The Age of Love (Book #1)

12. Respect over Love

(I don't usually say this but if you like the story, please comment and vote, helps a writer to know how she/he's doing.) :)

My father was somewhat thrilled to have a political figure such as Theodore Han in his home, barely forgetting the main purpose of his visit. I on the other hand, was restless, just waiting for everything to go up in the air at any moment.

"You can't avoid it forever you know?" My mom's voice appears out of nowhere. "Sooner or later he's gonna find out."

I gulped.

"How was it when you brought dad home?" I wondered, resting my arms on the kitchen counter facing the dining room, I had direct view to Theodore's beautiful face and my father sitting next to him.

"How was it?" She laughs, catching my eye, "Your grandparents nearly had a stroke when they met your father, mostly because they found him jumping off my window in the middle of the night." Then she mimics my grandmother's voice "Are you dating a criminal Dorothea?"

"Oh my god, mom!" I laugh covering my smile "How come I've never heard this story before?"

She smirks. "Honestly, I was afraid you'd take my example and do worse with Paul." She pauses before adding "To be honest I'm so glad he's no longer around."

"You ladies need help?" Theodore is standing at the door.

"Don't worry dear the lasagna is ready! Please go take a seat!"

Dora hushes outside with the food, leaving me and him alone in kitchen. Theodore wraps his arms around me, I never noticed how tall he was until he was in my kitchen, he almost filled the room.

"Who is Paul?" He asks.

I bit my lip, holding back a smile, Theodore is jealous.

"Really no one you should be worried." I say, pulling him closer to me. "Let's go eat, I'm starving."

We sit on the table next to each other, I made sure to stay between him and my father who was sitting at the end of the table and my mother facing me. I didn't know if my mother was forcing herself to be nice to Theodore or she actually liked him.

"My compliments to the chef, this tastes phenomenal." Theodore says.

I've never seen my mom smile so widely before.

"I'm so happy you liked it! I was afraid since Madison told me you run a strict diet."

He laughs, it's the most beautiful sound ever, spreading that lovely smile across his face. I think he won my mom.

"I have no strict diet Dora, it's how I was raised in Japan. My family was always very humble, we ate mostly vegetables and stews." He said naturally. I loved how Theodore wasn't ashamed of his background and he didn't let his accomplishments turn him into a pretentious jerk.

"I'm so glad Madison met someone like you, she and that friend of hers... the little one with dark hair and... Ha! Julia! They eat so much junk food since they were kids." My mom rolls her eyes.

"In the words of Julia, she has health insurance." I comment and everyone laughs.

The conversation from there just switched to family topics, my childhood, life in Japan and once again to general topics of the world. I managed to avoid the dreadful subject of age, focusing now on work related subjects, that I knew him and my father adored. I found Theodore's hand under the table and held on to it for the rest of the afternoon, he didn't seem to mind using one hand to eat.

"WBHO actually offered me a position there but I declined, they were trying to fish the competition but I knew better and Obayashi won the deal."

"WBHO does what it takes to take the lead, I was surprised when they handed the FNB building construction to you guys." George says.