After work that day when she got home, she ransacked her closet to look for a dress for the dinner. It was quite hard trying to look for a dress that didn’t look cheap or tacky for dinner with three millionaires. It had also been a while since she did anything fancy to her hair. When she was finally done her shoulders were singing.

She considered going out to by a dress, but she decided against that. Dinner immediately after work she didn’t know how it was going to work. Would she dress for it to work and then after both of them would go to his parents. Or would she have to go home again.

As the questions were racing through her head her phone vibrated against her hip. Looking at it she had gotten a text. The text read ‘We’ll be going after work tomorrow. After work we can go back to your house for a change of clothes’.

She huffed. ‘And won’t you need a change of clothes?’

‘I always look good’.

‘Goodnight’ she wasn’t in the mood for his antics. Dress was ready, so was her hair. She had to make up a story of everything that his mum might ask. They hadn’t been together for that long so she could say they were still learning. But how long did it take to learn about your boyfriend? They could go over that in the car.

At work she did everything carefully scared that she would ruin her hair first of all. Second she didn’t want to forget everything she had put in her head. Why didn’t Nathan have to go through this? She wasn’t the reason for both of them being in this mess. But she would milk it for how long she could. She had wanted a change and then this happened. She wants to be a musician and soon that situation would soon present itself. His mum seemed to like her a lot so they would be a lot of support.

It wasn’t weird at the end of the day getting into his car. Sure some people saw, but she always got in his car when they went for meetings. All their months of working together he had never offered her a ride home. Not even if the meeting took all day. But this time he did what he said he would do. He took her home so she could get changed.

She had never felt self-conscious ever in front of him. But now that they were in a ‘relationship’ and this was going to be an official meeting of the parents, not the impromptu one that had happened earlier during the week. She may seem calm on the outside, but she was panicking on the inside. She got into the car and shut the door quickly. She didn’t bother looking at him. Just like how he always had his eyes on his phone, she got hers out to go over the notes she had made.

They hadn’t sat down to learn about each other, so she would try to be not so vague and also vague at the same time. She already knew that his favourite song was Careless whisper and he loved his work just as much as he loved his hair. She glanced to him then looked back at her notes. That was it honestly.

She looked up and turned to him just to see that he was staring at her.

“What is it?” she asked cautiously. He hoped he wasn’t about to go on about the dress. They all couldn’t be Nathan Cross.

“Just surprised that’s all. You clean up nice” he stated without any feeling whatsoever. He was just stating the obvious, not even a compliment which it was meant to be. “If you did this all the time, you would have a real boyfriend instead of clinging onto me”.

“And maybe if you cleaned up your entire personality you would have an actual girl to show your poor mum” she gave him back with a lot of heat.

He went back to his phone. She decided that wouldn’t do because this dinner was meant to be a joint effort, not just her saving both their butts. “So how is tonight going to be?”

“We’re just having dinner with them. What’s not to get?” she didn’t like the tone he used. He talked like she didn’t know any better. Like she was dumb or something.

“And when your mum asks something like I don’t know…where do we go on dates? What our plan is now that we’re out to the public? When we’re getting married?”

Nathan laughed. And she knew he was laughing at her expense. It sounded so mocking. She had to calm down. She had to breathe. He was her boss and she couldn’t just get away with everything that she thought of saying right now. Even a real girlfriend wouldn’t get away with it.

“And why would you think that she’ll ask that?”

“She wants you to get married. Was I the only one listening last time?” she scoffed. She couldn’t believe it.

“We’ll be real broken up before we get to marriage” he dismissed that topic.

“That’s not all. There are still other pressing things to discuss like…”

“Aren’t you the secretary?” he cut her off.

“Yes I am but it’s not…”

“Then do what you usually do. Make something up!” he said with finality. He went back to his phone and ignored her for the rest of the ride.

Okay if he wanted her to make something up she was going to make something up. She was going to have fun while doing it. He’d been laughing at her all night, but she would be laughing last and it would be satisfying.

XXXXX

“So now that you’re out in the public eye, how has it been?” Eleanor asked her first question concerning their relationship for the night. When they came and after exchanging all the pleasantries they made their way to the dining room with a feast prepared on the surface.

“Well there’s no difference” Nathan replied. “I don’t get more attention than I usually do”.

“After the paparazzi ambush at the company I’m not looking forward to any more cameras” Darlene inserted herself into the conversation. She knew he wasn’t going to talk for her. Instead of talking about himself solely and just give the lie away she knew she would have to talk. “Well that was the only time. I think Nathan took care of things”.

Both his parents smiled looking at each other.

“So where do you two have your dates? Do the paparazzi also follow the two of you when you’re out?”

And this was why she wanted to talk before they got here. Nathan wasn’t helping at all. He was this insufferable.

“We have dinner most of the time in his favourite restaurant. He always books so we eat in privacy. The paparazzi had never been a problem until the track” she laughed a little bit nervous.

“So the two of you like seafood?”

She wanted to step on Nathan so much. She didn’t like seafood all that much. She did like Salmon. Other than that nothing. She tried the seafood fried rice once. But she could have done without the oysters. She hoped that her distaste wasn’t as visible like the way she felt. Just hearing the name she felt her lip curl in distaste.

“They don’t only serve seafood mum” he sighed. “Though she doesn’t like it that won’t stop her from eating from my plate” he smiled a little.

So now he could talk, Darlene thought dryly.

“How old did you say you were Darlene?” Marcus was the one to ask.

“Twenty-four” she replied.

“Nine years difference between you and Ethan” his mum said but it was mostly to herself and her husband. She had noticed that they were fond of doing that. Talking like who they were talking about wasn’t present. “Young girls these days don’t want to get married” she told her husband.

“Did the two of you ever plan on getting married?” Marcus was the one to ask.

“Dad!” Nathan spoke up dropping his utensil.

“We’ve only been together for months. Marriage is quite the huge step” Darlene tried to be as shy and as hesitant about the topic as possible. As one ought to be. She liked how flustered the powerful Nathan Cross was getting. “We’re still trying to learn everything about each other”.

“You need months to learn about each other?” Eleanor asked and for the first time she didn’t have that playful exterior about it. She looked quite serious. It was time for Nathan to answer his mum.

“I get that commitment can be scary…” the woman began. Nathan ran his fingers through his hair. “Marriage is a lifelong commitment and you’re both scared of it not working out. It won’t work out unless the both of you make it work!” she said sharply.

“Mum. I’m not ready for marriage” he confessed.

“And when will you be ready for it? When you’re forty?” his father joked.

“You have a young beautiful girl that doesn’t care about your age” she looked to Darlene. “What’s age got to do with it right?”

Okay she was switching up the song. Good to know. She was leaving him to dry out there. “He isn’t so old” she tried not to cringe at what she said. “He-he’s…there’s just some things we need to work out before we make any decisions”.

“Such as?” Marcus asked boldly.

“Uh-um first of all my job. I was hoping to get a better one before I think of my future” that sounded lame. She couldn’t think of anything. She was starting to panic. Her mind was going blank.

“And there’s also living together”.

“Yes. Moving in together. That’s a very important factor” she agreed.

“How long have the two of you been together?” Eleanor hummed and she looked thoughtful.

“Nine months” she replied.

“That’s enough time” the woman finalized.

“Yes. I think that’s enough time” Marcus agreed immediately.

“We took six months before there was a proposal and an additional four before we got married. All you need is a promotion right? And then you can move in” she kept looking between her and Nathan.

“Any complaints?” she placed her interlaced fingers under her chin.

“A lot” Nathan replied.

“You mentioned your job didn’t you?” Marcus butted in. “How about a promotion Nathan?” he looked to his son with a knowing smile.

“I wouldn’t want a promotion just like that!” Darlene interrupted before it could get where it was going. This was what she wanted, but she would still be the good and humble person she was. She couldn’t just sit and accept it. Nathan wouldn’t let her hear the end of it. He would say that this was her plan all along. Well it was…but she didn’t want him to be right about her. He seemed like a sore winner.

“Then what is the use of dating someone in the high position if not to put in a word for you. Everyone does that” Eleanor laughed looking at her hopeful, her fingers still underneath her chin. “Stop being a perfect Ms Sunshine and just take every opportunity that is offered to you”.

“If I didn’t take all the opportunities offered, my company wouldn’t be where it is today”.

“Lovely speech dad” Nathan said dryly. “You can’t force her to accept things like that!” he said forcefully. “And a promotion won’t help matters. Her skill set isn’t what is in demand in the company at the moment”.

He looked to her for confirmation.

“Yes it isn’t really” she agreed.

“And what would that be?” Marcus leaned back.

“Yes. You did mention it!” Eleanor clapped loudly. “She has a lovely singing voice Marc. You should hear her sing” she praised.

“So you wanted to be a musician?” the man asked.

“Yes I did” she chirped. “I never did see myself being a secretary”.

“And did you ever tell Nathan about it?” his mum took over.

“I never did mention it. But I do sing for him most times”.

“And he never asked?” she gave her son a displeased look. Both his parents were giving him displeased looks.

“What?” he looked lost.

“It’s not his fault. It was looking bleak for a while. Was honestly starting to look like a dream” she shrugged. It hurt real bad to say but she had to be realistic.

“Well if you had told your ‘boyfriend’ you would know that he’s friends with producers that can help you”.

“What?!” she squawked looking to Nathan and then back to his parents. “You can’t be serious” she was acting so uncharacteristic, but this was good news. This was awesome news.

“I am serious” she grinned. “Nathan!” she snapped.

He rolled his eyes with a groan. She tried not to laugh at his whole behaviour right now. He looked like a teen being forced to do what he didn’t want to do. She really wondered what he was like when he was that age. If he was acting like a child currently, did he act like an adult when he was younger? She unknowingly smiled and he was looking at her.

“So when will you be free let’s stop at the studio” he said with a whole lot of force.

“Oh! Thank you” her arms shot out and she hugged him. It was quite unexpected for him because he almost fell. Her arms were locked round his neck, while his arms just hung up by his side. “Thank you so much” she gave him a big wet kiss on his cheek.

He really wanted to push her off and clean his cheek, but that wasn’t what couples did. His arms came round her and he hugged her back. He rubbed his hand down her back.

“You can let go of me now” that came out as a joke, but she knew the hidden meaning behind it and she let him go.

“So now it’s all settled. When will you two move in together?” they were back to the earlier subject.

Nathan wanted to say that they wouldn’t be moving in together for the foreseeable future, but Darlene placed a hand on his shoulder and he shut up.

“I’ll move in as soon as he’s ready to” she beamed.

“Oh joy!” Eleanor raised both her hands.

“When will you be ready Nathan?” Marcus asked.

He didn’t know what to say. He just stared then he looked to Darlene. The look in his eyes was pure disbelief. She just smiled coyly.

“Soon” he whispered.

“This calls for a celebration!” she announced.

XXXXX

“What were you thinking?” Nathan grabbed her by her arm when the doors had been shut on them from the inside.

She dropped the happy girlfriend act instantly. “You’re using me to make your mum happy…”

“You initiated that!” he hissed in her face. “I won’t have you pushing that onto me” he shook her quite rough. He would never manhandle a woman but Darlene infuriated him to no limit.

“You would have done it either way” she argued with a huff. “You’re using me and I think I deserve something good from this act. And your mum offered. Who was I to say no?”

“You’re the grandest opportunistic woman that I’ve ever seen”.

“Should you be telling me that? Your father told me that he took every opportunity before you became such a big shot. Your dad too and as your ‘girlfriend’ I am” she challenged looking him in the eye.

“You…”

The door opened again and both were quick to hug each other tight in their arms.

“You two are still here?” it was Eleanor. “I thought I heard something” there was a worker behind her and she had a bag. “I guess that the two of you are going home together. I packed you a bag to go”.

“Thank you mum” he literally snatched it from the boy.

“That eager uh?” she wriggled her brows suggestively.

“Gross mum!” he didn’t want to hear anymore. He wrapped his arm around her waist tighter. “Goodnight mum” he called as he turned making Darlene follow. She couldn’t put up a fight even if she wanted.

“Goodnight” she waved the way she could before they arrived at the car and Nathan helped her in.

Eleanor waved before he closed the door.

“So when am I moving babe?” she tried to lean on him just to irk him, but he placed the bag on her laps.

He gave her an irritated look. She was actually winning this. But this would be good. It would make the breakup story more believable. They-no he would tell his mum that they couldn’t live together. They would just say that they were too different and they couldn’t function together. His mum might say that they had to work it out, but that ship would have sailed.

He looked to her. At least she wasn’t so bad to look at. Curly brown hair, okay face and the dress she wore…she had an okay body too. Not supermodel or actress hot but musicians didn’t have a specific body type.

She was still smiling at him infuriatingly.

“Whenever you’re ready babe” he smiled leaning close. “But there’s just one thing that I have to say” he was really excited to say this.

“What?” she was unsure about this.

She had been given a promotion that wasn’t in the company. His mum would complain if she was still his secretary when he had told her that her skills weren’t needed at the company. When Darlene had left she had even suggested that she sing a song for the new car unveiling. They used seductive songs for phones and cameras. For cars they used rock-and-roll. His mum had said make it work.

And he was.

“You’re fired” he whispered directly against her ear.

Her facial and body reaction had been priceless.

He looked at her face and also her mouth that was open like a fish gasping for its own air. Now it was his turn to have that infuriating smile. He had been waiting a very long time to say that. Since she opened her mouth to talk to him and smile at him.