Chapter 18

What is dad saying? I don't love Adam, not after what he said to me, I will never love him. He insulted me to my face without thinking twice.The beautiful moment we shared means nothing to him, I mean nothing to him.

Oh, my fragile heart can't take this.

I wish I had slapped him harder, repeating it again and again until it leaves a mark then Adam will know how much his words hurt me.

Dad also needs to be brought out of his little world. This misunderstanding needs to be cleared asap, he can't go on thinking there is something between Adam and I.

He needs to know the whole truth because everything he witnessed a few minutes ago is nothing but a mistake that should Never have happened. How sad, but it is reality.

I regret every bit of it. The thought of it makes me want to break down in tears

"No dad, you are wrong because we are NOT in a relationship"

The thought of dating a cold hearted man like him makes me want to puke. I can never forgive him for what he did. He crossed all boundaries today, he not only seduced me but insulted me as well.

But above all, I am to blame the most. How can I be so stupid to consider him different from the rest of the jerks out there?

Mom pulling me to face her snapped me out of my thoughts.

"What are you saying Cathy?" She asks,

"How can you say you are not in a relationship after w..what we witnessed? You were both having sex!"

"What? No mom, my God you have it all wrong. Yes he is my boss but we are not dating. And we did not have sex although, yes we were about to but noth.."

"Enough! Not another word" she yelled, making me jerk in fear. Never has she raised her voice at me until now.

"Do you hear me? I said shut up." She repeated when I was about to say something in my defense.

"Don't you have any shame? You're a disgrace Catherine Shawn! I am ashamed of you and the woman you have become.." Mom said crying, my heart aches seeing her in this condition and I am the reason for her tears.

I feel like hitting myself but even that won't solve the problem or make me feel any better. All I can do is bow my head low in shame as I listen to her because she wasn't done talking.

"..never in my wildest dreams will I think you would do this. For God sakes Catherine, you were making out with your boss and you are not dating him? Can you hear yourself?" Mom has never been this pissed, her eyes are filled with rage. I tried to speak but was cut short by her again, she still wasn't done talking

"How long has this been going on? Tell me." She asks, shaking me a little bit roughly "Is this the reason you refuse to work with your dad so you could go about sleeping with every man you see?"

What? Now that is it.

Shocked, I looked at her. I know she is hurt but she should give me some benefit of doubt. Mom shouldn't have said this, I am her daughter after all, who can know me better than her? No one.

Her words hurt me more than she could know. I expected trust from her or at least a chance to explain. I looked at dad to say something in my support, or hear me out but he looked away.

I guess I am alone now, standing quietly. I listened to mom as she continued speaking.

"Now listen to me, you and Adam will get married. I can't have my daughter going about making a fool of herself. Immediately your sister.."

"Stop!" I yelled, I have had enough. I am not getting married to this jerk. "Please mom, listen to me. At least give me a chance to explain." I beg, hoping she listens. I took her silence for a go ahead. So I continued

"I am very sorry you and dad had to witness that horrifying sight. I can only imagine what went through your mind, but believe me mom it is not what you think." I said crying, I tried to stop my tears from falling but it only made it worse.

"We're..."

"We are dating." Adam said, interrupting me before I could finish.

"Now what is he saying? Who is dating who? He must be out of his mind." I said to myself as I looked at him with eyes shooting lasers, if only it was possible.

"Yes Cherry. We can't keep pretending, they need to know." He looked at me lovingly but it only lasted for a few seconds before returning his gaze to mom.

"We've known each other for a while now but decided to keep our relationship a secret at least until we're ready..." he said, turning to me as he continued

"...babe, it's time we let everyone know, we can't keep meeting in secret" He said sweetly while looking at me.

I just stood there speechless, for a moment I started believing his lies, that is how good he is.

"Mr Nicholas, I am sorry you have to find out this way. I love your daughter, she means the whole world to me. It is part of our plan to work for me as my PA so that we could spend more time together. But things didn't work out that way as you can see, so I would like us to do the right thing by taking it public and announcing it to the world."

"Really?" Dad asks excitedly. Who would have thought dad would be excited for me to leave the house so soon.

"Yes." Adam said with so much conviction, my cheek reddened blushing shyly like a child forgetting how bad he hurt me.

"But how did you guys meet? Cathy has never been the outing type." Mom asks, probably trying to understand this whole story, but her confusion didn't last for long, not when Adam is so good at lying.

"We have known each other for some time now ma'am."

"Oh please call me Jane, we will be family soon" mom said, she looks so happy.

"Alright Mrs Jane. We met while she was doing her master's" Adam said, as he walked to me taking my hand in his like the way couples do in movies.

I looked at my parents who were already blown away with his story and little drama before them, how I wish it was true. Not with Adam of course, but with my own prince charming, a man who completes me.

But regardless, I am happy, at least mom is no longer upset with me. In fact she is happy, shedding tears of joy and smiling at the same time.

Adam must be given accolades for the best liar of the year because damn! he is good.. He lies effortlessly.

"Fooling people must be one of his many talents." I said to myself, rolling my eyes but ensuring my parents did not see it.

"Oh my baby, I'm so sorry for yelling at you earlier. You know, when I saw you in that state I was shocked, couldn't believe my eyes. But I am happy now. So please dear, wipe those tears off." Mom said as she wiped my tears off tenderly with her hands, and embraced me.

I want to tell her the truth but I can't not when she is so happy. Dad is also happy with the news, he has been grinning from ear to ear standing beside Adam ever since he said we are dating.

"So when is the wedding?" Dad asks, breaking the emotional moment.

I looked at Adam giving him a look that says it is all on him to handle. After all, he came up with this stupid idea.

Adam clears his throat, coughing awkwardly before responding "Urhm, no not yet" he finally said

"Why not? I hope you don't plan on using my daughter and then dump her?

What, what is dad saying now? This is so embarrassing. I can't believe they are discussing my private life so openly and much less with a man I despise now.

"No, of course not." Adam said quickly, acting like the thought of using and dumping me repulsed him.

I know he is only pretending, someone like him doesn't have a heart, they don't love but destroy. I looked at Adam as he continued his lies

"Infact," Adam said, continuing, "we haven't been that intimate..yet," He said shyly. stressing the word yet.. jerk.

I had no intention of smiling but couldn't stop it. I must confess he looks so cute being all shy. This side of him is new, it makes me chuckle.

At the office, he is always tough, collected, radiating power and confidence. But this new him, I like.

"Oh, thank God, I'm so relieved to hear this'' dad said, letting out a sigh of relief. I shake my head, chuckling at his behavior.

"This is good news, we need to plan ahead for the wedding. The sooner the better '' Mom said excitedly.

I am not surprised, she has always loved wedding preparations, she is an expert at it. I wonder why she didn't learn interior decoration, it will suit her perfectly.

Looking at mom makes me happy too. I want to share in her joy but I can't not when I know this whole thing is a lie.

"So soon?" Adam asks, shocked. I almost laughed at his reaction.

"Yes, you see our family believes in sex after marriage call it old school or what, it is still our tradition" Dad says, holding Adam's shoulder in a manly way.

Oh no, why does dad have to say this, It is not needed. In fact, they are both taking this too far. I feel so embarrassed, want to hide in shame?

"Hey Dad, please slow down. Don't you think you are going a little too fast?"

"No pumpkin, it is for the best"

How is it for the best I wonder, this is only worsening my situation, but he doesn't know that of course. Adam and I need to have a serious conversation after this because this whole drama he created must be fixed..asap before it blows up on my face.

I can't go on like this, how can I continue to lie to my parents, they mean the whole world to me. That is why we need to think of a way out like a fake break up that will be so believable.

"Yes" I smiled to myself as a thought popped up in my head.