "As fine as I was the last three times you've called me." Ever since my father made me an executive board member at his company, my mother has called me every day to make sure I was "okay".
She hates that my father offered me the position. Only because it calls for more hours and dedication to the company. In other words, she thinks I'm a workaholic. Which is somewhat true. I take my job very seriously, and I like what I do.
But to my mother, it's just another excuse for me to not settle down and have kids. "Is that all mother? I have to get back to work" scrolling through the spreadsheets on my screen, as I wait for her to respond. "I also wanted to make sure you were coming over for dinner tonight, it would mean a lot to your father and I if you came." "Yes, I will be there" after saying our goodbyes, I hung up the phone, but instead of diving back into work like I should.
I closed up my computer for the day. My phone read 5:45 and I still needed to go home and change before I headed over to my parents house.
I left my corner office on the tenth floor of BraxCorp and headed to the other side of the floor to see my father, who was more than likely still working.
I tapped on his door and opened it without an invitation. Behind the heavy glass door sat my father with a pair of glasses inching down his face as he scanned over some paperwork. He smiled widely when he looked up and saw it was me.
"Hello sweetheart, what are you still doing here?" I returned his smile and stepped further into the room, taking a seat in a dark leather chair across from his desk. "I could ask you the same thing." His smile widened as his sat back in his chair "what can I do for you?" "Just wanted to know who moms going to try and hook me up with tonight?" I said.
It has been my mother's life long goal to see me with someone. And since my slightly older brother Eli can't hold a girlfriend for longer than one night, the pressure was on me to give her grandchildren.
My father laughed "No set up tonight sweetie. Eli just came home from his trip to California and your mother wanted all of us to spend some time together" I was still a little skeptical about dinner, but I decided to trust dad.
"Ok, but just know, if this is another one of her attempts to set me up with one of her friends sons, I will have to retaliate" my father smirked and moved from behind his desk to sit next to me.
"You know your mother just wants to see you happy" as much as he was right, I just wasn't ready. I was still a little heart broken over my last relationship.
Which ended with me coming home early from a conference, only to find him fucking his secretary. Needless to say I've been a little weary to go out and date again.
I meet my fathers gaze "yes I know, I just want to find someone in my own time. And not have to worry if the next family dinner is actually a cover up for, 'let's hook Melanie up with the next eligible bachelor'" my father smiles and pats my knee and walks back to his desk "you know your mother means well. If she had it her way you would've already had kids by now"
I talk to my father for a little longer, but it's mostly about work related, before I leave the office and head home, hoping tonight isn't about finding me a man.