Page 87 of The Dark Side

Heather came up behind her daughter. "Yes, can I borrow her for a moment?"

Adrik released her and sat back on the couch.

Her mother had her by the arm, and she tripped over her feet, interrupting her wild stare. Adrik looked entirely out of place on her mother's 1940s floral couch. He was a building in an enchanted forest. She never really appreciated how tall he was, how his muscles were shaped against his white shirt, how long his legs were in his tight jeans, and how big his feet were in their white Nikes.

Heather shut the door to the bedroom. "Where did you find that Greek god?"

Jolie giggled, shrugging.

"He's beautiful. And so charming. That accent is every fantasy I've ever had—"

"Okay, Mom."

"But the tattoos. You know how I hate tattoos. Does he smoke?"

"No."

"Alright, redeeming quality. Is he the brother of the guy you are working for? Because that other guy was married, right? It's their daughter you are tutoring, not his?"

Jolie hesitated. She had been given half-truths since she first started working for Adrik, but here it was presented in a way that would be a full-out lie if she said yes. The last time she started lying to her mother, she was dating Vincent, which turned into a disaster.

She needed to be honest if she was seeking her mother's approval. "It's his child."

"But you told me he was married."

Jolie was able to stretch the truth with this answer. "They are separated and about to get divorced."

"Oh, okay. So, he's the one with all the money." Heather peeled open the door, looking down the hallway to watch him. Adrik was nervous, his fingers tapping on his thigh as he looked around. There were dozens of photos frames hung up, covering nearly every inch of empty wall space. Jolie winced, remembering all her school pictures since she was in kindergarten were in those said frames.

"You said he was in finance?" her mother questioned. "Doesn't quite fit the corporate look. He looks like he's in a gang."

Jolie vehemently shook her head but couldn't deny it, so she casually agreed offhandedly. "Yeah, I know."

"Jolie." Heather turned to her, grabbing her hands. "This isn't the kind of guy I was hoping you would bring home. What kind of wedding photos are you gonna have?"

Jolie's cheeks burned. "We just started dating."

Her mother looked out the door again and sighed. "I guess there's Photoshop." Heather dived out of the room. "Adrik, what do you know about plants?"

Adrik and Jolie waved as they moved off the front porch. Heather and Jolie's stepfather watched from the doorway, with bright smiles and high aspirations in their glittering eyes.

Adrik had a hand on her back, guiding her toward the car. But when Adrik saw the man who was driving, he pulled Jolie behind a tree. It was one of his father's lackeys. Jolie questioned it, but he changed the subject. "Do you believe I have your mother's approval?"

Jolie leaned against the tree trunk, with a massive smile. "When you broke out about annuals and perennials and the kind of sunlight certain plants require, I think she thought about divorcing my stepdad for you."

He chuckled, smiling, shrugging. "Might have done some research."

The reveal overwhelmed her. What kind of man puts so much effort into meeting parents?

Adrik stepped up, a leg between hers as he rested a hand on her hip. "You didn't sleep," he noted.

Jolie hung her head, ashamed of her overthinking.

Tears stung her eyes, and Adrik's brows knitted as he watched her bow her head, hiding the emotion. He quickly gripped her jaw, forcing her to look at him. His thumb wiped across her cheek. "What?" he asked.

"I'm scared. Alexei caught us—"

"He won't say anything."