After the Business Trip

Chapter 19

Ae POV

I can't believe that I just told my mother that I'm in a relationship with Pete and that we are living together. What is she going to do now? I know the explosion is coming.

I talk a deep breath and wait. At any second, my mother is definitely going to scream her head off which will then be followed by her lecturing me that I should be with a girl instead of guy. She will probably bring up my old girlfriends, which I haven't discussed any of that with Pete yet. It isn't that I'm trying to hide it. It seems so unimportant to me right now. The only thing that I can think of is making Pete happy and I know talking about my ex-girlfriends will only make him sad and upset, and that is exactly what I don't want.

I can hear my mother gasp. My father instantly asks, "Honey, what is wrong? Did something happen to our son?"

I don't know what is going on their end, but I can only imagine that my mother is silently nodding her head to my father.

Worried, my father says, "What is it? It can't be that bad."

With those few words, I instantly realize that all my fears have come true. My mother is going to be against our relationship. I hadn't had a chance to think that far ahead as what I'll do, but I do know one thing for sure. I'm not going to leave Pete regardless of what they say.

I look up at Pete and I can see concern and love in his eyes. He is so pure. Why would anyone want to hurt him? I'm definitely not going to hurt him. However, I know that my parents' actions will hurt him, but I'm going to do whatever I can to reduce that hurt or eliminate it all together.

I gently rub his back as I mouth, "It will be all right."

Pete's mother chimes, "We will get through this together and you know that I support you two 100%."

Before I can turn towards her, my attention is pulled back to my conversation with my parents. My father has taken the phone and barks, "What did you say to your mother? She is in shock right now!"

I can't stop now. I have to see this through to the end. "I told mother that Pete is more than just my friend. He is my boyfriend and that I moved away from home to be with him. I've been living with him for a while now."

Before I can continue, my father screams, "WHAT!! I FORBID IT!! YOUR HAVE ALWAYS DATED GIRLS!!! YOU LIKE GIRLS!!"

Now, this is what I was expecting.

I take a deep breath and I try to control my rising anger. They don't know anything about Pete, but it is already clear that they don't like him. However, if they would just give him a chance, I know that Pete would win their hearts over too.

I calmly reply, "Yes, I have dated girls in the past, but Pete is who I fell in love with at first sight. I don't want anyone else, but him."

I can hear rustling on the phone and I'm not really sure what my father is doing, but I'm not going to let him win this fight. My father's stern voice suddenly roars from my phone. "NO!! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!"

I don't let my father's words faze me, as I continue on as if he didn't say anything. "I see my future with him, and nothing will change my mind."

I pull my phone away from my ear as my father's voice booms from my phone. "NO SON OF MINE IS GOING TO DATE A GUY!! IT JUST ISN'T ALLOWED IN BUSINESS!!"

As soon as he mentions business, my blood begins to boil. This has nothing to do with how I feel or what I want. Once again, his mind is controlled with what is best for his business and not what is best for me.